| are many types of wrenches available at your | | | | you think wrench, these are not the image that |
| local home improvement or hardware store, | | | | pops into your head. They are usually L or S |
| indeed you can get large sets of them. But if you | | | | shaped and the head fits into the top of a nut |
| are a typical homeowner doing small projects | | | | (usually with a hexagon shape). The wrench is |
| around the house, you may wonder if all that is | | | | then turned to tighten or loosen the nut. You will |
| really necessary and if it is, how can you convince | | | | see these a lot with bicycles, in-line skates, and |
| your wife of it? Seriously, if you want to know | | | | probably at lot of assemble it yourself furniture |
| what to buy to fit the highest number of | | | | that you get at warehouse or department stores. |
| situations you’ll probably come across, | | | | Oftentimes, these types of items that require |
| here are the basics. | | | | allen wrenches will come with them, included with |
| An adjustable wrench is your best bet because it | | | | the rest of the hardware for the item, but you |
| is versatile. It will fit many different sized nuts and | | | | may someday need to purchase some yourself. |
| bolts, without having to have an individual wrench | | | | You can get many different sizes available on a |
| for each size. But, you say, there are different | | | | keychain for a relatively small price. |
| sizes of adjustable wrenches, too. Yes, there are. | | | | Box wrenches or socket wrenches come in |
| One that opens to 5/16” should suit most | | | | individual sizes to fit standard and metric |
| of your needs. When you use an adjustable | | | | fasteners. These are the ones that come in the |
| wrench, make sure that it is tightened as much | | | | big kits. If you do buy a set, make sure you |
| as possible around whatever you are trying to | | | | check to see if it is standard or metric or both. |
| turn or loosen. Otherwise, it may give and scrape | | | | Standard will probably be best for most things |
| the surface of whatever you’re working | | | | around the house. If you’re working on |
| on or even worse, your hand. | | | | cars, depending on the make, you may need |
| Another common type of wrench that you will | | | | metric. For sockets, look for ratcheting wrenches |
| see around the home is the allen wrench. When | | | | that do the turning for you to save your wrists. |