This is an Easy Re-purposed DIY tool..

I do a lot of tumbling of geodes which are amazing special rocks good for a tumble.

My large tumblers are a 9" barrels with rubberized innards that hold, a bunch of rocks,
in tap water, with a scoop of grinding grit and about 15% free air space = volume..
Then the barrels are sealed and rotated at 16 RPM 24/7 for about two weeks.

When spin time is right the rocks ( geodes ) need to be looked at and
the tumbling barrel will have to be opened.

I have to unscrew the six 1/4-20 Wing-nuts per barrel
Which starts by using a pair of pliers to loosen each one of them.
Then finger un-twisting each of the Wing-nuts
A future ible will describe why this is a Fascinating Hobby
Then repeat this process in reverse.
Finger twist and tighten each of the Wing-nuts
Finally using a pair of pliers to tighten each one of them.

Using this Wing Nut Key Driver makes it so Much Easier and Quicker to open
then close the tumbler barrels.

Step 1: What You Need

The only hardware items you need are;

A Concrete Anchor.- - - - mine was left over from a recent deck extension.
And a 1/4-20 Wing-Nut and a bolt - - - to tune the Key for a best fit.

The tools that will be used are;

A 3 inch vice - - - - - - to squeeze the metal fingers together, & yes mine is a 4".
A hack saw - - - - - - - to cut the iron anchor rod..
A grinder or rat file - - to dimple the Key fingers to clear the wing-nut center bulge.
A wire wheel - - - - - - to remove the paint and smooth sharp metal edges.

Step 2: How You Make the Key

This is really simple

FIRST

Do the cut, longer is better ( _{you can always cut shorter} )
Second picture

SECOND

Pinch the fingers together
Pictures 4, 5 and six

THIRD

Grind the Key Fingers to seat the Wing-nut center bulge
keep testing how well if envelops the key
Pictures 7, 8 and nine

FOURTH

Wire Wheel to clean the paint off of the metal
Picture twelve

Side issue ...... I used that holy part of the iron anchor in making my Magic Ladder ible.

Step 3: USING THE KEY MAGNETIC DRIVER

Enjoy using this simple tool
Which can magnetically help you open undo a Wingnut !
See the short Video.

Step 4: Something Extra

While using my new .... WING NUT KEY .... Undoing those stubborn Wingnuts

It was immediately obvious and desirable to have the Key Driver
automatically lift the iron based Wingnuts as they disengaged
from the ¼-20 screw thread.

It turns out that the shape of my .. WING NUT KEY .. is a natural .. U .. shaped magnet configuration
and a group of NIB magnets o.42" long slides to the end of the WING NUT KEY fingers
and stops as the pictures show just in the perfect place to hold Wingnuts after they
are un-threaded from the ¼-20 bolt.

See the graphic of the Magnetic flux paths for a clear view.

I have a large selection of NIB magnets left over from my Lucky-Penny-4-You Instructable
and used to hand them out at Burning man as popular favors.

THIN .... Magnets o.37" in diameter o.06" thin that's NdFeB Disc, 3/8 in. x 1/16 in. about 15¢ and
THICK . Magnets o.37" in diameter o.12" thick that's NdFeB Disc Magnet, 3/8 in. x 1/8 in about 55¢
You could just buy the 15¢ THIN magnets.

Both of these NIB ( Neodymium-Iron-Boron ) can also be purchased at K&J Magnetic Products..

While the tool works on brass wing nuts Don't expect the magnets to be of any help.