Types of Wrenches

A toolbox is not a toolbox without a wrench. This tool is so common that most of us have probably already seen different types of wrenches. You also probably own a few of these if you’re a professional, DIY-er, or just an average homeowner.

However, there are still a lot of people that get confused by the different types of wrenches. Some of them don’t even know that they’re already using a type of wrench. To give us more insights about this tool, here are the most common types of wrenches:

Open-End Wrench – This is a fixed size tool with a U-shaped opening on one or both ends. These are made in various sizes to fit specific bolt and nut sizes.

Box-End Wrench – This is a wrench with a closed-loop found on both of its ends. It is designed to fit and adjust square bolts of varying sizes.

Combination Wrench – This wrench has two ends: one is open and the other is closed-loop. The closed-loop is used to securely stay on the bolt, and the open end can quickly pull it off and readjust it.

Adjustable Wrench – This is an open-end wrench that has an adjusting mechanism which is found below the jaw. This is used to tighten or loosen the fasteners. So one of its benefits is that you won’t need to find another wrench to fit a bolt, because you can just easily adjust it.

Allen Wrench – Now this L-shape wrench is popular among bicycle enthusiasts. It’s one of their main tools when doing repairs. They have a hex face and goes inside screws that support them. These are often sold as a kit with multiple wrenches in different sizes and are more affordable compared to other wrenches.

Lug Wrench – It is a socket wrench that is used on the lug bolts of a tire. When your car is flat or the tire needs replacement, this is one of the tools that you will definitely need.

Monkey Wrench – This could be considered as a forefather among the types of wrenches. In fact, this was invented in the 19th century. It is described as having both an L- and F-shaped appearance. The monkey wrench can be used to clamp onto large pipes and various fasteners such as bolts, screws and in some cases, lug nuts too. Also because of its long handle and heavyweight, you can get lots of leverage for stuck bolts.

These are just some of the common wrenches that you can see. There are now tons of modified and specialized wrenches being used in homes and different industries (plumbing, carpentry, auto repairs and etc.)