A wrench or spanner is a

tool A tool is an object that can extend an individual's ability to modify features of the surrounding environment or help them accomplish a particular task. Although many animals use simple tools, only human beings, whose use of stone tools dates ba ...

used to provide grip and

mechanical advantage Mechanical advantage is a measure of the force amplification achieved by using a tool, mechanical device or machine system. The device trades off input forces against movement to obtain a desired amplification in the output force. The model for ...

in applying

torque In physics and mechanics, torque is the rotational equivalent of linear force. It is also referred to as the moment of force (also abbreviated to moment). It represents the capability of a force to produce change in the rotational motion of th ...

to turn objects—usually rotary

fastener A fastener (US English) or fastening (UK English) is a hardware device that mechanically joins or affixes two or more objects together. In general, fasteners are used to create non-permanent joints; that is, joints that can be removed or disman ...

s, such as nuts and bolts—or keep them from turning. In the UK,

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

, Australia, and

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

''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 The monkey wrench is a type of adjustable wrench, a 19th century American refinement of 18th-century English coach wrenches. It was widely used in the 19th and early 20th century. It is of interest as an antique among tool collectors and is sti ...

—an adjustable

pipe wrench A pipe wrench is any of several types of wrench that are designed to turn threaded pipe and pipe fittings for assembly (tightening) or disassembly (loosening). The Stillson wrench, or Stillson-pattern wrench, is the usual form of pipe wrench, e ...

. In

North American English North American English (NAmE, NAE) is the most generalized variety of the English language as spoken in the United States and Canada. Because of their related histories and cultures, plus the similarities between the pronunciations (accents), v ...

, ''wrench'' is the standard term. The most common shapes are called ''open-end wrench'' and ''box-end wrench''. In

American English American English, sometimes called United States English or U.S. English, is the set of varieties of the English language native to the United States. English is the most widely spoken language in the United States and in most circumstances i ...

, ''spanner'' refers to a specialized wrench with a series of pins or tabs around the circumference. (These pins or tabs fit into the holes or notches cut into the object to be turned.) In American commerce, such a wrench may be called a ''spanner wrench'' to distinguish it from the British sense of ''spanner''. Higher quality wrenches are typically made from chromium- vanadium alloy

tool steel Tool steel is any of various carbon steels and alloy steels that are particularly well-suited to be made into tools and tooling, including cutting tools, dies, hand tools, knives, and others. Their suitability comes from their distinctive har ...

s and are often

drop-forged Forging is a manufacturing process involving the shaping of metal using localized compressive forces. The blows are delivered with a hammer (often a power hammer) or a die. Forging is often classified according to the temperature at which it ...

. They are frequently chrome-plated to resist

corrosion Corrosion is a natural process that converts a refined metal into a more chemically stable oxide. It is the gradual deterioration of materials (usually a metal) by chemical or electrochemical reaction with their environment. Corrosion engi ...

and for ease of cleaning. Hinged tools, such as

pliers Pliers are a hand tool used to hold objects firmly, possibly developed from tongs used to handle hot metal in Bronze Age Europe. They are also useful for bending and physically compressing a wide range of materials. Generally, pliers consist ...

tongs Tongs are a type of tool used to grip and lift objects instead of holding them directly with hands. There are many forms of tongs adapted to their specific use. The first pair of tongs belongs to the Egyptians. Tongs likely started off as ...

, are not generally considered wrenches in English, but exceptions are the

plumber wrench A plumber wrench (or plumber's wrench, pipe wrench, Swedish wrench or Swedish pattern wrench) is a form of plier described as a pipe wrench that uses compound leverage to grip and rotate plumbing pipes. Similar to the action of a Vise Grip p ...

(pipe wrench in

British English British English (BrE, en-GB, or BE) is, according to Lexico, Oxford Dictionaries, "English language, English as used in Great Britain, as distinct from that used elsewhere". More narrowly, it can refer specifically to the English language in ...

) and Mole wrench (sometimes Mole grips in British English). The word can also be used in slang to describe an unexpected obstacle, for example, "He threw a spanner in the works" (in U.S. English, "monkey wrench").

Etymology

Wheel-lock_gun_of_Sigismund_III_Vasa:_The_original_spanner_had_a_square_hole_for_turning_the_shaft_(r.)_of_the_wheel,_which_tensioned_the_mainspring._''See_also_#External_links.html" ;"title="Sigismund_III_Vasa.html" ;"title="Wheel-lock gun of Sigismund III Vasa">Wheel-lock gun of Sigismund III Vasa: The original spanner had a square hole for turning the shaft (r.) of the wheel, which tensioned the mainspring. ''See also #External links">§ External links'' 'Wrench' is derived from Middle English ''wrench'', from Old English ''wrenċ'', from

Proto-Germanic Proto-Germanic (abbreviated PGmc; also called Common Germanic) is the reconstructed proto-language of the Germanic branch of the Indo-European languages. Proto-Germanic eventually developed from pre-Proto-Germanic into three Germanic bran ...

''*wrankiz'' ("a turning, twisting"). First used in 1790."wrench"
. ''Online Etymology Dictionary.'' 'Spanner' came into use in the 1630s, referring to the tool for winding the spring of a wheel-lock firearm. From German ''Spanner'' (n.), from ''spannen'' (v.) ("to join, fasten, extend, connect"), from

''*spannan'', from PIE root ''*(s)pen-'' ("to draw, stretch, spin"). Nuremberg hunting wheel-lock pistol with matching powder flask and built-in key / spanner
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History

Wrenches and applications using wrenches or devices that needed wrenches, such as pipe clamps and suits of armor, have been noted by historians as far back as the 15th century. Adjustable coach wrenches for the odd-sized nuts of wagon wheels were manufactured in England and exported to North America in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. The mid 19th century began to see patented wrenches that used a screw for narrowing and widening the jaws, including patented

es. Most box end wrenches are sold as 12-point because 12-point wrenches fit over both 12-point and 6-point bolts. 12-point wrenches also offer a higher number of engagement points over 6-point. However, 12-point wrenches have been known to round off 6-point bolts as they provide less contact space.

Types

Other types of keys

These types of keys are not emically classified as wrenches by English speakers, but they are etically similar in function to wrenches.

Size designations

Size is usually designated by dimensions such as across-flats distance (inscribed-hexagon size). In the 19th and early 20th centuries, it had been common to define the nominal size of the wrench according to the nominal size of the ''screw thread'' that it was meant to be used with. Modern practice uses a size designation based on across-flats distance, whether measured in metric or in inch units.

References

External links

* *
Spanner for Nuremberg hunting wheel-lock pistol c1610 with matching powder flask and built-in key
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Additional background information and spanner jaw size table.

* ttps://toolsmach.com/en/content/41-er-type-hook-wrenches ER Type Hook Wrenches {{Authority control Metalworking hand tools Woodworking hand tools Metallic objects