Wrench definition; types and safety precautions

 

Wrench definition

A wrench or spanner is a tool used to provide grip and mechanical advantage in applying torque to turn objects usually rotary fasteners, such as nuts and bolts or keep them from turning. 

The purpose of a wrench is to turn a bolt head or nut. Selecting the appropriate wrench depends on the fasteners design and size. It can also depends on how difficult the fastener is to reach. Wrench types include open end, combination adjustable, and Allen. 

In the UK, ireland, Australia and New Zealand spanner is the standard term. The most common shapes are called open ended spanner and ring spanner. The term wrench is generally used for tools that turn non-fastening devices(e.g tap wrench and pipe wrench), or may be used for a monkey wrench an adjustable pipe wrench. 

Higher quality wrenches are typically made from chromium-vanadium alloy tool steels and are often drop-forged. They are frequently chrome-plated to resist corrosion and for ease of cleaning. 

Wrenches are made in various shapes and sizes and are used for gripping, fastening, turning, tightening and loosening things like pipes, pipe fittings, nut and bolts. 

Here is a tip: When using a wrench, pull it toward you rather than pushing it away. This gives you more control and reduces the chance of injury if the wrench slips. 

Types of wrenches. 

1. Pipe wrench. 

2. Basin wrench. 

3. Crowfoot wrench. 

4. Short-body or stubby wrench

5. Ratchet wrench. 

6. Open end wrench. 

7. Combination wrench. 

8. Adjustable wrench. 

9. Chain wrench. 

10. Socket wrench. 

11. Oil filter wrench. 

12. Pliers wrench. 

EXPLANATION

1. Pipe wrench:

 pipe wrenches is any of several types of wrench that are designed to turn threaded pipe and pipe fittings for assembly (tightening) or disassembly (loosening). It's jaw is made of forging tough steel. On it movable jaw flat thread are cuts and on its fixed jaw, a plate is joined with a groove in it. 

A knowledge round but is fixed in this groove. On revolving this nut, the movable jaw increases or reduces the size by moving up and down. 

Pipe wrenches are not intended for regular use on hex nuts or other fittings. However, if a hex nut becomes rounded (stripped) so that it cannot be moved by standard wrenches, a pipe wrench can be used to free the bolt or nut, because the pipe wrench is designed to bitr into rounded metal surfaces. 

2. Basin wrench

Basin wrench is a specialty plumbing tool that nearly all professional plumbers own and one that every homeowner who does DIY plumbing work should own. The tool is designed to do only one thing which is to install or remove faucet but it does that one thing better than any other tool. 

It is used in confine spaces or turn fasteners that would be difficult or impossible to reach wi5h a plumber wrench or other type of wrenches. For wrench that has been shrunk, and you get a stubby wrench. 

Stubby wrenches have an open end on one side and a box end on the other. This allow you to choose between two functions with a single tool, just as with a traditional wrench example, the threaded nuts used to secure faucet to sinks are often located in deeply released places that can only be accessed with a basin wrench. 

3. Crowfoot wrench

Called a crowfoot wrench because of its shape, this wrench was used in steam train repair work and to reach and to hold nuts and bolts theads In difficult to reach places. This tool is part of a collection of hand tools used in the inspection and repair of steam locomotives in the early to the mid 20tg century, roughly 1900-1955. Light repairs on steam locomotives were usually done in roundhouse at the amanuensis small locomotive terminals throughout a railroad system; heavy repair were done in a large, centralized repair shop serving the whole system (often referred to as the "back shop"). 

Crowfoot wrench fits into the side of the nut or bolt rather than  over the top like a standard socket set. This allows the crowfoot  wrench to work in arear where there is insufficient space above the bolt to fit the standard socket. 

4. Stubby wrench

Is a wrench that has been shrunk, and you get a stubby wrench. Stubby wrenches have an open end on one side and a box end on the other. This allows you to choose between two functions with a single tool, just as with a traditional wrench. 

Stubby wrenches are ueful for more than just your engine bay. They can be key players in removing stuff like exhaust connections or driveshaft bolts. And because they are so small, you can take them with you and have them around without taking up a bunch of space in your truck or glovebox. 

5. Ratchet wrench

A ratcheting socket wrench commonly known as a ratchet is a mechanical tool that tightens and loosens nuts and bolts more efficiently than other wrenches. Ratchets attach to different sizes sockets, making them a versatile tool for your tool box. 

This wrench permits you to turn the wrench to tighten or loosen without removing and readjusting the position of the wrench handle hitting an obstacle after each turn. This makes it very easy to work in tight areas. 

The Ratcheting wrench is similar to the combination wrench, the ratcheting wrench, the ratcheting wrench has at least one end inside which is a ratcheting device. 

6. Open end wrench 

A wrench with jaws having a fixed width of opening at one or both ends of the handle. The tools are known as open end wrenches and are made in various sizes to fit specific bolt and nut sizes. 

The open end wrench may have rectangular slots on one or both ends. In their earliest forms, such wrenches with straight, angled or s-shaped handles, were made of wrought iron. Cast iron came into use around 1800. Modern wrenches are drop forgings and come in many formats. 

7. Combination wrench

These are commonly known as "combination" spanner. Combination wrenches have a closed loop on one side (box-end) for hexagonal or square nuts, while the other end is an open U-shape (open-end). These wrenches are often used for nuts that are hard to loosen. The closed end can loosen the nut, while the open end is then used to unscrew it fully. 

It is often used for hard nuts, the closed-end loosens the nut so that the open end is used to quickly finish it. Like sockets, a combination wrench is commonly sold in a kind of wrench size. 

8. Adjustable wrench

Wrench with one open end and one socket end. An adjustable spanner or adjustable wrench sometimes also called " crescent wrench" is an open end wrench with one fixed jaw and another movable jaw, allowing it to be used with different sizes of fasteners heads, by turning the screw that moves the movable jaw. 

It is often used for hard nuts, the closed end loosens the nut so that the open end is used to quickly finish it. Like socket, a combination wrench is commonly sold in a kind of wrench size. 

9. Chain wrench

The chain wrench may be used for tightening the threaded workpiece on a threaded coupler or used for loosing the threaded workpiece on the threaded coupler. The chain wrench include a chain wrench body with the front of wrench body having a plurality of teeth for engaging and gripping of the workpiece. 

In order to fasten or dismantle pipes or round jobs of larger diameter, a chain wrench is used. The job is held in the wrench it is revolved. A plate having cuts in its mouth is fitted, which is join with a rivet. Chain drips the job very strongly. 

10. Socket wrench

The socket wrench (or ratchet) uses a ratcheting mechanism to allow you to quickly tighten or loosen the nut or bolt without removing the wrench from the fastener. 

The principal advantage of iinterchangeable socket is that, instead of a seperate wrench for each of the many different fasteners sizes and types, only seperate sockets are needed for each size and type. Because of their versatility, nearly all screw and bolt type now have socket of different types made to fit their bolts and nuts. Sockets often comes as a "socket set" with many different sizes or types of socket to fit the heads of different sizes fasteners. 

11. Oil filter wrench

The oil filter wrench is actually of four different styles, which is used primarily in the automotive industry. The chain strap and metal strap style filters apply a loop to protect around the filter casing. 

A socket style filter wrenchresembles a cup which consists of chopped parts. These fit under a filter cap and are used with a ratchet handle. 

12. Pliers wrench

A plier wrench consist of a flat-edged jaws at an angle and each is attached to a handle, which is joined by a bolt. The names may not sound familiar, you may have used them at some moment in your life. 

A bolt slide between two or more positions of an opening on the upper jaw, providing the wrenches to be arranged to fit in different sizes of heads. The name evolves from the way this tool is gripped, which is similar to a pair of pliers. 

What are general safety tips when using wrenches? 

1. Use the correct wrench for the job-pipe wrenches for pipes plumbing fittings and general use wrenches for nutsand bolts. 

2. Discard any damaged wrenches (e.g open ended wrenches with spread jaws or box wrenches ith broken or damaged points). 

3. Select the corner jaw size to avoid slippage. 

4. Wear safety glasses or a face shield ( with state glasses or googles) where there is a hazard of flying particles or falling debris. 

5. Position your body in a way that will prevent you from losing balance and hurting yourself in the wrench slips or something (e.g a bolt) suddenly breaks. 

6. Use a box or socket wrench with straight handle, rather than an offset handle, when possible. 

7. Ensure that the jaw of an open ended wrench is in full contact (fully seated, flat not tilted) with the nut or bolt before applying pressure

8. When turning with a adjustable wrench, the direction of the turn should be against (towards) the permanent jaw. 

9. Ensure that the teeth of a pipe wrench are sharp and free of oil and debris and that the pipe or fittings is clean to prevent unexpected slippage and possible injuries. 

10. Pull on a wrench using a slow, steady pull do not use fast, jerky movement. 

11. Stand aside when worn is done with wrenches overhead. 

12. Keep tool well maintained (cleaned and oiled). 

13. Place tools and wrenches in a tool box, rack or tool belts after use.