When putting together a list of tools you will need in a professional or home workshop, don't forget about socket wrenches. Also called socket spanners, they are irreplaceable when it comes to fitting and removing nuts and bolts. Read our guide to find out about the different types and which ones to choose.
When putting together a list of tools you will need in a professional or home workshop, don’t forget about socket wrenches. Also called socket spanners, they are irreplaceable when it comes to fitting and removing nuts and bolts. Read our guide to find out about the different types and which ones to choose.
Socket wrenches will come in handy for many different jobs. They are commonly used for assembling various installations, as well as by car mechanics, service technicians, builders, and even … professional piano tuners. So what makes them so versatile? Socket spanners (like various types of drill bits) are multipurpose tools suitable for many different types of work. They are used for loosening and tightening nuts and bolts – although there are different types for different jobs.
Socket wrenches for workshops
The basic contemporary form of socket is hexagonal, referred to as “6-point”, although the shape may differ depending on the intended use. So what should professionals pay attention to when buying a socket spanner? Which socket wrench set should you choose? First of all, choose a set with a large number of sockets of various sizes (usually from 8 to 32mm), as well as extensions enabling work in hard-to-reach places. You could also buy the above mentioned elements separately, depending on your needs. When choosing a set for your workshop (which could even have over 200 parts), bear in mind the risk of losing some of the elements, and therefore the possibility to purchase them separately if needed. The largest sets, usually intended for professionals, are also the most expensive, and can cost as much as £100. Find more tips on how to open a car repair shop and what equipment you will need in another of our articles.
Regardless of which socket spanners you use the most, it is also worth having a ratchet. A ratchet incorporates a reversible ratcheting mechanism, which allows the user to pivot the tool back and forth to turn its socket instead of removing and repositioning a spanner to do so. You can also change the direction of rotation without shifting the tool from one hand to the other. Ratchets are therefore ideal for using in places that are difficult to reach.
One type of socket wrench intended for professionals are puller tools as used in car repair shops. They are very handy due to the many different sizes of sockets.
Socket wrenches for home use
Socket spanners are not only good for professionals such as car mechanics or builders, but can also come in handy in virtually every household. Socket spanners can come in particularly handy for plumbing repairs or assembling large pieces of furniture. So which socket wrenches are best for home use?
First of all you need to decide which tools will come in handy in your case. For home use, sets consisting of 36 or 48 parts should be sufficient. Such sets are universal, as they usually contain the most popular types of sockets, as well as a ratchet. You should expect to pay around £30. The situation is slightly different if you are setting up a home DIY workshop. If you are passionate about DIY, it may be good to get to get a larger set. For example, a 70-piece set will have additional elements, as well as a wider choice of sockets. The price will depend on which socket wrenches it will contain, as well as how many. You should be prepared to pay £40-50.
How to choose the right socket wrench set
Once you know which set will meet you home or professional needs, there are also other factors worth taking into consideration, such as the material the tools are made of and the quality of the case.
Such tools are usually made of chrome vanadium steel, which is resistant to corrosion, oxidation, abrasion, as well as high temperatures. It is also structurally strong. Sometimes certain elements are also reinforced with CrMo chrome-molybdenum steel.
In addition to the quality of the material, also pay attention to the quality of the tools themselves. Although professional sets usually cost more, they are also better quality and will therefore last longer. Cheaper sets are usually lower quality, but should be enough for occasional home use.
The packaging itself is also very important. Although the tools themselves might seem much more important the packaging is also worth paying attention to as it will help you keep all the pieces in order. With several dozen or even more than a hundred pieces to choose from, they should be kept in order so that you can easily find the right piece when needed. The case does not have to be large. It is important that the tools are well organised, so that it’s easy to use them later on. It is also important that they do not fall out and get lost. When choosing a set for professional use, make sure the case is made of a solid material that will last a long time when excessively used.
Types of socket wrenches
In the next part of our guide you will find out more about the different types of socket wrenches. In each set, the basic parameter is the size of the driver, shown in inches:
- 1/4”
- 3/8”
- 1/2″
- 3/4″
- 1”
If your drivers are larger than those mentioned, then you have an impact socket set. Sets include hexagonal and 12-point socket wrenches.
A lever is used to turn the socket. The simplest is an L-shaped lever, the shorter arm of which has a socket end of the same size as the socket. The most complex one, in turn, is the ratchet described in the section regarding socket wrenches for use in a workshop.
In addition to the size of the sockets and levers, also pay attention to the accessories. These will depend on your needs, but many manufacturers offer very practical accessories. These include, among others, torque multipliers (for loosening tightly fastened bolts), joints and extensions (for working in hard-to-reach places).
Which socket wrenches should you buy – summary
There is more than one answer to the question “which socket wrench is the best?” Before choosing a specific product, you need to define your needs, and assess whether you will need it only for occasional home-related needs, in your own DIY workshop or maybe for professional use. It also depends on your budget, as the quality and size of the set will depend on the price.
Customers often wonder which socket spanners will be the best for their home workshop. However, sets sold by top brands will not always be in line with your needs. Of course, you should always pay attention to quality, but you do not necessarily have to buy professional accessories that will turn out to be useless in your particular situation. If you plan to do some more demanding work, e.g. assembling a garage door, and are wondering which door will best suit your needs, the reviews of other customers or professionals who use socket wrenches on a daily basis will certainly prove helpful.
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