Spanners

What is the point in a tool set without a good spanner?

No good toolbox can be without a spanner, they are an essential addition to every household DIY tool set. The uses for spanners are numerous and you’ll usually need to use them for plumbing and vehicle maintenance, though they are also useful for putting together anything that uses nuts and bolts.

There are many types of spanner to choose from. A general adjustable spanner is useful for every toolbox, their adjustable teeth make them useful for just about any task you can throw them at.

For more specified uses, there are box spanners and ring spanners, these are both best suited for car engine maintenance. A box spanner is fantastic for removing tough to reach nuts or spark plugs that are often set into a recess. A ring spanner has a loop at the end instead of an open grip, these are great if you need a better grip on the nut or bolt because they apply force to all six sides giving you that additional grip strength you might even know you’ve been missing!

Tap spanners are specialised tools for adjusting sinks, taps, basins, toilets, basically anything to do with plumbing. Also known as a plumber’s spanner, these handy tools allow you to maintain and replace your plumbing equipment with ease.

As well adjustable spanners, another good all-round general use spanner is the combination spanner. These have the enclosed grip of ring spanners on one end and the open grip of common spanners on the other. You’ll often find these tools available in a spanner set, giving you many different size options to make up for not being adjustable.

For other essential hand tools that are useful to have around the home, take a look at our other hand tools categories. Within each one you’ll find a wide variety of professional-grade tools that are useful for any DIY project. Build your comprehensive tool set with ease and be prepared for any household DIY emergency.