What are box wrenches for?

[marlinspike]

I'm talking about this kind of wrench.
http://www.stahlwille-online.de/pictures/all/10750_fot_012.jpg
What is it for?

 

[metaleltr]

I usually see them marketed to plumbers, for use in faucet cartridges and such.

 

[theknurl]

usually tube type wrenches come in car/bike tool kits and are for sparkplugs

 

[Roland-5.0]

Small engines?

 

[rockchucker]

Both Spark Plug Tools and Plumbing Applications.

 

[71goldss]

I have a few of them that came with my Echo blower and trimmers for removing the spark plugs. I'm curious what plumbers use them for?

edit; Never mind. Just read post #2

 

[6erWebb]

As above with the plumbers tools. I know most if not all bmws have them in the tool kit in the trunk for spark plugs also.

 

[383novamike]

I have one in my snowmobile tool kit for spark plugs.Stick a screw driver through the holes for leverage.

 

[metaleltr]

Come to think of it i believe there is one or two of those in the BMW tool kit.

 

[Danglerb]

Weird, this is what I found looking at the part number associated with the picture.

Stahlwille 43320607 6mm x 7mm, 10750 series, Box spanner.

I don't see that being used in plumbing or sparkplugs.

 

[racingtadpole]

I use those at work for tightening bolts that are inside a Unistrut channel. Most of the fixings are M10 or M12 which has a 16mm or 18mm head, a deep socket is too big to fit in the channel, those have a thinner wall.

 

[Skin]

Weird, this is what I found looking at the part number associated with the picture.

Stahlwille 43320607 6mm x 7mm, 10750 series, Box spanner.

I don't see that being used in plumbing or sparkplugs.

that's the most common application but if someone makes them in all sizes that wouldn't surprise me. They're cheap stamped things and as stated often stuck in tool kits.

6/7 could be handy for a bicycle or ATV kit.

 

[Provincial]

This form of stamped tool was the basis of the first socket wrenches, using a square or hex drive for the detachable handle.

 

[lbgradwell]

 

[AndyA]

I thought they were just cheap subsitutes for a good machined/broached socket. Same uses. Sometimes it's just about the $$$$.

 

[marlinspike]

Ah, very interesting, so basically it's for when a deep socket won't work, but a deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep one will.

 

[jmm]

Where I work, they're just very deep sockets. Most common used is 30/32 mm for turning nuts on a VERY long spindle.

 

[Jbullfrog]

Plumbers don't like ratchets and socket because they usually work in wet dirty places. These are easier to clean and can be kept together on a big ring for transport.

 

[Skin]

Plumbers don't like ratchets and socket because they usually work in wet dirty places.

Yes working under a 10yo car fresh off the slushy/sand and salt ridden roads is a perfect picture of cleanliness

 

[cheechi]

Yes working under a 10yo car fresh off the slushy/sand and salt ridden roads is a perfect picture of cleanliness

I have often wondered why there isn't a standardized 'cleanup' prep routine when working on say steering, suspension, or when you need to get to things under/near the dirtiest parts of a vehicle.

I understand the need to see the mess, where drips and leaks are coming from and all that, but after you've taken a light and observed it, it just seems to me that something like a shower with a low powered pressure washer would be the norm.

 

[Danglerb]

If you look at the picture of the Stahlwillie tool it is not just stamped metal, the socket portions look much thicker to me.

I know guys who steam clean the underside before working on their cars, and others who dive right into the muck.