There’s at least one in every toolbox. But wrenches come in all shapes, sizes and types, and each is suited to different tasks. Here’s a rundown of a few you should add to your arsenal, if you don’t have them already.
Adjustable wrench. The old standby is a great, versatile tool. It comes in various sizes and lengths (the longer the handle, the greater the torque), and can be adjusted for different-size nuts and bolts. With a couple of these, you can tighten or loosen bolts in most cases, but the fit is not always as tight as it is with other wrenches.
Box wrench. The hole in a box wrench fits over the nut or bolt, and gives a good, tight fit for more torque. These come in double-box (two different sizes at either end) or they can be combined with an open-end wrench of the same size on the other end.
Open end. While they don’t provide as much torque as a box wrench, they’re handy in tight places, where you can’t get the wrench over the nut or bolt. They come in combination, doubled ended versions as does the box wrench.
We’ll have more next time.