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The Differences Between Spanners And Wrenches – ToolsRUs

Similar in terms of general function but still very different, spanners and wrenches come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are made for certain tasks. It is necessary to use the correct tool, whether a spanner or wrench, for the given task, otherwise hardware could be damaged. If the tool fits improperly, it may be ineffective or worse, ruin the flat edges of the nut. Spanners come in both fixed and adjustable styles, while wrenches are usually adjustable. Fixed spanners are meant to fit nuts and bolt heads of a specific size and shape. By contrast, adjustable wrenches and spanners may fit a range of nut, bolt and fastener sizes.

a few choices include Rubber Mallet, Jack Planes, Woodcarving Tools

When selecting either tool, quality is important. Chrome vanadium or carbon-forged steel tools are best, for they are durable and will supply the torque necessary for most fastening applications. The open-ended spanner is the most common. This type of spanner consists of a shaft with one or two working ends. You get two different sizes with a single tool, so double-ended spanners are the best. Each head is angled about 15 degrees off the shaft, letting you reach multiple flat edges of a nut. This is especially useful while working in cramped spaces.

Ring spanners feature enclosed heads with either 6 or 12 interior points. Able to quickly fasten onto both square and hex bolts or nuts, 12-point ring spanners are more versatile. They are also more prone to ruining a nut by rounding its flats, whereas a 6-point spanner fits a hex nut point to point. The sizes must match perfectly, but 6-point tools give you more leverage. Stronger than the open-ended type, ring spanners can be harder to fit around a fastener. Other types include offset-ring, split-ring, bulldog, box, tap and adjustable spanners.

Similarly, wrenches are designed to turn, tighten or loosen pipe as well as fasten nuts and bolts. Unlike adjustable spanners, a pipe wrench has serrated jaws to get a better grip on a pipe. Mole, footprint, strap and Stilson wrenches are some of the other types. Depending on the diameter of the pipe or the pressure you need to exert, one type of pipe wrench will be best suited. Designed to tighten nuts and bolts to very precise specifications, a torque wrench is another distinct tool. All types of mechanics commonly use torque wrenches. Spanners and wrenches are each suited to a particular task according to their size, shape and how much precision tightening is necessary.

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