Adjustable Wrench Mods

[Muckin_Slusher]

How have you modified your adjustable wrench?

I've cut extra grooves in the top of the movable jaw rack to be able to open more (obviously for low torque applications like electrical gland nuts).

Chopped handles shorter, making it easier to pack into tackle box. Welded handles longer for more torque.

Old miner trick was to weld a nut on the adjustable end to make a crude hammer.

Seems now the cool thing to do among miners is to hollow out the center of the handle making the wrench lighter. I don't like this because it's just asking for a sharp break and injury, although I've cut grooves for better grip in the past.

Also modified the cutoff handles into knives.

I've also seen a second handle welded on to make a sort of giant tap handle for twisting or bending bar stock.

 

[Sweetcorn]

Honestly, adjustable wrenches are my least favorite tool to use. I've never spent any time trying to mod them to make them better, since they're usually a last resort.

But, this place has helped me change my opinion before, so I'll stick around and see if there are any ideas I didnt know I needed to do.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

I've never modded one, but I've always wanted an adjustable crow's foot. Next time I come across a cheap adjustable I might buy it, chop the handle off of it, and weld a socket to it to be able to attach it to a torque wrench.

 

[neophyte]

All of these modifications are available as premade products from various adjustable wrench manufacturers.
Lobster and Top, both manufacturers from Japan, make lighter weight adjustable wrenches with openings in the handle.
Multiple manufacturers make adjustable wrenches with a goat face next to the fixed jaw, for banging on things.
Adjustable Crowsfoot wrenches are a thing (even from Snap-On)
I can understand modding adjustable if you gave access to cheap used ones, but I don’t know that it would be worth it to buy new wrenches to do it.

That said;
You could drill a couple holes in the fixed and dynamic jaw, and insert pins to make an adjustable pin wrench. (Yes, these already exist)
Modifying the jaws to get off corner engagement like lots of professional wrenches gave would be another option. (These exist, but aren’t as common or as easily found).

 

[pelletman]

I have one that is a pin wrench, but I don't know if it was modified or made that way

 

[bwringer]

I've never modded one, but I've always wanted an adjustable crow's foot. Next time I come across a cheap adjustable I might buy it, chop the handle off of it, and weld a socket to it to be able to attach it to a torque wrench.

I've done this, by cutting down a crappy adjustable and a useless 11mm socket I had lying around, and slapping them together with an assortment of booger welds. With a long 3/8" extension, it worked well enough for whatever thing I was doing at the time (I have no memory of what it was), and the sad, grubby, spattery thing has been in my modified and special tools drawer ever since.

I have one that is a pin wrench, but I don't know if it was modified or made that way

Same. The jaws on crappy adjustable wrenches are surprisingly soft (or, at least it surprised me), so I was able to drill and tap for 4mm screws, then cut the heads off to make a pin wrench. I suppose one could drill and tap a few different sizes of holes to make a more versatile tool.

I've used a flap disc to make my own thin jaw adjustable. That's been super handy for stuff like air fittings that leave you no damn room.

 

[Zeus36]

When I was working as a Millwright apprentice, the older Millwrights showed us how to cut an extra groove in our 12" adjustable wrenches. You carried all your tools on a belt as there was a lot of climbing and scaffold work, plus you often were in another plant or out in the boonies. No packout boxes back then. When the production line was down, didn't have the time to go back to your tool box.

 

[Muckin_Slusher]

These are some that I've got kicking around.

The lengthened one is the one I grab most often. It's nice not having to pull so hard on stuff.

Also shown are grooved ones as mentioned above. Great for electricians.

The super short one gave it's handle to another wrench for pipes, will show later once I'm back to work.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

The best mod I ever did was give them away and buy a couple Knipex pliers wrenches.

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

The best mod I ever did was give them away and buy a couple Knipex pliers wrenches.

It really shocked me how much I like those Knipex. If you haven't tried these, you're missing out. I wouldn't say I'd get rid of my adjustable wrenches but it's hard to imagine things like propane tank changes or regulator changes without the pliers wrench.

 

[Chrome Vanadium Cody]

One cool factory made one of these I’ve seen is the Diamond Handyboy pliers.

 

[Muckin_Slusher]

it's not fancy, but it works very well. That's the handle end from a Rastall Miner's wrench. It's 7/8 12 point and fits jackleg steel.

Like this I use it to work on victaulic piping. The wrench end fits the nuts on 2 and 3 inch clamps. With the long handle you can rotate the clamps while on the nuts.

Other end (open end of pipe handle) works great for manhandling butterfly valves open/closed.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

It really shocked me how much I like those Knipex. If you haven't tried these, you're missing out. I wouldn't say I'd get rid of my adjustable wrenches but it's hard to imagine things like propane tank changes or regulator changes without the pliers wrench.

I think I still have one adjustable wrench that I put in the car/s emergency toolbox, but I haven't touched it since I got the Knipex. I had two other adjustable wrenches that I gave to a younger guy at work.

 

[Ton ton]

I use adjustable wrenches almost as much as regular combo wrenches.

 

[Retired dozer fixer]

I've never modded one, but I've always wanted an adjustable crow's foot. Next time I come across a cheap adjustable I might buy it, chop the handle off of it, and weld a socket to it to be able to attach it to a torque wrench.

Snap-On has them in 3/8” drive

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

Snap-On has them in 3/8” drive

Yeah, I know they're commercially available, but I don't want to pay that kind of money for a seldom used tool.

 

[four.cycle]

this one is not mine, but I found it an interesting specimen:

 

[nadogail]

I saw things I want to copy to modify one of my crescents into a ratchet crescent hammer

 

[Beerhippie]

One cool factory made one of these I’ve seen is the Diamond Handyboy pliers.

Perfect! Two different ways to booger up a fastener!

 

[KnurledNut]

Did this one about 8 years ago. Polished the dynamic jaw.
Adjustable bottle opener (can also be a general use pry tool):

 

[NUTTSGT]

this one is not mine, but I found it an interesting specimen:

What is the round hole for ?

 

[seber]

Adjustable wrenches are a tool of last resort. In the last ten years I think I have used one once. That is because I don't own a 1-3/16 end wrench.

 

[jblnut]

Perfect! Two different ways to booger up a fastener!

Three actually ….. the other handle is a flat headed screw driver. I have a dozen or so of these with a few hanging on a wall to look at. They’re neat but not real useful.

 

[AffableCurmudgeon]

Adjustable wrenches are a tool of last resort. In the last ten years I think I have used one once. That is because I don't own a 1-3/16 end wrench.

I use them frequently for plumbing work around the house.

 

[rust in the eye]

When I was working as a Millwright apprentice, the older Millwrights showed us how to cut an extra groove in our 12" adjustable wrenches. You carried all your tools on a belt as there was a lot of climbing and scaffold work, plus you often were in another plant or out in the boonies. No packout boxes back then. When the production line was down, didn't have the time to go back to your tool box.

Groove where and for what purpose?
I have a Sears adjustable with a quick adjusting feature, the adjustment screw is in a spring loaded slot so you can pull it back releasing the jaw to make large adjustments quickly. I haven't used it enough to pass judgement but its a little awkward and seems just another gimmicky "improvement" to the already perfectly serviceable mousetrap.

 

[PelicanPines]

Pelican Pines hates adjustable wrenches. They are however in a labelled drawer... VERY far away from his toolbox.

 

[Beerhippie]

I'm a brewwright--like a millwright, but in a brewery instead. Like Zeus mentioned above, sometimes one or two adjustables are better than an entire box of end-, socket-, and ratchet-wrenches. A brewery is a nightmare of SAE and metric, meaning you have to carry more wrenches for the job.

If you take the time to learn to use an adjustable correctly, you won't be rounding fasteners. I see lot of newer wrenches have an arrow on the handle indicating which way to turn it on a fastener. Some of us learned that many years ago.

Sure, I prefer the proper tools, and have been known to ****** a pair of pliers out of a coworker's hands when I see then approaching a nut or bolt, but there are times....

 

[Robinson1]

this one is not mine, but I found it an interesting specimen:

That would be a great space saver in a tractor tool box.

 

[Kurt4440]

Pelican Pines hates adjustable wrenches. They are however in a labelled drawer... VERY far away from his toolbox.

Is PelicanPines going to be our next Elroy?
I agree with your assessment of adjustable wrenches.

 

[Robinson1]

I'm a brewwright--like a millwright, but in a brewery instead. Like Zeus mentioned above, sometimes one or two adjustables are better than an entire box of end-, socket-, and ratchet-wrenches. A brewery is a nightmare of SAE and metric, meaning you have to carry more wrenches for the job.

If you take the time to learn to use an adjustable correctly, you won't be rounding fasteners. I see lot of newer wrenches have an arrow on the handle indicating which way to turn it on a fastener. Some of us learned that many years ago.

Sure, I prefer the proper tools, and have been known to ****** a pair of pliers out of a coworker's hands when I see then approaching a nut or bolt, but there are times....

Exactly!

I never understood the hate for adjustable wrenches. In the real world they are how things get done. 99% chance that every plumbing fitting in your house was assembled with a combination of adjustable wrenches, channel lock pliers and pipe wrenches. The miles of guard rail you pass everyday on the side of the road. Yeah there’s an adjustable wrench involved with its construction. That big multi million dollar steel frame building most likely was assembled using an adjustable wrench somewhere. The farmers out in the field that feed America? There’s a pair of 12 inch adjustable wrenches and cheap rusty slip joint pliers in the tool box of every machine in the field. Every contractor from the concrete guys to the finish carpenters they’ve all got atleast one adjustable wrench in the truck.

 

[Beerhippie]

Exactly!

I never understood the hate for adjustable wrenches. In the real world they are how things get done. 99% chance that every plumbing fitting in your house was assembled with a combination of adjustable wrenches, channel lock pliers and pipe wrenches. The miles of guard rail you pass everyday on the side of the road. Yeah there’s an adjustable wrench involved with its construction. That big multi million dollar steel frame building most likely was assembled using an adjustable wrench somewhere. The farmers out in the field that feed America? There’s a pair of 12 inch adjustable wrenches and cheap rusty slip joint pliers in the tool box of every machine in the field. Every contractor from the concrete guys to the finish carpenters they’ve all got atleast one adjustable wrench in the truck.

Fer instance, this:



is an Armstrong 32-495 adjustable spud wrench. It's for aligning holes and tightening bolts for large structural steel. It isn't a Snap-on ratchet with a spud handle, it's an adjustable wrench.

If only it had a hammer head....

 

[SusKatCas]

this one is not mine, but I found it an interesting specimen:

I like this idea. Might make one for my go-bag. My only quibble would be that I think the crescent wrench should face the other way. So that the rounded end of the adjustable wrench could be used for tightening with a socket. Now that I have typed that, maybe loosening is the better direction.

Never using an adjustable wrench is a nice luxury reserved for those who only work in their garage or shop.

 

[GaryM909]

Back when I worked Union the pipefitters would cut the handles off and grind them down to make wedges out of them because there was never enough in the crib.
I still have a couple kicking around.

 

[Retired dozer fixer]

Adjustable wrenches are a tool of last resort. In the last ten years I think I have used one once. That is because I don't own a 1-3/16 end wrench.

If you have a 30MM then you have a 1 3/16” wrench

 

[nadogail]

Did this one about 8 years ago. Polished the dynamic jaw.
Adjustable bottle opener (can also be a general use pry tool):

I used to own an Erie adjustable wrench like that. It came from a Surplus Store in the late’50s and mysteriously disappeared in the late 60’s.
I think it was stolen by a House Guest.

 

[KnurledNut]

I used to own an Erie adjustable wrench like that. It came from a Surplus Store in the late’50s and mysteriously disappeared in the late 60’s.
I think it was stolen by a House Guest.

Mine is a Westcott, by Keystone Mfg Co.

 

[seber]

If you have a 30MM then you have a 1 3/16” wrench

Don't have that either. My closest is 29mm.

 

[Rabid Badger]

 

[bob from indiana]

Back in the 80s I had a 6” crescent with a 5/16” socket welded into the handle hole to service side post batteries. It was lost during a farm machinery repair in the field.

 

[oldschoolcraft]

Adjustable wrenches are a tool of last resort. In the last ten years I think I have used one once. That is because I don't own a 1-3/16 end wrench.

You obviously should have just bought a 1 3/16" wrench ten years ago instead of the adjustable wrench. Rookie mistake.