Which wrench is described as engaging a fastener from all sides?

• A. Adjustable wrench
• B. Open-end wrench
• C. Combination wrench
• D. Box-end wrench

Answer: (D)

Box-end wrenches grip the fastener with a closed ring that fully surrounds the head, contacting it from all sides. This surrounding contact distributes torque around the circumference and resists cam-out, making it less likely to slip and easier to apply high torque without rounding the fastener. Open-end wrenches, by contrast, only grab two faces, leaving others exposed and more prone to slipping. An adjustable wrench relies on the jaws to clamp rather than encircle the head, which also can slip under high torque. A combination wrench has one end that’s open and one end that’s boxed, so only the box end mode engages from all sides. So the design that engages a fastener from all sides is the box-end wrench.