Adjustable spanner with no play?

I'm in the market for a small adjustable spanner to deal with a selection of arsey nuts on my cantilevers that need regular adjustment.

Now, in my experience adjustable spanners are a pain because of the irritating amount of play in the worm screw. I've only really looked at ones from B+Q and Robert Dyas but all the ones I tried, from the cheapest to the dearest and in all sizes had, at best, about 1mm play in the head. My massive Draper one's the same.

This guy has the same beef.

Does anybody know of a brand that has no play or should I just buy the right size spanner for each nut and save myself the nutache (HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHASOFUCKINGFUNNY)?

Buy the correct spanner for the nut, preferably a ring spanner.

My Dad used to swear by Bahco adjustables in his work as a plumber and said they had no movement in the jaws when they were in use

I've never seen or heard of an adjustable spanner with no play, the standard advice is to get a (Chrome Vanadium) spanner roll.

If you can find one of these they have no play, sometimes pop up on ebay, and at car boot sales etc. Astonishingly fine tolerances.

In fact there are 5 on ebay right now!
Type in Joseph Lucas Girder

Could you use mini mole grips as an alternative?

Rolls Royce do not allow adjustable spanners in their Aero engine building factory in Bristol for a reason
Get a proper set of spanners metric and imperial they'll last you a life time

A tool in not just for Xmas

Could you use mini mole grips as an alternative?

yes if you want nastily damaged nuts

#notathreat#

I have a Bahco. They are good, but not zero-play. It's never be as good as a fixed-size spanner.

Bahco ftw

Like the guy said, not 100%, but the best I have used

yes if you want nastily damaged nuts

#notathreat#

Only if you use it incorrectly, used properly they provide a firm adjustable grip which is what the OP was looking for.

Right tool for the right job. Mole grips should only be used on nuts that have already been ruined by someone using the incorrect tools.

Right tool for the right job. Mole grips should only be used on nuts that have already been ruined by someone using mole grips.

ftfy

That was implied.

if you can't undo it with your teeth it is meant to remain undone

I find combination ratchet spanners useful on brake fittings.


Thanks...I'm gonna get some small ratchet spanners rather than persevere with "almost good enough". It's not going to be a weight issue :)

the sensible option
they'll last you a lifetime if you don't have hamfists

and they'll proably last you a lifetime even if you do

Another +1 for bahco, but only when can't carry / find fixed sized spanner set.

I use Bahco but as previously mentioned all adjustables have a small amount of play . What I do it fix it round the nut and tighten it down and then remove the tool and tighten it up a fraction more to get it tight on the flats on the fitting .
Its no substitute for a good ring spanner but useful if you not the right tool and there is a minimal risk of rounding the nut off.