Box wrench diameter

[Vandor]

Hello everyone!

I am new to the forum and I am also a tool newbie intrested in developing my knowledge about different tools and their usages.

My problem is as follows:

I have a screw (2,3 cm in diameter) which I need to detach with the help of a box wrench.
Since I do not have such a tool in my house, I have thought of buying one, but I got lost in the plethora of offers available both in the physical markets and online. Therefore I would like to ask the fellow forumists some questions:

1. How should I calculate the inner diameter of the box wrench to fit my screw as good as possible?

2. Which alloys provide a better life length to the tool? Can you suggest me some?

Thanks in advance!

Vandor

 

[gdocktor3]

Since you don't have the tool needed for this repair, what happens when you need a different size wrench for your next job? Buying individual wrenches each time you need one is quite expensive compared to buying a set, not to mention the time wasted searching for one each time you need it. My advice is to buy a complete set instead. For occasional home owner use, the basic big box store wrenches will fulfill most your needs. Harbor Freight, Husky, Kobalt, etc. Unfortunately that clashes with your second question. Most of the big box store tools are made of chrome vanadium which is inherently weaker than most "professional" grade tools made of excellent quality steel. They are also forged rather than cast. The big box store brands will work, but I always recommend buying a used professional brand on eBay. You can find lightly used, almost brand new stuff rather cheap on eBay such as Snap On, Matco, Mac, Proto, Armstrong, Wright, Williams, SK. A lot of my tools were purchased used on eBay and from pawn shops. Even Craftsman USA stuff is "stronger" than the chrome vanadium stuff. New SK will probably be the most affordable USA tools you can find. Gearwrench is a very affordable Taiwan company that is exceptionally well made and considered by most professional grade. Gearwrench also makes some excellent ratchet wrenches and for around $50 you can get yourself a 20 piece set with both metric and sae to cover most all your needs.

I was never good in math, but according to my phone, 2cm = 20mm and 3cm = 30 mm. Pretty big difference. So the Gearwrench set mentioned above won't work. For sizes that large, I purchased 2 sets made by Sunex. Also a Taiwan company that uses chrome vanadium, but also considered professional grade. Take a look at these two sets I have from tooldiscounter. For the price I think they're we'll worth it and will cover any of your needs now or in the future. http://www.tooldiscounter.com/ItemDisplay.cfm?lookup=SNX9918M
http://www.tooldiscounter.com/ItemDisplay.cfm?lookup=SNX9606M

Also remember Gearwrench, Sunex and many others often have great promo deals, as well as discount/coupon codes that can be used at check out on most websites.

Edit - sorry. I didn't know 2,3cm was a size. But now, are you in the uk or USA? This will change/determine a lot of the suggested brands due to high shipping charges.

 

[T45]

2,3cm IIRC is european notation for 23mm

It is a non-standard size but available,

search the forum and some options will come up.

 

[M6erfan]

Vandor, you need a 23mm wrench or an adjustable wrench that can accommodate 23mm.

Here is an example...

https://www.amazon.com/TEKTON-18294-Polished-Combination-Wrench/dp/B00Q01ONQA/ref=sr_1_2?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1468072678&sr=1-2&keywords=23mm+wrench

Or...

https://www.amazon.com/Stanley-90-949-10-Inch-MaxSteel-Adjustable/dp/B000NIDIXA/ref=sr_1_6?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1468072893&sr=1-6&keywords=adjustable+wrench

 

[gdocktor3]

Oh 2,3cm is a size.. That makes more sense. Here I'm thinking 2 or 3 cm.

 

[M6erfan]

Oh 2,3cm is a size.. That makes more sense. Here I'm thinking 2 or 3 cm.

Yep, Europeans use comma as a numeral seperator rather than a period like U.S. So 2,3cm is the euro equivelant of 2.3cm.