is it a WRENCH or a SPANNER

[jaye944]

ok I'm sick and tired of this shiazam

where all proffessionals here

what in sam hill is it

a WRENCH
or a SPANNER

 

[larry_g]

It depends where in the world you are. Kinda like a vise is a tool in the United States and a vice is the tool in Europe.

On edit; Show us a picture of what you are talking about. Where in the world you are also has a different tool called a spanner. The american spanner is a different tool than a European spanner.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Garage Junky]

I'm pretty sure it's a US/UK thing.

 

[Beemer533]

From Wikipedia (not the complete list):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wrench

 

[Stuart in MN]

You need a third check box in your poll for "It's not important, don't worry about it."

 

[Coloshaver]

Tyre vs tire
Tube vs subway
Boot vs trunk
Hood vs roof

It goes on. Not right or wrong just east or west of the Atlantic.

 

[GSEninja]

Wrenches! to me, spanner has always been a certain style of wrench

 

[Lippyp]

Fenders vs wings
Rockers vs Sills
Backup lamp vs reversing light
Valve covers vs Rocker cover

BTW its a Spanner you plum!

 

[Harrison2]

saw a box for a williams super "wrench" today in the UK... BLASPHEMY!!

 

[kc-steve]

Beemer shows it from Wikipedia. I use spanners when working on bicycles, I also use wrenches. They aren't the same thing. I didn't vote because it doesn't show a picture of one or the other.

Steve

 

[jaye944]

I'm from the UK, though now in can.
It's always been a spanner,
keep getting tripped up by people here who don't have a clue what I'm talking about.

Lolz

keep on voting

 

[kiatech]

I'm pretty sure it's a US/UK thing.

I agree.

 

[jaye944]

ok from wiki


A wrench (also called a spanner) is a tool used to provide grip and mechanical advantage in applying torque to turn objects—usually rotary fasteners, such as nuts and bolts—or keep them from turning.

In British English, spanner is the standard term. The most common shapes are called open-ended spanner and ring spanner. The term wrench is generally used for tools that turn non fastening devices (e.g. tap wrench and pipe wrench), or may be used for a monkey wrench - an adjustable spanner.[1]

In American English, wrench is the standard term. The most common shapes are called open-end wrench and box-end wrench. In American English, spanner refers to a specialized wrench with a series of pins or tabs around the circumference. (These pins or tabs fit into the holes or notches cut into the object to be turned.) In American commerce, such a wrench may be called a spanner wrench WTF !!!! to distinguish it from the British sense of spanner.

 

[jaye944]

It's also not uncommon to either call or be called a spanner in the UK

it's not very nice lolz

 

[twertsy]

Do you wrench, or do you span? End debate.

 

[panknuckshovel]

I would say it all depends on who is using it. I've seen some morons who would actually be calling it a hammer or prybar.

 

[Beemer533]

I would say it all depends on who is using it. I've seen some morons who would actually be calling it a hammer or prybar.

Those would be the same folks who really make use of the lifetime warranty...

 

[Dusty61]

Do you wrench, or do you span? End debate.

LOL!

its a wrench if you grew up with Cameros, Mustangs and Chargers, Spanner if it was Austin Martians, MG's and Vauxhall Astras.

if you work on John Deere or Cat you may use either term

 

[Squankum]

“See how he uses a spanner to tighten that nut!”


.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Never heard of a Austin Martian before.

 

[twertsy]

Never heard of a Austin Martian before.

Or a Camero.................just bustin' ya a bit there Dusty.

 

[Jeeper]

****, now i have to buy a sent of spanners to go with my wrenches or I wont' have EVERYTHING. I fall behind a little more each day.

 

[uncletater]

Working on Cars as a kid with my dad he would tell me to get him a spanner wrench. I always thats what they were called. I think he would say that so I would not hand him a socket.

I guess we must have been multi-cultural

 

[jaye944]

I think you meant, Aston Martin.

An Austin Martian, could be an alien

LOL!

its a wrench if you grew up with Cameros, Mustangs and Chargers, Spanner if it was Austin Martians, MG's and Vauxhall Astras.

if you work on John Deere or Cat you may use either term

 

[jaye944]

<spits my earl gray all over my keyboard>

****, now i have to buy a sent of spanners to go with my wrenches or I wont' have EVERYTHING. I fall behind a little more each day.

 

[panknuckshovel]

Never heard of a Austin Martian before.

It was only the green ones

 

[jaye944]

Just thank youself lucky he never asked you for any of the below


A skyhook
Left handed screwdriver
A key for Davy Jones's Locker


and my all time favorite,

being sent to the warehouse and ask for "a long wait"

Working on Cars as a kid with my dad he would tell me to get him a spanner wrench. I always thats what they were called. I think he would say that so I would not hand him a socket.

I guess we must have been multi-cultural

 

[Freeborn John]

A wrench is when you have to put your dog down.
The people who gave the world the Industrial Revolution called them spanners.
That's good enough for me.

 

[Falcon67]

It's a hammer when I need it to be.

LOL - the guy on Wheeler Dealers calls his air wrench a "windy gun".

 

[ZRX61]

I have never heard of monkey wrenches being called Gas Grips in the UK. I think the guy just made that up.

btw, I use spanner wrenches on P51 & F7F undercarriages

 

[jaye944]

yep, Gas grips is a Monkey Wrench,

most people would call them a "Grips" and I believe Gas because that all you really need when working on gas Equpment in the uk,

i.e. an adjustable spanner

I have never heard of monkey wrenches being called Gas Grips in the UK. I think the guy just made that up.

btw, I use spanner wrenches on P51 & F7F undercarriages

 

[Zrexxer]

Austin Martian:

 

[Charles (in GA)]

I found the English term of Stilson Wrench or Stilsons to denote a Pipe wrench to be odd. Indeed there is a Stilson Wrench, and indeed it is a pipe wrench, but it is a specific brand or design of pipe wrench, one that is a genuine Stilson, or made based on the Stilson patents. Kinda like calling a photocopy machine a Xerox copier.

I have several pipe wrenches made by various companies that are of the Stilson design, and I have others made using the more modern design without the pivot pin and spring on the head. They are simply a "pipe wrench" as they are not of the Stilson design.

In British English................

Never heard it called "British English". Its either just plain "English" or possibly "the Queens English". If it isn't "English" then its some sub variation of that such as "American English" or "Singlish" (Singapore English), or something else equally perverse.

Charles

 

[ZRX61]

yep, Gas grips is a Monkey Wrench,

most people would call them a "Grips" and I believe Gas because that all you really need when working on gas Equpment in the uk,

i.e. an adjustable spanner

I lived there for 31 years & in that time actually installed gas lines during home renovations etc. Not once did I ever hear them called grips, gas or otherwise.

 

[gorilla]

In Korea an adjustable wrench is called a monkey spanner.

 

[Lippyp]

Theres also water pump pliers and mole grips

 

[JDon99]

Let's not forget the Spanner Wrench

 

[ZRX61]

Theres also water pump pliers and mole grips

At least Moles have the release lever that works the correct way, unlike the backasswards way the lever works on Visegrips...

 

[Steevo]

Like a lot of things, it depends on your locale.

Wrench/Spanner
Boot/Trunk
Eaves trough/Rain Gutter
Knackered / Trashed

In the long run, it doesn't matter a whit.

 

[IOWNJUNK]

Never heard of a Austin Martian before.

It's like a 'camero' across the ocean I think.


I never heard spanner used until I joined this forum. Had a spanner wrench in my toolbox while I was in the Army, never laid a hand on it though.