How many times have you run out of clearance with a regular combination spanner? And always on something where you really don’t need the leverage: that’s why stubby spanners exist, and Sealey has sent us something on their new Siegen metric set.
And because we’re about American motorcycles, many of which still require proper spanners, I’ve looked up their imperial cousins. I was going to take the mickey and include Whitworth too, but they only do those in a regular length.
The new metric 9-piece set are said to be designed for light trade or DIY use but still come with a lifetime warranty and come in a storage / carry rack. They are hardened, tempered and nickle-chrome plated Chrome Vanadium steel, and the ring is a 12-point WallDrive, which I’m sure means something to someone. Those nine sizes are 6mm-14mm inclusive.
The 8-piece imperial set are pretty much the same, except in size and price – even down to the carry case – and include all the usual suspects from 5/16 to ¾ (I would list them all, but all those fractions would drive Joe the designer crazy). Same material, same 12-point WallDrive and same lifetime warranty but two fundamental weirdnesses: why are the minimum and maximum lengths of imperial spanners measured in millimetres? 140mm and 90mm, for the record.
And why is it cheaper to buy the eight spanners singly, or is the carry case really worth a couple of quid?
Answers on a postcard, please.