BA Spanners

[Colin HeseltineParticipant @colinheseltine48622]

Does anyone know of any manufacturer in UK who makes decent BA spanners, preferably combination set, across the full range of sizes. Not pieces of pressed/punched steel. I can find Kennedy who do a full set of open ended, but cannot find anyone who does the full rang in combination sets.

Colin.

[Colin HeseltineParticipant @colinheseltine48622]

[Dod MoleParticipant @georgeclarihew]

Laser tools and Draper do them, should be able to internet them for a supplier.

[Colin HeseltineParticipant @colinheseltine48622]

George,

I'm looking for a set that goes smaller than 6BA, which has at least a 5 BA. Ideally I would like combination spanners, or ring spanners sets. I can find open ended right down to 10BA.

Colin

[V8EngParticipant @v8eng]

Chronos sell BA Box Spanners from 2 to 10 BA, if my memory serves correctly.

[Anthony KendallParticipant @anthonykendall53479]

I have seen these and right-angle ones on the Model Engineers Laser stand at exhibitions.

Cannot find them on their website though but possibly you can.

[Brian HParticipant @brianh50089]

Britool and Draper do them in open ended versions.

Brian

[Gordon TarlingParticipant @gordontarling37126]

Expo tools have some.

[Brian GParticipant @briang]

I have only seen forged combination spanners in 0, 2, 4 and 6BA I'm afraid. You may have better luck with ring spanners however as Gordon, Britool, Bedford and Matador all made BA ring spanners.

The Gordon spanners from 0 – 7 BA are normally available as NOS sets on eBay, but the prices vary considerably (the set on there now is £22.95 including postage). Britool are harder to find but I know they went down at least as far as the RH1115 8BA/10BA ring spanner, but I haven't found some of the intermediate sizes in over a year of looking.

Brian

[David Standing 1Participant @davidstanding1]

Posted by Brian Hutchings on 22/08/2017 09:49:58:

Britool and Draper do them in open ended versions.

Brian

Colin doesn't want open ended

[David Standing 1Participant @davidstanding1]

Posted by Gordon Tarling on 22/08/2017 09:51:33:

Expo tools have some.

They are pressed steel. Colin doesn't want those

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

http://www.abbotstools.co.uk/King-Dick-BA-6-Piece-open-end-wrench-set.

http://www.baconsdozen.co.uk/tools/Whitworth%20spanners..htm

Two sources to try.

[Bob YouldonParticipant @bobyouldon45599]

Good morning Colin,

Sadly today what you want and what you can get are two different things, years ago chrome plated drop forged combination spanners in the BA sizes were produced by a few of the better manufacturers, sadly, not so today.

BA has become a non prefered size; you may be lucky to find a very similar sized combination set from a supplier in the USA. My own BA spanners I've aquired over something like sixty years and even today whilst wandering around the odd boot fair I sometimes come away with the odd useful find.

Model Engineers Laser do a set of laser cut spanners, you could always case harden a set, again they're always useful as you can bend them into any shape to get to that odd nut etc!

Bergen do a nice ten piece metric combination set, that might suit.

Regards,

Bob

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

One of the problems with the small combination spanners is that the actual thickness of the "ring" can only be reduced so far and becomes disproportional to the size of the hole. This means that you often can't slip the ring over the nut/bolt as the distance from an adjoining edge is often too small.

You also find that the hole is only a six sided one so often can't get 60deg of swing even if you can get the spanner over the nut.

I have seen small spanners made by silver soldering an allen screw to a bit of flat stock and then grinding down to thickness.

Also worth remembering that supplies of BA hex stock are becoming harder to find and out fixing suppliers are having to resort to nearest size metric hex so even if you find those elusive BA spanners they may not fit!

[Brian GParticipant @briang]

Posted by JasonB on 22/08/2017 11:53:14:

One of the problems with the small combination spanners is that the actual thickness of the "ring" can only be reduced so far and becomes disproportional to the size of the hole. This means that you often can't slip the ring over the nut/bolt as the distance from an adjoining edge is often too small…

Although I have got nearly a full set of BA ring spanners, if I'm being honest with myself box spanners are far more useful for that very reason. If I were starting from scratch it would just be box spanners and open end laser cut spanners. They may not feel as nice as forged spanners, but from an access point of view there is no contest.

Brian

[Colin HeseltineParticipant @colinheseltine48622]

Guys,

Thanks you for all your contributions to this thread. Looks like I will have to give up on the small sizes as ring spanners. I must admit a year or so back I found a nice set of metric combination spanners that went down to 4mm and I had hope to find something similar. Have to keep open eye at boot sales.

On topic of boot sales I west to a local car show on Saturday and picked up a brand new Verdict gauge .02mm for £20 and an unused Jacobs no. 34 chuck (1-13mm) on MT2 taper for £12.

Thanks again.

Colin

[VicParticipant @vic]

I had a set of tiny spanners made by Britool but I think they're metric.

[Andrew TinsleyParticipant @andrewtinsley63637]

I have found that nut spinners are far more useful than spanners in the small BA range. I have a set that goes from 0BA to 10BA. I got them years ago from of all places RS components. I think they were Radiospares in those days.

I believe they were Britool, but the name has worn off the handles through much use. I don't know about you, but I can't start a 10BA nut on a thread, with fingers and thumbs. No problem with a nut spinner though!

Andrew.

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi Andrew, long time since I've heard mention of the name Radiospares. **LINK**

Regards Nick.

[Andrew TinsleyParticipant @andrewtinsley63637]

Hello Nick,

I even turned up some Radiospares catalogues when I was searching for something else! I reckon that must date me!

Andrew.

[Roger Provins 2Participant @rogerprovins2]

Posted by Nicholas Farr on 22/08/2017 19:31:16:

Hi Andrew, long time since I've heard mention of the name Radiospares. **LINK**

Regards Nick.

Many schools use RS, or at least those I've worked in do.

Roger

[Harry WilkesParticipant @harrywilkes58467]

Posted by Brian G on 22/08/2017 13:00:36:

Posted by JasonB on 22/08/2017 11:53:14:

One of the problems with the small combination spanners is that the actual thickness of the "ring" can only be reduced so far and becomes disproportional to the size of the hole. This means that you often can't slip the ring over the nut/bolt as the distance from an adjoining edge is often too small…

Although I have got nearly a full set of BA ring spanners, if I'm being honest with myself box spanners are far more useful for that very reason. If I were starting from scratch it would just be box spanners and open end laser cut spanners. They may not feel as nice as forged spanners, but from an access point of view there is no contest.

Brian

Brian I have to agree with you about box spanner being preferred to ring I have good number of BA spanners both OE and ring but I have just purchased a second set of box spanners I have just had minor surgery on my left hand for carpal tunnel and my right hand is just as bad so having no feeling in my fingers I find them very useful for holding the nut whilst starting it on the thread

H

[David Standing 1Participant @davidstanding1]

I have just had a shufty through my BA spanner tin.

Mostly Bedford, with a smattering of Britool thrown in (and Terry's of course).

I'm sure I have another set of Terry's somewhere, but can't lay my hands on them.

[Ian WelfordParticipant @ianwelford58739]

I've got a set of the laser cut ones and , after you debut the edges a bit, they're very good. I'm sure if you drop malcolm high a line he'll sell you a set. They are not EXACT ba apparently but made to fit the closest hex sizes currently available. Fit ba fine for me , although I must admit to preferring nut spinners if I have the choice.

Regards ian

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

I find that nut spinners are more than adequate; I have run a 2.5./ 3mm down the bore on the set I have to give extra length capability if you have longer studs fitted.

George.

[Author]

Posts