As a HVAC mechanic I use adjustables regularly. A 6" Diamond and an old 12" Crescent are in the tool pouch. Once you're used to using a decent quality one they work well. I have a buddy that teases me about it. I just say "at least I always select the correct size wrench!" when he's fumbling around trying to find the right size combination wrench. I sent him this pic. I hope you can read it...
adjustable wrench
- Thread starter belvedere
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kxxr
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You can. Good one!
Iridium rand
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I almost never use them since I got knipex pliers wrenches, and the only time I do is when backing up a plierwrench on say an air fitting because using two at the same time is awkward. For that I use a lobtex W-zero which is easily the best adjustable I’ve used, difficult to get in US but westorque has them and for a less insane price than ebay sellers
alternatively, the old snap-ons from my fathers toolbox are almost as good in terms of minimizing jaw slop and self-loosening, exceptionally comfortable handle and by far the best chroming I’ve ever seen on a wrench
alternatively, the old snap-ons from my fathers toolbox are almost as good in terms of minimizing jaw slop and self-loosening, exceptionally comfortable handle and by far the best chroming I’ve ever seen on a wrench
I don't think I've ever used one working on a vehicle, but have on home plumbing in the years past before plier wrenches. I can't remember the last time I've touched an adjustable since I got a good set of the plier wrenches.
I have a bunch of adjustables and the Channellock/Irega is superior to my WF, Bahco, Engineer?, vintage Williams USA (not WF), Fuller..... I do not have a Diamond or Snap On.
I have a bunch of adjustables and the Channellock/Irega is superior to my WF, Bahco, Engineer?, vintage Williams USA (not WF), Fuller..... I do not have a Diamond or Snap On.
Ton ton
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The modern Klein tools spud but adjustable is still made in USA.
genog
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I don't use adjustables much (plumbing for the most part), but somehow, these two picked up some wear over the years
joshmodelskidoo
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Anything 20 years old or older. New ones are ****. Milwaukee is borderline ok. They all have a ton of slop in them now days. I cant speak for tool truck brands but for anything you can find in a home improvement or hardware store seem to be sloppy. I have an old do it best brand from about 1999-2000 and it’s my go to. I also have a few other old ones that made it into my truck and motorhome.
sgf13
Well-known member
I avoid them whenever possible but agree that they have value in the right situation.
My favorite is my Craftsman locking model. You set it up tightening the jaws like a traditional adjustable wrench but it has a locking handle. Squeeze the handle and it locks the jaws tighter on the nut. I haven't used any of the higher end models discussed in this thread but it would be hard to imagine any traditional model creating a tighter bond than mine does.
My favorite is my Craftsman locking model. You set it up tightening the jaws like a traditional adjustable wrench but it has a locking handle. Squeeze the handle and it locks the jaws tighter on the nut. I haven't used any of the higher end models discussed in this thread but it would be hard to imagine any traditional model creating a tighter bond than mine does.
I have a drawer full of adjustable wrenches, and plenty of them are decades old like the Williams. The Channellock Irega I bought a few years ago has less slop than anything else I have.
Iridium rand
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You mean the vise grip hybrid right? I have the stanley version couldn’t agree more. It’s a bit clunky to have to release the handle every time you turn and reposition, but having an actual clamping force on it is far superior to a standard adjustable, you’ll never ever round anything off with that short of an abuse situation maybe
sgf13
Well-known member
Mine is Craftsman but it looks like this one.
Stanley MaxGrip 10 in. Locking Adjustable Wrench | Adjustable Wrenches | The BuildClub
I thought it was fairly unique but after searching for this link it seems like everybody makes one.
Stanley MaxGrip 10 in. Locking Adjustable Wrench | Adjustable Wrenches | The BuildClub
I thought it was fairly unique but after searching for this link it seems like everybody makes one.
lilscorpion
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The best, by far, ever are made by Knipex. They're called "Pliers Wrench". Use them 1 time and you'll never pick up another adjustable wrench again.
Hytekrednek
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proto.. BUT, since i got the knipex plierswrenches, i almost never use the proto traditional type anymore unless it is the only tool for the job
Stillgottimefor1
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Holy Smokes! Helluva nice collection!
I have an old adjustable wrench we call the "frenchman" here. Like this one:
It does the job okay, it has a spindle in the handle and you move the top jaw as you screw it. Kind of like a hand-vise. I wonder why this design isn't that popular - perhaps more pricey to make?
It does the job okay, it has a spindle in the handle and you move the top jaw as you screw it. Kind of like a hand-vise. I wonder why this design isn't that popular - perhaps more pricey to make?
lilscorpion
Well-known member
I have the Stanely variant of the same wrench. I prefer it to all adjustable wrenches (other than the Pliers Wrench which is far superior to to all as I've previously stated).
Ton ton
Well-known member
Are these available from brick and mortar stores? Or do you have to buy them off the internet?I have the Stanely variant of the same wrench. I prefer it to all adjustable wrenches (other than the Pliers Wrench which is far superior to to all as I've previously stated).
bwringer
Well-known member
Soooo... anyone else feel a twinge when they see this 8" titanium adjustable wrench from Countycomm?
$150, though, so it won't be gracing my collection. But it does seem pretty neat.
8 Inch - Titanium Adjustable Wrench - ( NSN Pending )
Our Largest Wrench Ever! Hermetically sealed! Members of the U.S. military Explosive Ordinance Disposal teams keep asking for us to make light weight, non-magnetic wrenches for working on magnetically sensitive devices, and this is what we provide them: Specs: Weighs: only 4.68 oz. Grade 4...
countycomm.com
$150, though, so it won't be gracing my collection. But it does seem pretty neat.
lilscorpion
Well-known member
I’ve not seen one but it’s also been years since I’ve been to stores other than big box which sell tools. I bought mine from Amazon.
BigLeagueSmoes
Well-known member
My favorites
1. Vintage Craftsman USA-it's the tightest I have ever used, smooth adjustment action, nice finish
2. Vintage Crescent USA Crestoloy-also very tight, smooth action, clean look, and it has a directional arrow to remind users of propper directional use
Honorable mention-I have an adjustable spud wrench I got from a retired steel erector. It is unbranded, unmarked. He didn't know what brand it was but said he had it his entire career. It is by far my favorite just because I think it is so cool, but I know that's no help to people
It seems like adjustable wrenches are one of those things that fall in the category of "they just don't make them like they used to"
1. Vintage Craftsman USA-it's the tightest I have ever used, smooth adjustment action, nice finish
2. Vintage Crescent USA Crestoloy-also very tight, smooth action, clean look, and it has a directional arrow to remind users of propper directional use
Honorable mention-I have an adjustable spud wrench I got from a retired steel erector. It is unbranded, unmarked. He didn't know what brand it was but said he had it his entire career. It is by far my favorite just because I think it is so cool, but I know that's no help to people
It seems like adjustable wrenches are one of those things that fall in the category of "they just don't make them like they used to"
Last edited:
Ton ton
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Thank you,sir.
Ton ton
Well-known member
Those spudnut adjustable wrenches are on my bucket list.My favorites
1. Vintage Craftsman USA-it's the tightest I have ever used, smooth adjustment action, nice finish
2. Vintage Crescent USA Crestoloy-also very tight, smooth action, clean look
Honorable mention-I have an adjustable spud wrench I got from a retired steel erector. It is unbranded, unmarked. He didn't know what brand it was but said he had it his entire career. It is by far my favorite just because I think it is so cool, but I know that's no help to people
It seems like adjustable wrenches are one of those things that fall in the category of "they just don't make them like they used to"
Wow, I guess this is why so many of us like this website. A LOT of really good information.
For many years, I not only did not own an adjustable, I would not allow anyone to bring one into my shops. However, for the last 30-odd years I have also worked with a bunch of sparkies, and anyone who does that knows their tool kits all contain a couple of adjustables, a couple of slip jaws, a really good pair of lineman pliers and side cutters (the last two almost always Klein). Being the "tool-and-fastener-nazi" I chide them every time I see them use the adjustables or slip jaws on a hex fastener, and they all shoot back some poor excuse, but in reality, these guys are carrying in one bag enough tools to do a thousand different jobs.
While I have never actually purchased one, over the years leftovers from jobs accumulate in my mobile tool box, and I have to cull it from time to time to keep it from being stuffed, and a fair number of adjustables from 6" to 18" are hanging around the shop. I will keep a 6 and 10 in mobile equipment for obvious reasons, but have to comment that when the sparkies hand me their stuff, it is usually made from Chinesium and won't hold an adjustment to save its life. The other thing I harp on about is using such a wrench backwards. One of our crews experienced my making formal complaints about a subcontractor using one on critical parts, and worse yet using it backwards (risking the nuts and bolt heads, never mind his knuckles). The guy went ballistic and simply refused to use a proper wrench. Before I could find his foreman, a few (large) nuts later, his mickey-mouse China **** wrench being used backwards rounded a nut and smacked him square in the mouth, breaking a tooth and resulting in a site incident investigation. At least the our crew with me is to this day VERY careful about using decent adjustables correctly.
Once again: NOT an area of tooling I have any real expertise with, so thanks ever so much for this thread. It deserves to be sticky.
For many years, I not only did not own an adjustable, I would not allow anyone to bring one into my shops. However, for the last 30-odd years I have also worked with a bunch of sparkies, and anyone who does that knows their tool kits all contain a couple of adjustables, a couple of slip jaws, a really good pair of lineman pliers and side cutters (the last two almost always Klein). Being the "tool-and-fastener-nazi" I chide them every time I see them use the adjustables or slip jaws on a hex fastener, and they all shoot back some poor excuse, but in reality, these guys are carrying in one bag enough tools to do a thousand different jobs.
While I have never actually purchased one, over the years leftovers from jobs accumulate in my mobile tool box, and I have to cull it from time to time to keep it from being stuffed, and a fair number of adjustables from 6" to 18" are hanging around the shop. I will keep a 6 and 10 in mobile equipment for obvious reasons, but have to comment that when the sparkies hand me their stuff, it is usually made from Chinesium and won't hold an adjustment to save its life. The other thing I harp on about is using such a wrench backwards. One of our crews experienced my making formal complaints about a subcontractor using one on critical parts, and worse yet using it backwards (risking the nuts and bolt heads, never mind his knuckles). The guy went ballistic and simply refused to use a proper wrench. Before I could find his foreman, a few (large) nuts later, his mickey-mouse China **** wrench being used backwards rounded a nut and smacked him square in the mouth, breaking a tooth and resulting in a site incident investigation. At least the our crew with me is to this day VERY careful about using decent adjustables correctly.
Once again: NOT an area of tooling I have any real expertise with, so thanks ever so much for this thread. It deserves to be sticky.
Ton ton
Well-known member
What are sparkies? Pardon the ignorant question.
Made me cringe and bite my lip a little.
An informal name for electrician
And EET (Electrical Engineering Technologists) and EEs.
BigLeagueSmoes
Well-known member
A couple follow up picsMy favorites
1. Vintage Craftsman USA-it's the tightest I have ever used, smooth adjustment action, nice finish
2. Vintage Crescent USA Crestoloy- also very tight, smooth action, clean look, and it has a directional arrow to remind users of propper directional use
Honorable mention-I have an adjustable spud wrench I got from a retired steel erector. It is unbranded, unmarked. He didn't know what brand it was but said he had it his entire career. It is by far my favorite just because I think it is so cool, but I know that's no help to people
It seems like adjustable wrenches are one of those things that fall in the category of "they just don't make them like they used to"
Dieselclunker
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Dieselclunker
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Never mind the "snow load rating" of this roof !
Proto by far
Dieselclunker
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cool great job !
Dieselclunker
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Put your nuts in these and this old girl just doesn't loosen wobble or let go ! I can see why they could not make it with all the cheaper versions around.
