Adjustable wrenches? why

[fivespdcat]

I'd imagine they are pretty handy, but I don't think I'd be able to put the same pull on them that I do a 15" or 24" adjustable. Even with an 1¾" capacity on the big ones, you still only get 10" of leverage.

This is 100% right. If you need the leverage of a 24" arm, the Knipex won't do it for you. They work great for a lot of things and don't round off bolts/nuts, but if it's that tight forget about it, unless you can put 300 lbs on a wrench while gripping it!

 

[AZ_Catskinner]

Most of the stuff I work with is either already or needs to be TIGHT. Just the vibration of the building will rattle things loose over time, so we usually go armed with a 12" at minimum and more often than not a 15".

I can see where the Knipex would hold a definite advantage, but I rarely see anything that small.

 

[ra42mario]

The problem with a Crescent Wrench/Adjustable Wrench in the automotive world is that many nuts & bolts are simply just torqued too tight for the adjustable wrenches. You torque on them and the jaws spread open, the wrench slips, you bust you knuckles up, and the bolt/nut may become damaged.

It works for plumbing because you normally have more space, and the pipes a lot of times aren't super tight. If they are, no problem, out comes the pipe wrench.

 

[Gort the giant robot]

I carry one on my forklift when loading stuff for customers. My job told me to leave my gun in my van, so now i carry a 15 inch adjustable for protection.

Gort.

 

[larry_g]

Down this way, it's usually a "crescent wrench" regardless of who actually made it.

Also know as a "Crescent hammer" in this neck of the woods.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Exceller8]

Why? Just ask any kid who works on his bicycle.

 

[shampoop]

The problem with a Crescent Wrench/Adjustable Wrench in the automotive world is that many nuts & bolts are simply just torqued too tight for the adjustable wrenches. You torque on them and the jaws spread open, the wrench slips, you bust you knuckles up, and the bolt/nut may become damaged.

exactly, although I think you're understating the odds of a fastener being too tight for an adjustable wrench to work. Not even mentioning that the fact that you're using a wrench on a car in the first place is because a ratchet won't fit. Which means an adjustable wrench probably won't fit either.

 

[Gmonkee]

I still use them at times despite too many wrench sets that cover the same ranges. This is an old picture, there are more now.

 

[EvilWelder]

Plant maintenance guys tool kit, adjustable, channelocks, hammer and a 5 in 1

 

[crewchief888]

i dont use them for much mechanically. i have a 15" in my service truck, mainly for changing hyd quick disconnects, sometimes aftermarket couplers are diferent wrench sizes than our OEM couplers.
saves me from walking back and forth to my truck to get the right wrench.
i keep a 12" with my torch set to change out bottles.

'round the house DIY work gets the most use.

keep a couple larger 15"-18" for fab work. they make a nice "handle" for leverage when bending hot steel clamped in a vice

 

[Carson_13]

Since the OP's journeyman doesn't like adjustable wrenches, I bet he'd **** if he saw me dig out my 24" pipe wrench from my "automotive" tool box.

Haha maybe, he doesn't like them and I understand why. We work in a shop its just the two of us if i dont have the proper tool he does, I dont have alot of things he doesn't. But we share tools all the time nothing ever locked or worried about getting stolen and such. we both have adjustable wrenches in our tool boxes but they are covered in dust, we work out of service carts the boxes get used rarely. As far as the "part changer" thing goes thats not acceptable were I work just today the boss man resoldered a whole ficm for a ford 6L. Could he have just replaced it? Sure but thats not how he operates and it was a company oilfield truck. He is such a good guy to learn from im lucky to be working for him and not just old dudes fix things hes only 30.

 

[redwrench60]

Why? Because human beings like options and I'm human. I used my 24" adjustable to straighten my bent axle popper tool today.

 

[bgott]

I used my 6" Snappy adjustable today to remove the tilt-wheel lever on a '97 Grand Marquis. I couldn't have broken it loose with a little combo wrench that would fit on it.

 

[SKAutomotive]

Mine usually gets relegated to the "second wrench" duty during alignments.

 

[Zaylor]

I like them in an automotive application when I am ratcheting on a nut and have to prevent the bolt head from rotating. Doesn't require much torque (relative to the nut) and so the crescent saves time.



There seems to be a lot of confusion about which way is the correct way to use one.

I agree with what Outlaw says.

I personally disagree with the manufactures "recommended rotation". The reason is the usual way these "wear out" is from a sprung jaw, and it's always the moving jaw that gets sprung. Why?

Because it is the weakest link, and if you rotate as per directions, all the pressure is on the outer part of the moving jaw. If you go the other way, the pressure is on the inner part of the moving jaw, and from a leverage point of view, that is the stronger part. Did Archimedes, live in vain? (Makes me wonder of those rotational arrows are there by design; they are in the business of selling tools after all..)

 

[kyrbz]

I keep one of these sweet little 6" Wright adjustable wrenches that H.J.Epsteins sells for $6.00 in the tool rolls of all my vintage vehicles.

 

[Mickey O]

Why not?

 

[dragonballz]

Ive never used them on cars. Now that i work on big machinery, i use 2 different size adjustables every day.

 

[Brad54]

I've got a full set of adjustable wrenches hanging on my wall by the work table.
Sometimes I just don't have the right wrench handy, and it's not a critical job.
More often than not, I'm using them as a flanging tool for sheetmetal work... an adjustable wrench is perfect for bending a 90-degree flange around the edge of a radius'd panel.

-Brad

 

[dankicksass]

I use adjustable wrenches for alignments, very rarely touch them otherwise. Use them to put the air ****** on a new tool occasionally.

 

[Harley94]

Adjustable wrenches don't care if it's inch or metric either.

 

[Hawk Thor]

Adjustable wrenches don't care if it's inch or metric either.

But sending someone to fetch the imperial adjustable or the left handed adjustable is always classic though, much like the 9/13" wrench.

 

[Jim C.]

Adjustable wrenches seem like a good idea, and they've been around for years, so they must have some use. There must be MILLIONS of them out there. After the hammer and screwdriver, it's got to be one of the most commonly found tools anywhere. Still, I don't find myself using adjustable wrenches very often if ever. I have a 16" (which was given to me) a couple 10" wrenches, and a 6". I never use the 16", and don't remember the last time I used the 6" either. I use a 10" rarely, and find that I usually reach for it a few times per summer when I need to tighten the male threaded end of a garden hose into the female end of a spray nozzle. Even with the rubber gasket in the nozzle the connection between the nozzle and the hose still leaks if they're not snugged together with an adjustable wrench. Other than that, I really don't use adjustable wrenches, but I still keep them around just in case.

Jim C.

 

[canuckian]

I use mine all the time for quick removal of fasteners that don't require much grunt to come off. if they're seized or rusted, I take the 30 seconds to find the appropriate sized socket or combination wrench. My 2 favorite are a Channellock 8 inch wide jaw and a Snap On 6 inch wide jaw.

 

[trackwelder]

The problem with a Crescent Wrench/Adjustable Wrench in the automotive world is that many nuts & bolts are simply just torqued too tight for the adjustable wrenches. You torque on them and the jaws spread open, the wrench slips, you bust you knuckles up, and the bolt/nut may become damaged.
.

I would have to disagree with that.I use them all the time at work to crack stuff loose. Also have beat on them with hammers and pushed on them with backhoes.

 

[GRX]

I would have to disagree with that.I use them all the time at work to crack stuff loose. Also have beat on them with hammers and pushed on them with backhoes.

Same here. Back in olden "U pick" lot daze we used to have to carry all our own tools, then fight snakes & bee's nests when finding parts at the junk yard. A couple of good adjustable wrenches are a lot easier to carry than a whole set of combo wrenches.

 

[Doktor Schnell]

I never use adjustables. I can't remember having a situation where I couldn't use a open or box wrench. Everybody likes their own thing I guess.

 

[shampoop]

I would have to disagree with that.I use them all the time at work to crack stuff loose. Also have beat on them with hammers and pushed on them with backhoes.

You're talking about 70's and older cars right?

 

[Rickntenn]

I keep one in my service truck . I use a large cresent to remove , replace and tighten airline fittings on tractor service lines.

 

[AZ_Catskinner]

But sending someone to fetch the imperial adjustable or the left handed adjustable is always classic though, much like the 9/13" wrench.

A couple of weeks ago I sent a new guy downstairs to get a crescent out of my box. When he came back my partner told him "you idiot, that is a metric crescent!!". Bigger than ****, he apologized profusely and headed back down the stairs. He came back 30 minutes later with every adjustable I own from 4" to 36" and said he couldn't tell the difference!!

I miss the schools having some degree of a shop class!!

 

[greasemonkey44]

A couple of weeks ago I sent a new guy downstairs to get a crescent out of my box. When he came back my partner told him "you idiot, that is a metric crescent!!". Bigger than ****, he apologized profusely and headed back down the stairs. He came back 30 minutes later with every adjustable I own from 4" to 36" and said he couldn't tell the difference!!

I miss the schools having some degree of a shop class!!

that is classic
also it is what i would do if i was stuck in that situation

 

[CWP1616L]

I used to use them all the time but I also used to round off and strip alot of nuts and bolts with them.

You're not using it correctly. The right way is to tighten the jaws down all the way against the nut before turning EACH time.

 

[dankicksass]

Irwin actually does make metric and fractional adjustables, they don't have a screw but use a pawl instead. I have a set of four in metric. Never use them, but I know they're there.

 

[EvilWelder]

A couple of weeks ago I sent a new guy downstairs to get a crescent out of my box. When he came back my partner told him "you idiot, that is a metric crescent!!". Bigger than ****, he apologized profusely and headed back down the stairs. He came back 30 minutes later with every adjustable I own from 4" to 36" and said he couldn't tell the difference!!

I miss the schools having some degree of a shop class!!

Did you tell him to bring back a bucket of steam and the left handed screwdrivers too

 

[reyna14]

Try working with hydraulics and then ask that question. I use adjustable wrenched all the time on fittings and tubing connections, it's just easier.

 

[hifi_hokie]

X3.

3 Must have tools on a tractor are Channellocks, a pair o Vise Grips, and a 12'' adjustable.

Don't forget the BFH.

 

[AZ_Catskinner]

Did you tell him to bring back a bucket of steam and the left handed screwdrivers too

We've just given up on this guy - he recently spent half an hour playing with a 3/4" to 1/2" adapter before asking "what's that thing for anyway?".

For some reason, HR likes to hire the occasional lost cause.

 

[EvilWelder]

We've just given up on this guy - he recently spent half an hour playing with a 3/4" to 1/2" adapter before asking "what's that thing for anyway?".

For some reason, HR likes to hire the occasional lost cause.

Like we always say, "Hire the handicapped, they are fun to watch"

 

[RCStocker]

Like we always say, "Hire the handicapped, they are fun to watch"

If you do you will become one of them. LOL
I don't know a farmer that does not have 2 in the tool box on the tractor.

You should be glad you did not ask me for a bucket of steem. You would have gotten burned when you took off the lid. The first person who every asked me for a left handed monkey wrench was handed it with my left hand and told to make sure he used it with his left hand. LOL
We need shop classes of all kinds. It teaches common sense because you learn the right way to do things which applies to everthing in life. We have a country full of young people who don't know they are sitting on thier *** let alone how to open the lid on a tool box. It is very sad. The very thing that built the world is now not taught. Shop classes help you make better decissions when having work done even if you don't do it yourself.
We teach so much Bull that has no place in our schools and universities. We are teaching the world to be usless. There is no inbetween. Either you have it or you don't. There are a lot of PHd's driving cabs.

 

[GSMotorrad]

I did stage lighting for a long time and it's a lot easier to carry one wrench to the top of a ladder or on a lift!

Yuppers. It's like MANDATORY to rig lights, projectors, etc from truss or ceilings. Actual sized wrenches are unheard of in that industry. The only time I break out my 6-inch adjustable is for sets and strikes wearing my "show blacks". If I could attach a lanyard to a Knipex Pliers Wrench, I'd love to try that, but I'm sure people would be like, "What are you doing!? That's not the right tool for this job!"