Who makes good 24” adjustable wremches?
- Thread starter ive
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BarrelRoll
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I like ridgid adjustable wrenches. Made in USA, decent quality.
HJE has NOS Western Forge made wrenches with a variety of brand names on them. 24 is Crescent:
Not sure how it goes getting that into Canada though.
24" Crescent Chrome Adjustable Wrench (AC124)
24" Crescent Chrome Adjustable Wrench (AC124)
www.harryepstein.com
Not sure how it goes getting that into Canada though.
scooby074
Well-known member
I have 2 24" Mastercraft what were my granddads. He used them in his truck shop for years, then I used them professionally as well, they date back to the 70's.
Mastercraft doesnt make them now. I dont know who the OEM was, but I suspect it was someone in North America, maybe Gray??? I should make a post on here to figure it out
Id recommend any of the North American manufacturers. Proto, Crescent , Gray etc. I have a couple Channelock WideAzz wrenches that I used to use all the time. Small wrench that covered many of the big wrench sizes (1.5" capacity on the big one).
Mastercraft doesnt make them now. I dont know who the OEM was, but I suspect it was someone in North America, maybe Gray??? I should make a post on here to figure it out
Id recommend any of the North American manufacturers. Proto, Crescent , Gray etc. I have a couple Channelock WideAzz wrenches that I used to use all the time. Small wrench that covered many of the big wrench sizes (1.5" capacity on the big one).
reader2580
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Ridgid hasn’t made their adjustable wrenches in the USA for a while now. I bought one over a year ago and it was made in Spain, not USA.
redwrench60
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Get the 24” Crescent from Harry Epsteins. It’s a legitimate new old stock, USA made Crescent. Mines been great and I bet the fellas in KC MO would ship to Canada.
decableguy2000
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Thanks guys, I needed a bigger than 1 5/8" wrench Sunday, just ordered a 15 and 18 crescent from HJE.
Got links?
decableguy2000
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Benny Franklin
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I inherited an 18" Ridgid from my grandfather who drove a semi, haven't needed one bigger very often. My buddy's 24" Crescent brand has held up but I'm debating buying a cheap Harbor Freight one and attempting to destroy it for the lols
B_Bimmer
Well-known member
A 24" adjustable is very overlooked for usefulness. I find mine are more often used for bending or straightening then wrenching, but they are often the perfect tool.
Goikification
Member
The Channellock adjustable wrenches are made in Spain and are the best I have used. Excellent quality and still in production.
channellock.com
824 24-inch Adjustable Wrench - Channellock, Inc.
The CHANNELLOCK® 824 24" Adjustable Wrench is among the largest in the CHANNELLOCK® family.
channellock.com
MBfreak
MEMBER EMERITUS
The adjustable wrench typ mostly used today was invented by a Swedish blacksmith and manufactured and marketed by BACHO, far into the sixties. Best quality ever.
Can often be found a car boot sales. I have 4 off 4 ", 2 off 8" and 1 off 24 ".
Have probably paid around the equivalent of US$ 20 in total.
Interestlig enough,, spare spinners and adjustable jaws still available, all made in Sweden.
However the BACHO company was swallowed by various stock market manipulators , sure way to downgrade!
Ola
Can often be found a car boot sales. I have 4 off 4 ", 2 off 8" and 1 off 24 ".
Have probably paid around the equivalent of US$ 20 in total.
Interestlig enough,, spare spinners and adjustable jaws still available, all made in Sweden.
However the BACHO company was swallowed by various stock market manipulators , sure way to downgrade!
Ola
3baygarage
Well-known member
I know this is about 24 inchers, but a couple years ago I was standing inside a Napa, when an older man walked in asking for an 18" adjustable wrench. The worker showed him over to the racks and I don't think they had a wrench over 12" available. It was disappointing.
I mean yeah, he can probably shop around and find one of those clunker jumbo no name wrenches, but where can you just walk in a buy a quality 18" USA made adjustable? I was tempted to offer to sell him a wrench, but was on the clock and on the road and he needed it then and there. Just made me sad.
I mean yeah, he can probably shop around and find one of those clunker jumbo no name wrenches, but where can you just walk in a buy a quality 18" USA made adjustable? I was tempted to offer to sell him a wrench, but was on the clock and on the road and he needed it then and there. Just made me sad.
bwringer
Well-known member
Crescent brand adjustables have been Chinese trash for many years. If you can find a good used or NOS US-made Crescent, they're great. Otherwise, they're best avoided.I have 2 24" Mastercraft what were my granddads. He used them in his truck shop for years, then I used them professionally as well, they date back to the 70's.
Mastercraft doesnt make them now. I dont know who the OEM was, but I suspect it was someone in North America, maybe Gray??? I should make a post on here to figure it out
Id recommend any of the North American manufacturers. Proto, Crescent , Gray etc. I have a couple Channelock WideAzz wrenches that I used to use all the time. Small wrench that covered many of the big wrench sizes (1.5" capacity on the big one).
The Channel-Lock branded adjustables are available up to 24" and 30" and are great quality. They're made by Irega in Spain.
Agreed. I don't think the old 24" Craftsman I inherited has ever been used on a fastener, or at least I haven't, but it is just the thing for all sorts of bending and tweaking operations.
desertdog256
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I was at one of those miles-long roadside flea market weekends recently. A guy had a no name Chinese 24 inch adjustable on the table. I picked it up and it was heavier than I expected. I asked what he wanted for it, expecting him to say some outrageous price. For his asking price of $10, it came home with me and has worked great for bending and tweaking.
Ton ton
Well-known member
Just go to Millbank Country Hardware in Millbank, Ontario. Also any tractor worth it's salt has adjustable wrenches for sale. I do know Forrester farm equipment in Woodstock VA has a nice selection of adjustable wrenches.
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thunderalley3
Well-known member
I have a Snap On 24" adjustable that I bought at least 20 years ago. I needed a 36mm socket for a new machine adjustment and the Snap On guy came in and I told him to get me a 36mm socket. He did not have any on the truck so he brought this 24 inch adjustable in and asked me if it would get me through the week until he could get me the socket. I said I thought so and he left it with me.
When the socket came in I handed him the wrench back and begrudgingly asked him how much it was. It was stupid money and I said "for a used wrench?" as I had used it a few times over the week. Come to find out he had received it in an order by mistake and was stuck with it in a way. He was a major dealer with 3 routes and trucks at the time. I told him to do his best and I bought it at his cost. I have used the daylight out of that thing !!
When the socket came in I handed him the wrench back and begrudgingly asked him how much it was. It was stupid money and I said "for a used wrench?" as I had used it a few times over the week. Come to find out he had received it in an order by mistake and was stuck with it in a way. He was a major dealer with 3 routes and trucks at the time. I told him to do his best and I bought it at his cost. I have used the daylight out of that thing !!
NakeDiesel
Well-known member
I use rigid cresents and pipe wrenches, can get them locally. Have both all the way up to 36" versions
Benny Franklin
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48" big enough for ya? There's a vintage 48" Ridgid for $175 locally. I always used my 36" and put a pipe on the handle.
*side note on the subject of pipes- if you put an 8' pipe on a 3/4 breaker bar, and a 260lb guy can hang from the pipe, that sucker is TIGHT
One of the many reasons I'm getting a high torque battery impact
Ton ton
Well-known member
Avoid the 1/2" impact from Milwaukee. It's a joke even if it says high torque. Yes, we have one and it is not the defective model either.
NakeDiesel
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I broke a 3/4" breaker bar with a 10' cheater pipe on it with me standing on it (~300lbs back then), bouncing trying to break loose nuts on my 1960's 4010 rear wheel lugs to get a tire off and fixed.
Benny Franklin
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Ouch, I'd heard Big Red's QC had taken a hit but hadn't used any brand new items to confirm. Out of curiosity, was it a FUEL model?
I was helping my buddy a couple weeks back, his well used FUEL impact put a brand new Dewalt to shame. I think I'm going with Ridgid due to the warranty- I already bought some battery kits so I may as well give them a try
Ton ton
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Yes, it's a fuel model.
Benny Franklin
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I've heated rear wheel lug nuts on 3500 duallys to get them loose- with a 3/4 IR air impact. *not fleet though- farmers who put tubes in the tires and ran them off road. Those wheels went years without being removed, and nobody used antiseize
Another friend swears by his M18 Fuel 1" impact for taking the lug nuts off his semi
B_Bimmer
Well-known member
I buy every old diamond tool I can find and have never seen one of theirs in 24". I bet that is a thing of beauty. My favorite I own is a old Proto forged one from before they subbed out to western forge. Tight and precise even though it's huge.
Bubba Fett
Well-known member
There are no USA manufacturers of adjustable wrenches that I am aware of. The last one was Western Forge, who made adjustable wrenches for pretty much every tool brand that sold them. SK did have some, but I think those were also made by Western Forge, or at least used WF's tooling, since Ideal owned both companies at the time.
If you want new, then Irega (Spain) is the manufacturer that will most likely be producing them, and Channellock seems to be the easiest to get. However, I would definitely check the second hand market.
If you want new, then Irega (Spain) is the manufacturer that will most likely be producing them, and Channellock seems to be the easiest to get. However, I would definitely check the second hand market.
Ton ton
Well-known member
Klein tools has the spudnut style of adjustable wrench still made in USA.
KnurledNut
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Snap-on.
I thought Snap-on’s were rebranded Bahco (Spain), but with a chrome finish and different stamping.
The balance of their adjustable wrenches are made in China, including a 24” on that retails at $280ish.
Attachments
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designer485
Well-known member
https://shop.snapon.com/product/Adjustable/12"-Adjustable-Wrench/AD12C
They still have a few USA made adjustable wrenches available (6-12in).
All of the wide mouth versions are imported (Spain, same as Bahco).
The 24in model available is a Blue-Point and made in China.
Currently Avaiable 24in USA Made - https://www.harryepstein.com/24-crescent-chrome-adjustable-wrench-ac124.html
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KnurledNut
Well-known member
Were.
The standard all metal version made in Spain ended in “B”. Those part numbers are now hidden (but still accessible) and they have been discontinued. The latest and current revision ending in “C” are USA made. I believe this to be a fairly recent change that flew under the GJ radar.
dr_clyde
Well-known member
A 24" adjustable is a fantastically useful tool, and one that you want in a pair. One is useful, two is extremely useful.
I have a 24" Rigid that is most likely a WF rebrand, I'd have to look, its pretty old, and I have a Williams that is old enough that I think it predates the Snap on buyout. Either way, both are hell for stout and I use them pretty dang often.
I'll go snap some pics.
I have a 24" Rigid that is most likely a WF rebrand, I'd have to look, its pretty old, and I have a Williams that is old enough that I think it predates the Snap on buyout. Either way, both are hell for stout and I use them pretty dang often.
I'll go snap some pics.
dr_clyde
Well-known member
The Ridgid is old enough I can’t find any WF markings on it, so it may or may not be a WF re-branded wrench.
The 18” Diamond wrenches are also super useful to have. They’re perfect for the jobs that are just out of reach of a 15” but you don’t have room for a 24”.
The 30” Blue Point is an Irega rebadge I’m pretty sure, you can also get this wrench channellock branded. It opens up to 3”!! Useful for certain jobs but it sits a lot, the 24” get a lot more use.
The 18” Diamond wrenches are also super useful to have. They’re perfect for the jobs that are just out of reach of a 15” but you don’t have room for a 24”.
The 30” Blue Point is an Irega rebadge I’m pretty sure, you can also get this wrench channellock branded. It opens up to 3”!! Useful for certain jobs but it sits a lot, the 24” get a lot more use.
Ton ton
Well-known member
I found a 6" USA made snap on adjustable wrench @ my favorite pawn shop. I have no idea how old it is. The slop is unreal. I have found tighter Chinese adjustable wrenches.