Wrench for cap nut. Types of wrenches

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Wrenches by type are very diverse and may differ both in appearance and in the material of use (brand and type of metal or alloy).

A wrench is a tool that is used to tighten bolts, nuts, or faceted elements. Each kind wrenches has its positive and negative sides.

First of all, wrenches differ in the shape of the working part - open-end wrenches, open-end wrenches, ring wrenches, adjustable, end wrenches.

The most recognizable and common type. For these keys, the capture of the part is carried out by elements that have the shape of horns. Open-end wrenches have two working parts different sizes located at the ends of one handle. This is convenient because it reduces the number of keys required size at work.

Due to their versatility, open-end wrenches are very popular despite some drawbacks. One of the disadvantages is a small contact zone, only at two points, if the force is large, then the key tends to deform the edges of the part in the contact zone, if the horns of the key are thin, then this probability increases.

Ring wrenches

For these keys, the working part has a head start of a ring with edges on inside. Its design is more reliable than that of open-end wrenches, since the part is covered over the entire surface (that is, at least in six places), which practically eliminates the deformation of the corners. Ring spanners exist with two types of internal profile - with a 6-point profile and a 12-point profile. It is more convenient to work with a profile with 12 faces in a limited space, since it needs a turn of 30 degrees, a key with a 6-sided profile needs 60 degrees of turn.

More common are wrenches with an inclined head, when the working part is at a slight angle to the handle. Ring wrenches are available in different sizes, as are open-end wrenches.

Open-end wrenches (combined wrenches)

This type of wrench combines an open-end working part on one side of the handle, and a ring working part on the other side. This combination removes the shortcomings of each (both carob and cap) separately. Combination wrenches are produced with one size of the working part on both sides (eg 13*13 mm).

Adjustable wrenches

Represent open end wrench with variable size between clamps. Such keys are quite popular in everyday life, because they replace almost all sizes of keys used.

But this type of key has its drawbacks:

The large size of the working part, which can interfere when working in tight spaces.
In the course of work and over time, sliding mechanism wears out, which leads to significant backlash, that is, to the inability to tightly cover the edges of the part.
The need to often adjust the position of the grip according to the size of the nuts, which is not always convenient.

Socket wrenches

This type of key is a hollow tube or cylinder with recesses at both ends. socket wrenches are of two types:

L-shaped socket wrenches

They have the same size on both edges of the working parts. This is done with the expectation that the nut (or bolt) can be deep from the surface and then the long part of the wrench is used, but more effort is required (due to the small leverage). If the part is shallow, then the short part of the key is used, respectively, due to the larger lever, less effort is applied.

I-shaped wrenches

This type of wrench has an L-shape and is used to work with bolts (screws, screws) that do not have external edges, but internal ones. Mainly used mainly in furniture assembly, repair household appliances and similar works.

TORX star key

These keys have the same shape as hex keys, only with the peculiarity that the end of the key is made in the form of an asterisk (the scope is different from electronics repair to repairing cars and some household appliances).

According to the types of metal, keys should be purchased from a chrome-vanadium alloy or a chromium-molybdenum alloy, all other types of metals or alloys do not show such good results when working, no matter how attractive they look.

With all the variety of types of keys, everyone can choose for himself what he needs in this moment or purchase a set. But it is worth paying attention to the fact that it is better to purchase quality products in order to avoid disappointment in the future.

Under the heading |

Wrenches are used to work with bolted connections. They come in several varieties, each of which is used for specific purposes. The choice of tool configuration depends on the difficulty of accessing the threaded connection. If it is in an open place, then any wrench will do, but if you need to dodge, then you need a special form of the tool.

Varieties of wrenches

First of all, the tool differs in size. Each one is designed for a specific hex nut. The key size is indicated by numbers that correspond to the diameter of the landing throat in millimeters. Foreign tools may have an inch designation, but they are practically not used in the CIS.

There are more than 10 types of wrenches, which are divided into the following groups:

Monolithic.
Adjustable.
Composite.
with a special profile.

Special keys can also be noted, but they are used very rarely and only in special designs. Most of these tools are almost never used, so they can be ignored.

Monolithic wrench

The monolithic wrench is a one-piece metal structure. This tool is the most common. It is mainly made of special steel, which includes chromium and vanadium. Monolithic type is divided into several subtypes:

Rozhkovy.
Union.
End.
Combined.

Rozhkovy

The open end tool is used for nuts and bolts from 3.6mm to 95mm. This is the most common key that is used in all areas, including car maintenance. Its design is a flat profile, at the end of which there are two axes for covering caps. threaded connections. The horn instrument is single-sided and double-sided.

One-sided has horns on only one side, while the second is a cut profile. Often, to work with a tightly clamped connection, a tube can be put on the second end of the wrench to increase the leverage of force, and to facilitate untwisting. The double-ended wrench has horns at all ends. Usually they are designed for nuts of different diameters.

Thanks to flat design wrenches are quite compact. The direction of their jaws has a deviation of 15 degrees. This reduces the risk of slipping and adds extra maneuverability. The disadvantage of the horn design is the fragility of fixing the joints. When untwisting with strong force, metal is abraded on the edges of the bolts. In addition, breaking off or expanding the horns is possible.

Union

The ring wrench has a size from 6 to 55 mm. Its working part is a ring with edges, which ensures complete crimping of nuts and bolts. When working with such a tool, the risk of licking the edges is eliminated. The cap design can also be one-sided and two-sided. The one-sided variation includes a tool in sizes from 30 to 55 mm. The disadvantage of the cap type is the need for open access to the threaded connection. If the nut is only a few millimeters from the obstacle, then it will not be possible to fix the key on it.

End

The working part of such a tool is a tube with an internal notch for fixing the edges. The wrench is used to loosen deep seated bolts and nuts. Reliability of fixation corresponds to the cap. Depending on the shape, there are tubular, "T" and "G" shaped. The former are a straight tube, with ends fitted to the edges and a small through hole in the center, which are used to thread the pin to facilitate turning. Such wrenches are called candle wrenches because they are used to change spark plugs in internal combustion engines. "T" and "G" shaped keys have 6 or 12 faces. Their curved shape is adapted to certain working conditions.

Combined

Such a double-sided tool has an open-end and ring spanner at each end. Available in sizes from 5 to 32 mm. A variant of the same or different sizes of carob and ring spanner. Such a tool is often included in standard kits for servicing motorcycles and other small equipment.

adjustable type

The adjustable wrench is more advanced, but not as robust design like a monolith. It can change the size of the girth of the working part, therefore it is suitable for a wide range of nuts and bolts. There are several subtypes of adjustable tools:

Adjustable.
Pipe.
Adjustable.
French.

Adjustable

Adjustable resembles a carob, but is more massive. Its feature lies in the sliding jaws. Such a tool is universal. It allows you to work with non-standard sizes nuts. Changing the working width is done with a simple worm-type adjuster. Such a tool fixes only two faces, so it can lick nuts. It must not be hit with a hammer, as the worm adjuster may jam and bend, making further attempts to adjust the width impossible.

Trubny

Pipe wrench refers to universal tool. It comes in 5 sizes with a coverage range of 0 to 120mm. Adjustment is carried out using a clamping nut on one of the handles. The capture of faces is carried out by two sponges like a lever. The tighter it is clamped, the more reliable the fixation will be. There are several options for the shape of the lips. They are flat and rounded. The former work with ordinary nuts, while the latter can capture rounded joints.

Adjustable

The adjustable wrench also provides a grip on the lever system. To work with it, you need to apply a strong force, since its design is more primitive than pipe. The surface of the adjustable mechanism is serrated, which provides a tighter contact between the two handles. There is also a notch on the lips. It increases the reliability of the fit of the horns to the surface of the faces.

French

The french wrench is very old design. Despite this, it can be found in the tool kit of many motorists and mechanics. The French design was invented back in the 18th century. Since that time, the principle of tool adjustment has changed slightly. It should be noted that such keys suffer from the presence of backlash, which complicates the reliable fixation of the jaws. They do not tolerate shock, so if the nut does not give in, then it is best to use a tube to increase the leverage.

Composite type

Composite type is a socket head. On the one hand, they have 6 or 12 faces for fixing the nuts, and on the other, 4 faces for holding the knob. When assembled, the composite key repeats the design of the conventional end type. The advantage of the heads is that they fit under one collar. Thus, a whole set of end caps and one handle can fit in a small box. At the same time, it will present all the popular sizes that are required for work.

Handles of several designs can be used for heads:

Hinged.
With ratchet.
L-shaped.
With screwdriver handle.

The disadvantage of heads is that they do not fit everywhere. For hard-to-reach places, they are often unsuitable. This is due to the thick walls of the nest. In addition, when working with dirty and rusty joints, there are times when the head fits tightly on a nut or bolt, after which it is difficult to remove it. With force, the crank simply pops out of the mounting hole, while the nozzle remains in place.

Keys with a special profile

Special profile wrenches are male tools that fit into special holes on the bolts, rather than capturing their heads. There are hex and star wrenches. They have a small diameter and are mainly used for fixing furniture joints. They are also used for assembly and disassembly of household appliances.

The hex key is an ordinary L-shaped rod, machined into 6 faces. It is he who is used for conformation in the assembly and repair of furniture. Wrenches with a diameter of 1.5 to 24 mm are available. You can often find an even variation of the key in the form of bits for .

A star-shaped wrench is an L-shaped rod with a curly sharpening at the end, resembling the shape of a screwdriver. It is used to work with small bolts in household appliances and car interior elements. Small wrenches are used for disassembly mobile phones and tablets. Often, a special screwdriver is used instead of a torx type.

There are several types of wrenches. They are used for tight fastening of joints, including a bolt and a nut. They are made from an alloy of chromium and vanadium. In order to prevent rusting of the key, chrome plating is used.

The first key was created by Solimon Merrico, who patented it back in 1835. There are many varieties of keys, all of them are very necessary for a person for construction and repair work in everyday life.

Purpose of wrenches

If you carefully consider the types of devices in the photo, you can understand that in addition to the models found in our homes, there are many more variations of them. They differ from each other not only in form, but also in the purpose of application..

For example, a fire hydrant wrench is used for only one purpose. While the rest, say, combined or adjustable tools, can be used for various areas.

Such a variety of devices is necessary to ensure comfort in work, not only professional specialists but also in the lives of ordinary citizens.

A properly designed tool helps to quickly complete the repair task assigned to a person.

Types of keys

The size is usually indicated by parameters such as the distance between the jaws.. In the 19th century and early 20th century, the nominal size of the tool was most often determined by following the general parameters of the thread it created. In modern practice, there are designations based on the total distance between two planes.

Dimensions should be considered according to such indicators as the mouth (distance from one sponge to another), thread parameter (nuts), handle length. The next parameter carries a distance from 3.2 mm to 155 mm, the second from M1.6 to M 110; and the third - from 150 millimeters to 500.

Open-end wrenches one and two-sided

These keys have open ends.. Their hole is presented in the form of a U. Most often they are different in size. Such products should be used when working with nuts and bolts, which are very difficult to access. They give a lot of room during unscrewing.

Double ended ring wrenches

The device is wrapped type at two ends has a closed circuit. The product is most often used for nuts or bolts. hexagonal shape. But in some cases it can be created in the shape of a square. The loops at both ends are the same size. Products of this type are used when open models cannot perform their task.

combination keys

Combined appliances, as their name implies, are presented in the form of a combination of a box model and an open-end wrench. They possess closed loop at one end and open at the other. The wrench can be used to loosen bolts and nuts, and then quickly remove them with the open end.

Combined types of keys are most often used to perform combinations, as a result of which both rings acquire the same diameter.

Adjustable and adjustable wrenches

Such products are presented open type. They are applied only from one end. Overall size holes were not fixed. It may vary depending on the bolt or nut. But these types of wrenches are almost impossible to use in hard-to-reach areas.

This type adjustable key most commonly used today. The adjustable end device differs from the usual one in that the gripping surfaces of the jaws in it are shifted 15 degrees to the side with respect to the device handle. The modern adjustable socket wrench was created by Johan Peter Johansson.

Now you need to consider how to use an adjustable product:

Decide on the nut or bolt you want to fasten.
Open the rotary key while turning the screw. Check if you have opened it well so that the nut can fit completely into it: if not, it should be opened more. Make sure it is open a little more than the size of the nut or bolt itself.
Slide the free part of the tool head onto the nut while holding it in place. Rotate the screw mechanism so that it can grip the nut tightly.
Turn the device clockwise to tighten the screw more tightly, or counterclockwise to loosen it considerably. Continue turning until the nut is tight or loose enough to be removed.
Release the device and loosen the mechanism screw.

End models

It is customary to put the end device completely on a bolt or nut. When this kind of wrench is used, it does not need to be completely removed from the head of the nut or bolt after the turn is completed. The handles can be removed and re-inserted while the socket remains above the bolt.

Adjustable device, the main disadvantages:

Relatively big size, can be a significant obstacle when working in hard-to-reach places.
The backlash of the movable jaw does not allow the nut to be tightly compressed, ultimately, with a little effort, the wrench smoothes the corners of the nut and breaks off, at which time a person can get a significant injury.
Over time, the mechanism of the movable sponge wears out a lot, leading to a strong backlash.
The low strength index does not allow to create a large and twisting moment.
The need to adjust the position of the movable sponge.

The only advantage is the ability to change the distance between the jaws. But even this advantage can be negated with a socket wrench with interchangeable or bicycle heads.

Impact wrench

Types and sizes of products can be completely different. The impact type is a special thick, short and stocky device with a blocky end of the handle, which is specially designed to work with a hammer, which helps to give it more power in work.

It is used most often with large fasteners, a special nut and a font that have indication marks.

Impact wrenches are very durable, can withstand high strength, which is needed to release large stuck bolts and nuts. They will also help when free space does not allow the use of a large device.

Hex Tool

Such a device has a hexagonal end. Tools are used during the unwinding of a bolt with a hexagonal recess at the end. The method of such work is similar to the method of operation of a screwdriver. In order to better understand the principle of operation of such products, it is worth studying the types of wrenches, especially you need to pay increased attention to the photographs of the products.

Illustrative information helps to learn more about the features of any model.

Hexagonal devices come in two forms: with L-handles and T-handles. L -shaped keys are created from hexagonal wire, while T - shaped handles are considered to be the same hexagonal wire with a metal or plastic handle attached to a specific end.

Types of key and its name can also be studied in a hardware store. Most of the names of the devices come from their appearance.

Such hexagonal products have a head on a short arm and a hexagonal ball head on a longer arm. They enclose a large contact surface on the head of the screw. This reduces the possibility of heavy wear or rounding of corners in the screw.

A ball on a long arm is needed so that the key can be easily inserted into the head, which will help turn it at a certain angle, this is very important for use in hard-to-reach places.

The round shafts of the keys fit well in the hand and make the operation as easy as possible.

Since for such quality products stainless steel is used, then there will definitely not be any problems with rust. If you noticed it on the surface of the device, then there can be only one reason. This is due to active use instrument in order to turn the screws or bolts of excess steel. The pressure after itself leaves traces or components of another metal on the stainless beak, and in this case, corrosion develops under the influence of oxygen.

balloon instruments

This type of device is used to loosen and tighten the nuts on the wheels of a car. In the United Kingdom and Austria, it is widely used as a wheel brace..

Wrenches of this format may have an L - shaped metal rod with an end product on a curved tip and a knee on the other. The capturing tip is used to remove the caps from the wheels, which are fixed with the hooks of the tips.

On the market building tools Gedore is especially popular. It creates high-quality products that are actively used by motorists from all over the world. Appearance The first Gedore sets will definitely appeal to every car enthusiast.

Another common species, sometimes called the key spider, is represented as a cross with spaced nests at each of the four ends.

It is best if the bolts (or nuts) are tightened with a torque tool. These devices are much cheaper. Installing wheels while using them requires more force. Excessive force can make the nut very difficult to remove. In addition, the uneven distribution of force between the nuts and the device itself can lead to deformation of the brake rotor if the car has disc brakes.

For this reason, balloon tools are best used only to remove the nuts from the tip, and not to tighten them. In practice, such a rule is very often not observed even by professional mechanics themselves.

For every auto mechanic or common man, whose profession is inextricably linked with the use of a large number of tools, you can buy cutlery in the form of wrenches. Such an unusual gift will definitely please them.

tubular model

The tubular device is represented by a tube, at the ends of which there are hexagons, special holes are made in the tube for a knob (a rod that plays the role of a lever). The hex size at the end of one key will vary considerably. Equipment and some machines, including cars, are sometimes equipped with such simple products.
In some cases, the manufacturer bends the pipe, while obtaining an L-shaped tubular device. They have the same hexagon index at the end of one key, and the functionality of the positions is just like that of L-shaped end devices.
A type of tubular device is considered to be a candle (for automotive spark plugs), it has a hexagon on one side.

In the cavity of the pipe, there may be protruding parts of threaded connections, for example, strongly protruding parts of a candle.

Products equipped with a ratchet

Cap and end products can be modified together with a ratchet mechanism (in other words, combined with a ratchet). The main advantage of such a ratchet wrench is that it does not need to be thrown. Another important advantage is the small angle at which the wrench is turned to carry out the screwing and unscrewing of the nut.

Ratchet mechanisms differ significantly from each other, for example, in terms of the number of teeth, if the mechanism has 72 teeth, then 5 degrees will be enough to turn, if 50 teeth, then 9 degrees, and so on. The formula for calculating is the angle of 360 degrees divided by the number of teeth. This is very important when working in very cramped conditions.

The main disadvantage of the device is the ratchet, which is considered its weak point, as it can easily break under load.

There are more than 250 types of sockets and tool wrenches in the OBI hypermarket catalog. Products are sold individually and in ready-made sets at a price of 45 to 10,000 rubles per heading.

Features of choice

When buying products from this subcategory, the following nuances are taken into account:

. Manufacturing material.
. Design features.
. Size.

For the manufacture of quality tool using hardened carbon steel. This material is characterized by high resistance to moisture and strength. In addition to piece items, there are sets of several dozen devices with a hard carrying case.

By design features Distinguish between products with a ratchet and adjustable mechanism, horn and end tools. Products with a T-handle and an extended working part are designed for tightening bolts in hard-to-reach places. Torque samples are also commercially available with a special device for controlling the tightening force of the nuts. Key sizes are indicated in millimeters or inches according to generally accepted international standards.

Order in the OBI store manual locksmith tools for home and industrial needs using your phone.

Payment and delivery methods

Purchase goods online with delivery

. You can pay for the order in cash or by bank transfer.
. You will coordinate the date and time of delivery with the operator by phone when confirming the order.
. The terms of the free service depend on the city, amount and weight of the product.
. Unloading goods, lifting and transferring are additional services and may be paid separately, check with the store operator.

Detailed information about the intervals and zones by city, the conditions for unloading and lifting the order are located, where you can independently calculate the cost of your delivery in advance, indicating the postal address and parameters for unloading.

Order and collect yourself where it is convenient for you

. When filling out the order form, indicate a convenient date and time for you to visit the hypermarket.
. You can pay for the purchase in cash or by bank transfer at the cash desks of the store.

Purchased goods can be picked up at any of the OBI stores in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Ryazan, Volgograd, Nizhny Novgorod, Saratov, Kazan, Yekaterinburg, Omsk, Krasnodar, Surgut, Bryansk, Tula and Volzhsky.

The wrench is a common tool used quite often. For something as simple as turning nuts or bolts, there are many variations of a wrench available, and that's not counting highly specialized wrenches. Just a simple enumeration of the types of this tool will take more than one minute, and each type has its own purpose, its own advantages and disadvantages that are important to know, here are the main types: open-ended, cap, combined (horn at one end, cap at the other), end , divorced.

open end wrenches

When it comes to a wrench, it is usually the open end wrench that comes to mind. At the open-end wrench, the nut is fixed between sponges resembling horns, which gave this key the name - open-end. Another name for this species, which is also used in GOST, is a wrench with an open throat.

wrench

The longitudinal axis of the head and the longitudinal axis of the handle are at an angle, usually this angle is 15 ° (there are keys with a different angle).

This was done to facilitate work in a limited space.

The angle between the axes of the head and the handle is also made different, for example, 75 °, while the angles are combined in one key.

Wrench with the same opening size on both sides,
with opening angles of 15° and 75°

Often, an open-end wrench has two heads (double-sided wrench), one each at the ends of the handle, for different nut sizes. This halves the number of items in the set of such keys.

Open-end wrenches are widely used due to their relative versatility and simplicity, despite serious shortcomings. The main disadvantage of an open-end wrench is that there are only two small contact areas that are close to the corners of the nut. The pressure on these zones tends to crush the corners, if the size of the pharynx is slightly larger than the size of the nut, then the wrench will press directly on the two corners and crush them with force. The same will happen when the key is right size, but the effort will be much greater. With a decrease in the thickness of the lips, the likelihood of crumpling the corners increases.

At impact wrench, used to unscrew unyielding (stuck or rusty) nuts or bolts, a special thickening is made at the second end, which receives blows from a hammer or sledgehammer.

Manufacturers offer open-end wrenches with a modified profile of the lips (horns). For example, in IBEX keys, one lip is shortened and has a small protrusion, while the other is made convex, and the notch has also been changed. Thanks to this modification, the key has two pluses at once. Firstly, speed - the key can be rearranged without removing the hook from the throat, but only slightly retracting it back. Second, the contact patches are farther away from the corners of the nut, which reduces the possibility of smearing the edges. The modification is simpler, it may consist either in creating a slight bulge of the working surface, or in its corrugation. Manufacturers claim that keys with a convex working surface you can even work with nuts or bolts that have crumpled edges.

Key IBEX (UNIOR)

Ring spanners

A cap wrench, also known as a ring wrench, is a more advanced type of wrench than an open-end wrench. Its design is devoid of the main drawback of open-end wrenches, which have only two small contact spots. The ring wrench head covers the entire nut and, under load, the pressure is distributed to all six faces of the nut or bolt, that is, instead of two contact spots, there are six of them, in addition, the contact spots are a little further from the corners, which almost completely eliminates corner crushing. The box wrench has a smaller head than an open-end wrench for the same nut and is generally more comfortable to work with.

The profile of the head of the box wrench can be with 12 faces (the most common option) or with 6 (TORX profile). A 12-sided wrench is more convenient to work with and only needs to turn 30° to work, while a TORX wrench needs 60°, so the latter may not be able to cope with screwing or unscrewing in a tight space. But with a TORX profile wrench, due to the large edges, the contact area is larger, and it is further from the corners of the nut. As a result, such a key can apply more force without fear of lubricating the corners.

The ring can lie in the same plane as the handle (flat wrench), be inclined at an angle, typically 15° (bent wrench), or have an elbow (bent wrench). For different situations, a certain arrangement of the ring is optimal (sometimes the only possible one), but the most versatile can be called a key with a bent head, flat ones are almost never used.

Ratchet wrenches (more on them below) are sometimes made with a swivel head.

Like open-end wrenches, box wrenches are often made with two rings of different sizes.

Percussion modifications are produced that differ from percussion horns only in the head.

For cases when it is impossible to put the key on top, there is an option with an open ring (slotted key). Such situations often arise when servicing hydraulic and pneumatic installations.

The handle of the wrench, for working in hard-to-reach places, can be bent, for example, a motor (starter) wrench is bent in the form of a crescent (C-shaped), there are also S-shaped wrenches.

Combination wrenches

The combination of an open-end wrench on one handle, at one end, and a box wrench of the same size, at the other, created a key devoid of the shortcomings of each of them individually. Combination wrenches are the most popular and common. Of course, manufacturers are not limited to a combination of open-end and box wrenches, other types are also combined, for example, open-end wrench with end, but if we are talking about a combined wrench, without specifying which one, then we are talking specifically about the rozhkovo-cap.

There are modifications with the head turned by 90°, in this case, when working, the palm rests against the wide plane of the head, and not against the narrow part.

Adjustable wrenches

An adjustable wrench, in simple terms, is an open-end wrench with a variable distance between the jaws. They are more commonly used in the home than professionally, and are perhaps more common in the home than other wrenches.

The dislike of professionals for them is well explained by their significant shortcomings, namely:

The relatively large size of the head can become an obstacle when working in a hard-to-reach place.
The backlash of the movable jaw does not allow the nut to be tightly compressed, as a result of which, with a relatively small effort, the wrench will smooth the corners of the nut and break off, while a person may be injured.
Over time, the moving jaw mechanism wears out, resulting in even more play.
Low strength does not create a large torque.
The need for constant adjustment of the position of the movable sponge.

And there is only one advantage - the variable distance between the jaws. Yes, and this advantage can be negated by a socket wrench with interchangeable heads or a bicycle one.

socket wrenches

Socket wrenches have a recess in the end, usually in the form of a hexagon, enclosing a bolt or nut, they are mainly used in automotive maintenance. Often these wrenches are L-shaped, with a hex notch at both ends. Moreover, the size of the notch is the same on both sides, that is, not like, for example, ring keys. This is due to the different functionality of the two ends, the long part can get deeply "hidden" bolts, but the lever will be shorter and it will be possible to create a small torque, covering the bolts with the short end, the long part creates a large torque. Knowing that more force is needed to unscrew the bolt than was applied during tightening, due to the souring of the threaded connection, when tightening, you can use the short part as a lever (if possible and the bolt is tightened strongly enough), and for unscrewing - the long part, this it will save you from a situation where a heavily tightened bolt or nut cannot be twisted.

The socket wrench can be with a dodecahedral recess, like a box wrench, with the same pros and cons compared to the TORX profile, namely: it only needs to turn 30 ° to work, it is more convenient for them to work, it will lubricate the corners of the bolt with less effort or with less bolt head wear. Sometimes six- and twelve-sided heads are combined in one key.

Keys are produced with the head attached to the handle through a hinge. In this case, the sizes of the heads, from the two ends, are different.

There are T-keys with one head; in the form of a cross - some balloon; with interchangeable heads, significantly reducing the dimensions of the set; Various attachments are available for interchangeable heads.

Manufacturers also offer the following options:

It has a very significant drawback - a very large head size, which limits its use.

Tubular wrenches

A tubular wrench is a tube, at the ends of which a hexagon is formed, holes are made in the tube for a knob (a rod that acts as a lever). The size of the hexagon, at the ends of one key, is different. Such simple keys are sometimes used to complete equipment and machines, in particular cars.

Sometimes manufacturers bend the tube, getting an L-shaped tubular wrench. They have the same hexagon size at the ends of one key, and the functionality of the positions is the same as that of L-shaped socket wrenches.

Variety tubular wrenches- a candle wrench (for automotive spark plugs) with a hexagon on one side.

Protruding parts of threaded connections, for example, strongly protruding parts of a candle, can fit in the cavity of the tube.

Ratchet wrenches

Union and socket wrenches have modifications with a ratchet mechanism (in other words, with a ratchet). The main advantage of a ratchet wrench is that you don't have to flip the wrench. Another important advantage is the very small angle that the wrench has to turn to screw or unscrew the nut. Ratchet mechanisms differ, in particular, in the number of teeth, if the mechanism has 72 teeth, then 5 ° is enough to turn, if 40, then 9 °, etc., the angle is 360 ° divided by the number of teeth. This is very important when working in very cramped conditions.

The disadvantage of a ratchet is that it is a weak point of the key and breaks under excessive load, at a significantly higher cost of such a tool.

Other keys

In this topic, it would be useful to mention other keys that are just as important as those described above. So, a bicycle key, familiar to many, used to be an integral part of any bicycle.

A spoke wrench is still a necessary part of a bicycle tool kit, but it has changed a lot.