Abstract: A positive action basin wrench comprising a torsion bar spring mounted in a hollow shaft of the wrench and which is actuated to produce a pre-load grip on a work element (nut) held between a pair of jaws, one being movable. A tubular member in the shaft drives the torsion bar spring the action on which causes a pinion/gear arrangement at the head end of the shaft to turn a post rotatably mounted in a transverse extension to the shaft, the movable jaw in turn rotated as the post is rotated and being mounted atop the extension. The driving member for the spring rotates in the shaft to the extent of a pair of opposing aligned slots therein, by means of a crossbar projecting through such member and out of the slots in the shaft. As the crossbar is rotated, the tubular member and spring turn before the shaft does, causing the movable jaw to grip with the fixed jaw the nut, while reaction in the spring twists it until the crossbar is stopped by the slots' ends.