Have you seen what a cost estimate for a home improvement project looks like these days? No wonder so many of us seriously consider changing that shower head or installing a new bidet on our own—and for DIY fixes like those, you’re going to need a trusty wrench.
But have you seen just how many different kinds of wrenches there are? Not all of us graduated from uni with an engineering degree, so while handling home improvements ourselves has a lot of appeal, just picking out the right wrench (or even tools) can be a real deterrent.
Because the likes of hammers, pliers, and screwdrivers might already be familiar to most of us, let’s take a look at what kind of wrench works best with the kind of home fixer-upper you’ve got planned.
Open-Ended Wrenches
This is probably the wrench that comes to mind when you hear the word “wrench”, and it’s probably easy to see how it got its name. An open-ended wrench is handy for fixing doors and putting pieces of furniture together—only, you need to make sure you have exactly the right size. That’s why this wrench often comes in sizes as a set.
Box Wrenches
You may have seen this tool before and not known it was a kind of wrench—but it is one and is most helpful for installing wall fixtures or getting at pipes under the sink. The angled ends are perfect for getting into hard-to-reach places, and the best part is, you don’t have to worry about it slipping off the bolt or nut. Like open-ended wrenches, box wrenches also come in a set of different sizes.
Combination Wrenches
Of course you always have the option of getting a combo wrench that’s open on one side and a box-type on the other, and these come in different sizes, too. This set would be a smarter buy if you don’t see yourself doing home improvement projects all the time, or really only mean to work on the one project, one time. These wrenches are great for assembling bigger pieces of furniture like a bed or a three-seater sofa.
Crescent Wrenches
Then you have your crescent wrench which you can adjust to fit the nut or bolt you want to grasp by making the jaws narrower or wider. Interestingly, in spite of its being adjustable, this kind of wrench also comes in different sizes. You can also use this wrench for putting furniture together or doing your own plumbing—all you have to do is turn that little worm screw in the “window” to narrow or widen it.
Torque Wrenches
Photo by Titans Hardware & Supplies
But if your home improvement project is more about repairs or actual fixing rather than a fixer-upper (and if you’re more mechanically minded than the average DIY-er), torque wrenches like the Elora torque wrench may quickly become your best friend. These wrenches are all about precision, and the best part is, they’re not just good for home repairs but also for things like fixing your bike or, again, putting your furniture together.
Bonus: Hex Keys
Yes, hex keys also count as wrenches because they’re also known as “Allen Wrenches” (so-called because the Allen Manufacturing company trademarked them first back in 1910). You’ve probably seen these helpful little dears enclosed with the kind of assemble-it-yourself chairs, shelves, or tables you order online. If you don’t already keep those, you can actually order a set of these in different sizes as well because they are terribly convenient, designed as they are to fit into the head of a nut or bolt instead of gripping around it.