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jeepfan.com Guide to a Jeeper's Garage
Hand Tools

Hand Wrenches

A hand wrench is probably the one of the most common tools used around the home and in the garage.  The simple design is about the only thing simple about these age old tools.  There are countless varieties of hand wrenches available and many degrees of quality too.  SAE and Metric sizes are usually available in most types.

Types

The most common types of hand wrenches are open, box, and flare.

  • Open end wrenches are best for locations that you cannot get to the top of the bolt/nut.  An open end usually contacts only two of the six surfaces on a bolt/nut. 

  • Box wrenches are usually a round shape and contact all six of the bolt/nut surface.  A box wrench also allows you to get to a bolt/nut with less side to side clearance. 

  • Flare wrenches are a middle-of-the-road wrench.  Similar to a box wrench but with a slot cut out so the wrench can slip over something, usually a piece of tubing.  Flare wrenches make contact with five of the six bolt/nut surfaces.


open wrench
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box wrench
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flare wrench
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Other common wrench types include ratchet, torx, key, and pipe. 

  • Ratcheting wrenches allow for close quarters access and allow for greater speed in loosening/tightening a fastener.  Often ratcheting type wrenches are a combination of an open end on one side and a ratchet on the other.  Ratchet wrenches are limited in the torque ability and should be used for lighter work.
  • Torx wrenches are more of a specialty wrench.  These are obviously used on torx type fasteners.
  • A key wrench is usually small and is used on torx, hex, and other types of key type fasteners.
  • A pipe wrench is useful on more than just pipes.  A pipe wrench is usually loosely adjusted on a bolt or other surface.  The torque applied to the wrench will cause the teeth to dig into the surface of the object being loosened/tightened giving the wrench greater gripping power.

ratchet/open combination wrench
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torx wrench
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key type wrenches
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pipe wrench
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Shapes, Sizes, and Combinations

Usually hand wrenches come in varying length and shapes.  Longer wrenches will allow more torque to be applied to the fastener but sometimes a short stubby wrench is all that will fit.  There are also wrenches with different offsets to allow better reach in poor clearance areas.  There are curved and bent shaped wrenches and combination wrenches, these kind have two different type ends.  The most common is the open/box combination.  These come in so may different ways it is impossible to list them here.  Rest assured no matter how many variants you have you will usually find yourself without the one you really need.

Shapes Examples


curved

stubby with flex-head

high torque

Other Notables

  • The breaker bar.  Sometimes this tool is mistaken as a ratchet.  Since is has no mechanism in it's head it is technically a wrench with a socket end.  A breaker bar is usually a long wrench used for applying great amounts of force to break loose (or break off) tough nuts and bolts.

Recommendations

  • 2 sets of standard length combination wrenches in both metric and SAE. 
  • A stubby set and offset set are very handy
  • A set of flare wrenches.  Working with fittings is delicate work and standard open ends will strip an old flare fitting almost every time.
  • 1 Breaker Bar - No garage would be complete without one.
  • Saving the unusual sets for the day when your garage is well equipped or the need for a specialized wrench appears.

Popular Hand Wrench Manufacturers and Resellers
Northern Logo
Craftsman
SnapOn
Matco
Husky

 

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