Don’t be a Spanner – Five Spanner Sets

You can buy specialist tools for all manner of jobs. Clever, well-engineered little devices that make those tricky jobs a doddle. One of the perks of the age in which we live is the ability to engineer and create such tools. However, clever, new and cutting-edge kit isn’t the final word in car repair. The traditional toolbox stalwarts still have their place. Sockets, ratchets, hammers, pry bars and of course, spanners. 

The thing is, there are a lot of cheap, nasty, sub-par spanners on the market. But buying them is a false economy. You need a sense of feel with a spanner. Through it, the stubborn nut or bolt can communicate with your hand. These are HAND tools. They need to be comfortable to use, they need to be strong and they need to be accurate. So, throw that sub-par £10 spanner set in the bin and get yourself something different. Change the way you work for the better. 

1) Silverline Combination Spanner Set

Silverline is a trusted name in the world of tools, so you know this combination spanner set is going to be a nice bit of kit. What you get is a roll, in which you’ll find a set of combination spanners ranging from 6mm up to a mighty 32mm. Perfectly cast, they’re easy on the hands, they’re machined well so fit on the nuts they’re meant to and they’re very strong indeed, meaning you can go to town on those stubborn fixings. 

2) Draper Redline Adjustable Spanner Set

Another trusted name in the world of tools is Draper, which is why we’re highlighting this set of adjustable spanners. There are so many cheap examples out there that are slack, inaccurate and unable to grip nuts and bolts. That’s not a problem here, as these adjustable spanners are engineered to finite perfection, they include a rule/scale so you can measure fixings and they also boast a soft but firm grip so even oily hands won’t slip off them when wrenching. 

3) GearWrench Ratchet Spanner Set

One of the greatest inventions of our time is the ratchet spanner. These amazing little things give us the functionality of a traditional ratchet, but in spaces where only a spanner will fit. Of course, they are now exceptionally popular, but because of that, there are many cheap sets with weak mechanisms. A broken ratchet spanner is of no use to anyone. As such, spend a couple of quid on a decent set, like this from GearWrench. The reviews speak for themselves.

4) Magic Wrench

We’ve all been there. We have all rounded a nut or bolt and then felt the need to cry uncontrollably. It’s one of the most frustrating things that can happen while tinkering. Before you bust out the drill or grinder through, give this ‘magic’ wrench a go. It might seem like a gimmick, but trust us when we say it’s not. We have one, and its ability to grip almost anything is outstanding. It’s saved our mechanical bacon more than once. This one is exceptionally well-made, too. Don’t be swayed by the cheap, cast alternatives. This is a proper job. 

5) Silverline Stubby Spanners

Another shout for Silverline here with these brilliant stubby spanners. Which you’ll find exceptionally handy as you try and navigate the small space available in a classic’s engine bay. With these diminutive little lads, you can get to every nut and bolt on the car without fighting and without taking all the skin off your knuckles. As with the other Silverline spanners here, they’re cast well, they’re an ergonomic delight and they’re tough as old boots, so if you need to really lean on them for a stubborn fixing, you’ll be fine.