Ideal 6" Adjustable--Any Thoughts?

[cody1325]

I retired an heirloom 6" Crescent (which despite nearly six decades of constant use and abuse--still works quite fine) in favor of a Proto J706 (which I assumed would be old stock USA--got modern Taiwanese) and was not impressed with it--too heavy, rattled, and just felt cheaply made for the money.

I know the models Irega produces in Spain for Klein and Channellock are said to be some of the best, but I want to try to see what my US-made options are first.

Noticed Harry Epstein has a US-made Ideal (guessing Western Forge) for a whopping eight bucks. I'm wondering if these are the same quality as my early 2010s Craftsman.

6" Ideal Adjustable Wrench w/ Grips

6" Ideal Adjustable Wrench w/ Grips

www.harryepstein.com

 

[redwrench60]

Personally, I would go NOS Crescent from Epstein’s, or Klein/Channellock/Irrega

If a man really had a wild hair just look on eBay for exactly what you want used.

 

[4xdog]

I find so few use cases for a small-medium adjustable wrench that any of mine are plenty good quality. I probably use an old Crescent as often as any, and that ain’t very often.

I use an even older wide-jaw 12” and my Diamond or Bahco 4” wrenches more often.

So my advice is get and/or use what ya like. They’re probably all more than enough for the task.

 

[KnurledNut]

The only currently produced USA made 6" adjustable im aware of is Snap-on.
https://shop.snapon.com/product/Adjustable/6"-Adjustable-Wrench/AD6C

Also, not all Kleins are made in Spain Irega.
The latest ones with the bright orange dipped grip like Lowes carries are made in South Korea.

 

[four.cycle]

^ Find a nice old Utica on ebay.

 

[134k]

That Ideal looks almost identical to the Proto Professional Clik Stop.

 

[3baygarage]

It's probably the same quality. Go for it if you want new.

 

[cody1325]

The only currently produced USA made 6" adjustable im aware of is Snap-on.
https://shop.snapon.com/product/Adjustable/6"-Adjustable-Wrench/AD6C

Also, not all Kleins are made in Spain Irega.
The latest ones with the bright orange dipped grip like Lowes carries are made in South Korea.

I've seen those at Lowe's. They are some of the worst I've ever handled. Noticed that a pretty sizeable chunk of the Klein items Lowe's carries are from countries outside the USA--occasionally some decent Taiwan stuff, but most of it is from China or somewhere else.

 

[cody1325]

I find so few use cases for a small-medium adjustable wrench that any of mine are plenty good quality. I probably use an old Crescent as often as any, and that ain’t very often.

I use an even older wide-jaw 12” and my Diamond or Bahco 4” wrenches more often.

So my advice is get and/or use what ya like. They’re probably all more than enough for the task.

My go-to for general use (and recently added to the toolbox alongside the Proto 6") is an older Williams 10" I've had for ages. There's very little it can't do.

On another note, I think I'm on a small adjustable wrench kick--both 4" and 6". 4" is great for pocket carry but doesn't open up enough for most gate hinge bolts/nuts. A 6" typically will, as does the old Sears Craftsman 44601 (which is a 4", but technically a 6" with a stubby handle).

 

[joedodge]

My go to are bahco at work. Wonderful quality