Spanner sets typically consist of a selection of different spanner sizes, bought together as a single kit that offers users a full range of options and on-hand flexibility when tackling nuts and bolts of any size.
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The best spanner sets are usually supplied in a box, case or foam tray for protection and convenience, and will generally be a more cost-effective way of achieving full flexibility than buying differently sized tools individually. The number of individual pieces provided in any complete spanner set can range from two or three pieces up to fifty or more, including numerous types of spanner sockets and other accessories.
Individual spanner sets most often tend to contain the same type of spanner (e.g. ratchet or combination spanner) offered in a range of varying sizes. They’re one of the most common tool types found in work kits and DIY collections, and are used daily in a wide range of applications by professionals and odd-jobbers the world over.
Ratchet spanner sets are often among the more expensive types of spanner kits, but their handy added functionality makes them easily one of the most popular designs found in both professional and enthusiast tool kits the world over.
The main advantage of a ratchet spanner over a non-ratchet or regular type spanner is that, where space for a full rotational arc is limited, they don’t need to be removed from the nut and realigned in between turns. The ratcheting mechanism allows for free rotation of the spanner in one direction but not in the other - this means you can tighten a nut clockwise, for example, and then pull the spanner back in an anticlockwise direction to begin another clockwise rotation without ever lifting it off the fitting.
Nearly all ratchet-type spanner sets will allow this feature to be deployed in both directions, either by flipping the spanner over or by adjusting a small lever on the handle or head of the unit. Spanner ratchet sets are usually sold in open-ended, flare or ring head configurations, depending on the types of fixtures you need to tighten or loosen.
A box spanner set - sometimes called a tubular spanner set - is easily identifiable due to the elongated cylindrical shape of the tools. These kits are essentially designed as a variety of rounded metal tubes, usually with a hexagonal opening at each end to be placed over a nut. As a result, they contact all sides of the nut, providing a stronger grip than most jaw-type spanners.
By passing a metal rod (a ‘T-bar’ or ‘Tommy bar’) through two holes positioned across the diameter of a box spanner, users can rotate the tube in a one- or two-handed motion, similar to opening a tap. Most box spanner sets are sold with a suitable T-bar already included, although it is possible to buy replacements separately (you’ll need to check the correct gauge for your spanner set first).
The elongated shape of box spanners makes them very handy for accessing nuts that are deeply recessed or otherwise in difficult-to-reach places, and the sliding design of most Tommy bars lets users make best use of any available space for achieving sufficient torque.
A ring spanner set functions much like the box spanner sets described above, except that ring spanners are designed in a more standard spanner layout; that is, they’re generally constructed as a single-piece metal bar that turns side-on to a nut, rather than from above. The ring spanner’s connection with a fastener is very similar to that of a box spanner. The heads on a ring spanner set - each piece usually has a head at each end - are formed as a single closed loop containing a machined profile, which contacts the nut on all sides simultaneously. This offers a very strong grabbing force and makes it less likely to slip.
The potential downside of ring spanner sets is that the tools must be lifted and replaced on the fastener once the full turning arc has been exhausted. However, they can often be manoeuvred into smaller spaces than box or socket spanners, particularly if the design features a ‘cranked’ or offset head design.
A socket spanner set essentially offers the same functionality as a box spanner, except the kits tend to come as a single spanner shaft with multiple interchangeable heads or sockets. These too contact the fastener on all sides, but the torque is applied via the shaft, as opposed to a Tommy bar.
The shaft or ‘key’ will feature a small recess (or sometimes protrusion) known as a drive socket at the head end - usually square or hexagonal - into which the various differently sized sockets are affixed. Socket and spanner sets very often feature a ratchet system, meaning they don’t have to be lifted off the nut between turns. Socket and ratchet spanner sets are available for almost any type of nut or fastener, so it’s important to check you’ve got the right setup for your needs when purchasing a kit of this kind.
Spanner combination sets, as the name implies, tend to offer a wider range of head types for tackling various sorts and sizes of nut and fastener with a single tool kit. The parameters of any given combination kit will vary widely among different manufacturers and product lines.
A particularly common configuration for spanner or wrench combination sets is a kit that offers both ring spanner and regular jaw-type functionality, either as two separate collections within the same box or as a single set with different head types at either end.
The best combination spanner set for your needs will of course depend entirely on the application you’re intending to use it for. You may wish to consider kits that offer some additional handy features, such as ratchet combination spanner sets, if you’re likely to be working in confined or awkward spaces.
An imperial spanner set, rather than denoting a particular function or a specific type of head or shaft design, is simply a spanner set of any kind that has been constructed for fasteners defined by imperial measurements (inches and fractions of inches, rather than millimetres).
These tend to be less commonly seen in the UK now than they were pre-s (before metrication), but it’s still widely used as a standard in the US and elsewhere, and it’s not at all unusual to encounter nuts and other fasteners that are still defined by imperial measurements during routine tasks today. You can usually purchased either ring-type or jaw-type imperial spanner sets, depending on the specific application you’re likely to need them for.
Adjustable spanners typically feature a standard layout open-ended head design, but with an additional function that allows for manual opening or closing of the spanner’s jaw via a rotating cylinder driven by a screw. The familiar ‘monkey wrench’ design is essentially a type of adjustable spanner, although many tools can be found in this range that are considerably smaller and lighter than a typical heavy-duty plumbing wrench.
The adjustable mechanism enables a single spanner to tackle numerous gauges of nuts and fasteners, which can be handy for smaller portable tool kits where it’s always helpful to save on space and carry weight. For this reason, most adjustable wrench kits will feature fewer individual pieces than non-adjustable sets, with each piece being able to grip to a much wider range of fasteners. Better quality adjustable spanner sets feature sturdy self-locking mechanisms that prevent the adjustable portion of the jaw from working itself loose during rotation, which can be a fairly common complaint about less well-made versions of this type of spanner.
In terms of functionality, flare nut spanners offer a combination of features seen on both ring spanners and standard jaw spanners. They offer almost the same tight-gripping multi-surface contact as a ring spanner, except they feature a cutout portion in the circumference of the head loop - this is usually offset by 15 degrees, making the flare spanner look similar to a jaw-type spanner from a distance.
The cutouts on a flare nut spanner set allow the head to be placed over fasteners that are permanently attached to a hose or tube - this wouldn’t be possible with a full ring head. In sacrificing contact with one of the six sides of a nut, the flare spanner gains the ability to access trickier-to-access fasteners such as brake line fittings and fuel hose nuts.
A flexible spanner, often shortened to flex-head, denotes an additional feature of some ratchet or socket tools that allows for the head of the spanner to swivel through a range of positions and angles. In practical terms, this simply means that a flexible head spanner set can be used to access fasteners in a much wider variety of tricky or confined spaces, because the user can approach the nut from a much broader array of positions.
Widely used in plumbing and automotive settings, any spanner type can have a flexible design, although flex-head ratchet spanner sets and flex-head socket spanner sets are among the more popular product types in this range. It’s also common to find combination spanner sets with flexible heads.
Open-ended spanners are perhaps the archetypal tool type we’re all familiar with - the simple, often one-piece jaw spanner that’s useful in all manner of applications. In this design, two opposing jaws are set in a fixed and open position at varying distances/gauges apart, depending on the size of spanner in question. As a cost-effective utility tool, most open-ended spanner sets will offer a wide range of sizes and gauges in a typical kit. Sizes might range from 4mm to 50mm (5/32" to 2"), and handle lengths can vary enormously, ranging from 10 cm to 50 cm or more.
An insulated spanner set might feature any of a range of head types and additional functions for various intended applications, but what they all have in common is that they’re intended specifically for use with fasteners in electrical components or circuits.
Insulation against electric shock is usually achieved through a plastic or rubber coating applied across the full length of the insulated spanner handle (and sometimes around the head itself). Open-ended spanners are the most common type found in fully insulated spanner sets, and quality tools marked with the ‘VDE’ stamp have been certified in line with European safety standards for safe use on live wires up to V (A/C).
A socket wrench (or socket spanner) is a type of spanner (or wrench[1] in North American English) that uses a closed socket format, rather than a typical open wrench/spanner to turn a fastener, typically in the form of a nut or bolt.[2]
The most prevalent form is the ratcheting socket wrench, often informally called a ratchet. A ratchet incorporates a reversible ratcheting mechanism which allows the user to pivot the tool back and forth to turn its socket instead of removing and repositioning a wrench to do so.
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Other common methods of driving sockets include pneumatic impact wrenches, hydraulic torque wrenches, torque multipliers and breaker bars. Some lesser known hybrid drivers include striking wrench tools with square drive, and hydraulic impact wrenches (typically powered by on site hydraulic power such as present with military tanks, and many rail car applications).
The basic contemporary form of socket is hexagonal, referred to as "6-point" for the pointed intersections where its six solid sided facets meet.
Male drivers are also produced for use with socket head cap screws, and are often called Allen drivers (trademark) or the generic term male bit drivers.
The principal advantage of interchangeable sockets is that, instead of a separate wrench for each of the many different fastener sizes and types, only separate sockets are needed for each size and type. Because of their versatility, nearly all screw and bolt types now have sockets of different types made to fit their bolts or nuts. Sockets often come as a "socket set" with many different sizes or types of sockets to fit the heads of different-sized fasteners. A ratchet of the "set size" is often included with the socket set. Sockets are commonly available in fractional inch and metric sizes, and in short (shallow) and longer (deep) varieties.
The interchangeable sockets are attached to the driving tool via a male/female square connection fitting (called the square drive). Standard sizes of square drives around the world include 1⁄4, 3⁄8, 1⁄2, 5⁄8, 3⁄4, 1, 1+1⁄2, 2+1⁄2 and 3+1⁄2 in (6.4, 9.5, 12.7, 15.9, 19.1, 25.4, 38.1, 63.5 and 88.9 mm) square drive sizes (dimensions up to 11⁄2 inches are standardized in ANSI B5.38-, a de facto international standard with no metric equivalents[citation needed]). 5⁄8-inch square drive is less popular, as are No. 4 and No. 5 spline drives specified in ANSI B107. 1⁄4, 3⁄8 in (6.4, 9.5 mm), and 1⁄2 in (13 mm) sizes are the most commonly found variants. This wide range of square drive sizes provides for a wide variety of socket types and sizes to suit small to very large nuts and bolts. Some square drivers have a through hole to attach the socket to the driver (using a retaining ring with O-ring and pin type, or single piece molded retaining rings), a locking pin, or friction ball. Some common hand ratchets employ a quick release button on their top for quick socket release of smaller sockets. The tool chosen to drive the socket wrench ultimately supplies the mechanical advantage needed by the user to provide the torque needed to loosen or tighten the fastener as may be required. Larger drivers are typically used with higher torque, while smaller drivers are used for convenience in smaller low torque applications. Given the limits of human strength and fatigue, torque above 800 N⋅m (600 lbf⋅ft) of torque will generally involve some kind of power assist, instead of the user simply pushing on the handle of a wrench. Very large sockets and drivers are typically powered by hydraulics to achieve torque.
Wrenches in the form of sockets—that is, a female driver to envelop the male head of a fastener—have existed for centuries. Early examples include the keys used to wind clocks since the Middle Ages. The heads and sockets were typically square; hex heads eventually became more common starting in the 20th century. The ratcheting socket wrench, with interchangeable (indexable) sockets, was invented by an American, J.J. Richardson, of Woodstock, Vermont. The tool was patented (U.S. patent 38,914) through the Scientific American Patent Agency on June 16, .[3][4] The first illustration of the tool appears on p. 248 of the April 16, issue of Scientific American.[5] In current American English usage, the term "socket wrench" describes the wrench, not the socket. However, the term "socket wrench" is not used in British English.[1][2]
Square heads and sockets were the easiest to make in the era when hand filing was the typical method of manufacture. With the proliferation of modern manufacturing methods it became just as easy to make hex heads and sockets as square ones. The hex form allows easier wrenching in confined surroundings (where nearby obstacles obstruct the swing of the wrench), because fewer degrees of arc are needed on each swing before it is possible to reposition the wrench onto the next set of flats. Ratchet wrenches further reduce this problem, as the wrench need only swing as many degrees as it takes for the ratchet pawl to catch the next tooth.
The quick release feature common to ratchets was invented and patented in (U.S. patent 3,208,318) by Peter M. Roberts.[6]
This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by editing the page to add missing items, with references to reliable sources. Image Name Description lug wrenchtube spanner
box spanner
A tube with six-sided sockets on both ends. It is turned with a short length of rod (Tommy bar or T-bar) inserted through two holes in the middle of the tube. Often used in situations where a common-sized fastener is recessed deep in a blind hole with minimal radial clearances for using a standard wrench/ratchet handle, such as automotive spark plugs or plumbing/tap hardware. Image Name Description ratcheting socket wrench The most common type of socket wrench. The ratcheting mechanism allows the nut to be tightened or loosened with a reciprocating motion, without requiring that the wrench be removed and refitted after each turn. Typically, a small lever on the ratchet head switches the wrench between tightening and loosening mode. These drive fittings come in four common sizes: 1⁄4 inch, 3⁄8 inch, 1⁄2 inch, and 3⁄4 inch (referred to as "drives", as in "3⁄8 drive"). Despite being denominated in inches, these are trade names (common product name), and manufacturers construct them to 6.3 mm, 9.5 mm, 12.5 mm and 19 mm, having been rounded to a reasonable, if haphazard, metric value. Larger drive sizes such as 1 inch and above are usually only encountered on fasteners of larger industrial equipment, such as tractor-trailers (articulated lorries), large cargo aircraft and passenger airliners, and marine work (merchant fleets, navies, shipyards). The sockets themselves come in a full range of inch and metric sizes. ("SAE" is often used as a blanket term for the nonmetric sizes, despite the technical inaccuracy of that usage.)The advantages of the system of a ratchet wrench with indexable sockets are speed of wrenching (it is much faster than a conventional wrench, especially in repetitive bolt-on or bolt-off usage) and efficiency of tooling cost and portability (it is much more efficient than a set of non-ratcheting wrenches, with every size head having its own handle).
Fine-tooth ratchets have finer teeth on the ratcheting components; these can be useful for tighter locations. Dual-pawl ratchets click twice for each tooth on the gear, effectively doubling the granularity of the mechanism.
click-style torque wrench Normally ratcheting and click when a preset torque is reached. Some torque wrenches have digital read-outs of torque. Other types of torque wrenches exist such as torque limiting that only allows a preset torque to be reached before they slip. For some applications, torque multiplying devices are used with a torque wrench. flex-head ratchet Ratchets in which the drive head pivots or swivels back and forth on the handle at a pivot to the rear of the ratchet head. swivel-head ratchetA number of other specialized ratchets—with hammer heads, multiple drive sizes, and other unusual features—are built by various manufacturers.
Image Name Description breaker barpower bar
flexible handle
A bar that attaches to a standard socket. Breaker bars are usually longer and built more sturdily than a standard ratchet handle and have a swiveling head that attaches to the socket. Breaker bars are used to break loose tight fasteners because their additional length and strength allows the same amount of force to generate significantly more torque than a standard length socket wrench. The use of a breaker bar also avoids potential damage to the ratcheting mechanism of a socket wrench. Once the fastener is "broken loose," it can be turned with a socket wrench or by hand. beam-style torque wrench Usually non-ratcheting, made to attach to standard sockets. By monitoring the degree of beam deflection, the applied torque can be determined. speed handlespeed brace
A crank-shaped handle that rapidly loosens or tightens a fastener when used with the correct socket. It works much like a brace and bit adapted to sockets. spinner handleThere are also power tool versions of "air" (pneumatic) ratchets which use compressed air power to drive air powered socket wrenches which tighten or loosen nuts or bolts. A second major variety of compressed air powered tools are impact wrenches which are used for common tasks such as lug nuts on wheels. Electric powered impact wrenches for the same tasks are not uncommon. Small cordless 12 volt and 18 volt impact drivers are often used today as powered ratchets to remove and install nuts and bolts. Hydraulic motor ratchets with their characteristic higher torque are rare outside heavy industry. The sockets used for impact duty (called "impact sockets") are made with thicker walls and tempered to a lower hardness so as not to shatter under the impacts of the impact tool. They are typically finished in black oxide rather than the usual chrome plating of the hand-tool variety. Standard sockets (i.e. non-impact sockets) may shatter if used with impact wrenches, presenting a safety risk.
There are two main types of sockets: impact and hand.[citation needed] Sockets are referred by their number of “points” for the pointed intersections of their multi-faceted interior sides. Common designs include :
Less frequently used shapes include the square 4-point, triple square 12-point (not to be confused with 12-point double hexagon), octagonal 8-point (not to be confused with the more common 8-point double square shape). These less common shapes are typically found in special applications or particular industries such as aircraft, PVC plumbing fittings or German and UK made automobiles. With rail cars, valve adjustment screws and pipe plugs, the 4-point square shaped driver can still be found in wide use both male and female configurations. Nuts and bolt heads are also produced in 12-point double hexagon shapes and various types of splines, more common to aircraft and aerospace applications.
When working with common 6-point hexagonal fasteners, the 12-point shaped socket offers double the number of starting points or possible positions by which to put the socket on the nut, and so allows alignment every 30 degrees, rather than every 60 degrees of angle. Most manufacturers of sockets for larger hexagonal bolts produce them in 6-point (hexagonal) and limited sizes of 12-point (double-hexagonal) configurations.
Some specialized sockets are made with a specialized "6 flute" etc. socket that attaches to damaged bolts of both metric and fractional inch sizes for removal. Some specialized sockets are made to fit specific specialized applications and are designed and sized for that specific application. Spark plug sockets, oxygen sensor sockets, ball joint sockets, axle nut sockets, etc. fit in this category.
A much rarer form of socket is the penta socket, or 5 point socket, used with things such as, lines, waterworks, and certain vehicles. By far the most common use for them is with water meters, which have 5 sided bolts or nuts.
Sockets for use with an impact wrench or impact driver are expected to receive higher torques, which is also percussive, and so need to be made of tougher materials. They are made from a thicker, tougher and more ductile alloy steel, often using CrMo steel to replace the CrV steel used in non-impact sockets. Most impact sockets made for "standard" hexagonal fasteners have a six-point design.
Chrome plated sockets are not suitable as the impact wrench may break the chrome plating, which can form razor sharp flakes - consequently impact sockets use different coatings - often a black phosphate conversion coating, or black oxide.
Sockets are available in various depths or lengths, often divided by most manufacturers into two categories of "standard" and "deep" according to the ANSI or DIN standard they are made to and the tolerances allowed by those specifications for each length of socket. Because the standards allow for some flexibility in tolerances, it is common to see two manufacturers make deep sockets of the same size but with slightly different depths even though both meet the same specification. Standard length, otherwise known as "shallow" sockets, have a lower profile and allow a user to access nuts in narrow spaces. Deep sockets are useful for turning nuts onto bolts when the bolt extends upwards into the socket (as in the case of many bolted joints), a very typical example being exhaust clamp bolts on a car. Low-profile sockets, shorter even than standard sockets, are available for some applications, typically oil filter removal on engines with limited access.
Although most manufacturers offer only those sizes and depths described within the common ANSI or DIN specifications, some exceptions do exist. Specialty manufacturers such as IMPERIAL-Newton Corp offer an expanded range of "extra deep" sockets for special industrial applications; and popular brands like Snap-on or Mac Tools offer what are called "semi-deep" or "mid-length" sockets, which provide much of a deep socket's depth, while fitting in tighter locations.
Some sockets are designed to have the same outside diameter and shape within a given set size. Each pass-through socket, within a given socket set, is designed to be used with a "special" ratchet that fits on the outside of the socket and not to the middle of the socket. By fitting the outside of the socket they allow the bolt or stud to extend through the socket, eliminating the need for a deep socket in some applications. By attaching to the outside of the socket they also allow the socket to be built up to 50% shorter and with 20% less width which is an advantage in some situations. Pass-through sockets and ratchets are built for 1⁄4-inch, 3⁄8-inch and 1⁄2-inch sets in both SAE and metric sizes. By using a fine tooth ratchet and socket system that allow a pass-through ratchet to be used as a conventional ratchet handle with interchangeable 1⁄4-inch and 3⁄8-inch drives some ratchets can be used with standard sockets. They are built by a number of manufacturers with a variety of trade names. Craftsman Tools call theirs Max Axess, and also sells GearWrench's Pass-Thru brands. Lowes calls their socket system Xtreme Access, etc.. Ratcheting box end wrenches can often be employed in the same application, but will nearly always be significantly wider.
Male bit drivers are sometimes incorrectly referred to as "sockets", but are in fact the opposite of a socket - a socket is a female recess or opening which receives another object. Common male bit drivers of this type include Allen hex wrenches (in both metric and fractional inch sizes), Torx (T-3 through T-50) spline wrenches, 4-point (square), and 12-point (triple square) male bit drivers. Other specialized screw heads that are often installed or removed with screwdriver type handles and appropriate type tip have socket varieties that fit the various screw head types and a can be attached to a socket wrench. Conversely, for low torque situations, a "socket spinner" screwdriver handle with a socket wrench type fitting on one end can be attached to many different types of sockets, bit drivers and extensions.
These are some of the common accessories that are used with 1⁄4-inch, 3⁄8-inch, 1⁄2-inch (and so on) socket wrenches:
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