A spanner or sometimes called a wrench, is the most common tool used for gripping, fastening and loosening nuts and bolts. The spanners that have adjustable jaws are referred to as adjustable wrenches (or in the USA crescents). Most good quality spanners and wrenches are drop forged and chrome plated. They are forged from high quality steel such as chromium-vanadium. This is then hardened and tempered to give a hard work face to ensure the tool last a long work life and don't round and burr over the edges.Slip Joint Pliers

Here are a few different kinds of spanners you might have heard of:

Adjustable wrenches

Open-ended spanners

Ring spanners

Torque wrenches

Flare-nut spanner

Socket wrenches

Spanners are measured in both imperial and metric measures. Example, Japanese cars require metric spanners while most American vehicles need imperial spanners.

Most common spanners are used for loosening or tightening hexagonal bolts or nuts with flat surfaces that fit snug into the spanner or wrench jaws. Adjustable wrenches can be used for many different sizes so when applying the maximum tightening or loosening torque isn't required these hand tools are very fast and convenient. They are not recommended however if you need to apply a lot of torque as a fixed jaw spanner can apply more torque.FORGE

Tips For When You Buy A Spanner Or Wrench

As spanners and wrenches are very important tools in your automotive workshop or shed at home, they need to be good quality. Spanners and wrenches are one of the most commonly used tools also so having a good range of sizes is important also. If you have a spanner that is the intended size for the application there is less risk that you will damage the nut or bolt using an incorrect tool. Try to take into account whether you need imperial or metric. Most spanners come in some sort of storage. The most popular is a leather or stitched pouch that the spanners can slide into. This is ideal if you are needing your spanners on a work site and can only take a few tools. They roll up into a bundle and become very easy to carry and store in a tool box. Another more common method to store your spanners is in a foam or plastic insert that sits in your toolbox. The spanners are then organised into their sizes and don't rattle around in the toolbox drawers.