Adjustable Wrench... choices

[bmwpowere36m3]

Preference on good quality adjustable wrenches? I've noticed on cheaper ones, usually the movable jaws have a lot of slop and the jaws are overall "thick".

Craftsman (silver/gold-ish)

Irwin/Vise-Grip

ChannelLock

 

[four.cycle]

^ none of the above.

get the real deal: Diamond Calk Horseshoe Co., Duluth, Minnesota

garage sale/swap meet/Craigslist.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=267460

 

[PureLeaf]

Endless threads on this. Use the search function. And check out Knipex Pliers wrench too while you're searching

 

[cm_osu]

I own both some craftsman and channellock adjustables. Of those two I prefer the craftsman however the US made supply of craftsman is going to be gone before long and I have no experience with the current production. My channellock adjustable is nice but their current production is a bit more rough. My personal favorites are older diamond, Williams superjustable and proto.

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[48548]

Hell this can go on forever... I did just get a bahco and it is really tight and very little slop.

These are the ones I own. I normally grab the snapon or proto's.

Another one I own and like the best is the snapon which I think bahco made for them.

 

[sberry]

They all work well, all the brands but the knockoff and the standard Asian version of a Proto is even better. In the 8 and the 12 they made the jaw open one size wider. A bud of mine picked up one that was next to a Diamond and said, that is quite a wrench. The only branding was well worn off ink that said China, I have got the same thing under ATD, have seen it at the fleas under another brand and at the welding shop possibly an Irwin product.
There is some India pos in the market anymore but its obvious as a 2$ vise Grip but the Asian clone is the best I ever used. I have tried the HF but as of late. Its a different wrench from a different vendor and not as good,,, or was as I havnt bought any for 20 yrs.
They must rattle them off completely finished but for a brand stamp.
I think I have them under at least 2 or 3 more brands than the pic, a Diamond is one among the 8 inch.
Other than a couple really sub par India the only others I have seen fail are a couple from Taiwan, a couple cheap Spain deals. At one time th Auto parts guy was pushing ATD and sold a set of 4 from 12 to 6 and it was as low as 16$ I believe and at that time a Proto was over 30 for a 12.
I believe you can find a set not to far north of 20 today depending on vendor.

 

[jallyn]

For an adjustable wrench there are many good brands. I like the ChannelLock branded ones (made in Spain by Irega).

I recommend the Knipex PliersWrench as an upgrade over a regular adjustable wrench. You will grip the fastener tighter, and find many other uses for this tool.

 

[bmwpowere36m3]

^ none of the above.

get the real deal: Diamond Calk Horseshoe Co., Duluth, Minnesota

garage sale/swap meet/Craigslist.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=267460

Thanks for the link. Not doing garage sales, swap meets, etc... no time!

 

[BK13]

Dunno if it's best, but I plan to pick up one or two Proto Click-stop or whatever it's called.

Still want to get a Nepros, but it's likely to end up in a shadow box on the wall. <drool>


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[plinker]

New ones Klein & Channellock are the best I've found, WF/Western forge is also a good wrench, They are re-branded by most offering a US made wrench (S-K, Armstrong, Craftsman, ete...).

Diamond "Diamalloy" are one of the better wrenches but they may go high due to collectability (based on ebay experience).

I do have a 24" Gearwrench wrench, not bad quality, but if it was not dirt cheap I would have gotten a WF made wrench.

 

[bmwpowere36m3]

Endless threads on this. Use the search function. And check out Knipex Pliers wrench too while you're searching

I was going to mention the pliers wrench... but, I feel with any "jointed" plier you must apply significant pressure to the handles to keep them from slipping. Though I've never used the plier wrench, just the cobras.

My opinion, what makes an adjustable or combo wrench nice is that you just push or pull the handle. Jaw size is "set".

 

[48548]

Dunno if it's best, but I plan to pick up one or two Proto Click-stop or whatever it's called.

Still want to get a Nepros, but it's likely to end up in a shadow box on the wall. <drool>


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I want one as well, but they are not cheap.

New ones Klein & Channellock are the best I've found, WF/Western forge is also a good wrench, They are re-branded by most offering a US made wrench (S-K, Armstrong, Craftsman, ete...).

Diamond "Diamalloy" are one of the better wrenches but they may go high due to collectability (based on ebay experience).

I do have a 24" Gearwrench wrench, not bad quality, but if it was not dirt cheap I would have gotten a WF made wrench.

I also have the 24" Gearwrench and the price was right for the 3 I got in a set or I would have gotten something else. I think the proto are my default standards... The snapon are just as good. I do like the pictures of which way to turn them on the snapon.

 

[gdocktor3]

I did a write up on a bunch of adjustables I have. It's about mid way down. Check it out.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=315245

 

[sberry]

Sears aint bad in a set but the dumb sheets have the same wrench as a single next to it for some redic price. I can use a Cman adjustable, got no problem with that.
I really don't use a 6 but 8 and 12 is a staple for Ironwork but other trades I can lean on a 10.

 

[willhollin]

I have a mixture of Irega and Bahco (Swedish made.) The Irega are very nice as are the Bahcos, but the newer Spanish made Bahcos aren't great. The soft grip handles on the Bahcos are too slim as well, Irega are much better even for my small hands.

 

[48548]

I did a write up on a bunch of adjustables I have. It's about mid way down. Check it out.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=315245

I need to find a little plomb to go with the others I have.

 

[finn]

I have a mixture of Irega and Bahco (Swedish made.) The Irega are very nice as are the Bahcos, but the newer Spanish made Bahcos aren't great. The soft grip handles on the Bahcos are too slim as well, Irega are much better even for my small hands.

Are they metric?

 

[sberry]

It woulod be cool to try other stuff but I aint tossing several hundred at new sheet just to find out what I got probably works pretty well. I havnt got a goop number 9, all worn out as are my dykes. It would cost 300 to round it up and toss the stuff.

 

[jallyn]

Are they metric?

That's why I have two mini adjustables... The 100mm ChannelLock being made in Spain is metric and the 4" Tekton made in the USA for SAE.

 

[ganymede]

Preference on good quality adjustable wrenches? I've noticed on cheaper ones, usually the movable jaws have a lot of slop and the jaws are overall "thick"....

I think slop in adjustables is dependent on batch as much as brand.
I would go to a few different stores and grab one that feels the least sloppy.
Whenever I'm in Sears or Ace I always walk over to the tools and mess around with the Western Forge adjustables. They are usually pretty tight.
My Klien has a lot of slop but maybe the batch it was from was just sloppy. It does have a nice comfy, durable grip.
Neither are very thick.

 

[four.cycle]

Diamond "Diamalloy" are one of the better wrenches but they may go high due to collectability (based on ebay experience).

that's why I didn't list Ebay in my post above as a source for the Diamond - Ebay sellers think they're gold-plated.

Craigslist - $10 cash:

Diamond 15 in. adjustable wrench by four.cycle, on Flickr

works like a champ

 

[mikebaker1129]

Hell this can go on forever... I did just get a bahco and it is really tight and very little slop.

These are the ones I own. I normally grab the snapon or proto's.

Another one I own and like the best is the snapon which I think bahco made for them.

Is that a Swedish Bahco or Spainish?

 

[48548]

I would imagine spain. The snapon is spain.

 

[dutchgray]

I haven't seen anything other than Spanish Bahco adjustable wrenches in years for sale, any Swedish are used or NOS.

 

[bcexplorer]

The channelock wide opening ones are great if you are an electrician or plumber and need for fittings, etc, if you are strictly turning bolts i recommend proto clik stop.

 

[bobcatdan]

Personally I think craftsman adjustables are fine. I use 12" and larger so I while channellock maybe awesome, I have little use for the smaller sizes so I don't buy them. I own 12" and 15" craftsman. About the last of the USA crescent 12", 15", and 18". USA Williams 12", 15" and 18". Also a Spain made 24" Blue Point. Wouldn't say disappointed, but a little something when I bought the new Williams last year to replace the craftsman at work to find out they are Western Forge and identical to the craftsman. For as much as people bitched the last year's of USA crescents sucking, I thing they are fine. One other thing, Diamonds are awesome, I own 6" threw 12", would like to find a 4" along with the 15", 18" and even 24".

 

[bubinga]

bobcatdan, do you like adjustable s for hydraulic lines?

 

[Jeremy77]

Western Forge in Colorado currently makes the adjustables for Craftsman, Proto, SK, Ridgid, Wright and most likely several others. Irega in Spain for Bahco, SnapOn, Channellock and probably some others. Apex in China for Crescent while their plant in South Carolina makes limited runs of Crescent branded wrenches as well as Armstrong adjustables. I've used a majority of these and personally like the WF made ones due to their tightness when set, relative thin beams (especially compared to the Apex wrenches)and ease of working the screw.

 

[plinker]

bobcatdan, do you like adjustable s for hydraulic lines?

I do. The Channellock 8" wide jaw is a must have, IMO. Air fittings and hydraulic fittings you can get to are the main use I have for them.

 

[bobcatdan]

bobcatdan, do you like adjustable s for hydraulic lines?

Yes, that is one of my main uses. Mostly for skidsteer attachment hoses. Guys screw up the quick couplers all the time. I normally grab my 15" and 18" adjustable instead of regular wrenches because the fitting size can vary depending on hose manufacturer. For most other hoses I use 1/2" drive Crowfeet or 4 way angle wrenches.

 

[Polski-Chevy]

I bought a set (8, 10, 12") of Proto adjustable wrenches for work from Epstein for less than $60 shipped.

http://www.harryepstein.com/index.php/catalogsearch/result/?q=proto+adjustable

Quite pleased with them

 

[submariner]

You will need this one day...

 

[Farmall450]

New ones Klein & Channellock are the best I've found, WF/Western forge is also a good wrench, They are re-branded by most offering a US made wrench (S-K, Armstrong, Craftsman, ete...).

Diamond "Diamalloy" are one of the better wrenches but they may go high due to collectability (based on ebay experience).

I do have a 24" Gearwrench wrench, not bad quality, but if it was not dirt cheap I would have gotten a WF made wrench.

WF is the way to go.
I also have that Gearwrench and it's pretty decent, albeit a lot of slop in the dynamic jaw.

 

[Wakefield]

So someone has heard that Sears is not going to continue to have the WF source for their Craftsman brand adjustables?

The German plierswrench has a leverage advantage so a moderate squeeze seems to keep it tight on the nut -although I don't think it is made for as much abuse as a big (like 15" and up) WF wrench

 

[bobcatdan]

So someone has heard that Sears is not going to continue to have the WF source for their Craftsman brand adjustables?

The German plierswrench has a leverage advantage so a moderate squeeze seems to keep it tight on the nut -although I don't think it is made for as much abuse as a big (like 15" and up) WF wrench

Plierwrenches are a great tool and very useful, but I would never consider them a direct replacement for an adjustable.

 

[bmwpowere36m3]

I understand CL are made by Irega... is there any value in getting Iregas? As in any real difference (other than name stamped) between CL and Irega?

I got a set of Irwins... but I'm not entirely satisfied with them.

• Jaws open wider (~1/8" or so) vs. CMan
• Overall length is the same
• Handle is a little bulkier on the Irwin (but comfortable)
• Jaws have less side-side play (rocking) vs. CMan
• Jaws have more fore-aft movement vs. CMan (better machined knurl and higher spring preload)
• Jaws rattle slightly less on Irwin vs. CMan (not like video shown on CL, appears almost silent).

 

[mikebaker1129]

Some of the Klein units are made in Spain also. They open really wide .

 

[Professur]

I got a pair of adjustables from Canadian Tire last year with a hammer head moulded into the frame. Best use for an adjustable I've ever seen.

 

[ilovevocs]

Plierwrenches are a great tool and very useful, but I would never consider them a direct replacement for an adjustable.

I would agree to the extent that I find both useful.

My strip-alls are 20 year old craftsman's. Had them since new and never needed to replace them.

I will say that since I have acquired my plierwrenches I have found myself reaching for the adjustables allot less.

Wish I would have bought mine sooner than I did. The price and lack of confidence in its usefulness kept me away for a long time.

Glad to have acquired them now though.

 

[sberry]

A bit of all this would be if I was in a given trade, home, hobby, auto etc and if I wanted to be a collector or a user. I should try new I spose but keep duplicating the standard items I use.
I need 2 of something where the home type needs one, sometimes a pipe a size bigger and do a lot of irrigation in threaded fittings up to inch and a 440 channel is my tool. If it was sitting side by side with a 430 and I could grab either I might go for that but its one size too small to replace a pipe wrench and can do most anything I can with the smaller one in a pinch.
Adjustables are the same way, ideal is 2 pieces, I can do anything 8 as a 6 and it does LP fittings, strong enough and enough leverage to do real work and if I got that I carry 12 for size and power.
A 10 fits torches, its a lot lighter than a 12 and more power than 8. Went out and even with only 3 men have pretty well stripped the 8 out and the 10's are lonely.