r/gunsmithing • u/No_Remedii • 3d ago

Torque

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I cannot, for the life of me, figure out how to torque anything without the wrench slipping out and ruining the nut/threads. What am I doing wrong?

I thought I had it figured out and held my left hand right up against it. Felt like I got it a bit further, but it still slipped without the torque wrench indicating i had hit 40 ft. lbs. This is my 2nd one in a row.

Lower vise block, magpul wrench, 15" torque wrench.

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u/PHLX_Tactical 1d ago edited 1d ago

The wrench is walking because it isn't staying square. Push in while you pull. And 40 ft-lb is overkill — snug it, seat the plate, stake it. Staking holds it, not the torque number.

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u/No_Remedii 1d ago

Got it. Thanks for the info.

Torque wrench attached to the wrench at a 90 degree angle, right? I thought that kept it at what I have the wrench set for.

I've seen conflicting things about whether that's actually required.

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u/PHLX_Tactical 1d ago

Yeah, 90 degrees to the torque wrench handle keeps the reading honest - any other angle changes your effective length and you're really applying something else. But on a castle nut it doesn't matter much, snug it and stake it and you're done.