Owners of private houses often have to deal with bolts and nuts, which one way or another are found in the household and require periodic tightening. For this purpose, there should always be a pair of keys of different sizes, and if there is also a garage with a car on the site, then a set of tools is indispensable.
The most common keys
Many varieties of this simple tool have been created, among which the most commonly used are the socket wrench, open-end wrench and adjustable wrench. The latter should be in two copies: large and medium size. The rest, as a rule, can always be purchased in one set (from smallest to largest). The approximate range of a standard open-end wrench set is from 8/10mm to 19/21mm. Such sizes are most often necessary for household tasks. Socket wrench sets also range from 8-21 mm, but if open-end wrenches are all the same type, then socket wrenches have many options.
Varieties of end type
The mosta common socket wrench is a T-shape with a non-replaceable hex head for a nut of a certain size. Its advantage is that there is no need to constantly change the head to the required size, but there is also an inconvenience in that you need to have many similar T-pieces for different nuts. As a rule, several T-shaped specimens are purchased for different nuts, which are most often encountered. To work with other nuts, sets of interchangeable heads are used. The advantage of the latter is expressed in saving money, since if you buy a T-shaped socket wrench separately for each size of the nut, their price in the final calculation will be much higher than the usual replacement set. So, for a set you will have to pay from one and a half to two thousand rubles.
In addition to T-shaped ends, L-shaped ends are widespread, where a non-replaceable head is located on both sides. Heads of different sizes, as well as on the horn type. The simplest version of this plan is called tubular, as it is completely made from one piece of tube, where the edges are flared to fit the hexagonal shape of the nut. The socket wrench is very convenient to use, as it can unscrew the nut in hard-to-reach places. An attempt to improve on the T-type led to the appearance of a key of the same shape, but with two additional heads on either side of the handle. Thus, he has three heads of different sizes at once.
Easiest solution
Surprisingly, the simplest socket wrenchhas a special purpose. The hexagon is L-shaped and is designed to work with special nuts that have an external thread. To unscrew such a nut, you need to insert the key into the internal hex hole. They are widely used in plumbing, for example, in the repair of faucets. Also, a hex socket wrench with a rounded tip is used to work with bolts that have hats with an internal hole for a hex. These bolts are good because their hats can be sunk into the fastened surface. Open-end wrench will not work here. Thus, end caps are very useful for domestic use, and in some cases they are simply irreplaceable.
