HOWTO make a machete wrench

EV Builder and friends were in the midst of refitting a vehicle to be of use in a zombie apocalypse when it occurred to them to turn a machete into a variable hex wrench. They liked the result so much that the published the HOWTO on Instructables.

Perhaps one of the more useful tools I have ever owned was a flat bar with a series of hexagonal cutouts in it. While minimally useful as a wrench because of its long length, it proved invaluable as backstop for holding nuts in place while I was tightening them down. Not to mention that when my wrench set was annoyingly missing just the size I needed, my hard to misplace flat bar always had me covered.
It therefore stood to reason that a Katana with a similar series of hexagonal cutouts would be valuable both for taking down Zombies/Mutant wildlife and complementing any set of tools used for post apocalyptic DYI projects. However, after a bit of research it became apparent that in addition to being expensive to make, “Katanas are notoriously high maintenance”* and at ApocalypsEV we hate the idea of high cost high maintenance (www.ApocalypsEV.com).
So seeking a simpler more affordable concept, we created the Mechanics Machete. It combines the Zombie fighting power of a machete with the utility of a set of wrenches. Also when using stainless steel for the blade, it eliminates the maintenance hassle of trying to keep the blade rust free.

Every time I see a hex-wrench made by cutting a shape out of a piece of metal, I remember the time Gatwick airport security stole my belt-buckle, including the little loop that held the belt's tongue, because the loop had a hexagonal cutout that was a "wrench."

Apocalypse Mechanics Machete (via Neatorama)

I write books. My latest is a YA science fiction novel called Homeland (it's the sequel to Little Brother). More books: Rapture of the Nerds (a novel, with Charlie Stross); With a Little Help (short stories); and The Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow (novella and nonfic). I speak all over the place and I tweet and tumble, too.

MORE: happy mutants • howto • instructables • makers

More at Boing Boing

Ants and Stars: Bruce Sterling and Jasmina Tesanovic visit the Sardinia Radio Telescope in Italy

The Snowden Principle

Halloween_Jack

The wrench closest to the hilt would probably be of limited to no use, because the handguard would keep you from putting it flat against whatever you’re bolting, and the one closest to the tip looks like it would split the end of the blade if you put any serious torque on it. It looks sort of cool, I’ll give them that.
- Paul Renault
  
  I didn’t think about the position of the smallest wrench near the handle, but I came here to suggest that the next time they make one of these, they should stagger the holes, so as to not make a fault line.
  
  Even better, make two ‘em, each with fewer holes.
- http://www.facebook.com/chris.kirk.986 Chris Kirk
  
  Good thinking but not quite true. You’d push against the blunt side of the blade as leverage. To use the middle size you’d pull on the handle and push on the blunt of the blade, giving you even leverage throughout. :)
bcsizemo

Cool yes, functional no.
- Brainspore
  
  Depends on the intended function. I believe this was designed as an all-in-one tool for dispatching steampunk cyborgs.
  - Snig
    
    I came here to make that comment. Brainspore and I will be the only one’s surviving the steampunk cyborg apocalypse. It’d likely be best to have one in English units and a metric one to disassemble ninja steampunk cyborgs.
    - http://twitter.com/Voxshades JR
      
      You may need one made to Whitworth standards as well
EH

This is a Steam-Caturday thing, isn’t it.
chellberty

Remember campers always practice safe Hex.
Frank Diekman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Loq9OkHURw
http://imcravingpresidency.tumblr.com/ SedanChair

“So as you can see, I can now use my machete to open…oh dear. Could you do me a huge favor and go fill a ziplock bag with ice? No, it’s fine. It’s fine. Look, could you calm down? I’m the one who cut it off, OK? Now I just need to dial–*thunk*”
Ipo

Gives meaning to the term “gut-wrenching”.
IamInnocent

Safety note: always embed deeply in a nut case when not in use.”
yrogerg

KNIFE WRENCH! Practical and safe.
fredh

And when it slips…lookout!!!
Christina Ward

Mister points out that this design also will make hacking through large carcasses much easier. The holes add to airflow in the slicing action through dense material..like a cheese knife.
agilecyborg

How to weaken spring steel is more apt. Creative and visually-appealing still.
philipb

Might be a couple of bolts in a pre-66 engine bay this would reach & turn. After that you’re SOL.
http://botaday.com mmrtnt

Whatever you do though, do not make a Hammerang
lewis_stoole

it’s a pasta measurer
lewis_stoole

how come it doesn’t have a bottle opener?
KenHMT

Practical or no, that’s just too cool. I’ve added it to our database at homemadetools.net: http://www.homemadetools.net/machete-wrench
zapb42

Is it bad that I notice this as the tailgate to a 90′s era Dodge Dakota? Had one and loved it.