Adjustable wrenches? why

[Carson_13]

I noticed alot of people seem to really value adjustable wrenches, I dont understand why. I thought they were great until I purchased a full set of real wrenches, now I only have one when i go to wrecking yards to lend to people when they forget things. I used to use them all the time but I also used to round off and strip alot of nuts and bolts with them. I am an a 3rd year automotive apprentice and was told by my journeyman to stop using them when he took me on. I completely understand why but I see people paying big money for them? "The I love green snap on" do it for the rareity I guess.
Im sure I will receive valid answers, im curious. Maybe it is something that doesn't apply to the mechanics trade? very possible. What do you guys use them for?

 

[Dustin Echoes]

I use mine as a hammer more than I use it like a wrench... but it's a cheapy china one I got for a dollar...

 

[5mall5nail5]

If I had to go around a large building tightening various plumbing fixtures or fasteners I'd rather carry one adjustable wrench vs potentially a dozen standard wrenches.

 

[BAZZMAZZA]

I see an adjustable wrench as a saver of space and time. Space in a small toolbox / bag, and time looking for the missing wrench.

 

[Jawn]

My biggest use for one lately has been a 1 1/2" nut that I didn't have a regular wrench (or socket) for... but a 12" adjustable would fit and did the job.

 

[86rusty]

I use mine for a lot of general plumbing around the house like toilet floor bolts and supply line nuts, but yeah no so much for automotive. I find there really is a BIG difference between a good and a cheap set. I have a cheap kobalt china set that slip and will not hold their setting and a couple of crescent usa ones that are my go to's and perform well for what i use them for. But definitely not something i would pay truck brand prices for and spend a lot of time finding "deals" on.

 

[JKady]

I have a pair of Channelock ones that I use fairly often. Sometimes I don't have the right wrench on hand (Inner tierod on a Dodge Magnum the other day was one of those) sometimes it's not exactly a fastener I'm turning. There's one in the set of tools I keep in my pickup because it saves space... and i found it on the roadside and it never made it out of the toolbox.

 

[kams1973]

Automobiles aren't the only things with nuts and bolts.

 

[Carson_13]

Great responses guys! Exactly what im looking for. Now I really like channelock most adjustables i have seen have measuring increments on them. Are any of them remotely accurate to size up a bolt or nut then grab the proper wrench like a vague measureing tool?

 

[JKady]

Great responses guys! Exactly what im looking for. Now I really like channelock most adjustables i have seen have measuring increments on them. Are any of them remotely accurate to size up a bolt or nut then grab the proper wrench like a vague measureing tool?

Mine are far better than vague.

 

[Carson_13]

Automobiles aren't the only things with nuts and bolts.

Well aware of that I wanted to know what they are used for by people outside of that world.

Time will fix everything except those crazy eyes.

 

[dandan111]

I use em. Vise grips pretty often also. I should slow down and get the wrenches out but sometimes it's just faster for me.

 

[5mall5nail5]

Great responses guys! Exactly what im looking for. Now I really like channelock most adjustables i have seen have measuring increments on them. Are any of them remotely accurate to size up a bolt or nut then grab the proper wrench like a vague measureing tool?

Check out Knipex pliers wrenches. AMAZING wrenches. I almost don't use adjustables anymore, just these.

 

[Carson_13]

Vice grips are great sometimes my options are try and hold it with needle nose pliers or just stab some needle vice grips on and hit it with the impact. Most bolts I work with are metric so I have to be careful doing that cause I dont have alot of spares. They have saved me 4-5 hours on occaision.

 

[KenS]

Big ones are great for disassembling welding gas regulators.

 

[Skin]

Its good to keep a couple around, and a pipe wrench too, generally they're more useful for plumbing fittings where you probably wont have 1"+ sizes in combos. However if you're depending on an adjustable in the auto repair industry i'd agree, you're doing it very wrong.

 

[Carson_13]

Check out Knipex pliers wrenches. AMAZING wrenches. I almost don't use adjustables anymore, just these.

I will have to check them out! I have a few Knipex pliers but they are what people might call waterpump pliers? t&g? i dunno

 

[RCStocker]

In plumbing there are a lot of things like Union joints. You can use a monkey wrench but an adjustable works much better. On water spickets and other fittings they are very handy.

I use one on my Delta Unisaw when I change blades. I like it better the the thin wrench that came with the saw.

I use several on my 26 ft. sail boat that is on a trailer. I use it to tighten the bolts when I put up the mast and other things.

Before the bicycles had a flip quick release I could rebuild my bike form the gourn up with one as a kid.

I used one the other day behind the garden tractor wheel when I jacked up the front end. The tractor did not roll.

I have them form 2 inches all the way to 24 inches. when you go to putting on double nuts on the bottom of the hitch ball they do come in handy. I just grab to huge ones and crank. I have wrenches that will do it but the handles are much larger and I can get more pull without bothering my hand.

Now for the best use of an adjustable wrench. When you go to streighten out sheet metal you can get it to fit any thickness and you can streighten many things with one. I have been doing that for 50 years. I can take a bent piece and really get it streight. Then I can take a flat head hammer and get it flat as a pancake.

Sometimes I am bending flat stock and need to break it a a certin point. I put the adjustable wrench on the end and put pressure on the piece while taping on the piece with a hammer. It really works better than a pliers or tongs at times. It does not slip off and it is tight. Then it does not need a squeezing force to keep it in place while putting pressure on it.

There are a hundrend and one reasons I have 40 of them.

The 4" wrenches are a hot collectable. Some bring as much as $50. I have a nice collection on display in my office.

Why an adjustable. It is one of the 10 necessary tools in every box.

I bumped a tree backing up and bent the heavy bracket on my mowing deck that hold the height wheel. Today I took the wheel off and got out the 24 incher and streightened the bracket right up. Now you never would know it was bent. Beating on things will cause other things to bend or break loose a weld and really leave a mess. A simple tug around with the old adjustable wrench works every time it is tryed.

I never strike an adjustable wrench. There is a right way to use one. I see people putting them on and pulling in the wrong direction. The jaw should be on the inside of the pull. It puts the pressure at the joint and head not the jaw. It drives me nuts when I see someone on TV or the internet put pressure on the wrench in the wrong direction.

Never leave home without one. You never know when you will need to knock someone out. LOL

 

[472scout]

Every once in a while I run into a very large fastener that I don't have the right size socket for. Out comes the 24" heavy as hell adjustable wrench.

 

[Carson_13]

In plumbing there are a lot of things like Union joints. You can use a monkey wrench but an adjustable works much better. On water spickets and other fittings they are very handy.

I use one on my Delta Unisaw when I change blades. I like it better the the thin wrench that came with the saw.

I use several on my 26 ft. sail boat that is on a trailer. I use it to tighten the bolts when I put up the mast and other things.

Before the bicycles had a flip quick release I could rebuild my bike form the gourn up with one as a kid.

I used one the other day behind the garden tractor wheel when I jacked up the front end. The tractor did not roll.

I have them form 2 inches all the way to 24 inches. when you go to putting on double nuts on the bottom of the hitch ball they do come in handy. I just grab to huge ones and crank. I have wrenches that will do it but the handles are much larger and I can get more pull without bothering my hand.

Now for the best use of an adjustable wrench. When you go to streighten out sheet metal you can get it to fit any thickness and you can streighten many things with one. I have been doing that for 50 years. I can take a bent piece and really get it streight. Then I can take a flat head hammer and get it flat as a pancake.

Sometimes I am bending flat stock and need to break it a a certin point. I put the adjustable wrench on the end and put pressure on the piece while taping on the piece with a hammer. It really works better than a pliers or tongs at times. It does not slip off and it is tight. Then it does not need a squeezing force to keep it in place while putting pressure on it.

There are a hundrend and one reasons I have 40 of them.

The 4" wrenches are a hot collectable. Some bring as much as $50. I have a nice collection on display in my office.

Why an adjustable. It is one of the 10 necessary tools in every box.

I bumped a tree backing up and bent the heavy bracket on my mowing deck that hold the height wheel. Today I took the wheel off and got out the 24 incher and streightened the bracket right up. Now you never would know it was bent. Beating on things will cause other things to bend or break loose a weld and really leave a mess. A simple tug around with the old adjustable wrench works every time it is tryed.

I never strike an adjustable wrench. There is a right way to use one. I see people putting them on and pulling in the wrong direction. The jaw should be on the inside of the pull. It puts the pressure at the joint and head not the jaw. It drives me nuts when I see someone on TV or the internet put pressure on the wrench in the wrong direction.

Never leave home without one. You never know when you will need to knock someone out. LOL

That is possibly the best response I have seen ever. I honestly have no comment. RCstocker you the man

 

[Jawn]

The 4" wrenches are a hot collectable. Some bring as much as $50. I have a nice collection on display in my office.

Wow! I thought I paid a lot for the 4" Crescent new in the package I got from a local hardware store... I think I paid something like 12-13 bucks for it.

There is a right way to use one. I see people putting them on and pulling in the wrong direction. The jaw should be on the inside of the pull. It puts the pressure at the joint and head not the jaw. It drives me nuts when I see someone on TV or the internet put pressure on the wrench in the wrong direction.

Some (at least Crescent) have an arrow on them indicating which way they should be turned.

 

[TreePointer]

I have a pipe plug socket set, but I didn't want to spend big bucks on a larger socket/set just for the large square plug on my log splitter. I use a 12" adjustable wrench to check the hydraulic fluid in the reservoir before each use.

 

[GeneralDisorder]

Automotive is not where a crescent wrench shines.

This is one small example of why I firmly believe that mechanics who have an exclusively automotive background are fundamentally limited due to the highly specialized and compartmentalized nature of that industry. They have little or no concept of making a needed part or substitution with a part not designed for the purpose at hand. For most in the automotive industry they are helplessly lost if told a part cannot be sourced. This is hilarious to me and an endless source of entertainment. The "parts hanger" mentality is pervasive and severely limiting.

Lovely example - "My auto tech mentor says I can't use this tool!" LOL. I would smack him upside the head with it and call it useful.

GD

 

[Carson_13]

Automotive is not where a crescent wrench shines.

This is one small example of why I firmly believe that mechanics who have an exclusively automotive background are fundamentally limited due to the highly specialized and compartmentalized nature of that industry. They have little or no concept of making a needed part or substitution with a part not designed for the purpose at hand. For most in the automotive industry they are helplessly lost if told a part cannot be sourced. This is hilarious to me and an endless source of entertainment. The "parts hanger" mentality is pervasive and severely limiting.

Lovely example - "My auto tech mentor says I can't use this tool!" LOL. I would smack him upside the head with it and call it useful.

GD

Are you ******* kidding me? im sorry but are you talking dealerships? We do tons of one off jobs, never am I wondering where my adjustable wrench is. We dont have to make tools everyday but its not uncommon

 

[Carson_13]

GeneralDisorder I owe you an apology I reread your post I was wrong it kinda sounded like you were saying mechanics cant problem solve. Thats welders... haha totally joking im one of those unfortunate souls also.

 

[ATC]

Automotive is not where a crescent wrench shines.

This is one small example of why I firmly believe that mechanics who have an exclusively automotive background are fundamentally limited due to the highly specialized and compartmentalized nature of that industry. They have little or no concept of making a needed part or substitution with a part not designed for the purpose at hand. For most in the automotive industry they are helplessly lost if told a part cannot be sourced. This is hilarious to me and an endless source of entertainment. The "parts hanger" mentality is pervasive and severely limiting.

Lovely example - "My auto tech mentor says I can't use this tool!" LOL. I would smack him upside the head with it and call it useful.

GD

Something tells me that you get your wife to take your car to Jiffy Lube to have the oil changed don't you?

 

[Carson_13]

Lovely example - "My auto tech mentor says I can't use this tool!" LOL. I would smack him upside the head with it and call it useful.

idiot response I agree but jiffy lube will put out 50% of what people think they need to be a responsible motorist after all they did change their oil! right??

I mentioned what I did for a living so other trades people or anyone who enjoys working with their hands could respond with an educated perspective but it is the internet after all. It takes all kinds of people to make the world go round. This was about wrenches at one point in time.

 

[camarotoolman]

Farmers love em, one on each tractor! Big ones sell like hot cakes at a tractor show. I got a real nice 24" Diamond 4 sale.

 

[DaleK]

Used my 24" yesterday, 11' 6x6 gang beam on a 22' disk had somehow slid over about 8". Have a 1 7/8 socket in my 1" set but no wrench. On goes the adjustable, clamp it with a big c clamp since I only have 2 hands. 10' cheater wouldn't do it. Ended up using a 90hp John Deere cheater. Worked dandy. I use them a lot for bending and straightening too.

 

[plinker]

About the only place I have not used mine is working on my car/trucks. At least that I remember. Heavy trucks & equipment tractor's, household stuff like plumbing & electric, are the most common places I've found.

 

[air]

I used my Proto Click Stop 12 last week to remove a Harmonic Balancer on a 350 Chevy. I didn't have a Combo wrench large enough to use on the puller. They DO come in handy.

 

[Super Scout]

I keep a 6, 8, 10, and 12 in my tool box in the garage. To be used for whatever. I keep a 6", and a 10" in my go bag for general repairs. And I keep a 8" and 12" in my plumbing box for repairs. They are invaluable in my opinion.

 

[jeffmoss26]

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!

 

[sk farmer]

interesting responses. they all seem pretty good. sometimes you get in that odd job or place and an adjutable is the only thing that does the job. we all know they are not the best tool for every job but sometimes they are the only ones that work.

i have not heard it yet but i on occasion use them to turn taps or easy outs in tight spots that the t handle or tap wrench does not fit.

 

[AZ_Catskinner]

I have them in the box from 4" to 36". I don't use them all of the time, but pretty often. Especially on those quickie work orders/calls, for stuff like a loose guard or a leaking line. Why carry a whole set of wrenches when odds are, I'll be there less than 5 minutes?

 

[Todd.Brock]

Not to throw a wrench ( adjustable or otherwise ). But quality counts. I bought someone's collection of tools a few year ago and there was a Snappy 12" soft grip adjustable. I LOVE that thing. Adjustables have their place and having a quality one makes a difference.

Oh and who ever said that the Knipex pliers wrench is the business, is correct. I have a small version 8" maybe, and they are great for under counter plumbing work.

 

[Gareth68]

I use one on the crank pulley bolt on my VW when adjusting valves to turn the engine. I have the proper sized wrench, but I prefer the adjustable.

It has nice mass, and I can adjust it to a perfect slightly loose fit so it's easy to slide on, but tight enough to hold well.

Other than that, mostly it just gets used for straightening sheet metal.

 

[RCStocker]

Q

Not to throw a wrench ( adjustable or otherwise ). But quality counts. I bought someone's collection of tools a few year ago and there was a Snappy 12" soft grip adjustable. I LOVE that thing. Adjustables have their place and having a quality one makes a difference.

Oh and who ever said that the Knipex pliers wrench is the business, is correct. I have a small version 8" maybe, and they are great for under counter plumbing work.

You are dead on. Quality really counts. HF does not cut it. Every swap meet you go to has old Cresent, Diamond, SK and other good brand adjustable wrenches. As log as they close all the way and do not hang up buy them. They don't make them like that anymore. They do buy you pay 3 arms and 5 legs for a new one. The cheap brands bend, break, give and are a pain in the bum.
It is like with ViceGrips. The Chinese knock offs are pure ****. They bend if you put any force on them. The VG's are made in China now but dang I have been giving a par a work out just to see how they are holding up and they are doing fine.
Cheap tools are knuckle breakers. The tools not only break but they break the parts and your hands.

 

[Stuart in MN]

The 4" wrenches are a hot collectable. Some bring as much as $50. I have a nice collection on display in my office.

I just saw a Diamond Caulk 4" at a swap meet on Sunday with a $50 price tag on it...I was glad that I paid $5 for one just like it at the last swap.

 

[lowbucktruck]

Farmers love em, one on each tractor! Big ones sell like hot cakes at a tractor show. I got a real nice 24" Diamond 4 sale.

Bingo! Give that man a cigar!
We carried adjustable wrenches on every piece of farm equipment. The hole in the end of the handle sure makes it easy to hang that wrench up on the tractor with some wire. When you break down in the middle of a hayfield and the truck is a half-mile away, its a walk back to the toolbox on the truck.