Thin wrench (spanner) recommendations? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: mtdoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2015, 02:46:16 am
content: I'm trying to remove a broken toggle switch from a HP 6114 power supply but reaching the nut holding it on requires a thinner wrench (spanner) than any of the standard wrenches I have.Doing some searching it seems thattheseare the most common ones available.They seem ok but I'd really like to find a set that goes down to 1/4" or at lease 5/16" SAE - but I can't find any.Any recommendations appreciated.

author: Paul Moir
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2015, 03:08:44 am
content: Cheap wrench + grinder or occasionally MAPP torch for customization.Sooner or later, you end up needing "special wrenches" that no one makes but you.(I have had some flat wrenches laser cut, but that was a bit of a special circumstance and was getting some other stuff cut anyway.)

author: exmadscientist
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2015, 03:29:04 am
content: We have theArmstrong 25-600 midget combination wrench setat work and it's gotten no complaints (which is saying something given how picky some of us are). I'm not sure if it's thin enough for you, but if it is, it's a nice set. I don't see it at Amazon, but it's available from the usual industrial suppliers (McMaster, Zoro, etc.). There's also a metric set, No. 52-600.

author: mtdoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2015, 03:31:49 am
content: Quote from: Paul Moir on December 08, 2015, 03:08:44 amHa! Right. Good idea. I have a grinder and can put that to work if needed. I'm not sure what I'd do with a MAPP torch though..

author: mtdoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2015, 03:37:12 am
content: Quote from: exmadscientist on December 08, 2015, 03:29:04 amThat looks like a nice small wrench set but no thinner than what I already have.

author: SLJ
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2015, 04:33:38 am
content: I ground down a couple of wrenches just for this purpose about 40 years ago. Still use them.

author: nephets0
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 08, 2015, 04:41:55 am
content: Park makes some really thin wrenches.Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

author: mtdoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2015, 04:52:33 am
content: Quote from: nephets0 on December 08, 2015, 04:41:55 amYeah thanks, they do. I have some of their bike tools and thought about bike cone wrenches which are thin. But I could only find metric ones and none small enough.

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2015, 05:24:16 am
content: How thin do you need?Wondering if you need Moody type of thin (5/16", 1/4" and smaller though, stamped from sheet metal;57-0122 16-Piece SAE / Metric set) for example, or if ignition wrenches would work.Perhaps theSteel Thin Wrenchpage on Sears will yield something useful (both forged and stamped sheet metal sets came up at any rate). Not seeing box ends on anything other than forged though.

author: vk6zgo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2015, 05:25:21 am
content: Quote from: mtdoc on December 08, 2015, 03:31:49 amThat's to bend the spanner a bit so it doesn't scrape the paint off the panel when you use it.Another use for skinny spanners is for tightening the old style BNC connectors---the 'flats' they supply on the body are too narrow to fit a normal spanner.Having one bent spanner is good here,too,as the two spanners tend to foul on each other.

author: mtdoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2015, 05:49:46 am
content: Quote from: nanofrog on December 08, 2015, 05:24:16 amWell for my current need (the HP 6114 toggle switch) just a bit thinner than my standard wrenches - the 5/16" I have is 4.75mm thick.QuoteThose look awesome! Pricey though!QuoteYeah - I've seen those same options several places. None small enough.Well as much as I covet those Moody wrenches, I think I'll head to Harbor Freight and pick some cheap wrenches to attack with the grinder.Thanks for all the ideas.

author: mtdoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2015, 06:13:53 am
content: Oooh - now that I look a little harder, I seen thatAmazon has a smaller more affordable Moody Wrench setJust what I need. Thanks for pointing those out nanofrog!

author: nour
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2015, 06:37:17 am
content: Quote from: Paul Moir on December 08, 2015, 03:08:44 amI do that all the timeI have bunch of custom shape tools that orginally bought very cheap because I know I will end-up re-shaping the tips to do a better job for my needs

author: exmadscientist
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2015, 07:03:13 am
content: For future reference, that Armstrong set is about 1/8" thick if memory serves; I'd measure them, except they're at work and I'm not. That's the same thickness as the Amazon set initially linked, but nowhere as thin as the Moody ones. I dislike that style for general-purpose small-wrench use, but if thin is what you need, they're very hard to beat and will do the job well.

author: mtdoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2015, 07:17:23 am
content: Quote from: exmadscientist on December 08, 2015, 07:03:13 amYeah, those do look really nice and areavailable at Zoro for $31. I'll put them on my list for their next 30% off sale. You can never have too many good tools.

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2015, 07:47:26 am
content: Quote from: mtdoc on December 08, 2015, 05:49:46 amMoody Toolshas a number of wrench sets, as well as offering them individually (web site looks like it's stuck in the '90's, but everything is there via .pdf catalog pages).FWIW, that same large set is cheaper on Amazon ($50.77 shipped). Others too, and the smaller sets are a lot cheaper (Moody tools wrench set). Zoro sells Moody as well, so if you can wait, stick them in your cart for the next 30% off sale.

author: RobertBG
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2015, 03:28:39 pm
content: Quote from: Paul Moir on December 08, 2015, 03:08:44 amAnother tip that I have found very useful over the years for electronics work is to keep the small stamped steel tools that come with furniture etc that they give you for assembly.Everyone tosses them in favor of real tools but they are really good for getting behind knobs and switches on panels etc.They are easily extend,bent,cut and modified as needed.I usually coat them in plastidip and keep them in a ziplock bag in my tool box and the first time you use one you'll be glad you hung on to them

author: nightmechanic
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2015, 05:56:30 pm
content: I havethisset , although metric, it has 0.5mm steps so it should fit your 1/4 (not perfect but quite close) and 5/16 (better fit) requirement.It is only 1.5 mm thick, and so far seems well made.Ran

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2015, 07:10:18 pm
content: Bench grinder plus torch to detemper the steel to bend it, so that I could make a thinner spanner for undoing the reduced thickness lock nuts on a die retainer. After doing the thinning and bending so I did not scrape knuckles, I retempered the steel edges a little by quenching in oil from bright cherry red. Then had fun polishing them clean again.I do have some machine parts that are hardened to 65 Rockwell C, and using a grinder on those means you true up the wheel at a rapid rate, while merely polishing the steel. They strangely enough do wear in use, powders can be incredibly abrasive, even something like starch.

author: casinada
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2015, 07:25:37 pm
content: I don't have a Grinder or spare wrenches to grind so I bought this:http://www.amazon.com/Engineer-TWM-07-Adjustable-Monkey-Wrench/dp/B002MJJ9EK/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1449602558&sr=8-3&keywords=engineer+wrench

author: mtdoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2015, 09:38:32 pm
content: Quote from: nightmechanic on December 08, 2015, 05:56:30 pmThose look nice too and the price is reasonable. Unusual and potentially useful to have 0.5 mm increments. Sigh, another tool to add to my wish list. Thanks, I think...

author: vk6zgo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2015, 01:55:00 am
content: Quote from: RobertBG on December 08, 2015, 03:28:39 pmGreat tip!I do the same,but not as methodically as you do.I must find somewhere to put them so they are available,instead of digging through drawers each time I need one!