Adjustable comparison ...

[ganymede]

I've always liked Proto adjustables. They're tied with Williams and Armstrong d- channel adjustables for my favorites and I even like the newer ones. That's saying a lot because I usually don't like new tools.
Anyway I noticed that they are currently thicker than they were in the past .
Below is a side by side with a late 90's- 2000's model on the left and a 1970's specimen on the right .

 

[ganymede]

And your basic tool **** shot...

 

[Farmall450]

I like Western Forge's cman ones. A lot.

 

[ganymede]

I like Western Forge's cman ones. A lot.

Yes they seem nice.
I saw a big 15" one branded for Wright in excellent used condition and didn't grab it.
I hate myself when I think of that moment.

 

[jakemac]

I've used Cman's for years, but recently I've been geeking out on the Utica 90 series adjustables w/ the three diamond logo. Just missed out on an 18" on ebay last week. I like that they have a thinner profile and can squeeze into tighter spaces.

Still looking for the larger sizes.
The whole family so far :

90-10
90-8
90-6
90-4

 

[sberry]

I have a dozen brands including several Proto but in comparison I like the ATD as well or better than any of them. Its got a better jaw that opens one size wider than most others.

 

[fatfillup]

I have a 10 and 12 inch Mac in industrial finish and have had them for 14 years or so. They live on my tool cart. Used often and they are nicer then any others I have tried.

That said, Proto, Utica, Diamond, SK, Cman and a few other US brands have served me well over the years. Snap on's later model chrome ones are pretty darn nice but i sell those instead of keeping them.

 

[ganymede]

I've used Cman's for years, but recently I've been geeking out on the Utica 90 series adjustables w/ the three diamond logo. Just missed out on an 18" on ebay last week. I like that they have a thinner profile and can squeeze into tighter spaces.

Still looking for the larger sizes.
The whole family so far :

90-10
90-8
90-6
90-4

I've got the 15" one but can't comment on it because I haven't used it for anything .
You reminded me, some of the last Uticas also have the d-channel keyway which I like.

 

[scaron]

i love my old diamond adjustable wrenches, they are built like a tank but you can't get them any longer...

crescent is not bad, average, i think still domestically made (at least mine are).

if you're looking for a _new_ adjustable wrench check out wright. VERY nice. the quality of manufacture on them is almost surgical. i have a four incher and i was blown away by it.

 

[jeffmoss26]

Always liked my old school Crescent the best.

 

[Steven67fr]

Seems like we got off track - wasn't the OP asking about the head thickness on the wrenches... I know that early on in the 20's and 30's the heads were generally thicker to achieve the required strength, but as alloys improved the head thicknesses were cut.

There are specialty adjustables with very thin jaws but the two protos posted just look like the general 7XX series.

I don't know why they may have grown thicker in the newer models though... maybe to provide better overall strength to the mechanics since there are specialty thin jaws available for when needed?

 

[Farmall450]

I use Crescents and Diamond too, they are all pretty similar/comparable.

 

[Exceller8]

Always liked my old school Crescent the best.

Me too! They're almost indestructible.

 

[bahcoswed]

"I don't know why they may have grown thicker in the newer models though... maybe to provide better overall strength to the mechanics since there are specialty thin jaws available for when needed?" I know, Because the iron was much better so they could make very thin wrenches! Many brands is going the fat way today if you compare how it was in the 70 or something!
__________________

 

[3xpendable]

Love love LOVE! My diamonds I have a set for my tool bag and box but tool bag get the most use. Ones in my bag are chrome I keep the black ones in my box with 3 in one oil on them.


Sent from under an open range fifth wheel 8p

 

[ganymede]

Seems like we got off track - wasn't the OP asking about the head thickness on the wrenches... I know that early on in the 20's and 30's the heads were generally thicker to achieve the required strength, but as alloys improved the head thicknesses were cut.

There are specialty adjustables with very thin jaws but the two protos posted just look like the general 7XX series.

I don't know why they may have grown thicker in the newer models though... maybe to provide better overall strength to the mechanics since there are specialty thin jaws available for when needed?

Thanks.
Yes it's easy to get off topic when there's so much nice stuff out there.
I think I posted this before but here's a couple of baby sized Crescent brand wrenches. On the left is a 2011 domestic production made of Crestoloy steel and on the right is 1940's plain steel .
The newer is slightly thicker.

 

[Southernbuild]

i love my old diamond adjustable wrenches, they are built like a tank but you can't get them any longer...

crescent is not bad, average, i think still domestically made (at least mine are).

if you're looking for a _new_ adjustable wrench check out wright. VERY nice. the quality of manufacture on them is almost surgical. i have a four incher and i was blown away by it.

Sadly, Crescent wrenches are no longer domestically made. Locally there are still NOS in the larger sizes (15"-24"), but that's it :/

 

[Steven67fr]

Thanks.
Yes it's easy to get off topic when there's so much nice stuff out there.
I think I posted this before but here's a couple of baby sized Crescent brand wrenches. On the left is a 2011 domestic production made of Crestoloy steel and on the right is 1940's plain steel .
The newer is slightly thicker.

Definitely easy to get distracted... I tried hard to not go off about how I love the Utica's mentioned by a few members... as well as my full sets of diamonds... a few older crescents and Plomb's... Some of my favorites are the P&C Click-Stop models!