tap spanner wrench

A tap spanner wrench is a hardware-house staple and a must-have for any machinist or engineer. This specialized type of wrench has two features that make it essential for working with taps: a slot in the center of the body that accommodates the shank of the tap, and a hole in the head that allows you to hold the tap while it is being turned. To use the wrench, grasp it in one hand and secure the tap in the other. Then apply pressure to turn in the desired direction. It’s an invaluable tool for anyone engaging in tapping work.

There is a variety of tap spanner wrenches of many shapes and sizes. The most common is the T-handle tap wrench, with its distinctive T-shaped handle inserted and twisted into the head of the tool for tightening or loosening the tap. Its alternate variants, L-shape and X-shape tap wrenches, run on similar principles by slotting into the head of the wrench and adjusted for use.

While there are various materials utilized for tap spanner wrenches, the most common is steel. Its solid form, as well as its resistance to rust and corrosion, renders it ideally suited for this purpose. Other substances used in construction include aluminum, brass, and plastic.

Tap spanner wrenches come in a variety of sizes – all of which must match the shank of the tap. For example, one might opt for a 1/4″, 3/8″, or 1/2″ wrench for use with an English unit tap. Conversely, those looking to utilize a metric tap can employ a 6mm, 8mm, 10mm, or 12mm wrench. Regardless of the choice made, it’s important that the wrench size corresponds with the tap’s shank for optimal performance.

It’s hard to overstate the value of owning a tap spanner wrench if you do any sort of work with taps. To make sure they fit in their allotted holes, they need to be snugly secured or carefully loosened with one of these versatile tools. Your selection is vast; tap spanner wrenches come in any material you could want and any size you could imagine.