Another one for your perusal and improvement...


==Spanners==
===Open end===
[[image:Open ended spanner 319-4.jpg|thumb]]

===Ring===
[[image:Ring spanner 319-4.jpg|thumb]]
Not as prone to slipping off as open end, but usable in less
situations.

===Combination===
[[image:Combination spanner 319-4.jpg|thumb]]
A combination spanner has 2 different types of driver on the one
spanner. Most often these are open and ring, but other combinations
are also available.

===Ratchet===

===Adjustables===
Adjusable spanners are called [[wrench]]es.

===Self adjusting===
[[image:Adj spanner 82-2.jpg|200px]]

===Box spanner===
The forerunner of the socket set. Lighter, cheaper, weaker, and no
longer popular.


===Socket set===
[[image:Socket set 198-3.jpg|thumb|Socket set]]
Cast steel sockets can apply much more torque and control than open
ended spanners, but are more cumbersome and can't always be used.

Extension bars enable clearing nearby obstacles.

Torque wrenches enable setting bolts or nuts to precise torque. A few
different types exist.

Deep sockets can be used where bolt threads protrude, and on spark
plugs.

Sockets come in any of several drive sizes:
1/4" - for very light duty work eg appliance case screws
3/8" - light duty
1/2" - good for a lot of general purpose use, but not big sizes or
high torque jobs
3/4" - good for heavy duty work, eg washing machine bearings and
tougher items on cars
1" - industrial duty

===Stamped spanner===
[[image:Stamped spanner M12 317-4.jpg]]
Most spanners are cast, these ones are stamped from sheet metal. The
result is a thin flat spanner with lower weight and strength. They're
plenty strong enough for a wide range of tasks, but the thin metal
edge makes applying high forces with a bare hand painful. Fine for
medium force.

Stamped spanners tend to be made from mild steel rather than the
tougher rust proof chrome vanadium steel used for most spanners, so
should always be stored dry as they rust readily.

[[image:Stamped spanner set 416-3.jpg|thumb|Stamped spanner set]]
Stamped spanners tend to come supplied with an appliance as
manufacture cost is much lower than cast spanners. Whole sets are
rarely seen.


===Multispanner===
[[image:Multispanner small 422-2.jpg|thumb|Small multispanner]]
A stamped sheet spanner with many different size cutouts around the
edges, or a casting with many cutouts. Available in a few well known
patterns. These don't give good performance for general DIY use,
they're better suited to bikes where the low weight and size is a
definite advantage, and they don't see much use. The smallest ones
(pictured) are the least friendly to use.

===Basin wrench===
[[image:Basin wrench 318-6.bmp|thumb]]
Can undo taps from a greater variety of positions than other spanner
types. Useful when working in confined positions.


==Wrenches==
Spanners are known as wrenches in American English. Adjustable
spanners are usually called wrenches here.


==More torque please==
===Extension tubes===
Fitting steel tube over a spanner to get much more leverage works, but
is a known cause of injuries. Where large leverage is needed, a socket
is a safer option, with long handles available.

===Impact wrench===
When even more torque is needed, an impact wrench is the best choice.
This is much better controlled way to apply high torque than hand
tools.



==See Also==
* [[Wrenches]]
* [[Clamps]]
* [[Special:Allpages|Wiki Contents]]
* [[Special:Categories|Wiki Subject Categories]]



[[Category:Tools]]
[[Category:Basics]]


NT