Is there a difference between Allen wrenches and hex keys?

[Sicks_Ate]

How about carpenters’ trangle squares? Everybody calls them “speed squares” but that name belongs to Swanson.

Speed square

[beowulff]

@boytyperanma

I don’t like using spanner for my mechanics wrenches, they are all combo box end wrenches in my standard bag. I feel spanner is more appropriate to duel open end wrenches.

This is a “spanner.”

Those other things are open-ended (or combo) wrenches.

[Chronos]

OK, but what’s a 3/17 occipital left-leaning Heterodyne wrench?

[TriPolar]

@Chronos

OK, but what’s a 3/17 occipital left-leaning Heterodyne wrench?

That’s an old-fashion Stillson wrench in the UK. Here in the good old US of A it’s a Monkey wrench, once believed to be named after Charles Moncky but actually named so because of its utility in all sorts of monkey business.

[boytyperanma]

@beowulff

This is a “spanner.”

Those other things are open-ended (or combo) wrenches.

That is a specific type of spanner, a pin spanner or retaining ring spanner. The term spanner is used for a variety of wrenches including open-ended wrenches. I’d certainly refer to the wrenches I use on my angle grinders as ‘spanner’ wrench and they look totally different then the spanner you linked.

[boytyperanma]

@TriPolar

That’s an old-fashion Stillson wrench in the UK. Here in the good old US of A it’s a Monkey wrench, once believed to be named after Charles Moncky but actually named so because of its utility in all sorts of monkey business.

Brits always stealing proper English terms and reusing them for something else…

A ‘Stillson’ wrench has teeth, they were made for pipe like the inventor intended!. A monkey wrench doesn’t have teeth, so they are terrible for pipe. They are used on a variety of nuts and bolts and what not(frequently automotive) also known as a ‘Ford’ wrench.

[beowulff]

@boytyperanma

That is a specific type of spanner, a pin spanner or retaining ring spanner. The term spanner is used for a variety of wrenches including open-ended wrenches. I’d certainly refer to the wrenches I use on my angle grinders as ‘spanner’ wrench and they look totally different then the spanner you linked.

Not really.
Yours are just fixed - the one I linked to is adjustable (and precision). Both type mate with holes or slots at the periphery of the nut.

[TriPolar]

@boytyperanma

A ‘Stillson’ wrench has teeth, they were made for pipe like the inventor intended!

That was just a cartoon drawing. An actual occipital left-leaning Heterodyne wrench is a Pipe wrench.

[boytyperanma]

@beowulff

Not really.
Yours are just fixed - the one I linked to is adjustable (and precision). Both type mate with holes or slots at the periphery of the nut.

Puts them in the same family of spanner wrenches. Pin spanners.

How about hook spanners?

[beowulff]

@boytyperanma

Puts them in the same family of spanner wrenches. Pin spanners.

How about hook spanners?

I would call that the “you know… the wrench that loosens the water filter cartridge housing” wrench.

[boytyperanma]

@beowulff

I would call that the “you know… the wrench that loosens the water filter cartridge housing” wrench.

Yeah that’s what I use them for when I can’t find the correct cartridge filter wrench.

[Richox]

@boytyperanma

Puts them in the same family of spanner wrenches. Pin spanners.

How about hook spanners?

We call them C-spanners. And crescent wrenches are called ‘shifters’ or ‘adjustable spanners’ - and incidentally have been banned from use in a lot of workplaces I have been in - apparently slipping is a safety concern. go figure.

I’m surprised at the international variety of names in the common tool catalogue. Must make for some confusing moments and plenty of ribbing if a tradesmen relocates himself internationally.