Spanners for use on BSP fittings

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

Quality of pipe nuts varies, from maker to maker, in my experiemce. So the “correct” spanner might be a slack fit.

Consequently, I often use a large (12″) adjustable.

Stilsons have their uses, for really stubbnorn fittings wher it bis mote inportant to move them thasn to avoid tooth marks. (ditto for “Footprints”)

A lot of central heating fittings are octagonal rather than hexagonal, which introduces another variable.

I notice that a lot of plumbers also use adjustables, so they seem mto have the same sort of experiences!

Howard

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

Metrinch socketa and spanners always seem to be a loose fit, until they contact the flat of the fitting (Not as happy with Open End Metrinch as with sockets or ring spanners.

But they will shift a tight fastener, without slipping when nothing else will!

Howard

[JasonB]

On JasonB Said:

Not sure Flank Drive will work on “Conex” compression nuts which have the six lumps and are not hexagonal. […]

I don’t know, Jason … I’ve never tried

but I think maybe we’re drifting a little from the spirit of the opening question

MichaelG.

.

Edit: __ Mmm … I see that Conex explicitly states to use flat-faced spanners.

https://www.conexbanninger.com/uploads/efb2ebcb2fa0632c0ceadd6d27cdba93d3216544.pdf

 

 

[Michael Gilligan]

On Michael Gilligan Said:

On Nick Wheeler Said:

On bernard towers Said:

Aren’t flank drive spanners/sockets still size specific but just drive on the flats not the points?

Yes. All the other miracle things they’re alleged to do is just marketing for the gullible/desperate.

[…]

Well that’s me “corrected” …

… not sure if I am accused of being gullible or desperate… but they certainly work to my satisfaction.

MichaelG.

So … Nick Wheeler … could you please tell me ?

Do you consider me gullible, desperate, or both ?

MichaelG.

 

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

Many fittings in iron are cast, the sides are not machined and so the size can vary – hence the use of adjustables. Noel.

[noel shelley]

On noel shelley Said:

Many fittings in iron are cast, the sides are not machined and so the size can vary – hence the use of adjustables. Noel.

And extendibles, intended to reach into the awkward spaces behind sinks and baths!   Most of my plumbing adventures seem to involve tight spaces into which my engineering spanners won’t fit.   Could be conventional BSP spanners don’t exist because plumbers knew they were mostly unsuitable,  Plumbing requires a different approach, favouring adjustables of various kinds, and everyone accepts it’s OK to graunch fittings tight rather than keep then clean.

I notice that when BSP across flats is specified on the web, it’s always in metric.   Maybe that’s a bodge too – could be easier to find a near fit spanner for a proprietary flat from the metric range than Imperial.    Given BSP itself doesn’t specify AF, allowing choice, it’s probably also natural for manufacturers in metric countries specify metric flats.

Dave

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi Dave (SOD), which is why I mentioned Basin spanner, and which normally has one end that fits the Bath taps as well.

Although these can be awkward to use, even at the best of times, which is why I prefer the type shown below, including a jaw for the Bath taps, which is slightly longer than the type above, but you can get telescopic  ones of this type.

 

Regards Nick.

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

Since BSW and BSF are not A/F sizes, I suspect that they were originally Anglicised (Imperial) metric sizes,

No, or VERY few, hexagon sizes are going to be exact because of tolerances  (Not all 1/2 A/F or 13mm hexagons will be the stated size; a spanner that is a snug fit on one nominal size might well be a slightly loose fit on the same nominal hexagon from another source).

Hopefully, asjustable will have jaws that are not so slack that they slip and damage the fitting.

Things like Stilsons, Footprints, and the like, have teeth, specifically to grip. They do but leave marks; which are not always acceptable except in “nothing to lose” situations.

Howard

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

I would not say Footprint, Stilson, etc are a nothing to loose option. What else would you use on BSP malleable iron fittings and pipe?

[Maurice TaylorParticipant @mauricetaylor82093]

Hi,

When I was at work,if it wouldn’t  come undone I used a 2 piece spanner on hydraulic fittings and iron fittings.

Maurice

[Dave HalfordParticipant @davehalford22513]

The wedge action of stilsons is meant to grip black iron pipe or other round stuff not the fittings unless the flats have gone already.

[Dave Halford]

On Dave Halford Said:

The wedge action of stilsons is meant to grip black iron pipe or other round stuff not the fittings unless the flats have gone already.

There are a lot that don’t have flats

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

1. When I worked on a NG railway, all the steam fittings had the corners rounded off the hex by years of Brasso. Tool of choice was Stilson, but with soft ally shim so that you didn’t emboss the brass. Drivers were not impressed if you forgot, even tho you’d just fixed their loco.

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi, yes Stillson’s are normally used on iron/steel pipe, but often used on the fittings as well. Though they do mark whatever they are used on, it’s very often on industrial installations where iron/steel pipe is used though, which in a lot of cases are covered with insulation, so looks are not really an issue, I have had to change 3″ & 4″ brass gate valves, and a large Stillson was the only tool big enough available to do them with, but they did have hexagons on them, and a piece of leather between the valve and the Stillson jaws would help stop the brass being marked and breaking off splinters of brass. Having to put a thread onto iron/steel pipe, using hand a operated die, usually means you have to hold the pipe in a pipe vice, which will have teeth that will also make marks onto the pipe. Marks can be dressed though, if they are unsightly, and if they are on galvanized pipes and fittings, they can be sprayed over with galvanize repair paint.

Regards Nick.

[JasonB]

On JasonB Said:

On Dave Halford Said:

The wedge action of stilsons is meant to grip black iron pipe or other round stuff not the fittings unless the flats have gone already.

There are a lot that don’t have flats

They come under the heading of ’round stuff’ being, um, well kinda – round ish.

We all use what we have that fits as far as domestic plumbing goes. The most useful one I have is a very stubby adjustable as long as your fist is wide that I paid two quid for about five years ago.

[Roger Williams 2Participant @rogerwilliams2]

If its anything like BSP or JIC hydraulic pipe fittings , the spanner size varies a lot depending on who makes the fitting , so its usually a choice of adjustables .

[Author]

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