Adjustable wrenches - when to use?

[mingus2112]

Serious question - and i've searched a lot - when do you grab for your adjustable wrench? I've got some old Billings and Armstrong crescent style adjustable wrenches and the only time i've grabbed for them is when I didn't have another wrench in reach.

Is there a time where, with a toolbox full of all your tools sitting in front of you, you'd grab your crescent wrench instead of something else? I ask because i'm wondering if i'm using them in the wrong situations!

-J

 

[rockinacummins]

When I'm going to the field to change a hydraulic hose. Saves having to take a whole set of open end wrenches. Also use them to hold the bolt while I tighten a nut.

 

[Strouty]

Those are worthless today, you will need a metric adjustable.

 

[kctyphoon]

i use them at work instead of having full sets of wrenches to use and carry around.. i usually dont have insane torques to overcome, or need to break frozen bolts loose. also, it gets used alot with square hardware..

 

[AndyCBR]

I'd say when the fastener is large enough not to round off with an adjustable wrench. IE regulator on an oxygen bottle, nut on an anchor bolt, etc.

The adjustable wrench was made for ease of use in multiple situations where finding the exact size wrench would be a waste of time. The adjustability comes at the price of accessibility, you'll need much more room to use the adjustable wrench than you would a combination wrench of the proper size.

 

[AceofSpad3s]

Serious question - and i've searched a lot - when do you grab for your adjustable wrench? I've got some old Billings and Armstrong crescent style adjustable wrenches and the only time i've grabbed for them is when I didn't have another wrench in reach.

Is there a time where, with a toolbox full of all your tools sitting in front of you, you'd grab your crescent wrench instead of something else? I ask because i'm wondering if i'm using them in the wrong situations!

-J

I use them when I am too lazy to grab the right one. I use them when replacing blades and stuff on powertools and they work fine most of the time. Last week I had one slip on the arbor bolt of my skil saw since it was was not reverse threaded like my milwaukee but that was my fault since I was going in the wrong direction.

If you have nice adjustables that helps alot, the best 8" ones I got are proto clik stop,a non clik stop, and a diamond co. All are pretty tight jaw wise and work well. I have a non clik stop 10" proto that has alot of slop compared to my utica one, which is really nice too. For 12" ones I have a keystone and a diamond co, I prefer the diamond co since it can close all the way and it has significantly thinner jaws.

 

[2oolhound]

Is there a time where, with a toolbox full of all your tools sitting in front of you, you'd grab your crescent wrench instead of something else? -J

NO.

Do I own some? Yes, for reasons stated above i.e.: oxy/ace bottles, doing work away from your tool box when you don't know exactly what you'll need.

 

[mingus2112]

Thanks for the replies confirming i'm not missing something! I respect the need to sometimes grab something adjustable when the right wrench isn't available, you can't take a lot of tools with you, etc.

-James

 

[jcfields]

.

 

[Thumper68]

I use them for compresses gas cyl. I carry my 18" facom for changing trailer balls and adjusting 5th wheel hitches when I am on the road picking up Travel trailers.

 

[stihlntime]

About the only time I use one anymore is hydraulic hoses or changing bottles on mig or torch set up. Keep at least one in all tractor tool boxes.

 

[stovebolt6]

I use them a lot on non-automotive hardware - where rust/torque specs/critical fasteners aren't a concern.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

A good quality adjustable wrench, when tightly adjusted to a fitting or fastener, will do a BETTER job of holding than an open end wrench that has some slop... But you pay for the good adjustable, do not find them in a dime store, and they are more clumsy than an open end wrench.. For air and hydraulic fittings, they are a Godsend.. Flare nut wrenches are great when it is POSSIBLE to use them, but a quality adjustable will be the next best, if it is not too clumsy.. It has NOTHING to do with being lazy.. It has EVERYTHING to do with using the proper tool for the job.. The opinions of others may vary, but not all of us work on the same equipment... Their opinions will be grounded from their experience, and may have little reflection on what is done daily elsewhere on our big planet. You get the honor of forming your OWN opinion. And as you may know; it will be correct... Just like the rest of us

 

[Robinson1]

Plumbing and gas fittings mostly.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

I only use them when this doesn't fit:

 

[mingus2112]

I only use them when this doesn't fit:

I have one of those - it was a Christmas gift a few years ago. I tried to use it a couple weeks ago and couldn't figure out how you could actually get any leverage with it. I just went out and bought the combo wrench that I needed to finish the job!

-J

 

[yossarian19]

I use them for any low torque & easy access situation, especially if I have to walk away from the box.

 

[oldldh]

Those are worthless today, you will need a metric adjustable.

You are not a nice person...

Probably all that Moose Meat!!!

 

[Jack Olsen]

Under a sink.

 

[thebeekeeper1]

I used one twice over the weekend--once on a hex bolt that had been used as a pin and beat into place. The head was peened over and wouldn't take the correct size box wrench or the next bigger. Worked fine.

Second was a pipe plug on a brush hog gear box. Easier to grab an adjustable than to go and fetch the correct 8-point socket and ratchet.

 

[beatcad]

i just looked and i have a bunch from 4" to 15"

when i was a young'un i would use an adjustable as a "fits-all" tool.

now i wont use an adjustable on a nut/bolt unless it's the last resort.

small/med adjustables are good for straightening sheet metal.
larger ones are good for bending/straightening stuff like pre unibody car frames

 

[Jlarson]

Beam clamps, pipe plugs, sealtight fittings/cord grips. Those are my top three.

 

[Farmall 1066]

Fittings, square head stuff, bending metal, and of course emergency car tool kit.
Several sizes in pickup and tractor toolboxes.
Diamond Horshoe brand for me! World of difference between a good, and a cheap adjustable wrench.

 

[.45AcpFMJ]

Use them when changing glad hands and and emergency and service supply air brake hoses on road tractors.

 

[davethorik]

I use my 12" Wright primarily to run thread dies over studs. I prefer to use two 6" adjustables on air die grinder collets than the cheap stamped steel **** they come with.

 

[thefoobag]

ever since i dropped some cash on the snap on adjustable with the groovy jaws i use it all the time. lines, fittings, hoses some easily acsessable bolts/nuts! thing is a life savor and I have yet to round anything (mostly because if it feels like it might round ill try the proper wrench before chancing it).

 

[toolmutt]

The last few times I've used one in recent memory is (un)bending metal.

 

[JR 42]

Convenience, when I don't know what sizes I'm up against.

Laziness, when I don't want to drag a handful of wrenches around.

Weird shaped stuff. A big crescent can close your gas valve in an emergency.

Bending sheet metal (in my case, bending it into different shapes that are still wrong).

JR

 

[Mohawk Dave]

The last few times I've used one in recent memory is (un)bending metal.

My 24" has (un)bent MANY MANY tabs. Last one was the track bar mounting pads on 1990 F350 4x4. The tabs are ~5/16" thick and sucked together when you crank down on the nut/bolt against the bushing. To get the new bushing in I had to (un)bend.

And like thefoobag said, the Snappy FD+ ones are kick *** all day every day.

 

[LumpyMusic]

- Welding gas regulators

- Trailer balls

- Ham radio antenna hex flats (wide crescent does less damage than a thinner open end wrench)

- Sinks

- Gas ***** (use the crescent on end)

- Screw in style door stops. The kind with a screw that you thread into the baseboard. Wrap a piece of leather around the door stop, close the crescent over that, tighten without marring

- Bending/unbending sheet metal

- Holding a nut in a small space while I work the bolt from the more accessible space - "clamp" the crescent onto the nut. Sometimes add painter's tape

- Poor man's caliper. Close it onto an object, measure between the flats

- Poor man's chisel holder

- Old style wheel bearing nuts

- The holes in the "opposite" end make good round hole templates

- Nearly any nut or bolt head on a roof mounted air conditioner - Any fastener larger than that 5/16 zip screw. Beats carrying a bunch of wrenches up a ladder

And finally - The larger sized ones are great for discouraging door to door salesmen and religious fanatics when they approach you in the garage or driveway.


Sgt Lumpy

 

[rice rocket]

Since I picked up my two Knipex pliers wrenches, I haven't used one and am glad I haven't.

Now, I just need to rationalize the XL pair...

 

[joel63]

ever since i dropped some cash on the snap on adjustable with the groovy jaws i use it all the time. lines, fittings, hoses some easily acsessable bolts/nuts! thing is a life savor and I have yet to round anything (mostly because if it feels like it might round ill try the proper wrench before chancing it).

Those are very nice.

 

[Negen]

11/16 deep sockets do not fit so well in my pocket. So a adjustable wrench comes in handy to install these. The spaces can get very tight at times. The doughnuts seem to make spaces tighter than they were a few years back.

 

[LAROKE]

After I've walked back to the toolbox four or five times and still haven't come up with the correct size socket or combo wrench size.

 

[Mr. T]

For air and hydraulic fittings

All day, every day

 

[Mad Dog]

My son told me a new name for them yesterday: Swedish Nut Lathe
I hadn't heard that one yet!

 

[bobcatdan]

12" threw 24" are my go sizes. I have smaller ones, but rarely use them. Hydraulic hoses come to mind, especially #12 size for attachment hoses. Between the hose end, adapters and coupler they can vary in size. Also JIC are generally very tight. The added length of a 18" and 24" adjustable make it a little easier then a normal length 11/4" wrench. Adjustable arn't for everything, but they certainly have their place.

 

[ARFLY]

I have a cheap one that I use on trailer hitches.

 

[Finky198]

ever since i dropped some cash on the snap on adjustable with the groovy jaws i use it all the time. lines, fittings, hoses some easily acsessable bolts/nuts! thing is a life savor and I have yet to round anything (mostly because if it feels like it might round ill try the proper wrench before chancing it).

+1 on the snappy groove jaw I bought a set of 4 a few years back there the best adjustable I've ever used little to no slipping and much tighter tolerances

I use them mainly for plumbing and low torque applications

 

[Exceller8]

Mostly plumbing but I did use a 24" Gearwrench adjustable to put on a trailer hitch ball. The ball is stainless steel and I needed the wrench to hold the ball straight. Had some really large hex ring on it.