Spanner

[antifoul2020]

How many mm is 1/2W as far as I know it’s the same size as a scaffolding spanner
But I need an open ender for taking the wire brush off my grinder

 

[Amplidyne]

https://www.samstagsales.com/whitworth_table.htm#table

 

[antifoul2020]

9/16 AF closet I can find

 

[Phill05]

1/2" W is 0.920" or 23.37 mm across flats. the 9/16 is dia.

 

[antifoul2020]

Thanks for your help appreciate it

 

[okeydokey]

Or a cheap adjustable spanner - wrench or whatever they're called today

 

[Inspector]

Or a cheap adjustable spanner - wrench or whatever they're called today

I worked with a Newfy (from the province of Newfoundland) and he called them t'umb wrenches, 'cause you opens and closes em wit yer t'umb. Good ones had temperature compensating jaws.

Pete

 

[glenfield2]

Cheap adjustable spanners are horrible, get a nice Bahco one with extra slim jaws - accurate fit and handy for sliding into tight spaces.
Or just buy an open 1/2whitworth - plenty still around. Try a boot sale or on-line.

 

[ChaiLatte]

If you picked up 300 scaffold fittings today, you would be lucky to find just one with 1/2" Whitworth nuts on it.

Only very old fittings have 1/2" Whitworth. The vast majority are 7/16" Whitworth, or 21mm.

Thus, the only scaffold _spanner_ you would see today with 1/2" Whitworth is the large end of a double-ended one (https://www.hss.com/buy/p/spanners-scaffolding-double-ended). As the OP does not specifically say that it is the large end on a two-ended scaffold spanner that is required, any single-ended scaffold spanner picked up at random today will not be 1/2" Whitworth.

Rather than guessing, cut a slot 21mm wide into an old pizza box. If it fits the nut, that is the size. If not, cut a wider slot and try again.

 

[XTiffy]

These days scaffolders use cordless impact wrenches with a 21mm socket. 7/16th Whitworth spanners before that.

 

[Amplidyne]

Of course you could just measure the AF of the nut, and work from there. . .

 

[BillK]

I use the spindle lock and an old motorbike glove, sort of crack the thing rather than a slow pull and they come loose. Stout gardening glove would do it too.

Short of that a 24mm spanner will do it, sloppy fit yes but it's only cracking loose a wire brush or wheel.

 

[Fergie 307]

Cheap adjustable spanners are horrible, get a nice Bahco one with extra slim jaws - accurate fit and handy for sliding into tight spaces.
Or just buy an open 1/2whitworth - plenty still around. Try a boot sale or on-line.

Always described with derision as "plumbers tools" where I worked. Not sure what they had against plumbers

 

[throbscottle]

Yes yes a sharp whack with your gloved hand in the direction of spin should loosen it. I have a wire cup brush and it even works with that.

 

[Ross Buchanan]

Always described with derision as "plumbers tools" where I worked. Not sure what they had against plumbers

WO Bentley would sack a mechanic on the spot if they were caught with an adjustable spanner in their kit.

 

[Fergie 307]

WO Bentley would sack a mechanic on the spot if they were caught with an adjustable spanner in their kit.

Quite right too !
I can remember one lad where someone picked the offending article out of his toolbox, held between thumb and forefinger. "What the hell is this? What are you, a mechanic or a fu**ing plumber?".
At which point it was carried at arms length across the workshop and dropped in the bin.
Being a youth who knew no better I hastily hid mine at the bottom of my box!
I have several but only really used for bending and twisting type jobs when fabricating stuff. A good sized one is brilliant for bending bits of plate or bar.
Proper spanner is much better for anything involving an actual nut, even plumbing