Hugh wrote:
My way is to use a "chain" wrench which I think is intended for the plumbing trade. I got mine years ago at a plumbing supply house.
The "chain" is wrapped around the hub flange closest to the freewheel. The tool tightens like a vise grip and provides contact and grip all round the flange. When properly tightened it does not slip.The chain wrench gets clamped securely in my bench vise and a standard freewheel tool unscrews the freewheel.
I've used this method on lots of different hubs and it has always worked. The only downside has sometimes been some little indents left on the outer edge of the hub flange by the segments of the chain wrench.
I add:
Hugh might be referring to the tool plumbers use to "cut" cast iron pipe. Others will be more familiar with it but I remember seeing the plumber wrap what looked like bike chain around the pipe and tightening it to break it in a controlled way.
I prefer to work on bicycles because I'm always worried about flooding
the house when I plumb!
Len Diamond
Ridgewood, NJ USA