| A wrench or spanner is a tool used to | | | | as with a socket wrench. The socket |
| provide a mechanical advantage in | | | | often rotates around the handle to allow |
| applying torque to turn bolts, nuts or | | | | the user to access a fastener from a |
| other hard-to-turn items. | | | | variety of angles. Commonly a Saltus |
| In American English, wrench is the | | | | wrench is part of a double-ended wrench, |
| standard term, while spanner refers to a | | | | with an open-end type head on the |
| specialized wrench with a series of pins | | | | opposide side from the socket head. |
| or tabs around the circumference. (These | | | | A mole wrench, also known as a mole |
| pins or tabs fit into the holes or | | | | grip, is not a wrench but a type of |
| notches cut into the object to be | | | | self-locking pliers |
| turned.) In British English, spanner is | | | | Other general wrenches |
| the standard term. Hinged tools, such as | | | | Wrenches for screws and bolts with |
| pliers or tongs, are not generally | | | | internal sockets — |
| considered wrenches. | | | | Hex key wrench, or Allen wrench / Allen |
| Common wrenches | | | | key — a (usually) L-shaped wrench |
| Open-end wrench, or Open-ended spanner: | | | | fabricated from hexagonal wire stock of |
| a one-piece wrench with a U-shaped | | | | various sizes, used to turn screw or |
| opening that grips two opposite faces of | | | | bolt heads designed with a hexagonal |
| the bolt or nut. This wrench is often | | | | recess to receive this wrench. |
| double ended, with a different sized | | | | Bristol® wrench, or Bristol spline |
| opening at each end. The ends are | | | | wrench — another wrench designed for |
| generally oriented at an angle of around | | | | internal socket head screws and bolts. |
| 30 degrees to the longitudinal axis of | | | | The cross-section resembles a |
| the handle. This allows a greater range | | | | square-toothed gear. Not a common |
| of movement in enclosed spaces by | | | | design, it is chiefly used on small set |
| flipping the wrench over. | | | | screws. |
| Box-end wrench, or Box spanner, or Ring | | | | TORX® wrench — a relatively recent |
| spanner: a one-piece wrench with an | | | | internal socket head screw design. The |
| enclosed opening that grips the faces of | | | | cross-section resembles a star. Commonly |
| the bolt or nut. The recess is generally | | | | used on automated equipment and computer |
| a six-point or twelve-point opening for | | | | components. |
| use with nuts or bolt heads with a | | | | Strap wrench or chain wrench — a |
| hexagonal shape. The twelve-point fits | | | | self-tightening wrench with either a |
| onto the fastening at twice as many | | | | chain or strap of metal, leather, or |
| angles, an advantage where swing is | | | | rubber attached to a handle, used to |
| limited. Eight-point wrenches are also | | | | grip and turn smooth cylindrical |
| made for square shaped nuts and bolt | | | | objects. In bicycle repair circles it is |
| heads. Box-ends are also often | | | | known as a chain whip and used to remove |
| double-ended. | | | | and install cassettes onto rear hubs. |
| Combination wrench, or Combination | | | | Specialized wrenches |
| spanner: a double-ended tool with one | | | | Spoke wrench or spoke key: a wrench with |
| end being like an open-end wrench or | | | | a clearance slot for a wire wheel spoke |
| open-ended spanner, and the other end | | | | such as a bicycle wheel and a drive head |
| being like a box-end wrench or ring | | | | for the adjustment nipple nut. |
| spanner. Both ends generally fit the | | | | Tap wrench: a double–handled wrench |
| same size bolt. | | | | for turning the square drive on taps |
| Flare-nut wrench, or Tube wrench: used | | | | used in threading operations (cutting |
| for gripping the nuts on the ends of | | | | the female threads such as within a nut) |
| tubes. The design is similar to a | | | | or a precision reamer. |
| box–end wrench but with an opening to | | | | Die wrench: A double–handled wrench |
| allow the wrench to fit over the tube. | | | | for turning the dies used in threading |
| Adjustable end wrench, or Adjustable | | | | operations (cutting the male threads |
| spanner, or Shifting spanner: an | | | | such as on a bolt). |
| open-ended wrench with adjustable | | | | Torque wrench: a socket wrench drive |
| (usually smooth) jaws, also sometimes | | | | tool that measures the amount of |
| called by the original patent holder's | | | | rotational force applied to the |
| brand name as a Crescent® Wrench | | | | socket—this may be indicated visually |
| (Crescent Tool and Horseshoe Company). | | | | with a rod or dial or may simply slip |
| Monkey wrench: an old type of adjustable | | | | when a set torque is exceeded. The |
| end wrench with a straight handle and | | | | torque wrench would also be categorized |
| smooth jaws, these are also known in the | | | | as a measuring tool. |
| UK as 'gas grips'. | | | | Drum wrench: a tool commonly used to |
| Crescent® wrench: the brand name of an | | | | open bungs on large 55 gallon drums. |
| improved version of the adjustable end | | | | Lug wrench: a socket wrench used to turn |
| wrench (see the photo at right) | | | | lug nuts on automobile wheels. |
| developed by the Crescent Tool and | | | | Plumber wrench: a tool to screw (rotate |
| Horseshoe Company. Often used as a | | | | with force) various pipes during |
| generic term. | | | | plumbing. |
| Pipe wrench: an adjustable end wrench | | | | Tuning wrench: a socket wrench used to |
| with self-tightening properties and hard | | | | tune some stringed musical instruments. |
| serrated jaws that securely grip soft | | | | Oil-filter wrench: a type of wrench for |
| iron pipe and pipe fittings. Sometimes | | | | removing cylindrical oil filters. It may |
| known by the original patent holder's | | | | be either a strap–type wrench or a |
| brand name as a Stillson® Wrench. | | | | socket. |
| Socket wrench: a hollow cylinder that | | | | Sink wrench: a self-tightening wrench |
| fits over one end of a nut or bolt | | | | mounted at the end of a torque tube with |
| head—may include a handle but usually | | | | a transverse handle at the opposite end. |
| used with various drive tools. It | | | | Used to tighten tubing connections to |
| generally has either a six–point or | | | | washstand valves in ceramic sinks - the |
| twelve–point recess, may be shallow or | | | | nuts are often located deep in recesses. |
| deep, and may have a built-in universal | | | | The self-tightening head may be flipped |
| joint. In addition, face driving sockets | | | | over to loosen connections. |
| are available. These are more durable | | | | Podging Wrench or Podger: A steel |
| still, and have the ability to drive a | | | | erecting tool which consists of a normal |
| range of hexagonal head sizes, with less | | | | wrench at one end and a spike at the |
| risk of damaging the nut or bolt head | | | | other, used for lining up bolt holes. |
| than traditional "corner" drivers. The | | | | Golf shoe spike wrench: a T-handle |
| drive handles generally used are: | | | | wrench with two pins and clearance for |
| a break–over (or hinged) handle. | | | | the spike - allows removal and insertion |
| a ratchet handle (contains a mechanism | | | | of spikes in shoes. |
| which allows the socket to be turned | | | | Head nut wrench: a flat wrench with a |
| without removing it from the nut or | | | | circular hole and two inward protruding |
| bolt). | | | | pins to engage slots in the nut. This |
| a speed handle (sometimes called a crank | | | | type of nut is used on bicycles to |
| handle). | | | | secure the front fork pivot bearing to |
| a screwdriver handle (for use of the | | | | the headpiece of the frame. |
| socket as a nutdriver). | | | | Fire hydrant wrench (hose connection): |
| Sockets are often sold as a set | | | | The hose connection has a threaded |
| containing a collection of sockets of | | | | collar with a protruding pin. From the |
| various sizes and associated drive | | | | handle of the wrench an arc has at its |
| tools; usually including, as a minimum, | | | | end a loop to engage the pin. |
| extensions, a ratchet driver, and a | | | | Fire hydrant wrench (valve operator): |
| universal joint. Sockets are also used | | | | This is a pentagonal (five sided) box |
| with various power tools. | | | | wrench. |
| Crowfoot socket wrench: a type of socket | | | | Chain wrench: Similar to a pipe wrench, |
| designed to fit some of the same drive | | | | but uses a chain similar to a drive |
| handles as the regular socket but | | | | chain, instead of an adjustable jaw. The |
| non-cylindrical in shape. The ends are | | | | links of the chain have extended pegs |
| the same as those found on the open-end, | | | | which fit into grooves in the front of |
| box-end, or the flare-nut wrenches. | | | | the handle, with one end of the chain |
| These sockets use for use where space | | | | attached permently to the handle. This |
| restrictions preclude the use of a | | | | is used in situations where pipe |
| regular socket. Their principle use is | | | | wrenches can't maintain a proper grip on |
| with torque wrenches. | | | | an object such as a wet or oily pipe. |
| Saltus wrench: similar in concept to a | | | | Left-handed wrench: A non-existent tool |
| socket wrench. A Saltus wrench features | | | | which is often the object of a fool's |
| a socket permanently affixed to a | | | | errand. |
| handle; sockets are not interchangeable | | | | |