What is a box-end wrench?
Box-end wrenches have ends that enclose the nut and have 6, 8, 12, or 16 points inside the head. A wrench with 12 points is used on either a hexagonal or a square nut; the 8- and 16-point wrenches are used on square members. Because… Early box and socket wrenches fit only a particular nut or screw with flat surfaces on the head.
Do open ended wrenches come in different sizes?
Many open ended wrenches are double sided with a different size of wrench on each end. Because the size of the wrench head is exact to the nut, you’ll need to use the right size wrench to fit around the nut—meaning you’ll have to carry a full set of wrenches. But you will also get a tighter grip on the nut.
What kind of wrenches are in a tool box?
Open-ended wrenches are one of the most common sets found in a tool box and need less clearance than box wrenches. The downside is that they’re more likely to strip the edges of a bolt than their close-ended cousins. 3. Ratcheting Wrench
How do socket wrenches work?
Socket wrench sets typically come with one ratchet and a set of sockets of different sizes. The socket fits completely over the nut like a box end wrench but with a deeper socket, then the wrench attaches to the socket. This means you can move the wrench over and over without ever taking it off of the nut.
What is a box end wrench?
wrenches. Box-end wrenches have ends that enclose the nut and have 6, 8, 12, or 16 points inside the head. A wrench with 12 points is used on either a hexagonal or a square nut; the 8- and 16-point wrenches are used on square members. Because…. Early box and socket wrenches fit only a particular nut or screw with flat surfaces on the head.
What tool fits a particular nut?
Read More. In hand tool: Screwdrivers and w renches. Early box and socket wrenches fit only a particular nut or screw with flat surfaces on the head. The open-end wrench may have rectangular slots on one or both ends.
What is a box wrench?
Categorically speaking, a wrench is a tool that fits around a nut (as opposed to inside a screw or bolt, as the screwdriver ). Another property of the wrench is that it uses leverage, vis-a-vis the wrench’s handle, to tighten or loosen the nut.
Which side of a wrench should be away from the direction you are pulling?
Same goes with adjustable wrenches: the stable (and solid) side should be away from the direction you’re pulling, while the adjustable side is closest. One more thing to consider is the angle of the wrench arm itself, giving yourself the best leverage.
What to do if a bolt is stuck?
If a nut or bolt is really stuck, try a quick spray of Liquid Wrench or silicone directly onto the threads. Avoid using too much of this lubricant — you want it on the threads, not on the ears of your nut or bolt. One more use of a wrench is to hold one end in place. Fasteners often consist of a bolt and a nut.
What type of wrench is used for changing tires?
Other types of wrenches include the pipe wrench (for, you guessed it, pipes), socket wrench, adjustable wrench, lug wrench (a box wrench specially designed for changing tires), allen wrench. This last one was placed handily in the screwdriver category, despite the fact that, unlike the screwdriver, it does feature a lateral handle for leverage.
How to get a wrench to go full range of motion?
When possible, place the wrench at a 90-degree angle parallel to your body, so that pulling the wrench straight toward you allows for maximum torque. Once it’s loose, and less brute strength is needed, you can go for the wrench’s full range of motion. Here’s a neat little trick, if the nut is stuck.
Is it safe to use an open end wrench on uneven surfaces?
While momentum-driven face plants onto uneven metal surfaces may provide hilarious and prize-winning video footage, it’s generally safer and healthier to fall away from metal surfaces. Open-end wrenches are slightly angled. For best stability, angle your open-end wrench so that the more-open side is closest to you ...
Do you need a metric wrench for Ikea furniture?
If you’re building a piece of furniture from Ikea, you’re more likely to need a metric wrench. When beginning your tool box, it’s a good idea to get a set of each. To make it happen, connect the wrench to the nut or bolt, and give it a pull — and yes, it’s best to pull, rather than push.
Wrenches vs. Ratchets and Sockets
Wrenches perform the same function as ratchets and sockets — tightening and loosening fasteners — but there are differences and situations that call for one over the other. For example, a box-end wrench is a good option for loosening stuck fasteners because you can apply more torque without risking damage to a ratchet mechanism.
Wrench Types
Wrenches are available in a variety of styles for different applications. Some are designed to work with standard (Society of Automotive Engineers or SAE) fasteners, and some are for metric applications. Look for color-coded wrenches to help you quickly identify standard or metric. Here are some of the more common wrench types and their uses.
Strap Wrench
Tightens, loosens and turns a variety of different-sized items that don't have flat faces (container lids and plumbing fittings) for a standard wrench to grip
What is a box wrench?
The box wrench has an enclosed loop at either end. The “box” head fits either hexagonal or square bolt heads, and can provide enough torque to loosen even tough bolts. Each end has a different sized box, and the boxes may be even with the handle or offset vertically to give more turning clearance.
What is an open end wrench?
The open end is used to remove or fasten nuts quickly, as it can be removed and replaced easily at the end of each turn arc. 2. Open-Ended Wrench. The namesake for this category of wrenches, an open-ended wrench has a U-shaped head at either end of the shaft.
What type of wrench is used to calibrate a maximum torque setting?
9. Torque Wrench. This special type of socket wrench allows you to calibrate a maximum torque setting.
What makes hex screws so useful?
What makes hex screws so darn useful is the fact that children can’t just grab a penny and unscrew the furniture when you’re not looking. Another advantage is the L-shape. You can insert the long end, wrap a finger around the shorter end, and use it for a handle when working with deeper screws.
What is a plumber's wrench?
Plumber’s Wrench. A variation of the pliers wrench, the plumber’s wrench adds a spring or worm wheel between the handles for better control. The head is shaped to better fit hexagonal nuts. Many plumbers almost exclusively use this tool, which works great on pipe joints and other fixtures.
What are the different types of wrenches?
24 Types of Wrenches. 1. Combination Wrench. Perhaps the most common type of wrench in its class (and one of the most useful in general), the combination wrench has a box end on one side and an open end on the other. The box end fits both hex and square nuts and is usually used to loosen a tough nut. The open end is used to remove ...
What is a flare nut wrench?
The flare nut wrench (also called a line wrench) is a variation of an open-ended wrench takes the box design and removes a portion just wide enough to fit around a tube or thin pipe.
What is a box end wrench?
These are closed-end wrenches, typically with six or 12 points around the inside diameter of the jaws. The six-pointed jaw is designed to fit hexagonal heads and nuts, while the 12-point configuration will also accommodate a square nut. The ends of the wrench are offset slightly. Box-end wrenches usually offer a firmer grip than do open-end wrenches. The thin wall of the jaw also makes access to nuts in tight spaces easier, but there are situations where these wrenches cannot be used, since they have to be slid on over the end of the bolt. ( View example on Amazon .)
How to use adjustable wrench?
When using an adjustable wrench, set the jaws to fit precisely over the nut, rocking the wrench slightly as you tighten the jaws to help assure a firm fit . Make sure as well that for added strength the nut is positioned as deep as it will go into the throat of the adjustable wrench.
How many wrenches are there in a set?
All wrenches are available in many sizes, and can be purchased individually or in sets. A small set may have six to 10 wrenches , ranging in size from perhaps five-sixteenths to one inch. Standard wrenches are sold in sixteenth-inch increments up to one and a half inches (and in metric sizes, too, of course). The length of the tool varies in proportion to its size, ranging from about four inches to almost two feet. The logic is that the shorter (or longer) tool minimizes (or maximizes) the amount of force you can use to tighten a smaller (or larger) nut. This helps avoid shearing off bolts through the application of too much pressure.
What is a ratchet handle?
The handle that drives the sockets may resemble a screwdriver, though more common are ratchet handles. The ratchet eliminates the necessity of removing the socket from a nut only to refit it for another stroke when working in tight quarters where there is limited room to swing the handle. The tool will turn the bolt when swung in one direction, but will return without backing up the socket. A lever allows the process to be reversed, so that the tool can be used alternately for tightening or loosening.
What is socket in a box?
The sockets themselves are cylindrical receptacles. One end has points that resemble those in the jaw of a box wrench, while the other has a square hole into which the driver mechanism fits. Individual sockets are referred to by the square opening (the drive size) and the dimension of nut over which the opposite end will fit.
How big is an alien wrench?
They are manufactured in a variety of sizes, from a sixteenth of an inch up to three-quarters of an inch, though alien wrenches larger than three-eighths of an inch are rare except in working with very large machinery.
What type of nuts and bolts were used in the Renaissance?
The first nuts and bolts, which were put to use during the early years of the Renaissance, had square heads . The hexagonal (six-sided) design followed soon afterward and remains the dominant variety today, although square heads are still the rule on carriage and lag bolts.
