Adjustable Wrench Decision

[shoturtle]

Hi,

New here, but been turning wrenches for a hobby for over 25 years. Working on motorcycles and cars. And use allot of tools at work also.

Looking to replace my craftsmen profession adjustable wrench set. Try to decide on weather to go with the irega wide mouth or the CK center gripping adjustable wrench?

Do not do much plumbing and will not be needing 1 1/2 opening to often. Never really used my craftsmen fully open to often.

Both adjusters are very smooth a precise. Each has pros and cons. Do I go with the center grip or so I go with the wide mouth. They only have 2 size with the irega, so it is cheaper but does not offer a longer 10 inch for leverage. The CK will need 3 to cover everything, but it offers a 10 inch to give leverage to break old rusted nuts. What are the opinion? Thanks

 

[kythri]

Are your current wrenches broken?

 

[shoturtle]

I broke it, the 8 inch, they no longer make the professional. And sears will only replace it with their base model 8 inch. Which I do not like, like the cushion handle. So I gave it away.

 

[Monte]

 

[jameswrx]

I've got a few adjustables passed to me by my Dad (plumber) but the one I bought a few years ago is genius and I don't understand why you don't see it everywhere in stores. It's a Stanley wrench and looks like a normal one except it has the locking device like a pair of mole grips. You know what these wrenches are like, you set it and it works loose or you don't feel confident it'll hold perfectly. These are great, just tighten it onto the fastner like normal then when you clip down the lock it grips it tight and locks the adjuster solid.

I can't understand why you don't see more like it. Infact after I bought it I tried to get another from the same store and they'd gone, never seen them again in the high street. I'd like a bigger one, but only seen the one size.

Here http://www.stanleytools.com/default..."+MaxGrip™+Locking+Adjustable+Wrench

 

[GoBlue]

I know its not on your list but i recently picked up a Snap on to use for front end work and back up the impact on autos. It is fantastic! Nicest adjustable i have ever seen.

 

[dieselmike]

lobster

 

[MattT]

I know its not on your list but i recently picked up a Snap on to use for front end work and back up the impact on autos. It is fantastic! Nicest adjustable i have ever seen.

Did you buy an older Snap on wrench, like gtlaw posted, or one of the new rebadged Bahcos?

I use older Swedish Bahcos and they're damn good wrenches. Not sure about their current production though. IIRC they're made in Spain now.

 

[speed bump]

I like bahco's (snap-on rebrands them) and Kleins.

 

[GoBlue]

The one i got is the Spanish made Bahco flank drive plus version with the serrated jaws. Just got it last week on the tool truck...awesome. If Snap on owns Bahco...is it really a re-brand in the traditional sense?

 

[tyndall]

but it offers a 10 inch to give leverage to break old rusted nuts. What are the opinion?

The opinion is to not use an adjustable to break loose old rusted nuts.

 

[Danglerb]

I like the Titan set I bought, but I also like one of the HF.

OTOH I don't often use an adjustable, just buy them from habit.

 

[DrkMtnDew]

When the time comes to get new cresent wrenches i will get either SO or Proto.

As far a your decision about whether to get a Wide jaw or a 10'', IMO a 8'' wide is more useful. And as much as certain people here will snort, i will say that i have used a cheater bar on a cresent many times for the extra leverage. In farm/ranch life you don't care about what the tool was designed to do, you care more about what the tool can do.

 

[plumber84]

As far as quality goes nowadays Irega is top of the pile by a country mile. in my opinion if your craftsmans are ok id use them, i love the western forge adjustables as their high quality and relatively cheap compared to some European makers. if you want a top quality USA adjustable try out klein, their roughly the same as Irega but a bit expensive.

 

[canuckian]

The snap o n/bahco ones are decent but the one I have that like best (and incidentally was the cheapest)is the channel lock code blue. I think I may have to try one of those lobster branded ones because, well, they're called lobster lol. That and they look like a nice design.

 

[diesel research]

channellock=irega, both=great!

As far as this whole bahco/snap on thing, what is to say that the bahco is not a rebrand as well?

http://www1.snapon.com/IndustrialEU/Tools/IRIMOTools.nws
http://www.irimo.com/#product

 

[Snappy]

The opinion is to not use an adjustable to break loose old rusted nuts.

I would want a wrench that makes contact on as many points as possible.

Anyway, I have older Blue point,Proto & Crescent adjustable wrenches that serve me well when needed.

 

[marslawn]

I have a snap on as well( all with about 12 others ) The finish and quality is like no other, but the thing is not thin and I have had it be to thick.

 

[MattT]

The one i got is the Spanish made Bahco flank drive plus version with the serrated jaws. Just got it last week on the tool truck...awesome. If Snap on owns Bahco...is it really a re-brand in the traditional sense?

It's a Bahco design, aside from the addition of FDP, which qualifies it as a re-brand IMO.

As far as this whole bahco/snap on thing, what is to say that the bahco is not a rebrand as well?

I'm not sure what the deal is with Bahco switching to Spanish COO. I don't know whether they set up a plant there or started outsourcing.

 

[shoturtle]

Sometime I use what is available, do not always have my breaker bar and socket or a box head wrench available.

It is time to replace my 20 year craftsmen, they replace the professional with the base wrench which I gave away. I like a cushion handle. So that I why I am looking at the CK and the irega/channellock Code Blue. Looked at the SO bluepoint set with the grip, but did not like them that much. It is also sold under proxxon label in Germany

 

[shoturtle]

This is the CK wrench I am considering

 

[plumber84]

I own that wrench and it is a quality tool, made by proxene in Taiwan the only problem i have with it is that the flank drive like jaws do damage to fasteners.

 

[shoturtle]

Thank you for the info about damaging fasteners. Did not realized it did that.

 

[Stuart in MN]

You could hit up the local swap meets and pick up some Diamond Caulk / Diamalloy adjustable wrenches. They're old but they're good.

 

[shoturtle]

I am looking for a cushion grip. All the swap meets and yard sales have the metal handle. I checked out that route. Thanks.

 

[shoturtle]

Okay, I pulled the trigger on the irega/channellock. Pick up the wide mouths today. Still considering getting their 10 inch to go along with the 6 and 8 inch wide mount. But going to give it some time to see if the two sizes is all I need.

Thanks all for the input.

Plumber84 you inside on damaging the fastener was the tipping point. Would used the wrench on finish nuts and bolts, and really do not want to damage them. Thanks

 

[hemdale]

Are Irega that good ?

 

[Trucky]

Are Irega that good ?

Yes times about 32 or so. Picked up my 8" wide model for 14$ and let me tell you it's head and shoulders above my Craftsman model. SO are too expensive for how frequent I use them.

Large capacity, thin, light weight, but the jaws are good and sturdy and they'll take a good pull. And by thin, the tips taper down at the end so you can fit it in a lot more places than your average adj.

 

[90zcar]

I recently went thru the adjustable decision because I was sick of my old sloppy jaw crescent brand ones

I picked up a bahco wide mouth. These go super wide and have an awesome feel. Same as snap-on also.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[stage20]

I've got 20 adjustables so I haven't pulled the trigger on the new dewalts but they seem to be a very nice wrench for the money. Older diamond stuff is really good as mentioned.

 

[NissanTechWill]

The Snappy/Bahco is the only decent one I have ever owned. I love it!

-Will

 

[davethorik]

I know this is an older thread, but Protos were mentioned earlier. One of my coworkers has a 24" Proto adjustable and it is marked WF so it is made by Western Forge, just like Craftsman and Wright. I bought Wright AB-6 and AB-12 in black finish brand new a few years back and theyre both WF, they are good wrenches but the jaws are sloppy. However, I often rapidly change the size of fastener I am using and switch back and forth between metric and sae, usually only using it once to loosen and once to tighten, so they work well for that. they are rugged and take abuse, sledgehammer hits etc which is probably why the jaws are loose.

If I want stoutness I have crescent jamestown 15" and 18" but they will deform on harder metal. I have had to trim the jaws of the 15" with a pencil grinder when attempting to remove a G+L locking stud on the back of a 50 taper tool holder that just told my wrench no,even with pipe extension and sledgehammer. It finally said yes to the torch however.

 

[hemdale]

Definitely torn between Irega and Bahco.

Seems I can find either Bahco or Irega quite easily via amazon...
I already have a Bahco nail puller and the texture of the antislip handle is quite nice but I'm also curious to try something else maybe.

If I go for the Irega, what is the main difference between:

SWO 92
SWO 99

Ergo Top 92
Ergo Top 99

Thanks guys

 

[4x4gearhead]

Definitely torn between Irega and Bahco.

Seems I can find either Bahco or Irega quite easily via amazon...
I already have a Bahco nail puller and the texture of the antislip handle is quite nice but I'm also curious to try something else maybe.

If I go for the Irega, what is the main difference between:

SWO 92
SWO 99

Ergo Top 92
Ergo Top 99

Thanks guys

I honestly find it hard to go wrong with bahco, a lot of the items ive bought have been nice in their function. Not to mention theyre reasonably priced with a nice fit and finish.

 

[hemdale]

Just received the Irega SWO 99, this wrench is simply mind blowing !!! Love the comfy handle !

 

[Trucky]

Just received the SWO 99, this wrench is simply mind blowing !!! Love it !

Told you.

Does the black finish on there seem rugged? I'm always weary of anything that isn't rubber or plain metal/chrome.

 

[hemdale]

Yes the black finish is great , more like a dark grey...I really don't mind if it scratches a bit and to be honest the choice between metal / chrome / phosphat...isn't too much of a big deal for me.

Thanks again for recommanding Irega (Monte and the other chaps here )

 

[Tool Pro]

Channellock adjustables are made by Irega

 

[tradesmanschoice]

Thank you for the info about damaging fasteners. Did not realized it did that.

Yes, they do damage the nut. I tested a few a while back and noticed this problem too.

 

[NoahG]

Channellock adjustables are made by Irega

They are, and my Channellock 6WCB is my all time favorite adjustable. Its a 6" that opens like a 10". Can't beat that!