Spanner size

[Blueboatman]

Just grind the two flats of a open spanner down, add a bit of red or blue tape around the body and a loop of string through the ring end that goes over your wrist on a wet slippery sloping deck to stop it going oops splash swim.

 

[seeSimon]

Not sure that i still have any BA spanners, i do have some Whitworth ones though.

I have a set of v small BA spanners that I inherited...from an ex type writer mechanic. I understand even "continental" typewriters used BA?
I don't use them much

Also a full set of Whit, up to about 1 1/4" AF. Additional larger spanners are marked with the MOD broad arrow, and presumably intended for fixing battleships as were inherited from a fellow Marine Engineer. Currently loaned out to restore an old Armstrong Siddley, and a Gardner engine.

Why on earth would anyone consider using "biting tools" such as pliers, stilsons or Mole grips on a rigging screw made with flats?
Imho nowt wrong with a good quality adjustable for this job. BACHO recommend. Not expensive in smaller sizes.

 

[seeSimon]

Just seems. Odd that they don't make the end. Fittings a metric size. Boat is German from 2001.

It is a 21st century boat.
Why, have rigging components not converted to metric??

Are they all the same?

 

[dansaskip]

Those of us of a certain age will remember the different sizes or gauges of spanners. There are Whitworth, BSF, AF, BA and Metric. I have selection of all in my toolkit just like seeSimon.

Only a butcher or a bodge artist would use the wrong size or adjustables, water pump pliers or molegrips.

 

[Poignard]

Psst! Anyone want to buy a set of BA spanners?

 

[Poignard]

Filing a spanner to fit is one solution, provided you can file flat, but it's hard to see why a company would manufacture a fitting that requires a non-existent spanner size to turn it.

ps I also have a lot of files and rasps I could be persuaded to sell

 

[Moodysailor]

If 10mm is too small and 11mm is too big, it's proably whitworth or BA. In which case, my advice is a good quality small adjustable, something like a Bahco. Cheap spanners or ones that have been ground will have poor strength, and at that size a good adjustable will be better. I am a time-served marine engineer, I have sworn on the bible that adjustable spanners are the work of the devil, and I am fully invested in my special tool colelction - but even I stop short of sourcing a BA or whitworth spanner! My little (6") stanley one has come in handy a few times - yours for less than a tenner from Mr. Bezos online big box store...

 

[fredrussell]

Just seems. Odd that they don't make the end. Fittings a metric size. Boat is German from 2001.

It is a 21st century boat.
Why, have rigging components not converted to metric??

I was told by a rigger that components are imperial because, in general, the threads are finer and thus have more purchase. Something along those lines anyway - my memory is not what it was.

 

[Fantasie 19]

I was told by a rigger that components are imperial because, in general, the threads are finer and thus have more purchase. Something along those lines anyway - my memory is not what it was.

...and more expensive..

 

[Mark-1]

I bought a cheap Vernier Caliper (£3 IIRC) from Amazon. Answers these questions every time. Never looked back.

 

[Roberto]

Sometimes one finds these closed body turnbuckles that have been compressed and deformed in the area between the arrows (sorry could not find a picture of an actual one) to give them an area of two parallel flat surfaces instead of circular; the deformations appear rustic and home made, often of unknown and variable sizes an adjustable tool is quicker.
Why would they do that, given there is the central hole to help screw/unscrew them?

 

[RobbieW]

I bought a cheap Vernier Caliper (£3 IIRC) from Amazon. Answers these questions every time. Never looked back.

Very useful, the vernier adjustable. You know exactly what size you've set it to

 

[VicS]

If 10mm is too small and 11mm is too big, it's proably whitworth or BA. In which case, my advice is a good quality small adjustable, something like a Bahco. Cheap spanners or ones that have been ground will have poor strength, and at that size a good adjustable will be better. I am a time-served marine engineer, I have sworn on the bible that adjustable spanners are the work of the devil, and I am fully invested in my special tool colelction - but even I stop short of sourcing a BA or whitworth spanner! My little (6") stanley one has come in handy a few times - yours for less than a tenner from Mr. Bezos online big box store...

You can't have too many adjustable spanners.

The left handed ones are useful sometimes

 

[Refueler]

Buy any size slightly smaller than you want and file it till it's the fit you want.

Chinese 'cheese' metal maybe ... but usual spanner metal ? Good luck !

You may have better luck with a grinder ?

Most bottle screws etc - I have come across on older boats are AF - for the fine thread gauge ... or older could be BSF !!

I usually have two screwdrivers ... one through the body .. other through the stays eye to stop it turning.

 

[Refueler]

Just seems. Odd that they don't make the end. Fittings a metric size. Boat is German from 2001.

It is a 21st century boat.
Why, have rigging components not converted to metric??

So they can use the finer thread of the AF or BSF .... metric in comparison is quite coarse.

 

[seeSimon]

So they can use the finer thread of the AF or BSF .... metric in comparison is quite coarse.

Yes, but You can get "metric fine" , pitch 1.0 v 1.25 as i recall? Commonly seen on car brake system hydraulics...and also "metric coarse" at pitch 1.5 , I think?

I know I had to buy MF taps a while back to clean out a broken brake caliper bleed nipple on a VW.

I had a colleague who used to built model steam railway locos, from scrap stock, and he was definitely a "thread/spanner spotter" ...albeit a tolerably useful one at times!

 

[KompetentKrew]

I found these very good, probably overkill for single use but they come very handy in a number of cases.
ps just in case: it s a different tool from the usual generic long handle grip pliers (whatever their proper name), the two jaws are flat and move in parallel, basically it can adapt to any size bolt/nut etc

View attachment 200986

I had forgotten how badly I desire a set of these. This thread may be bad for my wallet.

 

[RobbieW]

Saw this today, and its both left and right handed...

 

[PabloPicasso]

It is the flats on the swaged terminals that I was referring to.

 

[KevinV]

It is the flats on the swaged terminals that I was referring to. View attachment 201406

I'd have no qualms about using a good adjustable on that - much easier to hold steady than a tidgy 11mm+. Unwinding the wire is a much bigger problem than potential damage to the flat imo.