UKC

Hi there,

I am about to add a spanner into my kit while sport climbing outdoors. I have been to only one sport climbing venue so far, but I think it's worth taking a spanner for loose hangers/bolts. It's better having one rather than coming back home without finishing a route, that's for sure!

However, the more I search on Google, the more confused I get. I have found that people take 14mm, 17mm, 19mm spanners... DMM Nutbuster ( http://dmmclimbing.com/products/nutbuster/ )seems to use 17mm spanner. It seems like a good option as I will also need a nut key in future anyway. I'm just not sure whether this is a right size or not. Anyone has some experience with that?

In reply to PPP:

Fookin Jesus....

In reply to PPP:

An adjustable one?

In reply to jimjimjim:


+1!

In reply to PPP:

An adjustable spanner, just in case.

http://www.dropshiponline.co.uk/images/SP048.jpg

In reply to PPP:

Get a small 6" adjustable. Should be plenty big enough for anything you ever encounter climbing, and small and light enough to clip/tuck out of the way and not be a pain in the ass.

In reply to jimjimjim:

Love it.

In reply to PPP:

Metolious Torque has a few sizes.
http://www.metoliusclimbing.com/nut_tools.html

In reply to PPP:

A compressor and rock drill is a useful tool to carry - more versitile than a spanner. I've heard there is a reduntant one on the Pillar of Paine, Patogonia up for grabs.

In reply to Blue Straggler:


Metric or imperial?

In reply to Mike Stretford:

nice one, made me chuckle

In reply to PPP:
A 17mm-19mm double-ended ring spanner is the best option, nearly every bolt you will find in the UK is 10mm (which need a a 17mm for the nuts), some bolts are 12mm (19mm nuts). Any other spanner will be for maillons which have very odd sizes, for those a small adjustable is useful.
The advantage of a ring spanner is that they are really easy to clip to the harness, the disadvantage is that some cheap, discount store type spanners are too chunky to easily fit on the nut with some hangers, good quality spanners are slimmer.
I applaud your desire to take a spanner, they should be part of every sport climber's kit, in the same way that a nut key is part of a trad climber's.

In reply to scott titt:

Thanks for your honest answer!

In reply to PPP:

Be careful though, overtightening can damage the rock and increase the likelihood of the bolt shearing... the bolt can be structurally sound in a fall and still spin!

In reply to PPP:


Thanks for not thanking me for MY honest answer :-P

In reply to Blue Straggler:
I know what the internet is and I tend to ignore the jokes! I also know that I over complicate many things and I'm quite happy to be reminded.

In reply to Blue Straggler:

I didn't like the idea of an adjustable spanner because of this:
Source: https://alpineclub.org.nz/climb/bolting

In reply to PPP:

I can't see you accidentally destroying a ~17mm nut with a 6 inch adjustable spanner unless you are the hulk.

In reply to PPP:


OK, take a 14mm, 17mm and 19mm ring-ended spanner.

This isn't rocket science!

In reply to Blue Straggler:



No, but it is socket science!

;~))

In reply to Blue Straggler:


There's an ethical issue here: with that much gear on your harness its trad.

In reply to ewar woowar:



I line them up, you knock 'em in

In reply to tom_in_edinburgh:

Only one at a time though, assuming all nuts on route are the same as the first one which you could check from the ground and just take the one (in the UK....less so at Buoux but the thread IS about UK sport )

In reply to ewar woowar:



Never bothered carrying a spanner myself....I feel like a real tool.

In reply to PPP:

Open spanners place too much pressure on only 2 flats so you should only consider a socket set for this task and an accompanying torque wrench to avoid over tightening. Don't buy no cheap stuff though, laser or black spur brands are rubbish, only get Snap-On or teng. Its your life after all so you need to pay for the best

In reply to wilkie14c:

Snap On carries a hefty price though...

Best of the more budgety brands (in my opinion etc.) is the Halfords Pro stuff.

In reply to Blue Straggler:


I'm here all week!

In reply to ewar woowar:


Try the scampi!

In reply to Ffion Blethyn:

True enough, I have some of the Halfords pro ratcheting spanners and they are things of beauty and life time warranty