Guide to Selecting the Right Wrench for the Task

Have you ever struggled with a stubborn nut, only to find your wrench slipping or failing to grip properly? In mechanical repairs, plumbing, and other trades, wrenches are indispensable tools. Yet with so many varieties available, choosing the right one can be daunting. This comprehensive guide explores 20 common wrench types to help you work smarter, not harder.

Known as "spanners" in British English, wrenches are tools designed to tighten or loosen fasteners like nuts, bolts, and pipes. Each type has unique advantages tailored to specific applications. Understanding these differences ensures proper tool selection, improved efficiency, and prevention of fastener damage.

Featuring a U-shaped opening that grips two opposite sides of a fastener, open-end wrenches allow rapid positioning—ideal for situations requiring frequent adjustments. Most have different-sized openings at each end. However, their two-point contact provides less torque and grip than other types, increasing slip risk.

Common in automotive repair, plumbing, and general maintenance, these user-friendly wrenches typically come in 6- or 7-piece sets with storage cases.

Also called ring spanners, these fully enclose fasteners with 360-degree contact, minimizing slip while enabling greater torque application. Their hexagonal or double-hexagonal sockets accommodate various fastener shapes. Offset versions feature angled designs for confined spaces.

Box-end wrenches excel in mechanical and engineering applications requiring secure grip and high torque.

Merging open-end and box-end designs, combination wrenches handle diverse tasks without tool changes. Common in automotive and home repairs, they often include storage cases. Specialty sets cater to motorsports professionals.

The "Crescent wrench" features a movable jaw that adapts to various fastener sizes via a worm gear mechanism. Ideal for plumbing, HVAC, and construction work involving multiple fastener dimensions.

These calibrated tools apply specific torque values, preventing under/over-tightening that could damage components. Visual or audible signals indicate achieved torque. Available in multiple ranges, some offer racing-grade accuracy.

Also called Allen wrenches, these L-shaped tools fit hexagonal recesses in screws and bolts. The long arm provides leverage, while the short arm suits tight spaces. Widely used in furniture assembly, bicycle maintenance, and machinery.

With adjustable, serrated jaws and long handles for maximum torque, these rugged tools securely grasp pipes and fittings. Essential for plumbing installations and repairs.

Incorporating a ratchet mechanism, these allow continuous rotation without lifting the tool—perfect for confined spaces. Ratcheting box-end versions combine secure grip with this efficiency, excelling in plumbing, electrical, and industrial maintenance.

Using interchangeable sockets with a ratcheting handle, this versatile system accommodates numerous fastener types and sizes.

Designed for bike pedals, its slim profile fits tight crank arm spaces while providing necessary torque. Typically 15mm or 9/16", these durable tools are vital for cycling maintenance.

Often X-shaped or L-shaped with multiple sockets, these sturdy tools handle high-torque wheel nuts during tire changes—a must in vehicle emergency kits.

This specialty tool reaches fasteners in obstructed areas, attaching to ratchets or torque wrenches for added leverage. Invaluable in automotive and mechanical work.

Its pivoting, spring-loaded jaw and long shaft access tight sink spaces to install/remove faucet nuts—essential for kitchen and bathroom plumbing.

Used with taps for creating internal threads, these come in T-handle or adjustable-bar designs for metalworking and woodworking projects.

Employing flexible bands to grip smooth or irregular objects without damage, these excel in plumbing and automotive work involving pipes or cylindrical items.

Specialized for brake and fuel lines, its design maximizes contact while minimizing soft-metal fitting damage—crucial for automotive and hydraulic systems.

Using a chain to grip cylindrical objects, this tool delivers exceptional torque for big pipes in plumbing and industrial settings.

Pneumatic, electric, or hydraulic models deliver substantial torque with minimal user effort—ideal for automotive and construction applications. Often paired with deep sockets for obstructed fasteners.

Combining box-end security with ratcheting efficiency, these suit high-torque applications in aerospace, automotive, and precision machinery.

With adaptable jaws for various round/polygonal fasteners, these handle bearings, bushings, and seals in equipment maintenance.

From task-specific designs like pedal wrenches to versatile adjustable models, proper wrench selection streamlines any project. Combination tools reduce kit bulk, while specialized types ensure optimal performance for unique challenges.