The Engraved Lite Wrenches

Several years ago, while I was still in my inventing period, I ran in to an old acquaintance from the 1980s who still lived in Hutchinson, Kansas. 

Jerry McGonigle had worked for one of the salt mines located in Hutchinson during the 1980s, while I worked at Shooters Supply, a large gun store there.  In addition to an interest in firearms, which brought us together he did some racing with a car he’d built.  His own shop equipment included a lathe and other assorted equipment.  Occasionally, our gunsmith would have him do various small machining tasks.

I’d not seen Jerry since my wife and I moved to Alaska in 1991.  During that time he had created a rather large machine design business specializing in salt mining equipment.

Like many men, Jerry had a period where he was fascinated with cars that went fast.  During his racing days, he had found need for a lightweight adjustable wrench.  Jerry had basically taken a standard model and refined it for his tasks.  Instead of die cast steel, he machined his from aluminum.  Called the Lite Wrench, it is used by racing pit crews.  Jerry says he’s seen in in the back pockets of NASCAR pit crew members on racing days.

To keep the aluminum from oxidizing and corroding, he plated the wrenches with an electroless nickel process.

I decided that he needed an engraved wrench to display in his showroom, or possibly to give to a deserving client. To do this, I’d have to start with a wrench before it was plated.  Once engraved, it would be returned for the electroless finish, then assembled.  A very agreeable fellow, I ended up engraving one for him and two for myself.  Undoubtedly the only three engraved Lite Wrenches in the world.  I’ll always keep one for myself, and maybe give the other to someone who deserves it.