Spanners & Wrenches

Spanners & Wrenches at AIMS — Stahlwille, Bondhus, Trax, Wiha, Maxigear, Ko-Ken, Bahco & Irega

A spanner is the everyday hand tool for tightening and loosening hex fasteners — the workhorse of mechanical, plumbing, electrical and general trade work across Australia. AIMS Industrial stocks over 330 spanners, wrenches and hex keys from Stahlwille, Bondhus, Trax, Wiha, Maxigear, Ko-Ken, Bahco and Irega, plus specialty ranges from Dixon, Super, Champion and Garrick Herbert — covering combination, ring, open end, ratcheting and adjustable spanners, hex keys and Allen keys, and specialty fastener and plumbing wrenches in metric, imperial and Whitworth sizing. We've put together a Types of Spanners Guide: Types, Sizes & Selection if you'd like more detail before you buy.

Quick Reference — What's in This Range

The Spanner & Wrench Types in Our Range

Combination spanners

Open end on one side, ring on the other, in matching size — the spanner most workshops reach for first. Stahlwille, Trax and Maxigear all supply combination spanners here, including Trax's Whitworth combination range for older British-spec equipment. See our full combination wrenches collection.

Ring (box) spanners

A closed ring engages all six flats of the fastener rather than two, spreading load and reducing the risk of rounding a stubborn or worn head. Stahlwille supplies double-ended, offset and shallow-offset ring spanners in this range, and Ko-Ken and Maxigear add ratcheting ring wrenches for faster repetitive work. See our ring spanners collection.

Open end spanners

U-shaped jaws slide onto two flats from the side — the fastest tool on and off a fastener, and the only option where a fitting can't be lifted clear (hydraulic and pneumatic lines, recessed bolts). Stahlwille's open end range here spans single-size large-format spanners, everyday double-ended metric and imperial spanners, and thin-jaw electricians' spanners for panel and switchboard work. This is a genuine sub-range of the broader collection — see our dedicated open end wrenches page for the full Stahlwille line-up, including AS Drive torque-wrench inserts.

Ratcheting spanners and wrenches

An internal ratchet mechanism in the ring end drives the fastener without lifting and re-seating the tool for every turn. Maxigear's range covers standard, flex-head, offset and stubby ratcheting wrenches in metric and imperial/SAE, and Ko-Ken supplies reversible ratcheting ring wrenches in AF sizing. See our ratcheting spanners collection.

Adjustable wrenches

For turning fasteners where a fixed-size spanner isn't available, or where one tool needs to cover a range of sizes. Bahco and Stahlwille supply the standard chrome-finish range here; Irega adds wide-opening, extra-slim and reversible models, plus — importantly — insulated 1000V wrenches certified to IEC 60900 for work on or near live electrical equipment (see the electrical work section below). See our adjustable wrenches collection.

Hex keys & Allen keys

Hex keys make up a substantial part of this range — Bondhus alone supplies an extensive line of L-wrenches, T-handles, ball-end and Torx/tamper-resistant keys in metric and imperial, and Wiha, Ko-Ken, Champion and Stahlwille each add their own hex key and T-handle sets. Bondhus's Protanium steel and ball-end design (engaging at angles up to roughly 25°) is the standout for tight-access work. For the complete hex key and Allen wrench range across all brands, see hex keys & Allen wrenches.

Specialty spanners & wrenches

Beyond the everyday types, this range covers the specialty tools that come up less often but earn their keep when needed: Super's hook spanners and offset podger (ring) spanners, Trax's pin spanners and hook spanners, Garrick Herbert's strap wrenches, chain wrenches and basin wrench for plumbing work, and Dixon's cast-iron poly spanner and bronze drum plug wrench for drum and container fittings. Browse the dedicated hook spanners and pin spanners collections, or see pipe wrenches for broader plumbing tool coverage.

Choosing the Right Spanner

• General workshop work — combination spanner sets cover the daily-used range of sizes.
• Tight or seized fasteners — ring (box) spanners minimise rounding risk under high torque.
• High-volume fastening — ratcheting spanners save significant time over re-seating a standard spanner.
• Varied or unknown sizes — an adjustable wrench covers a jaw-opening range with one tool.
• Electrical work near live conductors — Irega's insulated 1000V adjustable wrenches, certified to IEC 60900 — see below.
• Socket head cap and grub screws — hex keys and Allen keys, not spanners; see our hex key range.
• Plumbing and drum/container fittings — strap, chain, basin and pipe wrenches handle round or non-standard profiles.

Metric, Imperial and Whitworth Sizing

Spanner sizing matches the fastener's across-flats (AF) hex dimension, not the thread diameter:

• Metric — 6mm through 32mm covers most general trade work; smaller and larger sizes available in the Stahlwille and Bondhus ranges.
• Imperial (AF / SAE) — 1/4" through 1-1/4" for US-spec equipment and older Australian work; Maxigear and Bondhus both supply dedicated imperial ranges.
• Whitworth (BSW) — Trax supplies a Whitworth combination spanner and a 21-piece BSW/Whitworth socket spanner set for heritage British equipment.

As a rough guide for common metric fasteners: M6 = 10mm AF, M8 = 13mm, M10 = 17mm, M12 = 19mm, M16 = 24mm, M20 = 30mm. Always check what's stamped on the fastener rather than assuming from thread size alone.

What Separates Quality Spanners From Cheap Ones

Three things: jaw tolerance (precision-machined jaws grip fasteners exactly; cheap jaws round off fasteners under torque), steel grade and heat treatment (chrome-vanadium or chrome-molybdenum, properly hardened; cheap spanners twist or break under load), and finish (mirror or matte chrome that resists workshop corrosion; cheap finishes peel and rust within months). Stahlwille's German-made tolerances and Bondhus's Protanium hex key steel are the standouts in this range for exactly that reason.

Set or Singles?

A 10-14 piece combination spanner set typically covers the daily-used metric range. For varied trade work, sets from Stahlwille and Trax are economical and keep a kit organised — Stahlwille's range here includes 8, 10 and 12-piece open end sets alongside combination sets. For specific replacements or specialty sizes, singles let you build or top up a custom kit without duplicating sizes you already own.

Insulated Wrenches for Electrical Work

For work on or near live electrical conductors, the wrench itself needs to be insulation-rated, not just the handle grip painted a bright colour. In this range, that's Irega's insulated adjustable wrenches: insulation moulded directly onto the wrench body, manufactured to IEC 60900 (the international standard for insulated hand tools, adopted in Australia as AS/NZS 60900), rated to 1000V AC and individually tested to 10,000V AC before delivery. Available in standard and super-wide-opening jaw configurations. Always confirm certification on the specific product before specifying it for live electrical work, and inspect insulation before each use — replace immediately if you see cracking, chipping or delamination.

Our Spanner & Wrench Brands

• Stahlwille — German precision tool manufacturer; the largest range in this collection, spanning open end, ring, combination and hex key spanners plus adjustable wrenches, built to tight dimensional tolerances for precision engineering and automotive/aerospace maintenance.
• Bondhus — American hex key specialist known for Protanium high-torque steel and ball-end keys that engage at an angle for tight-access work; the largest hex key range we stock.
• Trax — broad workshop range covering combination and Whitworth spanners, ratcheting sockets, pin and hook spanners, and hex key sets for general trade and industrial use.
• Wiha — premium German precision, supplying an extensive hex key, L-key and Torx range plus torque wrenches in this collection.
• Maxigear — ratcheting combination, flex-head and offset wrenches in metric and imperial/SAE.
• Ko-Ken — Japanese-made ratcheting ring wrenches and T-handle hex wrenches, including a universal spark plug socket wrench.
• Bahco — the trade workhorse; solid quality adjustable wrenches at a sensible price.
• Irega — Spanish adjustable wrench specialist, including the IEC 60900-certified insulated range for electrical work.
• Dixon, Super, Champion & Garrick Herbert — specialty and niche coverage: cast-iron and drum fitting spanners, hook and podger spanners, hex key fold sets, and plumbing wrenches (strap, chain, basin, pipe).

Companion Collections at AIMS

This collection brings the full spanner, wrench and hex key range together in one place. For a deeper look at any single type, see:

• Open end wrenches — the full Stahlwille open end spanner range, including AS Drive torque-wrench inserts.
• Ring spanners, combination wrenches and ratcheting spanners — by spanner type.
• Adjustable wrenches and hex keys & Allen wrenches — by tool type.
• Pipe wrenches, hook spanners, pin spanners, flare nut wrenches and crow foot spanners — specialty types.
• Torque wrenches, sockets, pliers & cutters, screwdrivers & nut drivers and tool storage — the broader hand tool range.

Order from AIMS

Need help speccing a spanner set, an insulated wrench for electrical work, or matching a brand and size range to a job? Call our team on (02) 9773 0122, reach out via contact us, or send through your list for a quote — we'll confirm sizing, brand and lead time and get pricing back to you fast.

People Also Ask — Spanners & Wrenches

Q: What's the difference between a spanner and a wrench?

Nothing structural — "spanner" is the term used in Australia and the UK, while "wrench" is the American term for the same tool. Both describe a hand tool that turns a hex fastener. Some tools (like an adjustable wrench or a pipe wrench) tend to keep the "wrench" name in Australian trade usage too, which is why you'll see both words used across this range.

Q: What's the difference between a combination spanner and a ring spanner?

A combination spanner has an open end on one side and a closed ring on the other, in the same size — open end for a fast run-out, ring end for breaking a tight fastener loose or final torque. A ring (box) spanner is closed at both ends, contacting all six flats of the fastener for maximum grip and the lowest risk of rounding a worn or seized head, but it needs axial clearance to drop over the fastener.

Q: Do I need metric or imperial spanners for Australian work?

Most modern Australian workshops are metric-first, but imperial (AF/SAE) spanners are essential for US-origin vehicles and equipment, and Whitworth (BSW) spanners are needed for older British-spec machinery and restoration work. A well-equipped trade kit usually carries metric as the base set with imperial singles or a smaller imperial set alongside it.

Q: What size spanner fits an M10 bolt?

An M10 bolt has a 17mm across-flats hex head, so a 17mm spanner is the fit. As a broader guide: M6 = 10mm, M8 = 13mm, M10 = 17mm, M12 = 19mm, M16 = 24mm, M20 = 30mm. Always check the size stamped on the fastener head rather than assuming from the thread diameter alone.

Q: What's the difference between a spanner and a hex key (Allen key)?

A spanner engages the external flats machined onto a bolt or nut head. A hex key (Allen key) does the opposite — it fits inside a hexagonal recess in a socket head cap screw or grub screw. They're not interchangeable tools; Bondhus, Wiha and Ko-Ken in this range cover the hex key side specifically.

Q: Are the insulated wrenches at AIMS certified for electrical work?

Irega's insulated adjustable wrenches in this range are manufactured to IEC 60900 (AS/NZS 60900 in Australia), rated to 1000V AC and individually tested to 10,000V AC before delivery — suitable for work on or near live electrical equipment. Always confirm the certification on the specific product you're ordering before specifying it for live work, and inspect the insulation before each use.

Q: Should I buy a spanner set or build a kit from singles?

A set is the most cost-effective way to equip a new bench, van or apprentice toolbox in one purchase, and keeps sizes organised. Singles are the better option once you've got a base kit and need to replace a worn size or add a specialty spanner you don't already own.

Q: Is a ratcheting spanner worth the extra cost over a standard combination spanner?

For high-volume or repetitive fastening — production assembly, servicing multiple identical fasteners — yes, a ratcheting spanner saves real time by driving the fastener without lifting and re-seating the tool on every turn. For occasional use on a single fastener, a standard combination spanner does the job at a lower price point.