The main types of wrenches: photo and description. Purpose and types of wrenches What is the difference between an open-end wrench and a wrench

A wrench is a tool that is probably in every home and, certainly, in every workshop. You can’t do without it if you need to make repairs of any complexity. It will be required when repairing a children's scooter, a car, in plumbing work, assembling a furniture set.

The mention of the first such device dates back to the middle of the 15th century. The mass use of this simple hand tool began closer to the 20th century, in the era of large-scale industrial and technical progress. During this period, the device has improved significantly, new types have appeared.

Even the names of the inventors of the main types of these instruments are known. For example, the wrench is associated with the English engineer Budding Edwin Byrd, and the sliding type was invented by the Frenchman Le Roy-Tribault. Gradually, the instrument gained more and more popularity. It began to be used in almost all areas of industry and economy, in the agricultural and municipal sectors.

It is noteworthy that the universal wrench has long been used as a symbol of the working class of the Soviet Union. And today, the image of this tool is used to designate stations Maintenance cars.

Modern varieties of wrenches

Like several centuries ago, the tool is designed to perform work on unscrewing and tightening nuts. But, progress in the form of designing ever new, more advanced machines, equipment and various equipment, required changes in modifications and expansion of the existing model range.

For the implementation of various repair work, you need to have a minimum set of wrenches, which includes the following varieties:

adjustable wrench

The main advantage of this type is the ability to capture various modifications of fasteners, even non-standard ones. The disadvantage of such a device is the low reliability of the grip, which is provoked by backlash when adjusting the tool.

The disadvantage does not make it possible to firmly capture the part. This can lead to trouble when the device breaks off, damaging the edge or injuring the craftsman. Such situations are especially common when dismantling old, rusted nuts, when unscrewing which, the master makes considerable efforts.

To ensure that the edges of the fasteners are not damaged, the tool should be used carefully, controlling the applied force. It may be worth choosing a different type of tool that is more suitable in size and shape to the fastener.

This is the most common classical form of a hand tool. The name "carob", he deserved because it has ends in the form of horns. The size of the pharynx is usually indicated on the body. Repair in a hard-to-reach place is facilitated by the working part of the tool rotated at an angle of 15 degrees.

The most popular are double-ended wrenches. They are purchased in whole sets, consisting of models of different sizes.

socket wrench

A socket wrench is used to carry out repairs in hard-to-reach places, such as niches or recesses. This view comes to the rescue where other tools can't. It is often used by auto repair workers to change car wheels.

The device has an L-shaped shape, with a hexagonal recess at the end, (rarely twelve-sided). The task of the working end is to securely grip the bolt or nut.

ring key

Ring wrenches are also called ring wrenches. This is a more convenient and improved type than the carob type. The advantage lies in the degree of coverage of the entire nut, while the pressure load is evenly distributed on all faces, and not on two, as in the carob counterpart.

This is the most popular and demanded type. It was created according to the principle of 2 in 1. A combined wrench combines two different opposite ends on one handle. Most often - this is a combination of the horn and cap working ends.

Less commonly, a combined wrench is grouped with elements of an open-end and end tool.

tubular wrench

It is produced in the form of a tube with a hexagon at the ends. The rod acts as a lever, for which holes are provided in the body of the device.

Most often, such tools are equipped with machines or equipment.

Ratchet wrench

Improved shape of ring and socket wrenches. The main advantage is that the master does not need to throw the tool for each revolution. This saves time and labor costs.

An allen wrench has another significant plus: a very small angle through which it turns. Such tools differ from each other in the form of the number of ratchet teeth.

Specific Tools

Along with the above types, there are many highly specialized tools. For example, a wrench is used if you need to remove an old, stuck nut.

Corroded bolts are easily handled by an impact wrench, and a torque wrench controls the force with which the nut is tightened. Torque wrenches come in a variety of designs.

With a scale that shows how hard the nut is tightened

With ratchet, the wrench prevents you from pulling the nut harder than the selected tightening mode

Modern torque wrench with LCD screen

Pipe wrenches are widely used in plumbing work.

Chain views are needed to capture a round part with a large diameter.

The mechanical ones are being replaced by electric options that operate autonomously, on batteries.

Wrench sizes and material of manufacture

The numbering depends on the distance between the edges of the key, expressed in millimeters. There are three main groups of keys by size:

1. Small, which are used to work with the smallest nuts with a diameter of up to 12 mm.
2. Medium wrenches tighten nuts up to 22 mm.
3. Large tools that are used to work with all other sizes.

Since the universal wrench must unwind or tighten the nuts, then according to the method of capture, it can be:

1. Covering.
2. covered.

Keys made on milling machines from special "tool" steel. A “black” or “blued” allen wrench is reliable in operation, however, it is now extremely rare on sale.

In the United States, wrenches are numbered in inches, while European tools are measured in millimeters.

Choosing a quality set of keys is not easy. Today's market offers a large number of these tools. For their manufacture, high-carbon steel is most often used. Chromium, vanadium and molybdenum are often added to the base material.

In order for the tools to do their job well, purchase better tools well-known manufacturers that have established themselves in the market.

In order not to buy extra tools that will not be used, it is better to purchase, focusing on specialization:

• For a car repair shop, you need a large set, including all kinds of keys, in different sizes.
• For the owner of the car minor repairs you will need tools of certain numbers that are suitable for its brand. You can find such a list in the manual for the car.
• Plumbers need only the most common wrenches in the industry.
• Mechanics need more complete kits for the job.
• For household needs, the owner must have a universal wrench or a combination wrench.

When choosing a fixture, you should pay utmost attention to the handle. The quality of work will directly depend on how comfortable it is for the master to hold on to the tool. All-metal models, as a rule, are equipped with a metal handle; when working with such a key, the hand will slip off the key, and you can get injured or ruin the wrench. Very handy tools with a rubber pad.

Some manufacturers produce keys with anti-slip inserts. If there is a risk of injury electric shock, then it is worth buying tools with a dielectric coating. They are the most reliable and able to provide safe operation. When working with gas equipment use a copper-plated (copper-plated) tool.

Living in an ordinary city apartment, the owner must take care of the availability of tools such as overhead keys in the arsenal of tools. After all, you never know what tasks you will have to solve at home. First of all, they may be needed by those owners who own vehicles or their work is closely related to technology.

Knowing that you can always use ring wrenches allows you not to worry about how to most effectively deal with urgent repairs or replace a long-failed part with your own hands. Although there are situations when not everyone is able to understand how to choose such a tool correctly. For this reason, it is necessary to dwell in more detail on the types of ring wrenches and the main nuances regarding their choice.

Ring wrenches: what are their advantages?

Have you ever been in a situation where you were faced with the task of unscrewing old rusted bolt? By choosing a conventional open-end wrench, made in the form of the letter U, as a tool for work, you risk damaging the edges of the fastener. This will require pliers and a chisel, and then it will be even more difficult to complete this operation. Similar problems can often be encountered if a tool is at hand that is larger than necessary.

Ring wrenches can help in solving this problem, especially if the fasteners can be reached from any side. Thanks to their work profile, it's easy enough rigidly fix the part along the contour, corresponding to its outlines, while you do not have to worry about the integrity of the faces. Due to this, the master will be relieved of the need to make significant efforts. For this reason, such a tool is perfect for loosening or tightening bolts and nuts.

Ring wrenches: features and main types

Most often, this type of instrument is performed in a double-sided version. The handles provided for it can be of two types: straight or curved. You should resort to them, focusing on the size of the nut. Otherwise, when working with box wrenches, you can wear out teeth over time, as a result of which the tool will no longer be suitable for further use. The cap tool has many advantages, while they also have one minus. In order to cope with the task without any special problems, free access must be provided to the fasteners.

And if, when using a horn tool, you can contrive and fix it on the side, then you will not be able to perform such manipulations with a cap. However, the last has a major plus, which is more convenient when using it. This is the reason for the increased interest in these keys from home craftsmen and professionals.

The profile of the heads of such a tool can include 6 or 12 faces. Moreover, with an increase in their number, the angle required for turning also decreases, and the level of comfort increases when working in a confined space. The advantage of hexagonal tools is that they provide better abutment contact with the nut. For this reason, any risk of lubrication of the fastener corners is eliminated. You can place the ring with the handle in the same plane, and at an angle of 15 degrees.

The difference between the tools of the first and second type is that the latter is more versatile in its application. For this reason, they have become widespread. Particularly noteworthy are modifications with an S-shape, a hinge or a ratchet. With the help of the first two, you can get to the nuts located in hard-to-reach places, as a result of which one of the main advantages of open-end tools is nullified. With the help of a ratchet ring tool, you do not have to worry about the need to throw it over after the next turn.

It should also be mentioned about its other significant advantage: in order to tighten or unscrew the nut, it can be rotated at a relatively small angle. The ratchet can contain up to 72 teeth. In this case, to rotate the tool, it should be placed at an angle of 5 degrees.

The traditional version of the cap tool has the form of a head in the form of a ring, which attached to a bolt or nut from all sides. Among the advantages that such a design has, it should be noted that there are 6 contacts with the fastener, and not 2, which is typical for the usual version. This makes it possible to apply more force without having to worry about damaging the fastener head faces.

At the same time, there are also disadvantages: you can apply the tool in only one position - on top of the part head. This reduces the scope of this tool. At the moment, the most widely used keys with twelve faces. With the help of such a tool, you can perform work with limited access to fasteners, where you can perform manipulations while maintaining angle equal to 15 degrees.

Considering the advantages that are inherent in the cap tool, it is necessary to highlight the shape of the working head, due to which it is possible to exert force on the corner, and not on the edge of the nut. Thanks to this, it is possible to ensure the original shape of the fasteners even under conditions of significant loads.

Pipeline

There are several types of ring wrenches, among which pipe ring wrenches are quite common. Their design is characterized by the presence of a slot that allows you to work with pipeline connections. By means of keys with a split ring, similar tasks are performed.

with ratchet

This tool is characterized by the presence of certain pros and cons. Of the advantages, it should be noted ease of use, no need to throw the tool, which is of particular relevance when working in confined spaces. As for the minuses, one of them is the fragility of the ratchet, because of which, under excessive loads, there is a threat of its breakage. Like open-end wrenches, box wrenches can have two versions:

• unilateral;
• bilateral.

A feature of single-sided ring wrenches is the presence of a shock handle.

flat

A special group is formed by ring flat keys, in which the body and head are in the same plane. Some models have bent heads, the angle of inclination of which is most often 15.22.5 degrees.

Other modifications

Ring toggle wrenches are in rather high demand. Such a tool may also differ in the shape of the body. Based on this feature, they can be divided into two types:

• with the shape of a crescent;
• S-shaped keys.

Also available for sale is such a variety of this tool as ring wrenches with a hinged head.

Three elements can be distinguished in the design of this tool. The nut is attached to the cap with a hinge. She is differs in non-standard execution, since the hole in the rods is located at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis. It contains a thread in the form of a trapezoid, which ensures the connection of the nut with the lever.

To select a size suitable for the diameter of the workpiece, turn the lever between the jaws. During this operation, it is important control the teeth of the lever, which should be along the teeth of the union nut.

The ring wrench is a very durable tool that does not create problems in operation, which is especially important for a situation where pipes are located at a considerable distance. In other words, when you do not have to remove the key after the next turn of the tool. In the absence of sufficient space for comfortable work, it is advisable to use a different type of key. The main purpose of ring wrenches is to fix cylindrical elements with a size of 10-90 mm. The work itself must be carried out using a key of a suitable diameter.

For ring wrenches, low-strength elements, such as rivets, are not used. For this reason, when working with them, you have to make considerable efforts. In some cases it is allowed lengthen tool arm, which can be done using a piece of pipe or other object. However, you should be prepared for the fact that the fragment used may bend, and this creates a risk of injury to the worker. For this reason, it is desirable when providing physical influences use only manual pressure.

Choice of spanners

Open-end spanners have a fairly wide scope of application. According to their execution, they represent a combination of a box and open-end wrench of identical sizes, which converge in one handle.

Rozhkovo box wrenches do not create problems even when the task of unscrewing old or rusty elements arises. Without much difficulty, you can connect and disconnect and stainless fasteners However, this problem can be effectively solved only if the tool for the job is chosen correctly.

The combined keys offered today can be classified based on several features:

• head and handle size;
• material hardness.

As a material for such a tool, tool or chrome-vanadium steels, supplemented with a special anti-corrosion protective coating, can be used. These wrenches are marked accordingly, the place for which is selected based on the distance between opposite faces of the nut and bolt, measured in millimeters. Therefore, with an increase in the size of the heads of such a tool, the dimensions, thickness and length of the handle rods also increase.

In order to perform this or that type of work as successfully as possible, it is important when choosing a key to make sure that it is the largest in size. matched the head of the bolt and nut. For this reason, it is advisable to immediately buy a set of such a tool, including at least 6 box wrenches. Subsequently, this will simplify the task of choosing the appropriate head size and key type.

Often such a set can consist of simple massive open-end wrenches, as well as shortened, cranked with an angle of rotation of 75 degrees, elongated and super-long wrenches of increased strength. There are also nuances in relation to the cap part of the tool: its working surface can include 12 or 6 slots. This makes it possible to apply them to the nuts of the head of bolts with six or four faces.

Conclusion

If you often have to do various do-it-yourself tasks around the house that involve various threaded connections, then it would not hurt you to have such useful tool like ring keys. Today, enough owners use such a tool without regretting their choice. This is due to the maximum simplicity and ease of use with ring wrenches: due to the wide area of ​​​​coverage of the face of a nut or bolt, you can unscrew and tighten it quite quickly and without the risk of damage to the fastener.

Realizing the usefulness of this tool, you should decide on a set of similar keys that you may need during your work. It is best to immediately purchase a set of wrenches of various sizes that will help you cope with any task where you need to use fasteners of a certain size. In this case, the owner will only need to correctly select the necessary key and apply it.

A simple wrench is a common tool for manipulating bolts and nuts. For a long time of existence, a huge number of such devices have been invented. All types of basic and special models are difficult to enumerate. Among such assistants, a special place is occupied by an open-end wrench with its own advantages and disadvantages.

Basic requirements for tools

For a quality fixture, there are a number of requirements:

Under the working profile of the tools, they mean a combination of planes that communicate the mechanical pressure of the metalwork tool on the element that needs to be unscrewed.

The body of wrenches is called the body of products that transmits mechanical action. Individual characteristics characterize an object.

For open-end wrenches, GOST strictly regulates standard size. It is determined by the cavity of the gap between the jaws - the mouth of the key. This parameter is calculated in millimeters and is recorded in special reference tables. The body is marked. In the description of such wrenches, GOST requires an indication of the dimension, hardness, surface coating material. There is a wide range of keys in size: the minimum is 2.5 millimeters, the largest is 75 mm. Calculus systems.

One of the characteristics also concerns the size of the tool. Some global manufacturers, on a German initiative, show performance data based on the European (metric) structure. Many others use the US inch. The conflict of systems manifested itself in the coincidence of only two dimensions - by 15 mm (19/32 ′′) and 19 mm (¾ ′′).

Depending on the system of calculus, belongings are divided into two categories:

• Those that support the metric system. The size is given in millimeters and varies between 2.5-230 mm for general kits, 6-41 mm for automotive kits.
• Inch tools work in a system with the main measure inch (1 ′′ \u003d 25.4 mm). Dimensions range from 1/8 to 91/8''. For car wrenches, open-ended sizes, GOST calculates from 1/8 to 15 / 8 ′′.

Touching on the topic of wrenches, an unforgettable image of a wrench comes up before your eyes. Fixation of nuts is carried out by means of lips similar to horns. That's where the name came from. The second name of such funds is operated by GOST - a wrench with an open throat. The center lines of the handle and head most often intersect at an angle of 15-20 degrees. When manipulating in cramped conditions, such a configuration will make work easier. The angles between the axes of the head and handle are different in magnitude, opposite heads with different slopes. Horn models are characterized by division into various modifications:

Composite kits

Such accessories, which facilitate work and access to difficult and narrow places, consist of several parts. For example, a tubular wrench is equipped with a crank, a set of heads has a ratchet - a ratchet. All of these models are of the male type: their body encloses the fastener. There are other tools as well. According to the method of operation, they are similar to a screwdriver, that is, they are inserted into the slotted channel in the same way. An example is a hexagon.

Materials for manufacturing

According to existing requirements, wrenches must be produced using tool steel, an alloy of chromium and vanadium or similar. It must be solid material. The information is reflected in the label.

Imported tools contain the following designations: Cr (chrome steel), CrV (chrome vanadium alloy), CrM (chromium molybdenum alloy), CrMoV (chromium molybdenum vanadium steel), etc. For domestic manufacturers, GOST recommends that chromium-containing steel grade 40X with good strength be preferred for making open-end keys . Usually this is enough for the bulk of actions with keys. For high-strength products, chrome-vanadium alloy 40 HFA is used. The best instruments are made of grade 45 metal.

Chinese and unidentified keys are sometimes marked with Drop Forget Steel. These accessories are forged from unalloyed steel, which means they are brittle and will fail at the wrong time.

Mikhail Dmitrevsky.

Vladimir Ivanovich Dal in his " explanatory dictionary of the living Great Russian language" gave the definition of a wrench: "A projectile or a tool ... for a screwdriver of nuts and screws with angled caps ..."

The shape of the key handle is determined by the nature of the work that is intended for it.

A standard set of combination keys, known to every car enthusiast.

No matter how different the wrenches look, they have the same capabilities.

Imbus keys.

radius key.

Of course, a bicycle kit is not complete without wrenches.

What a wrench is, everyone knows. The device of this simple tool is easier than you can imagine. Meanwhile, there are good keys and bad ones. How do they differ and how to take a good tool and abandon the inferior one, what can a good key and what a bad one cannot? Do you need a quality tool if you have to use it rarely and with long breaks? How much better is an expensive key than its cheap counterpart, how much more expensive is it? These and many other questions arise before a person who wants to buy an instrument.

There are more than enough shops selling hand tools, they have one thing in common: they will not give you any, absolutely no information on wrenches!

Please note: a set of professional (as the manufacturer calls it, followed by the seller) tool can cost 12 and 30 thousand rubles, and no instructions and no technical data understandable to the buyer are given to it. Maybe only a mention of the product's compliance with ISO, DIN and GOST standards. But there were no standards in stores. If GOST can still be found, then foreign standards are protected by copyright, and buying a thin book of such standards will cost several hundred dollars.

There are very cheap tools that are not intended for sale, they complete the assembly kits of machines and mechanisms, the role of the key from such a set is to wrap ten new nuts on new lubricated bolts, then it can be thrown away.

We'll have to learn how to choose the keys with the greatest chance of a successful result. To begin with, let's think: what do we expect from any key? There are few requirements for it:

As fully as possible to transfer the torque to the bolt or nut;

As long as possible service life;

Maximum convenient access to the nut;

Convenience and safety of use.

Torque

Torque (rotational moment; torque moment; torque) is a vector physical quantity equal to the product of the radius vector drawn from the axis of rotation to the point of application of the force by the vector of this force. Characterizes the rotational effect of force on solid(Fig. 1).

The moment of force is defined as the product of:

where F is the force acting on the body; d - shoulder strength.

The moment of force is measured in newton meters: 1 N.m - the moment of force that produces a force of 1 N on a lever 1 m long. One newton is approximately equal to 0.102 kgf. In order to generate significant torque, it is desirable to have maximum length handles d, apply maximum force (F) to it - this directly depends on your physical fitness. In order to transmit the generated torque as completely as possible, the wrench must fit snugly against the nut (or bolt head), not damage itself and not damage the nut. To do this, the working surface must have the maximum possible contact with the nut and the maximum hardness of the surfaces interacting with the nut. With insufficient hardness, nuts and bolts will push grooves in the jaws of the key, the actual size of the gap will increase and very soon your tool will simply begin to slip, crushing the corners of the nuts and wearing out even more. The hardness of the key jaws is standardized.

The deviation of the size of the throat is also standardized, for open-end wrenches there is a special table of permissible deviations. For large keys, the requirements for hardness and accuracy are significantly lower than for small ones. Why? Because the large ones have a much larger contact area with the nut. This means that the specific pressure per unit area of ​​contact is less.

Wrenches must be marked and match the dimensions of the nuts and bolt heads. The jaws of the wrenches should be parallel, the working surfaces should not have broken chips, and the handles should not have burrs.

Keys must be marked with the following:

Trademark of the manufacturer;

Opening size or diameter of round spline nuts;

The word "chrome-vanadium" or an indication of the steel grade on the keys made of chrome-vanadium steel.

A special coating is usually additionally applied to the surface, which gives the key the best anti-corrosion properties and an aesthetic appearance.

Next to each working part, a numerical designation of its dimension (parts number) is applied. The number reflects the distance in millimeters between the parallel faces of the hexagon (nut, bolt) for which this or that wrench is intended.

The two most important characteristics of the key: the size of the mouth and the hardness of the working surface - can be determined quite accurately by yourself. This will require a caliper and needle file. With a caliper, you can measure the size with an accuracy of 0.05 mm, and then you need to try to sharpen the jaws of the open-end (or ring) wrench with a needle file. If the needle file slides over the key, then the metal is hard enough; if it removes chips, then the metal is soft and unsuitable for a key. The problem is that sellers do not like it when they try to sharpen goods that have not yet been bought.

Ease of use

Very often we only see a nut or a bolt head a little (sometimes we don’t see it, but we can only feel it with our finger). You have to show great ingenuity to put on the key and turn it at least a little. The master most often has the keys different types, because you never know which one you might need in any given case. For successful work, specialized keys are needed. Let's first find out what they are in general, what are their advantages and disadvantages.

open end wrenches. Such a wrench allows you to work with nuts and bolts when there is little space above the nut, and there is free space around the nut. It is indispensable when the end of the nut or bolt is not accessible and the edges can only be accessed from the side by pushing the wrench. Disadvantage: small transmitted moment and tendency to slip and slip, as well as "licking" the edges. The open-end wrench is also unsuitable for working with recessed nuts.

combination keys. One side is horn, the other is cap. The cap part can be hexagonal, twenty-four-sided and even thirty-six-sided. This allows you to work with fasteners with small turns, which is especially valuable in conditions of limited space required for work. In general, a ring wrench (box, socket) allows you to transfer a much greater force to the bolt because it cannot come off - there is nowhere, the jaws of the wrench (like an open-end wrench) cannot unbend and thus increase the size of the pharynx - the system is closed; under heavy loads, the metal of the nut cannot be squeezed out of the contact zone, but its deformation destroys scale and rust on the thread and thereby facilitates the unscrewing of the connection.

Even if the edges of the fastener are already damaged, the ring wrench will most likely have enough remaining corners for full-fledged work. Ring wrenches are not inclined to jump off and turn; if you let go of the key during operation, it will most likely not even fall. When working with fasteners, it is recommended to start unscrewing the tight nut and finally tighten it tightly with a ring wrench. Combined wrenches were created for this: the nut moves with a cap, and then the same wrench works, but its open-end part.

Split keys. Occupy an intermediate position between the horn and cap, but closer to the cap. A split wrench can also be called an open-end wrench with increased coverage. It is mainly used for working with pipelines, where the spanner wrench cannot be put on (the pipe interferes), and the open-end wrench cannot transmit sufficient torque due to the fact that the eversible part is made of soft material and the edges strive to be rounded. The split wrench covers like a ring wrench, and is put on like an open-end wrench. There are split wrenches, in which the female ring can be pulled together at the cut point with an additional bolt. In the tightened position, the key is no different from the cap.

Impact wrenches. They are used to loosen tight nuts, where it is undesirable or impossible to use a long lever. Typically, keys of this type have a jaw size of 17 or more. Their thick, wide handle is not prone to vibrations and bends. The end of the handle is released to the point where, under heavy load, the metal rivets, but does not give fragments. And yet, just in case, when working with an impact wrench, you must wear goggles or a shield. When struck with a hammer, sparks can be cut out, this should be remembered when working near fire and explosive objects. However, there are spark-proof keys coated with a layer of copper or made not from steel at all, but from beryllium bronze. A hammer for working with such keys rarely weighs less than 500 g.

End tubular wrenches. They are used where the nut is strongly recessed or the end of the bolt rises significantly above the nut. The well-known "candle" key is a typical representative of this type of key. The torque available to the tubular wrench is small. Thin walls, the ability to work only with a fairly thin collar - all this is not for tight nuts.

End heads. They transmit a large moment, take up little space. There is a great variety of different specialized heads. A lot of additional devices are joined with them, facilitating access to the nut or bolt. The side notch (if any) facilitates the initial installation of the head on the nut and the baiting of the nut itself. The sizes of socket heads start from fractions of a millimeter and reach huge dimensions. The heads differ in size not only of the throat, but also of the docking tetrahedral socket. Tetrahedrons are just as standardized as the pharynx. Here are the most common sizes: 1/4”, 3/8”, 1/2”, 1”. Please note: on heads with a metric or inch size of the throat, the mating squares are marked only in inches.

Swivel wrenches with movable socket head do not require an additional collar. They are most often used where it is necessary to make many turns, while the key is rotated by the head of the other end, similar to the handle of a meat grinder. The wrench is convenient both for working with recessed fasteners (a small moment is achievable) and with an accessible one (the knob turns out to be long, and the moment is maximum). The disadvantages include quite significant dimensions.

Keys with ratchet-reversible mechanism. Allows you to work by moving the tool at a slight angle. You can go from screwing to loosening without removing the wrench from the nut. The ratchet wrench allows only small torques.

Wrench. This is nothing more than a regular open-end wrench with an adjustable distance between the jaws. One wrench replaces open-end wrenches of several sizes. The non-parallelism of the jaws is added to the disadvantages of the open-end wrench (there is always a significant backlash in the movable jaw), so the torque of the adjustable wrench is less than that of the open-end wrench. An adjustable wrench is used where you have to work with fasteners of different sizes, access is convenient, and the tightening of fasteners is not too tight. One wrench cannot provide the ability to work with fasteners of all sizes, they are very different. Therefore, adjustable wrenches are available in different sizes. Range available to the key sizes are indicated on the handle.

gas key - a kind of mixture of an open-end wrench and pliers. Does not require a hexagonal nut profile, can work with a round surface. With the effort on the handles of the key, the pressure of the jaws on the metal and the magnitude of the transmitted moment automatically increase. In this case, unfortunately, the surface at the point of contact of the sponges with the metal can be severely damaged. The transmitted torque of a gas wrench is less than that of ring wrenches. Gas wrenches are available in different sizes to work with round surfaces (pipes and pipe fittings) of different diameters. Models of gas wrenches are marked with the angle of inclination of their jaws: 45 or 90 degrees. The jaws of the tool come in different configurations: regular or S-shaped, which allow you to fix the pipe at three points, which reduces the risk of slippage during operation. The key number indicates the length of the tool and the specific diameter of the pipes that this key can work with. For example, gas key No. 1 is designed for pipes with a diameter of 10-36 mm, key length is 30 cm. Gas key No. 2 clamps pipes with a diameter of 20-50 mm well, key length is 40 cm.

Imbus key (hexagon). The previously discussed keys belonged to the group of enclosing keys. Allen wrenches are male wrenches and fit inside the bolt head; By the way, the imbus key only works with bolts. No other wrenches can be used to unscrew the hexagon socket bolts. Such keys must be especially strong, since the inner faces are loaded much more than the outer ones. For a conventional bolt with a head size of 17 mm, the thread has a diameter of 10-12 mm; if the bolt is designed for an imbus 17 mm key, then its thread diameter will be more than 19 mm, respectively, and the torque will be required almost twice as much.

radius key used only for radius nuts, for example, as on a bicycle handlebar. Apart from the radius nuts, no other nuts can be unscrewed. The key acts on one groove of the radius nut, so the torque transmits is small; fortunately, such nuts are tightened with the same radius wrench, but you can’t tighten it much.

Special keys. In addition to universal keys, there are keys designed for only one operation.

The spoke wrench is used to adjust the tension of the spokes in the wheels of bicycles, motorcycles, carts and other spoked wheels.

Valve wrench - for working with the inflation valve on rubber boats.

The chain wrench is most often used for loosening and screwing oil filter on cars.

There are many special keys. There are keys for horseshoes, piano tuning, for opening pipe taps, unscrewing barrel caps, and many more that only experts in every field know about.

Accessories

The vast majority of fixtures work with socket heads. Their main purpose is to transmit torque from the crank to the head itself, sometimes at a large angle and over a considerable distance. Do not forget that the fewer transmission elements from the knob to the head, the better. The law “The reliability of a system is determined by its weakest element” is also applicable here.

straight extension it can be so short that there is no distance between the collar and the head, or it can be a good meter in length. It is advisable to have a set of extensions from 5 cm to 1 m at 10 cm intervals. Straight extension - the most the best choice for loosening and screwing tight nuts and bolts. It is worth using extension cords of complex shape only where direct ones cannot be applied. The requirements for extension cords are as strict as for keys, both in terms of dimensional accuracy and metal quality. Extension sockets are standardized in the same way as sockets in sockets and are measured in inches.

If it is required to transmit torque at an angle, an adapter with a universal joint must be inserted into the system. The angle at which work with one gimbal is still possible is rarely more than 30 degrees. If it becomes necessary to work at a larger angle, you will have to use two cardans in series, while putting up with a sharp decrease in the transmitted torque. To create a multi-link rotation transmission system, it is necessary that the elements are clearly fixed in their seats, otherwise, before we start turning the nuts, everything will simply crumble.

For the same purposes as two cardan shafts, an extension cord with a flexible shaft serves. It is easier to work with him, but he transmits a small moment. At the docking points, extensions often have a spring-loaded ball that fits into a recess inside the head socket. This design makes it easy to put on and take off the head without the risk of its arbitrary jumping off.

Vorotok- a device for creating torque, which will then be transferred to a key, most often a socket head or a tubular key. In its action - a typical lever. The longer and stronger the collar, the greater the moment can be created with its help. The simplest collar can be considered a straight or curved pin, one end of which has the shape of a tetrahedron of the same size as the socket of the head. More complex wrenches are equipped with a ratchet mechanism that allows you to unscrew and tighten the bolts without removing the key from the fasteners, and work with small angles of rotation. The ratchet mechanism is the same as the ratchet-reversible wrenches, but usually much stronger and more reliable.

It is especially worth talking about torque wrenches. They measure the torque transmitted to the key (in technical specifications this value is called "tightening torque threaded connections"). A lot of bolts need to be tightened with a strictly defined force, the reliability of the mechanisms will depend on this. It is impossible to achieve the correct tightening torque “by eye”.

Something from personal experience

All sorts of multi-grip wrenches that can work with nuts of different sizes, even without reconfiguring, most often gather dust in the workshop idle. The speed of work with multi-grip keys does not pay off at all bad quality, and where to hurry? Repair is not a conveyor!

I would really like the instrument to look nice. But here, too, there are some tricks. Keys coated with chrome or nickel look good at first, but then the coating often peels off, besides, chrome that has fallen off the working surfaces increases the size of the gap and reduces the transmitted torque. But the key with a matte surface, achieved by finishing grinding, will not slip out of the hands, and it does not lose its presentation.

Often, rubber grips are put on the handles of the instrument, "so as not to slip." Most often, oil gradually penetrates between the metal and rubber, and at the right time the rubber band will come off the key, and before that, interacting with gasoline and oil, it will take on an extremely sloppy look. If the handle has a comfortable shape and a notch, then no rubber is required.

It is tempting to buy a large set of keys in a large case, but this solution also has its drawbacks. When working, it is rather difficult to find a place for a box measuring 60 × 60 cm, and in each individual case it is most often necessary to use only a pair of keys from 60 items presented in the set. Maybe it's better to have five small sets instead of one big one? We need open-end wrenches, we take them, and we don’t touch the rest - socket, screwdrivers, wire cutters, etc. ...

It is advisable to work with keys in cotton gloves: this will save you from minor cuts, scratches and burns, not to mention the fact that it will be easier to wash your hands.

No matter how good the key is, it needs help. If a penetrating lubricant like WD-40 is splashed onto the thread or under the nut (where possible), then after ten minutes you won’t even have to strain much. It would seem that the hopeless nut will turn away almost without resistance. If there is no special tool, diesel fuel, vinegar, kerosene, brake fluid will do.

To make it easier to unscrew the fasteners later, it is advisable to apply Movil to the thread before screwing (more often used for anti-corrosion protection of car thresholds): it seals the thread and prevents it from turning away from vibration. It is useful to lubricate the threads with a small amount of graphite or graphite grease. But lithol or grease should not be used, they do not protect against water either, and over time they “burn”.

There are several types of wrenches. They are used to fasten connections consisting of a nut or bolt. They are made from a chromium-vanadium alloy. Chrome plating is used to prevent rusting of the key. The invention of the first wrench belongs to Solymon Merrick, who patented it in 1835. There are different types of wrenches. In them a common person needs to Everyday life for a variety of purposes.

Keys are an integral part of the toolbox

Looking at the types of wrenches in the photo, you can understand that in addition to those models that are often found in our homes, there are still a lot of varieties of them. They differ from each other not only in form, but also in the purpose of use.

For example, multiple wrenches, such as a fire hydrant wrench, are only used for one purpose. While others, say a combination wrench or an adjustable wrench, can be used for a variety of purposes. The types of wrenches and their variety are designed to provide comfort in their use not only by professionals, but also by ordinary citizens. The right tool will help you quickly complete the task.

Types of wrenches, sizes, description, photo

The size is usually indicated by parameters such as the distance between the jaws. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, it was customary to determine the nominal size of a key in accordance with the parameters of the thread that it was supposed to use. Modern practice uses a notation based on the distance between the planes.

The size of the wrench is determined by the following parameters: mouth (distance between the jaws), thread size (for the nut), handle length. The first parameter has the following range - from 3.2 mm to 155 mm; the second - from M1.6 to M110; the third - from 150 mm to 500 mm.

Open-end wrenches one- and two-sided

This type of key has open "ends". These are U-shaped holes. Often they are different sizes. These wrenches are useful when working with nuts and bolts that are difficult to access. They provide more freedom in their unscrewing.

Ring spanners are double-sided

This wrapped wrench has a closed loop at both ends. It is often designed for hexagonal nuts or bolts. However, in certain cases, it can be designed in a square shape. The loops at both ends are different sizes. Wrenches of this type are used in cases where open models cannot complete the task.

combination keys

Combination wrench, as the name suggests, is a combination of an open-end wrench with a box model. It has a closed circuit at one end and an open circuit at the other. It can be used to loosen nuts and bolts and then quickly remove them with the open end. Combination wrenches are usually used to perform the described combination and hence both ends are the same size.

Adjustable or adjustable wrenches

This is a type of open wrench. They can only be used from one end. The hole size is not fixed. It can be varied depending on the size of the nut or bolt. However, these types of wrenches are almost impossible to use in hard to reach areas.

This is the most common type of adjustable wrench in use today. An adjustable end wrench differs from a conventional wrench in that the gripping surfaces of the jaws are offset, as a rule, by 15 degrees relative to the tool handle. The modern adjustable was invented by Johan Petter Johansson.

Let's now learn how to use the adjustable key model.

1. Determine the nut or bolt you wish to tighten.
2. Open the rotary key by turning the screw. Check if you have opened it enough so that the nut can fit well: if not, you need to open it more. Make sure it's open a little more than the size of the nut.
3. Slide the exposed part of the head onto the nut and hold it in place. Turn the screw of the mechanism so that it tightly clamps the nut.
4. Turn the wrench clockwise to tighten the fastener or counterclockwise to loosen it. Continue turning until the nut is tight or loose enough to be removed.
5. Remove the wrench by loosening the mechanism screw.

End models

In the case of a socket wrench, it fits completely over the nut or bolt. When this type of tool is used, it does not need to be completely removed from the head of the nut or bolt after the turn is completed. The handle can be removed and reinserted while the socket remains on top of the nut or bolt.

"Impact" wrench

Types and sizes of wrenches are very diverse. An "impact" wrench is a specialized thick, short, stocky tool with a blocky end handle specially designed for use with a hammer, allowing for greater force. It is usually used with large fasteners, especially with a nut and a pin, which have index marks.

Impact wrenches withstand impact and high strength, which is designed to release large or stuck nuts and bolts. They will also come in handy if space does not allow the use of a large wrench.

Hex wrench

This key has a hexagonal end. These tools are used to loosen bolts with hexagonal sockets at the ends. The way they work is similar to the way a screwdriver works. For a better understanding of the features of each model, you should study the types of wrenches, photos require special attention. Illustrative material makes it easier to understand the features of each model.

Hex wrenches come in two general shapes: L-handled and T-handled. L-shaped wrenches are made from hex wire, while T-handles are the same hex wire with a metal or plastic handle attached to the end. Types of wrenches and their names are presented in detail in our article. Many of their names come from the external shape of the instrument.

These hex wrenches have a head on short shoulder and a hexagonal ball head on the long arm. It offers a large contact surface on the screw head. This reduces the chance of wear and corner rounding in the screws. The ball on the long arm is designed so that the key can be easily inserted into the head, which allows you to turn it at the right angle, this is indispensable in hard-to-reach places.

Round key shafts fit comfortably in the hand and help make operation as easy as possible.

Since stainless steel is used for these quality tools, rust will not be an issue. If you noticed it on the surface of the tool, there can be only one reason. This occurs as a result of their active use in order to turn screws or bolts made of ordinary steel. The pressure inevitably leaves traces or particles of another type of metal on the stainless beak, and then, under the influence of oxygen, it corrodes.

balloon keys

This is the name for a type of socket wrench used to loosen and tighten nuts on automobile wheels. In the United Kingdom and Australia it is commonly known as the wheel brace.

Wrenches can be L-shaped or X-shaped. The most common shape is an L-shaped metal rod with a socket wrench on the bent end and a slanted tip on the other end. The gripping tip is mainly for removing wheel caps, which can fix the wheel tip nuts.

Gedore has gained immense popularity in the tool market. It manufactures high-quality products, which are actively used by motorists from all over the world. Appearance The first Gedore wrenches were to the taste of car enthusiasts.

Another common type, sometimes called a key spider, is made in the form of a cross with spaced sockets at each of the four ends.

Ideally nuts (or bolts) should be tightened with a torque tool. Wrenches are much cheaper. Installing a wheel with them requires more force. Excessive force can make the nuts very difficult to remove. In addition, the uneven application of force between the various nuts and the tool can cause the brake rotor to deform if the vehicle is equipped with disc brakes.

For this reason balloon wrenches should only be used correctly for removing lug nuts and not for tightening them. In practice, this rule is often ignored for convenience, even by professional mechanics.

For an auto mechanic or just a person whose profession involves the use of a huge number of tools, you can purchase cutlery in the form of wrenches. This fun gift is sure to impress.