On 31/12/2019 14:46, John wrote:
Why do most car mechanics pride themselves in using the correct spanner for
any nut - yet plumbers who have less sizes to cope with just maul stuff
tight with crude grips?

Well actually if you use them carefully, you don't damage the flats or
ridges. And if something is going to move, a stilson will move it where
even a ring spanner will slip (and it is tricky to fit a ring spanner
over existing pipework).