Spanner? - An easy one

[buck51]

Some people cant see the wood for the trees, go check out the price of Quality O.E. spanners, then come back and dont forget you will need two of each size, Dream on, It will cost you more for the tools than what it would to get somebody to do the job for you, if you cover all the sizes involved in plumbing.

For all most every job can be done with 2 sizes of adjustable and 2 sizes of grips

 

[Richardthe3rd]

While I carry the AmTech adjustable spanners as stated, first class quality for the money!!

I also have about 4 spanners for radiator valves; Conex key as stated for nuts, 17mm ratchet for tails & 22mm socket for plugs/air plugs. Then there's another few for other types of radiator valves!!

But 9 times out of 10, for compression fittings, it's the adjustable & Cobra water pump pliers.

 

[footprints]

So that's about 8 votes for us Bahco bodgers then

 

[Richardthe3rd]

Thank you everyone for your replies.

I must say that I am a bit surprised, an awful lot in truth, that any professional plumber would use an adjustable wrench.

I do already have a few, four I believe, of varying sizes and ages, but there are times when they do not fit confined spaces as well as a regular open ended spanner. It surprises me that a plumber would use one and keep having to adjust it while working because they usually like things quick and efficient and having a few spanners seems the fastest way of doing it.

I am certainly not a pro plumber so speed is not very important but getting in could be an issue. Saying that I am speaking after using a larger adjustable which I don't know the size, it's 12" total length, so maybe that is why I perceive a problem.

The Bahco is very, very nice but I gulp at that price. Even just under £20 on Amazon or ebay is a lot. The same price on MTS where I was considering purchasing something else.

Best price seems to be at buyaparcel at £16.50 which seems much more enticing but plus £3.95 del so no better overall unless there is something else I need from them.


Does no one rate a spanner any more?

Thanks Agile, I have not seen a plumber use or rely on adjustables when I have watched them work so it did surprise me when people on this thread say they do.

There must be jobs where only a spanner will fit because they are usually much more compact.

I have a large adjustable so I still think that a set of spanners covering the common sizes would be my best bet. The most important question is, what sizes and types should I ensure that I get? I do mainly radiators & valves/TRV's with 15mm pipes and associated compression fittings. Plus an upcoming bathroom and kitchen.

Would it be BSP type spanners that I would need? Whitworth are not used in plumbing?

Sizes? 1/2 BSP seems to be common on radiators. Any other sizes? I don't have anything to test my radiator valves and other fittings so I don't know what I need. I have tried the 1/2 BSW(hitworth) and it was a bit of a tight fit on radiator valves 15mm compression fitting. I have nothing for the larger radiator tail compression nut so don't know it's size. Does that need a 3/4 BSP spanner or 1"?

Buy the AmTec ones mate half the price of the Bahcos & just as good.

 

[ICanDoItWell]

If you're working on taps then these are helpful...
http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Han...djustable+Basin+Wrench+290mm/d10/sd210/p63844

http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Han...+Box+Spanner+4+Piece/d10/sd210/p16973[/QUOTE]
I have been through all of those and none helped with my current bathroom taps. I ended having to buy one similar to the following to get the job done.
http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Hand+Tools/Plumbers+Tools/Tap+Backnut+Spanner+12+34/d10/sd210/p43996

So that's about 8 votes for us Bahco bodgers then

The Bahco wrenches do seem to be very popular.......which makes me understand why no one has been able to answer my question about spanner sizes.......I doubt that any plumber knows the sizes any more, they just use adjustables. There must be a logical explanation of pipe threads and sizes but they do seem to confuse the majority. Is it only the thread that is standard but the nut sizes are not? A 1/2 BSP measures 23mm AF on a radiator valve nut I have here. The thread measures about 20mm but is meant to be 19.05mm so cannot be the outer thread diameter.

Aluminium warehouse has many Bahco adjustables and the Bahco 9031 for £19.60 and I do have other things that I could order from them. I do need a plastering feather edge and a few other things for my home.

An important question re the Bahco wrenches and not being able to see stuff before purchasing which I dislike immensely, what does the length of the wrench include? Eight inches from tip to tail or only the handle? It would give me some idea of the proportions.

 

[footprints]

I did buy a couple of these (from another supplier but they look the same) a waste of time they are too short to get good leverage and hurt your hands to use and they still only fitted some nuts

http://www.screwfix.com/p/monument-...tracking url&gclid=CJeTv-36jb8CFa_LtAodtVMACw

This on the other hand has a cushioned handle with a nice rounded end so comfortable to use, adjustable spanners are usually sized by overall length.
8"
http://www.screwfix.com/p/bahco-9031-ergo-wide-jaw-adjustable-wrench-8/38428
is a good general purpose one. A 6" is useful for tight spots particularly if you get the wide jawed one.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/bahco-9029-ergo-wide-jaw-adjustable-wrench-6/24718

A 10" is handy to have but not needed so often.

As a rule iron pipe was sized by internal size and had a thick wall while modern copper is sized by external size and is thin walled. That's why a 1/2 iron fitting looks more like 3/4" and 3/4 looks more like 1" pipe.

Makers tend to please themselves about the hex size and in fact some manufactures (like peglers) use raised bars around the fitting on some fittings.
http://lpssupplies.com/15mm-compression-equal-p-2764.html

 

[Richardthe3rd]

While I agree the Bahco ones are good, but they're a magnet for the site magpie, so that's another reason to buy the AmTec.

I agree about the wee compression fittings spanner, too short & thin to use all day.

 

[ICanDoItWell]

Further to what my learned friends have posted; I've used these for about two years & find them great. About half the price of similar tools & it's wee brother is also a good buy.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/1910...11=ICEP3.0.0&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=108[/QUOTE]
The problem that I have with these, is that they seem to be the proverbial jack of all trades.......I only really need an adjustable spanner rather than the extras it has, plus the sticky out bit puts me off

 

[Richardthe3rd]

Further to what my learned friends have posted; I've used these for about two years & find them great. About half the price of similar tools & it's wee brother is also a good buy.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/1910...11=ICEP3.0.0&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=108[/QUOTE]
The problem that I have with these, is that they seem to be the proverbial jack of all trades.......I only really need an adjustable spanner rather than the extras it has, plus the sticky out bit puts me off

Eh??!! The two spanners are the same design. Of course you'd never use an adjustable spanner on MI pipe, that's just plain daft.

 

[footprints]

Further to what my learned friends have posted; I've used these for about two years & find them great. About half the price of similar tools & it's wee brother is also a good buy.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/1910...11=ICEP3.0.0&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=108[/QUOTE]
The problem that I have with these, is that they seem to be the proverbial jack of all trades.......I only really need an adjustable spanner rather than the extras it has, plus the sticky out bit puts me off

Eh??!! The two spanners are the same design. Of course you'd never use an adjustable spanner on MI pipe, that's just plain daft.

Well there are times when you do use a "rough jawed spanner" on fittings in a tight spot if nobody is looking

 

[ICanDoItWell]

They are very different designs. In fact Bahco make a similar product

As you can see, because the jaw can be swapped around, it means there is a very wide feed sticking out the side as the jaw opens wider. That is not present on the adjustable spanner. It's only on the multi function adjustable spanner/pipe wrenches combinations.

This topic started with spanners for tightening nuts and has progressed to things which are not needed ATM and might become a hindrance. It's nice to be aware of them but ATM I will stick to an adjustable spanner because that is likely to be what I require most of all.

 

[ICanDoItWell]

There are quite a few almost identical adjustables to the Bahco models.

£16.01 or £15.79 & £14.65 on ebay delivered
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Monument-3141-3141T-Adjustable-Wrench/dp/B00CEW7FFU

£13.50 delivered
http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Han...Jaw+Adjustable+Wrench+8+200mm/d10/sd90/p70950

Or something new £19.52 delivered
http://www.milli-grip.com/details.cfm
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Monument-3145F-Milligrip-Wrench-25mm/dp/B00I5T96A8

£5 or £6 less than the Bahco for what looks pretty much identical.

Has anyone tried any of these? Or the new milligrip wrench?

 

[Norcon]

Not sure those have the precision milled surfaces that bacho tools have.
Maybe Chinese.

 

[Steelmasons]

You certainly do need some fixed spanners but many plumbers rely on adjustables and bodge things.

If you have old spanners the file/grind them to fit things.

Tony

I use pump pliers for most jobs and,an adjustable bahco for rad unions etc , does that make me a bodger?????

A bit rich coming from an ex BBC employee who knows fook all about this trade and advocates crushing gas pipes behind soil stacks.

What a tool you really are Tony you certainly wouldn't be invited to carry out any plumbing/heating /gas work in my property , the diy gang might not see through you but the tradesman amongst us do.

 

[Richardthe3rd]

Not sure those have the precision milled surfaces that bacho tools have.
Maybe Chinese.

You are having a laff mate!! Milled surface?? I bought Bahco tube cutters & they fell apart in a couple of months, let's keep it real here, we're Plumbers, well I'm & not some oily rag engineer.

Real Plumbers' tools get abuse & get rusty, we work with water in a dirty environment.

Milled surface....ROFL!!

The AmTec ones will do the job & do it well. Save you money & if you lose them or some cnt nicks them, your not greetin too much either.