TM 9-243
TYPES AND USES - Continued
BOX WRENCHES (Cont)
The half-moon wrench has different size openings at
each end and has a curved shank. The half-moon
wrench is used when it is necessary to reach around
objects in tight spaces.
The split-box wrench is a 12-point wrench with 2 points
cut away. The split-box wrench is used on pipe unions
or couplings where you want the protection of a box
wrench, but need to slide the wrench around a pipe.
The structural-tapered handle wrench combines a box
wrench opening with a tapered shank to produce a box
wrench/alignment pin combination. It is usually used on
heavy structural construction (bridge girders, building
beams, etc.).
Ratchet-box
wrenches
are
either
reversible
or
nonreversible. The ratchet-box wrench does not have to
be lifted up and repositioned each time the shank has
reached its maximum travel between two obstructions.
The ratchet-box wrench provides an easy means of
removing and/or installing nuts or bolts which are not
under strain. These wrenches should not be used to
torque down or to free nuts or bolts.
COMBINATION WRENCHES
The combination wrench combines the best features of
the open-end and box wrench into a single wrench. The
size opening on the wrench is the same on both ends,
but one end has a box head and the other end has an
open-end head. The length of the wrench varies with
the size of the head. The most common opening is
offset from the shank by 15 degrees. They are used to
remove common-size nuts and bolts.
25-4
