12 Different Types of Spanners and How to Use Them
We use spanner types more than any other tool to tighten or loosen jobs. Typically, we construct these from carbon steel or drop-forge steel. We create these in various forms and sizes to meet the customer’s needs. You can also use screwdrivers to tighten and loosen any task or screw.
You can use different kinds of spanners of the same size to remove or tighten a nut or bolt. We measure all spanners in millimetres and inches. So, this reading will explain spanners, their types, and how to use them.
Let’s begin!
What is a Spanner?
To tighten or loosen fasteners like bolts and nuts, a spanner or wrench provides grip and mechanical torque. Chromium-vanadium alloy tool steels, often drop-forged, make up the high-quality ones. Additionally, they undergo chrome plating to withstand corrosion and simplify cleaning.
Millimeter spanners come in a variety of sizes. 7mm spanners, like inch spanners, come in 1/16 and double-ended versions, while ring spanners come in sets of 6, 8, 12, and 36.
The set of 6-inch spanners includes both double-ended and ring spanners in the following sizes. 1 X 15/16 inch, 7/16 X 13/16 inch, 3/4 X 11/6 inch, 5/8 X 19/32 inch, 1/2 X 9/16 inch, and 3/8 X 7/16 inch.
The common types of spanners are open-end or single-end spanners, double-end spanners, ring spanners, socket spanners, box spanners, combination spanners, hook spanners, adjustable spanners, T socket spanners, Magneto spanners, Allen key, and pin-face adjustable spanners.
Open-End or Single-End Spanner
These spanners only have one open end, and you can hold the nut or bolt head to loosen or tighten it. A single-end spanner is another name for it. The gap between their jaws determines their size.
Therefore, we choose the spanner based on the distance between the opposing surfaces of the nut or bolt. We refer to these spanners as D-spanners and categorize them into two types: single and double-ended.
A single-ended spanner can tighten a single-sized bolt, head, or nut. The spanner’s “flopping” frequently displaces the hexagonal nut’s opening at a 15° angle, allowing it to receive a full revolution in just 30°.
Double-ended spanners are available in various sizes, such as 6×7, 10×11, 30×32, among others. Employers use it similarly to a single-ended spanner. Generally, people use a double-open spanner to tighten and loosen rotary fasteners like nuts and bolts.
Double-Ended Spanner
These spanners feature open ends on both ends, which are designed to accommodate the heads of nuts or bolts. The angles between these two ends and the body range from 15 to 30 degrees. The most popular spanners are of this sort.
Combination Spanner
These types of spanners combine the functions of an open-end spanner with a ring. You can use these spanners to open and tighten a nut bolt of the same size at both ends.
Ring Spanner
The ends of these spanners may or may not have holes. Frequently, we cut the hole with 12 notches to ensure we can grip the bolt or nut head from every angle. When open-ended spanners are not available, we use these spanners instead.
Often, these rings bend at an angle to each other. These rings integrate projected teeth that facilitate the easy grasp of six-sided nut bolts. It ensures a secure grip on all surfaces, preventing slipping. Some ring spanners don’t have their ends bent.
Allen Key
These are thin steel rods with six faces bent at an angle of 90 degrees from one end. On the upper side, they have a six-faced hole. These bolts accomplish tightening while maintaining the job’s surface level.
These are available in a variety of sizes and quantities. The Allen Key, also known as a socket and screw wrench, is hexagonal and fits into the holes of the socket head or safety set screws.
Box Spanner
These types of spanners use either thin or thick pipes. Their ends have six sides and are made on either one or both ends, making it simple to grasp nut bolts with six phases.
We place holes across one or both ends of the rod to allow for its insertion and use as a handle. The application takes place in deeper areas.
Adjustable Spanner
These are specialized spanners, also referred to as screw wrenches. They can stretch or shorten their jaws to tighten or loosen the nut bolts. They’re used for nuts that no other spanner will fit.
“T” Socket Spanner
These spanners are almost identical to box spanners, but they have a fixed hand on top and a socket integrated into the bottom. These sockets come in a variety of sizes. People use them in deep spaces.
Magneto Spanner
This is a collection of small, single-end spanners. We connect a group of spanners of various sizes together to tighten or open small nut bolts.
Pin Face Adjustable Spanner
We produce this spanner by riveting two legs together. We attach a pin to the end of each leg. We use it on round nuts that feature holes on their periphery for the spanner pin to pass through. You can increase or decrease the space between its legs to use it on a variety of nuts.
Socket Spanner
In the shape of sets, these are available in small and large sizes. Along with these spanners, you’ll need a Tommy bar, Universal Tommy, and Ratchet Tommy.
A socket spanner can tighten or loosen nut bolts in slanting, straight, or congested spaces.
The shape of these spanners is that of a round socket. This type of spanner drills a square hole into one end. Conversely, the outside of this type of spanner features carved grooves of nut-bolt size, similar to a ring spanner.
A square hole holds the Tommy bar in place. When limited space prevents the use of e-ring spanners, we resort to these spanners. In addition, we use socket spanners to tighten nut bolts after measuring their torque with a torque wrench.
Hook Spanner
These spanners are for nuts without surrounding holes. Hook spanners are also called C spanners. These nuts don’t have any faces on them. As a result, the spanner’s pin lodges in the hole and rotates to either open or tighten it.
The effective way of using a spanner is by using the right tools for the right job and also the right size. To turn an adjustable spanner forward, place your thumb on the spanner’s gear.
This kind of spanner is simple to use, as they have a plethora of utilities attached to it. The gear allows the movement of the adjustable jaw to open. This helps to create distance between both jaws; it also facilitates simple grip and helps to rotate without freeing the bolt or nut.
Securely tighten the spanner jaw around the fastener. The adjustable spanners are made for working in different machines for simple access and can be used to loosen different sizes of fasteners. Garages and motor repair shops also stock these spanners.
To properly use a slide spanner, you also need to slide the adjustable thumb knob towards the handle. Positioning the spanner around the nut or bolt helps to widen the jaws. Adjustments slide closely to tighten the bolt.
The spanner is twisting in an anticlockwise direction to tighten the fastener and in a closewise direction to tighten the fastener. Household maintenance work often uses these types of spanners.
