C Spanners & Adjustable Hook Spanners | RS
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    C Spanners

    C spanners, also known as adjustable hook spanners (or wrench) or hook & pin wrenches, are high-quality hand tools designed for tightening and loosening retaining rings. These specialist adjustable hook spanners incorporate steel roll pins that allow the jaws to adjust to the correct size of the ring.

    Slotted retaining rings, unlike nuts, have a smooth, rounded circumference, making it difficult to adequately grip the ring with a standard spanner. To overcome this, C spanners have a small cylindrical pin at the crest of the head that slots into a hole in a retaining ring. This essentially locks the spanner into the ring so that the two remain joined once torque is applied.

    C-shape spanners get their name from the shape of the hook, which, when open, looks like a large letter 'C'. While this is the typical shape of a C spanner, some manufacturers make hook spanners in different shapes and designs for added torque. Additionally, not all C spanners are adjustable.

    Because of the amount of torque needed to loosen rings, C spanners need to be made of strong materials. Commonly, they are made from alloyed steel, like chrome vanadium steel, or other tough metals. If they are made from a lighter material, such as plastic, they might break or crack once torque is applied.

    Our range of C spanners covers versatile and easy-to-use tools and includes leading brands such as Cooper Tools, Facom, GearWrench, and RS PRO.

    How to Choose the right C Spanner

    Finding the right C spanner for a given job or to stock in your tool chest comes down to a few key deciding factors. Because C spanners have such a specific use case, you will likely know what sizes you will need ahead of time so you can buy the right size.

    The first deciding factor for which type C spanner to buy would be if your job requires using multiple rings in different sizes. If it does, it might be worthwhile to invest in an adjustable C spanner. This guarantees you have the right size spanner for each ring without having to carry multiple tools at a time.

    Still, with adjustable hook spanner wrenches, you still need to determine what length handle you need. Simple physics informs us that the longer the length of the spanner handle, the less force you need to apply to create equal torque. This means that it takes less effort to tighten or loosen a ring if the C spanner has a longer handle. While it may seem logical to buy the longest adjustable C spanner, the space you have to work with may not be able to accommodate a long tool.

    If you don't need an adjustable head, then you just need to factor in the length of the handle and the style of head you prefer. While most hook spanners have the traditional 'C' shape, others are shaped differently. A different shape both affects the amount of torque you can apply and the angle at which you work on the ring. There may be a scenario where a C-shaped hook spanner doesn't fit but a different head shape does.

    Uses for C Spanners

    C Spanners are a specialty tool with very specific use cases. One of the most common industries to use them is the automotive industry. This is because cars, motorcycles, and other vehicles make heavy use of slotted retaining rings.

    Ultimately, C spanners are most appropriate when the job entails tightening or loosening a slotted retaining ring or similar nut or bolt.

    63 Products showing for C Spanners

    Bahco
    24mm
    -
    -
    215 mm
    -
    SKF
    22mm
    20mm
    -
    -
    -
    Bahco
    48mm
    -
    -
    400 mm
    -
    Facom
    80mm
    50mm
    Chrome
    280 mm
    Steel
    SAM
    90mm
    60mm
    -
    250 mm
    -
    SKF
    75mm
    68mm
    Black Phosphate
    243 mm
    Carbon Steel
    Facom
    325mm
    220mm
    Chrome
    650 mm
    -
    Ega-Master
    380mm
    200mm
    -
    -
    Aluminium Bronze
    SKF
    55mm
    52mm
    -
    -
    Plastic (Handle)
    SAM
    60mm
    35mm
    -
    175 mm
    -
    Facom
    35mm
    15mm
    Chrome
    168 mm
    Steel
    SKF
    75mm
    75mm
    Black Phosphate
    247 mm
    Carbon Steel
    Facom
    35mm
    15mm
    -
    -
    -
    Facom
    80mm
    50mm
    Chrome
    280 mm
    Chrome Vanadium Steel
    SKF
    150mm
    90mm
    -
    -
    -
    SKF
    70mm
    70mm
    -
    -
    -
    SKF
    190mm
    150mm
    Black Phosphate
    -
    Carbon Steel
    SKF
    80mm
    80mm
    -
    -
    -
    STAHLWILLE
    165mm
    95mm
    Black Oxidized
    265 mm
    Chrome Vandium Steel
    Facom
    180mm
    120mm
    Chrome
    492 mm
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