A spanner or sometimes called a wrench is the most common tool used for gripping, fastening and loosening nuts and bolts. The spanners that have adjustable jaws are referred to as adjustable wrenches. Most good quality spanners and wrenches are drop forged and chrome plated. They are forged from high-quality steel such as chromium-vanadium. This is then hardened and tempered to give a hard work face to ensure the tool last a long work life and don't round and burr over the edges. Here are a few different kinds of spanners you might have heard of:
• Adjustable wrenches
• Open-ended spanners
• Ring spanners
• Torque wrenches
• Flare-nut spanner
• Socket wrenches
An adjustable wrench is measured in both imperial and metric measures. Example, Japanese cars require metric spanners while most American vehicles need imperial spanners.
Most common spanners are used for loosening or tightening hexagonal bolts or nuts with flat surfaces that fit snug into the spanner or wrench jaws. Adjustable wrenches can be used for many different sizes so when applying the maximum tightening or loosening torque isn't required these hand tools are very fast and convenient. They are not recommended however if you need to apply a lot of torque, you can buy adjustable wrench which can apply more torque.
Tips to Consider Before Buying Buy an Adjustable Wrench
An adjustable wrench is a very important tool in your automotive workshop or sheds at home; they need to be good quality. Spanners and wrenches are one of the most commonly used tools also so having a good range of sizes are important also. If you have a spanner that is the intended size for the application, there is less risk that you will damage the nut or bolt using an incorrect tool. Try to consider whether you need imperial or metric. Most spanners come in some sort of storage. The most popular is a leather or stitched pouch that the spanners can slide into. This is ideal if you need your spanners on a work site and can only take a few tools.
They roll up into a bundle and become very easy to carry and store in a toolbox. Another more common method to store your spanners is in a foam or plastic insert that sits in your toolbox. The spanners are then organized into their sizes and don't rattle around in the toolbox drawers.
These are made from cast iron, steel, or aluminium. While aluminium versions are by far the most expensive, this material allows the creation of a tool about half the weight of a similar-sized iron wrench. Professional plumbers often choose aluminium tools because this reduced weight greatly reduces fatigue over long-term use.
A professional quality manually adjusting wrench will often have separate plates for the heel jaw. The heel jaw, hook jaw, and adjuster nut are available as replacement parts making it easy to rebuild the tool once these parts have worn out. Currently, there are no manufacturers making rebuildable automatic adjusting wrenches though.
So, why are waiting for? If you think it is the time to change your wrench, buy adjustable wrench now.
• Adjustable wrenches
• Open-ended spanners
• Ring spanners
• Torque wrenches
• Flare-nut spanner
• Socket wrenches
An adjustable wrench is measured in both imperial and metric measures. Example, Japanese cars require metric spanners while most American vehicles need imperial spanners.
Most common spanners are used for loosening or tightening hexagonal bolts or nuts with flat surfaces that fit snug into the spanner or wrench jaws. Adjustable wrenches can be used for many different sizes so when applying the maximum tightening or loosening torque isn't required these hand tools are very fast and convenient. They are not recommended however if you need to apply a lot of torque, you can buy adjustable wrench which can apply more torque.
Tips to Consider Before Buying Buy an Adjustable Wrench
An adjustable wrench is a very important tool in your automotive workshop or sheds at home; they need to be good quality. Spanners and wrenches are one of the most commonly used tools also so having a good range of sizes are important also. If you have a spanner that is the intended size for the application, there is less risk that you will damage the nut or bolt using an incorrect tool. Try to consider whether you need imperial or metric. Most spanners come in some sort of storage. The most popular is a leather or stitched pouch that the spanners can slide into. This is ideal if you need your spanners on a work site and can only take a few tools.
They roll up into a bundle and become very easy to carry and store in a toolbox. Another more common method to store your spanners is in a foam or plastic insert that sits in your toolbox. The spanners are then organized into their sizes and don't rattle around in the toolbox drawers.
These are made from cast iron, steel, or aluminium. While aluminium versions are by far the most expensive, this material allows the creation of a tool about half the weight of a similar-sized iron wrench. Professional plumbers often choose aluminium tools because this reduced weight greatly reduces fatigue over long-term use.
A professional quality manually adjusting wrench will often have separate plates for the heel jaw. The heel jaw, hook jaw, and adjuster nut are available as replacement parts making it easy to rebuild the tool once these parts have worn out. Currently, there are no manufacturers making rebuildable automatic adjusting wrenches though.
So, why are waiting for? If you think it is the time to change your wrench, buy adjustable wrench now.
