VersaTool: 5.5-Inch Hex Head Wrench, Stair Installation Tool

innovative, handy tool that facilitates stair hand rail constructions, Headline says it all. Looks durable and easy to use,

I had been shown this tool and how it works before I ordered one for myself. This tool makes all the measuring and layout for joining handrail as easy as it can get.Also eliminates the wrench for driving the rail bolt and tightening the nut,cuts alot of time in a time consuming job.

The neck of the box wrench breaks easily. The current version of the LJ-3044 has two holes in the neck. One is used for measuring 1 3/8” and 15/16”, while the other is used for measuring 1 1/8”. My wrench broke in the middle of the hole marked 1 1/8” and 15/16”. To salvage the wrench end, partially flatten the end of a 3 ½” length of 5/16” ID brass tubing and drive it onto the neck of the broken wrench end. Remove the formed tube, fill the end with JB Weld steel reinforced epoxy, and drive the parts together again. The remainder of the broken tool still works for starting a nut or measuring for hole drilling.On my tool, the peg that holds the flange nut was so long, it held the nut too far from the bolt end for the threads to engage. I chose to file the peg that holds the nut somewhat shorter so it allows the nut threads to reach the bolt threads before the peg bumps into the bolt. The shorter nut peg also makes it easier to remove the tool after the threads engage.The rubber band supplied is too short and wide to work effectively when stretched over the nut and the center post of the tool. Even with a more suitable rubber band, this method is awkward. Try the flick tool described here. Use a 3/8” wide glue stick or pop-cycle stick. Place a 1” length of 1/4" id, 3/8” od surgical tubing on one end leaving about 1/16” extended past the end of the glue stick. Use the VersaTool to press the nut lightly against the bolt while flicking the nut with the flick tool.

Not a tool that I'll likely use very often (I'm a DIY homeowner, not a tradesman) - but it sure helped make my handrail project go together with minimal fumbling of fasteners. Could I have assembled the handrails without it? - certainly, but this tool made the job a whole lot easier.

You can't build wood railings without this tool, as no other wrench will fit in the small one-inch access hole. The magnet to hold the nut on while using a rubber band really works, and, again, I don't see how you do it without this toolMy one downer is the welded nut in the middle that allows you to screw in the lag screws is not deep enough or tough enough as it can ruin the threads on the end of the screw, making it very hard to start the nut once the railing is on. Especially when you are really torquing on it, driving it into tough oak (the most common wood for railings). Needs better design here.Don't start railing work without one of these.

If you dont know what this is, you dont need it. For those who need it, its basically got everything you need. The notches for measuring, a magnet for the nut, an attatched threaded nut for installing the center lag, etc. The quality is very nice. It is worth the money

Bought 2, the middle part for rail bolt keeps coming off on both of them. Useless. Do not buy.

If you don't have this tool, you're doing something wrong. This is a must have tool when installing interior stair rail.