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10" Pliers Wrench vs. 18" Adjustable Wrench

RidgeHiker

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Joined
Apr 26, 2022
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I am looking at a tool for occasional use on larger bolt sizes. I can purchase an Icon 10" pliers wrench or an 18" Crescent adjustable wrench for about the same price. Both have a max jaw opening of 2". I assume the pliers wrench is more convenient and the adjustable wrench would provide more leverage.

Is a 10" pliers wrench realistic to leverage a 2" bolt?
What are the pro's & cons of each?

Thanks for your advice!
 
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General Geoff

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Jan 12, 2013
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Good luck applying more than about 100 ft lbs of torque with a 10" pliers-wrench. It can be done but not without a cheater pipe or literally standing on the handle.

Do you mean a 2" threaded bolt, or a bolt with a 2" hex head? If the former, you're looking at over 2,000 lb ft to tighten it to optimum clamping force. If the latter, that's probably still ~a 1-1/2" threaded bolt which will still require ~1000 lb ft to tighten or loosen.

Now for pipes with flats, I highly recommend the pliers-wrench. I have also used mine successfully on up to 27mm axle nuts on motorcycles to loosen, that have torque specs of about 90 ft lbs. Not ideal or easy to use but it's what I keep in my moto tool kit to save on weight vs a 1/2" socket and breaker bar.

FYI I also have two really big adjustable wrenches, one 18" and one 24". I use the pliers-wrench about 10x as often as either.


Pro for the big adjustable is that you can, in fact, apply more torque with it than a 10" pliers-wrench. Con is that it's huge and unwieldy, and won't fit in many limited-access spaces.
Pro for the pliers-wrench is that you can use it in many more confined areas, and it applies a significant squeezing force on the flats of whatever you're turning which prevents slipping or rounding. It is self-tightening meaning that as long as you're orienting it correctly, once you clamp down on a fastener head, you don't need to continue to squeeze with your hands in order for it to stay tight on the flats while applying torque. Con is... well I guess that it's smaller for the same money vs a big adjustable?
 

KnurledNut

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@RidgeHiker
You might also check out the Ridgid 31400. Its 12" and has a 2-5/8" capacity.
Its a cost effective tool that will take a cheater pipe without complaining, and will fit some places that big adjustable wont.
 
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speed bump

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May 28, 2008
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Butte Montana
What are you doing in larger bolt sizes? Lock rings then a pliers wrench is fine. Bolts? Well chances are good you will put the wrench on then apply a cheater or a beater and an 18 inch adjustable is what you want.

The correct answer is buy the one you want now and know you will buy the other one when the need arises.
 

redwrench60

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Sep 10, 2011
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Location
East Tennessee
Get the 18” adjustable if it’s big bolts, nuts and fittings you are turning.

Knipex Plier wrenches are great for smallish plated chrome and polished brass fittings and fixtures but they ain’t worth a **** when something big and stubborn really needs turned.
 
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RidgeHiker

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Apr 26, 2022
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My main use at this point is on my tractor and attachments. I expect I'll go for the 18" adjustable.
 
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