jake00
Well-known member
I’m looking for a good adjustable wrench. All the ones I own are cheap, the jaws are loose and sloppy. I’m far from a pro, and don’t need pro quality, just something better.
Decent adjustable wrenches?
- Thread starter jake00
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plinker
Well-known member
Pretty much everyone re-brands either Western forge or Iegra(?, made in Spain anyway) for theirs, Klein used to have US made wrenches which were very nice. Snap-on still make theirs here last I knew.
I do like the wide jaw Channellock's, quite handy. WF wrenches are nice as well.
I do like the wide jaw Channellock's, quite handy. WF wrenches are nice as well.
sberry
Banned
About the best is a China clone. It's rebadged and sold under several brands. I bought mine under ATD, probably NAPA too. It's hard to improve something so old and basic but they did it. I got most of the brands but if I got one choice that's what I got in my road kit. In a 10 I don't care about brands, but 8 and 12 I am more fussy.
https://cripedistributing.com/produ...-wrench-cooper-tools-forged-steel-made-in-usa
I bought one of these recently specifically to keep with my welder so when I take it places I can install/remove the regulator, gas hose, spool tension nut, etc.
Nice enough, USA made, and for $12, I'm happy.
I bought one of these recently specifically to keep with my welder so when I take it places I can install/remove the regulator, gas hose, spool tension nut, etc.
Nice enough, USA made, and for $12, I'm happy.
I know that this is a little off topic but what's the point of size markings on an adjustable? I mean, it's adjustable, and not in set steps. I guess it could be handy if you decided to grab a fixed wrench when the adjustable starts to slip but otherwise? I don't get it.
Well if Snap on has markings it must be the right way to make an adjustable... Still doesn't explain why though.
mikebaker1129
Well-known member
Proto,Williams,Armstrong, and several others rebrand the Western Forge ajustables. Both Cripe distributing and Harry J Epstien have WF rebrands on closeout pretty cheap.
Older Bahco made in Sweden and SnapOn made in USA are 2 of my all time favorites!
Older Bahco made in Sweden and SnapOn made in USA are 2 of my all time favorites!
paulsomlo
Well-known member
I bought an Allen adjustable from Epstein's, nice and tight, well machined jaws, I was impressed.
Fixed
Well-known member
They are truly awesome.You may want to look into a Knipex PliersWrench. It wont be $10 but pretty much makes the old style adjustable obsolete...
No size markings though
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plinker
Well-known member
Just an FYI, If the wrench has a small W F stamped/forged in it it's a Western forge.
B_Bimmer
Well-known member
The old proto are tighter than the current western forge, I seek them out. Never tried snap on but they look really nice.
I quite like the comfort grip Bahco shifters, jaws open pretty wide and quality is good. I think there made in Spain? maybe made by Irega? Nothing worse than a dollar store shifter that you tighten over a fastener then go to turn it and its like you never tightened it. Bahco also has reversible jaw ones etc.
You may want to look into a Knipex PliersWrench. It wont be $10 but pretty much makes the old style adjustable obsolete...
No size markings though
This. I’d rather just use a proper spanner but if I can only carry one tool this would be it.
Y00PER
Well-known member
I have Crescent (Jamestown NY stamped ones), SK, Craftsman, and Channellock adjustable wrenches, all of them are made in the U.S., all of them were used when I got them, and they all are far superior to any of the cheap ones that have decided to reproduce in my garage.
I have lots of older adjustables but they are all SAE so I don't have much use for them anymore. I could use some good metric adjustables.
rick carpenter
Well-known member
You should be able to find mid-size used Diamond Caulk or Diamalloy adjustable at garage sales in pretty good condition at decent prices. Pick up a couple in case you have to swap the thumbscrew, retaining screw/pin, or spring. The smaller sizes are "cute" so expect to pay more. The really large size useds have usually been abused and are expensive.
Plierswrenches have their place, I have the 10" but they don't make near as good of a hammer as an old-fashioned adjustable.
Plierswrenches have their place, I have the 10" but they don't make near as good of a hammer as an old-fashioned adjustable.
Finky198
Well-known member
Its partly so you don’t have to guess what size the fastener is and on occasion It makes life much easier. Sometimes I take the adjustable around a project and check nut and bolt sizes so you know what wrenches and sockets you need for said project. Not something I do much on cars more on large stuff like equipment...
I have a set of 4 snap ons and a Diamond 18”er thats in good shape they work very well
We have a few older usa made Craftsman adjustables that have survived years of shop use...
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G1GRANDEUR
Well-known member
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F & M MAFCO, HJE, KD tools, ALLEN, Cresent, Armstrong, Kimray, Martin, all made in usa with affordable price.
sberry
Banned
I got a couple of the China and several Diamond and Proto as well as the others, I like it better and if you lay several on the bench most gravitate to it as the best by feel, design, weight.
If you would have asked me 20 years ago I would have said Proto without a blink.
If you would have asked me 20 years ago I would have said Proto without a blink.
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Htscheg
Well-known member
Ok I spit my coffee lol
Professional Tool User
Well-known member
Both the Proto and the rebranded Made in Spain ones are decent.
Unruh
Well-known member
I like the Bahco’s
General Geoff
Well-known member
I haven't used a traditional crescent/adjustable wrench since I bought my first Pliers-Wrench about five years ago. It really is that good.
Top "Hyper Monkey Zero" adjustable wrenches from Japan. The spring-loaded split worm gear pretty much eliminates play. These replaced all my Bahcos, which I personally found rather sloppy and disappointing. Also, you can't beat the name!
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lutter94
Well-known member
I love the dimensions marked on a CRESCENT wrench. Never used an adjustable wrench though.
Like some have said, really nice to check a hardware size, then grab the proper wrench/ratchet/etc.
Like some have said, really nice to check a hardware size, then grab the proper wrench/ratchet/etc.
sberry
Banned
I collected them a little while till I got my fill. A deal on most and when I would see one 1/3 the price would go for it if I had a few bucks in my pocket. I had seen cheap ones in the 70 s and some were really bad.
trackwelder
Well-known member
Proto adjustables are tough as hell. They work great as a beater too.
sweet victory
Well-known member
Bahco manufactures Snap On's comfort grip adjustable in Spain. That being said, Bahco is a SO subsidiary. Made under their "umbrella", just not in the USA.
sweet victory
Well-known member
My favorite adjustable wrench I own, formally known as The Swedish Nut fucker to AvE viewers. It's the infamous nut rounder-thumb detector in one tool. I've had a 5' cheater pipe on the end of this thing trying to break loose a 1 1/4 nut in an area I could not get a socket/breaker bar to fit.
hammerhead611
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