adjustable wrench

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Old USA made Crescent.

 

[Zewnten]

I have a 24" crescent that gets used regularly for straightening out bent body panels. But the head is too thick to use on much of anything under a 1" bolt. I used a coworkers proto and it was thin and smooth.

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

Just try hiking up 10 industrial stories with your toolbox. You will grow to love your 15" . The best one I had was Procraft, but it got stolen. The replacement Protos weren't as much loved.

 

[Sumboodie]

What is your favorite brand of adjustable wrench?

One that I can find.

 

[Sumboodie]

I find adjustable wrenches big and small shine on air/gas fittings, large fluid connections and piping, plumbing and electrical buss and control cabinet work. There’s a big wide world of industry out there that you won’t find under the hood of a Camry.

Adjustables definitely have their place if you’re versatile enough to recognize when to use them.

I use them often on hydraulic fittings and truck air lines.
Especially out of the shop where it's not always very practical to carry 50lbs of wrenches.
10 wrenches in the 1"-2" size range are heavy compared to 1 adjustable.

 

[Sumboodie]

I haven't tried enough different brands to have an informed opinion on what's best. But I can say that I have a USA Craftsman set, a Chinese Masterforce set, and a single Channellock made in Spain, and out of those I like the Channellock the best.

It's the one I usually grab for household plumbing projects, which is my primary use for adjustable wrenches. I don't know about you guys, but lying on my back with my head and shoulders inside a cabinet is not the moment when I want to find out I don't have the right size wrench.

Yup.

Or hiking half a mile into a wood lot from the landing to the skidder with a blown hydraulic line is another great example.

 

[Compressed]

index finger and thumb

 

[dnschmidt]

My favorite adjustable wrench is the Knipex Pliers wrench.

 

[DemoFly]

knipex pliers wrench

This really is the only one that should ever be used.

 

[Blind1]

I have an old Proto I got from my dad that does hose/fitting/etc. work around the house. I also have a couple sizes in my work truck/field bag. An adjustable wrench and a big set of bolt cutters are mandatory tools in BFE.

 

[magicrat]

I used a friends Blackhawk and it was the tightest adj. wrench I had ever used. Bought my own immediately. Super tight no slop. Idk but the proto might b the exact same thing since I think they r made by the same company. I don’t see y the Proto wouldn’t be the same quality

 

[Ton ton]

One or two decent quality adjustable wrenches can be a lifesaver on some days.

 

[minerma1]

Bahco, they invented them. they have a left hand thread which means they don't come undone with use.

 

[designer485]

Bahco Ergo (the one shown is the old made in Sweden version) or Snap-On. Both are comfortable, stay tight and the Bahco wide mouth is a nice feature.

 

[Jlarson]

I use them often on hydraulic fittings and truck air lines.
Especially out of the shop where it's not always very practical to carry 50lbs of wrenches.
10 wrenches in the 1"-2" size range are heavy compared to 1 adjustable.

I think a 6" is must for air lines and pilot lines up under dashes and any other stupid place you might find yourself crammed into to work on shite.

 

[cherrybomb]

My Proto Clik Stops have been a great wrench.

 

[bwringer]

I have a 24" crescent that gets used regularly for straightening out bent body panels. But the head is too thick to use on much of anything under a 1" bolt. I used a coworkers proto and it was thin and smooth.

I inherited an older 24" Craftsman brand adjustable from my Dad, and I don't think I've ever once used it on a fastener. He probably used it sometimes on plumbing. But it is indeed a fantastic metal bending tool with handy variable width jaws.

I also ended up with a couple of Dad's absolutely wonderful old made in NY Crescent brand wrenches, long before they became a name plate fraudulently stamped onto Chinese shite. I use them when I can

Absolutely no one makes 'em like they used to any more, but as others have remarked, the "Channellock" brand adjustables are made in Spain by Irega, are pretty good bang for the buck, and easily available.

 

[FMB4]

I've had my 6, 8, and 10" US made Crescent adjustable WRs since the late '70s. They have held up very well imo. However, about the only time I use them is when I'm bending vise held flat bar stock.

 

[javyLSU]

I haven't tried enough different brands to have an informed opinion on what's best. But I can say that I have a USA Craftsman set, a Chinese Masterforce set, and a single Channellock made in Spain, and out of those I like the Channellock the best.

It's the one I usually grab for household plumbing projects, which is my primary use for adjustable wrenches. I don't know about you guys, but lying on my back with my head and shoulders inside a cabinet is not the moment when I want to find out I don't have the right size wrench.

Irega-made Channellocks can't beat 'em for the money. There's only so much precision to be had in an adjustable.

I bought one of the last made in USA 24" Crescents for trailer hitch work and using it as a poor man's brake for bending metal. I used it to straighten out a bent piece of diamond plate running board that was tweaked in shipping,

^I totally agree with you guys. I've got the 6-3/4" and the 8", and they've been the best adjustables I've used so far. Very, very happy with them.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

What is your favorite brand of adjustable wrench?

J.P. Danielson BET'R GRIP, because the static and dynamic jaws form a square (not a hex) throat and the hanging holes are broached with graduated (4" x 3/8", 6" x 1/2", 8" x 9/16", 10" x 5/8", and 12" x 3/4") 12-point box ends.

 

[GrantCee]

TOP Hyper Monkey Zero.

 

[JBH]

Stahlwille/VBW, followed by Knipex, followed by Gedore. The 'Wille/VBW version looks a little funny but has the best balance of the lot. Gedore, oddly considering how good many of their pliers are and how long they had to develop it being the last player on the block, is clunkier in use than the other two. Those are all the modern style of adjustable, with push-button locking groove mechanism and pliers handles that allow for ratcheting action.

Of the old fashioned single-handlebar dial-worm non-ratcheting style, Nepros is the nicest to hold and look at. I know of at least one for sale in the classifieds here...

 

[mikew13]

Diamond....New is another story, I don't know who makes adjustable crescent wrenches in the USA anymore. Wright?

 

[Walkers]

I pick the ones that hit the best and most accurately, also the metal around the hole in the back must be strong or it flares into the hole after enough hits and the adjust depth punch won’t come out. I like the chisel edge to be nice and sharp.

 

[CS454]

I pick the ones that hit the best and most accurately, also the metal around the hole in the back must be strong or it flares into the hole after enough hits and the adjust depth punch won’t come out. I like the chisel edge to be nice and sharp.

My best friend from when my mobile days.

 

[Walkers]

My best friend from when my mobile days.

Nice!

 

[bubinga]

The majority of my tools are in storage right now that's why I can't remember the exact length but I believe it's an 18-in crescent wrench I brought a good 10 years ago it's a Williams and I think it's made very nice tight adjustment made very nice!

 

[nadogail]

Over the years I have owned many adjustable wrenches that have become lost, stolen, or mysteriously disappeared. During the '50s my employer informed my that there was no equal to Genuine Crescent Wrenches or Visegrip Pliers. My first adjustable wrenches were Crescents. Later when he became a PROTO dealer I purchased a, as I recall, 14 or 16" Black Oxide Proto Click Stop wrench.

I bought from a surplus store an Erie adjustable wrench with a curious S curved handle, that wrench disappeared while I was living in Spain. I suspected one of my employees sold it, but when I saw a local farmer using what appeared to be a similar wrench, I chose not to confront him. I acquired an oxide finished wrench that had all the appearances of being a Proto with the brand stamping having been ground off before the wrench was treated with the black oxide, it seemed to be bent; it may have been rejected and after having its brand removed been sold as a "Blem". I have owned a Diamond, made by the Diamond Caulk Horseshoe Company, it was a good wrench but it too grew legs.

I seldom need an adjustable wrench any more, but the Pittsburg wrenches from Harbor Freight have gotten me through a couple of situations.

 

[bwringer]

OMFG, it's so CUUUUUUUUUUUTE!

This teensy-weensy little 4" titanium adjustable from CountyComm is simultaneously one of the most useless and yet most desirable tools I've seen in a while.

It's ADORABLE, I tell you.

I kinda want one, but I'm definitely not blowing $50 on it.

Adjustable Wrench - Titanium 4 Inch ( NSN Pending )

Now In Stock Limit 4 Per CustomerNow hermetically sealed! Members of the military Explosive Ordinance Disposal teams wanted a small, light, non-magnetic wrench for working on magnetically sensitive devices, and this is what we provide them: Specs: Weighs: 26 grams. Less than a ounce Grade 4...

countycomm.com

 

[jsmeece]

I think all of mine are Armstrong, Craftsman and Proto.

 

[zmotorsports]

I seldom use adjustable wrenches but when I do I like my Snap-on ones. I keep a 6" and 8" in the drawer under my seat in the Jeep as it's handy when needed in a hurry. I also keep an 8" in the step of my coach within quick and easy reach. Lastly in my toolbox in the shop I have a 6" and 10" then a set of four Blue Points (6", 8", 10" and 12"). I try not to have to use adjustable wrenches if at all possible but when I do I have some good quality ones to grab.

 

[Orangina]

I usually don't like these adjustable wrenches -
they are not so precise and only affect 2 corners (not the complete side surfaces) of the screw-nut -
not like 12 or 6 edge wrenches which distribute the load on all 6 edges of the nut much better.

But for quick and dirty, if not to take care of the nut,
I have some old small no-name... and this HAZET 179-10"
(this model 1976 to 1985 - similar models since 1930 by HAZET).




I like the newer ones shown here, where you could read the diameter used

regards,

 

[thool]

Just stay TF away from "Pittsburgh Pro" ones, with the black handle covering and anodized finish. They have felony-level slop right out of the box: you can grab the moveable jaw and rotate it probably 15 degrees in each direction and up and down, like a loose tooth. HF had the nerve to put measurement lines on the frame, as if being a good 1/8" off is going to serve a purpose.

I have a Crescent brand from the 1970s that is still good. They are useful as a "plan B" tool to throw into a bag for quick field work (e.g., helping friend with a small engine) in case you pack the wrong size wrenches. I use them more to hold than to rotate.

 

[CS454]

Gave these a brake kleen and oil bath today for the first time in probably 3 years....good for another 3.

 

[sweet victory]

This thread has separated with me from a little money. I've never been a vintage tool kind of guy, but I'm always willing to try things for myself to see what I like vs what I don't. I was able to snag this 10" NOS Diamond Caulk Horseshoe for ~$30 with shipping and taxes. I'm the last guy to know which year wrench is the most desirable, but the quality is certainly there. Feels good in the hand, minimal slop in the jaw, and is just all around a pretty good wrench.

 

[Ton ton]

Looks great to me.

This thread has separated with me from a little money. I've never been a vintage tool kind of guy, but I'm always willing to try things for myself to see what I like vs what I don't. I was able to snag this 10" NOS Diamond Caulk Horseshoe for ~$30 with shipping and taxes. I'm the last guy to know which year wrench is the most desirable, but the quality is certainly there. Feels good in the hand, minimal slop in the jaw, and is just all around a pretty good wrench.

looks great to me.

 

[kxxr]

Local old school shop has quite a collection of shop acquisitions including these 4 inchers. Couldn't get it to expand well enough to read everything, but he definitely has one of each that I have ever seen!

 

[jeffmoss26]

wowww

 

[Joao]

Irega.

 

[Tachead]

Bahco or Snap-on if you prefer a better fit and finish and nicer chrome/materials(Snap-on owns Bahco and they are made in the same factory to different specs). These are the best adjustable wrenches available on the market today imo.