Podger spanner
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ee/Spud_wrench_aka_construction_wrench_from_Colvin_and_Stanley_1910_p65.png/220px-Spud_wrench_aka_construction_wrench_from_Colvin_and_Stanley_1910_p65.png)
A podger spanner, or podger, is a tool in the form of a short bar, usually tapered and often incorporating a wrench at one end.
Podgers are used for erecting scaffolding and steel scenery - The pointed end is used to align the bolt holes while the spanner end is used to tighten the nuts.
Variations
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/90/RatchetPodgers.jpg/220px-RatchetPodgers.jpg)
Some podgers are fitted with reversible ratchet sockets for tightening/loosening nuts. Often they come with two sizes such as a 17 mm × 19 mm or a 19 mm × 24 mm and a 27 mm × 30 mm. Often a podger has a hole in the wrench shaft that is used to tether the wrench to the person for safety and securing the tool whilst working at heights.
References
- BS 2583: "Specification for podger spanners" (1955)