Adjustable wrenches, brand?

[Murphy4570]

Am I the only one that calls them crescent wrenches? Not "adjustable" wrench?


I was raised with 'em being called that.

http://deconstructingproductdesign.com/crescent-adjustable-wrench/

 

[neophyte]

Some form "vee's" at the bottom of the opening, some are flat. Any thoughts?

Adjustable wrenches with flat bottoms would likely be better for square nuts, and will hold a larger square nut than a V bottom jawed wrench will properly accommodate. The V bottomed jaw design was likely engineered with Hex nuts in mind.

 

[theknurl]

Am I the only one that calls them crescent wrenches? Not "adjustable" wrench?


I was raised with 'em being called that.

no, you're not alone, that's what my Father told me to "go get a Crescent wrench.....about this big...."

my 18" Crescent wrench opens to 2 1/8", the jaws are 1 1/4" wide and weighs 6 lbs 12 oz

and has been severely tested its been in the family for at least 60 years and my father probably got it used

 

[Roverbo]

Am I the only one that calls them crescent wrenches? Not "adjustable" wrench?


I was raised with 'em being called that.

http://deconstructingproductdesign.com/crescent-adjustable-wrench/

I guess Crescent wrench or Monkey wrench are the normal US slang words for them, i think the Crescent brand took the credit for inventing them? In Europe, we use to claim that Bahco invented them, hence the nordic slang "svensknøgle" (Swedish wrench). Different point of views; different truths.

 

[SMKS]

Perhaps I'm misremembering, but aren't the Snap-on wrenches made by Irimo, not Irega? Irimo is owned by Snap-on, while Irega is not.
http://www.irimo.com/#product

Most of the Spanish wrenches I see in the US are Irega or Irega made, though.

I'm only aware of two companies still making adjustable wrenches in the US. Western Forge makes pretty much all the USA adjustables you'll see under various brands. They're good quality, IMO.

Klein makes at least some of their adjustable wrenches in one of their US factories.

 

[u118224]

I very well could be wrong, but I think wright adjustables are western forge. Same goes for SK. Maybe Wilde, but I'm pretty damn sure wright and SK rebadge.

I don't think Wright adjustables are US made anymore. It looks like they come from Spain. I picked up an 18" Wright USA adjustable on E-Bay earlier this year and overpaid because I really wanted it.

 

[eddie1278]

I almost never need an adjustable wrench and haven't owned one for decades until last week. I had to take the fan clutch off my truck so I just went to HD and bought a Crescent brand 12" for $20.

An adjustable and a pipe wrench will almost never get used by me but I own both of them.

 

[rusty65]

I don't think Wright adjustables are US made anymore. It looks like they come from Spain. I picked up an 18" Wright USA adjustable on E-Bay earlier this year and overpaid because I really wanted it.

Some Wright adjustables are made in Spain and others by Western Forge in the USA.


Sent directly from the Snap On Kool Aid factory.

 

[SMKS]

I don't think Wright adjustables are US made anymore. It looks like they come from Spain. I picked up an 18" Wright USA adjustable on E-Bay earlier this year and overpaid because I really wanted it.

I think a rep from Wright addressed this issue on the forum. They switched to Spanish adjustables, then decided they wanted USA adjustables again, so they switched to WF adjustables.

 

[lbgradwell]

Different point of views; different truths.

One truth, one false claim!

Crescent did NOT invent the adjustable...

 

[zer0cell]

I got some irega (channellock branded) wrenches from northern too. I haven't used them yet but they are very smooth and give off an impression of quality. Crescent brand is what I used to buy but they are now all made in china. So if you want usa made either buy used or old stock. Then again western forge still makes adjustables here. They might be the last one left. Bahco used to make some in sweden but I don't think they do anymore.

 

[sberry]

I bought a set of ATD at the auto parts stores with the idea of leaving them on equipment. They don even have engraving but ink that says ATD China. 6 thru 12 and they were on sale for under 20$ and are as good as any I have ever used and better than most. The jaws are flawless and open wider, an 8 will work on LP bottles and a 12 will fit a 7/8 structural nut.

Its from the same blank as a couple other major brands.

 

[MechMyk]

Any thoughts on Williams adjustable wrenches? Just bought a couple off EBay. They look almost identical to the Irega's. Not sure the coo but nonetheless they look great.

 

[zer0cell]

As far as fit and finish so far I think the Irega is the best out there, regardless of coo. My opinion might change when I put it through its paces but I doubt it. It has markings so that you can make a proper adjustment and it is easy to adjust, very smooth like I said. I APPEARS to be better than even the USA crescent stuff that was out before the switch to China but we'll see how it compares, durability wise.

 

[buco]

Proto click stop. Best I've handled.

 

[sberry]

I would have went with Proto or Diamond too but this cheap China one has them beat.

 

[sberry]

The jaw on an adjustable has fundamentally been perfected for a long time, everyone that gets away from it by much screws it up but this China blank has been modified just a touch. They widen it a bit without strength loss.

I rarely use a baby but 8 inch and 12 are staples and the 8 with the improved jaw fits LP bottle.

 

[sberry]

A strong guy used to be able to spring a jaw on a flea mkt 12 inch. Not any more. Even the cheapest of the cheap like those Pittsburg ones are really good, they got a poor finish but they are strong. The ATD for a dollar or more has a flawless fit and finish though.

These were hanging on the bench, 8 inch and have them in at least 3 or 4 more brands floating around. I probably own a half a dozen more in that size. New pic,,, I painted the can white eventually.

 

[davethorik]

I don't think Wright adjustables are US made anymore. It looks like they come from Spain. I picked up an 18" Wright USA adjustable on E-Bay earlier this year and overpaid because I really wanted it.

I have 2 Wright adjustables I bought brand new in 2007, a 6" and a 12".
Black oxided, WF marked USA made.

I also have a 6" newer Crescent, and 2 hunks of old iron...a 15" and 18" both Jamestown NY marked.

I also randomly have a JH Williams "Superjustable" 10" and a spanish no-name 10".

They are all pretty good wrenches but my favorite is the Wright 12". The Williams is the #2 runner up followed by the Jamestown Crescents.

 

[Haveblue]

I agree with sberry, an adjustable wrench is one tool I really cheap out on. I think some of the bargain bin ones are fine, for the most part. I dont use them everyday, because for most of the work I do they are too bulky. If I needed adjustables everyday, I would consider getting better ones.

 

[Exceller8]

I have been buying the Craftsman used lately and I really like them. I don't know who made them and if all the years are made by the same company but the one I bought today is just awesome!

 

[WVBrady]

I have never broken one of the cheap ones, but they are set up loose. I was annoyed recently, using one I had to keep tightening on the nut I was removing.

 

[sberry]

They really used to be cheap back in the day, now I cant tell most of them apart. We would toss it if it didn't work and was annoying. Its got to be dependable.

 

[fivespdcat]

I have craftsmans, channellock (iregra), old diamalloy, old crescents, comfort grip crescents, cheap huskies and I haven't touched any of them in years. I bought almost the full sets of Knipex pliers wrenches and they are awesome for relatively lower torque. Not I would use them on a 3" tractor nut, but for plumbing and general use they can't be beat.

 

[Haveblue]

I find the vise-grip locking wrenches usefull, and a little easier to get into tight spots. They are not as easily adjusted as a conventional adjustable,but grip better.

 

[hofferwood]

Older one

 

[Blöckw@rt]

A question to the (maybe the scandinavian!?) specialists.

I read often that the adjustable wrenches from Bahco today are Made in Spain, but so many pictures I found in the internet (for example 8074) are showing Made in Sweden ?

Old pictures…or what is the truth ?

 

[CaisedoA]

See also Channellock's adjustables (the ones with the grip, the Code Blue line). They're made in Spain by either Bahco or Irega, and are top line.

Check these out, I have a 6" and I've had 2 10" ones and left them behind at a jobsite working in the field by far the best adjustables I've used, I had the ones without the grip but I'm pretty sure they're the same, I also have some blue points with comfort grips which are decent but nowhere near the quality of the channelocks.

 

[Murphy4570]

Adjustable wrench????


It is called a Crescent Wrench for a reason. If it doesn't say "Crescent" on the one side, and "Made in U.S.A." on the other, it isn't worth ****!

I have a few Crescent wrenches, those things hold up to abuse.

 

[mattyrattypoo]

Adjustable wrench????


It is called a Crescent Wrench for a reason. If it doesn't say "Crescent" on the one side, and "Made in U.S.A." on the other, it isn't worth ****!

I have a few Crescent wrenches, those things hold up to abuse.

I am sorry but you are sadly mistaken. Irega's are built much better. The have hardly any play like Crescent branded wrenches.

Might I ad, I have had good luck with some older Fuller adjustable wrenches that are made in Japan. Hardly any play, very similar to Irega or Bahco.

 

[monomach]

Old JH Williams and Utica are by far the best adjustables Ive ever used.

I can agree with this. Mine are JH Williams & Co "Superjustables" from the late sixties that I restored. They blow away the actual Crescent brand wrenches that I've used.

...not that I ever use adjustables. Maybe a couple of times per year? I dunno. I've considered trading mine to fill gaps in my "real" tools. As far as I can tell, adjustable wrenches are only good for a) guys who own one small toolbox with $20 worth of tools in it, b) people physically unable to lug around the additional weight of full wrench sets, and c) bike riders who keep one on the bike for road repairs.

 

[jvitez]

I've got one made in USA 12" Crescent wrench, and an old flaking 10" Gray adjustable made in Canada (it was my Dad's, probably 40 years old). I needed a smaller adjustable for a specific thing, which got me looking into things. Well, despite the fact I try to buy made in American if at all possible, I now have a nice range of Channellock branded Irega made in Spain adjustable wrenches. Their far nicer than anything else I've seen, and Crescent has whored itself out to China anyway.

 

[ddo]

I can agree with this. Mine are JH Williams & Co "Superjustables" from the late sixties that I restored. They blow away the actual Crescent brand wrenches that I've used.

...not that I ever use adjustables. Maybe a couple of times per year? I dunno. I've considered trading mine to fill gaps in my "real" tools. As far as I can tell, adjustable wrenches are only good for a) guys who own one small toolbox with $20 worth of tools in it, b) people physically unable to lug around the additional weight of full wrench sets, and c) bike riders who keep one on the bike for road repairs.

And d) those that dont do all their work in a shop and are often mobile throughout large facilities and need tools to be available because down timely is money. Multifunction / multisized tools are a lifesaver there and are not unprofessional or an easy way out. They are the smartest way to get some jobs done. In this setting the "I only use the best tool for the job" approach is not at all practical or better.

 

[Monte]

A question to the (maybe the scandinavian!?) specialists.

I read often that the adjustable wrenches from Bahco today are Made in Spain, but so many pictures I found in the internet (for example 8074) are showing Made in Sweden ?

Old pictures…or what is the truth ?

Made in Sweden are the older ones. The production closed a while ago.

 

[superautobacs]

I can also confirm this. When I was inside a tool store in Japan, the wall of Bahco tools was all made in Spain, with the exception of one tool that was made in France. Bahco = SNA Europe

 

[Monte]

@Blockwart:
Look here: post #9:
http://garagejournal.com/forum/show...ght=bahco+adjustable+wrench+production+sweden

 

[niferous]

I really like the Wright Tools adjustable wrenches. Also the Williams are really nice as well.

Proto makes a click adjustable wrench if you're worried about play that is really a great wrench as well.

All made in the USA.

 

[sberry]

I like the idea of the box wrench in the end, I would like a 1/2 in an 8 inch.

 

[sberry]

My Bud said he was in Japan working on a machine, picked up an adjustable from his bag and they bout went ape shitt, The man said, they got the "right" wrench for that, they all stood there till someone went and got it.

I got most of the real tools but the labor savings here are huge, some skill required though. Same for Channelocks and number 9 side cutters. I got a couple 6 inch but they are in the way. A 10 is a bit of a stepchild but a 12 is manly for Ironworking if one is using 3/4 structural bolts.

 

[sberry]

The one on top is a China, the bottom a Diamond. A Proto wont fit either without grinding the jaw. The upside is that most people should be using a bigger wrench anyway.