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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nA spanner or wrench is a hand tool used to tighten or loosen nuts and bolts. They can also be used to hold objects in place while they are being worked on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wrenches are almost always made from metal. Some are fixed in shape, while others have two jaws that compress together around the item being manipulated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What is the Difference Between a Spanner and a Wrench?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Spanner is a British name for a wrench. Typically a spanner has two usable ends that are used for turning a nut or bolt. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A wrench does a similar job, but some types of wrench can be used on other objects such as pipes or for particular jobs we will look at later. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The word \u201cspanner\u201d<\/em> is believed to come from a German word used in the late 18th<\/sup> century \u2013 \u201cSpannen,\u201d <\/em>which means to twist. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The word \u201cwrench\u201d<\/em> is from the Old English word \u201cwrencan,\u201d<\/em> which also means to twist. It actually dates back as far as the Norman Conquest of 1066!<\/p>\n\n\n\n This means that \u201cspanner\u201d <\/em>is a far more modern word, relatively speaking, and was not in use in England before the first settlers had emigrated to the Americas. This is why the older word wrench is used in the US. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Spanner is also the more common term in Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Spanners\/wrenches are generally used to tighten and loosen nuts and bolts or temporarily hold things in position. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Traditionally a spanner has a series of flat planes that correspond to the shape of a nut or bolt, fitting over it perfectly so it can be tightened or released. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There are various ways of using a spanner, depending on the type of spanner and what you are using it for. Mostly they are fitted over the component that needs to be either tightened or loosened and are moved in the appropriate direction, which places leverage on the joint, allowing it to move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the section below titled \u201cAre there different types of wrench?\u201d<\/em> You can learn about some of the most common wrenches and how they work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There are a multitude of different wrenches, often with specific jobs. In the list below, I have given a brief description of 10 common types of wrenches that will usually be found in the average toolbox.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A combination wrench<\/a> or spanner has two ends. One end is an open C or U-shape that has equally spaced flat surfaces around the inside. The other end is a closed loop in the form of a hexagon on the inside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Either end can be fit around a nut of the correct size. The open end is useful for nuts in a confined space, and the closed end is for the easier turning of nuts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Generally, they are sold in sets, so you have plenty of different sizes to choose from. They are probably the most common and recognizable kind of wrench.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The adjustable wrench, or adjustable spanner, has two jaws that are open-sided at the end of a handle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The top jaw is a fixed part on the molded body of the tool, while the bottom jaw can be moved up and down by turning a spiral screw. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The tool is also sometimes called a crescent wrench or open-ended wrench. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Because it can be adjusted to fit a wide range of bolts, it\u2019s a useful tool to have, avoiding the need to carry a large set of combination wrenches. The only downside is that the large head can be tricky to fit in small spaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rather similar to the adjustable wrench, a monkey wrench is larger in size. The screw for making the size variable has a different configuration, being below the bottom movable jaw of the tool. Larger versions of this tool are often known as a \u201cKing Dick\u201d<\/em> in the UK. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Pliers<\/a> have a multitude of uses, not just for tightening and loosening nuts but for gripping objects and stripping, shaping, or cutting wire.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pliers can come in a large variety of shapes and sizes. They work by using a scissor-type action as each of the two gripping\/cutting ends is a part of its opposing handle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The pliers can be opened and closed easily, just like opening and closing the blades on some scissors. This makes them useful for using on different types and sizes of nuts and bolts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Usually, rather than tightening a nut, the pliers are used to hold the bolt in place to make tightening the nut with another type of wrench easier and prevent it from turning. <\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat is a Spanner Used for?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How Do You Use a Spanner?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Are There Different Types of Wrench?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Combination Wrench \/ Spanner<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2. Adjustable Wrench<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. Monkey Wrench<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
4. Pliers <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
5. Socket Wrench<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n