Wrenches and sockets

Buying guide

Spanner sizes come in millimetres or inches, and both systems can turn up in the same house, so first check whether the set covers both. A ring spanner grips the nut on all sides and is less likely to round it off, while an open-ended one is handier in tight spots. With sockets, you can feel the ratchet mechanism at work: finer teeth give a smaller swing, which is decisive in confined spaces. Chrome vanadium steel resists wear better than plain steel.