Adjustable wrenches? why

[NoahG]

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!"

Unless it's 9/16. I swear every set I encounter is held together with 3/8 hardware. 7/16 hex also shows up but not as much.

We also use 15/16 hex bolts to bolt aluminum truss together. A 1/2DR ratchet with 15/16 deep 6point socket and a 15/16 combo wrench are known universally in the industry as "truss tools".

And yes, we love our adjustables. You are useless if you show up to a call without one.


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[ddawg16]

When you only have so much room to store tools, it's better than nothing.

I have several......and as with any tool....it needs to be the right tool for the right job.

But if you only had one tool to take with you on the trails....what would it be?

 

[browntown]

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.

Exactly, I don't use my 6" and 10" adjustable very much because I have the proper size wrenches in their range.

But my 18" cornwell, and 24" Irega come out on often when dealing with nuts over 1" that I might not have the right wrench for. Especially in SAE as the bulk of my wrenches are metric.

The other place I use them is when the proper size wrench is being used and I need the same size to hold the head of the bolt.

Stay away from cheapies, they get too sloppy in the adjustment. I've had great luck with Proto, Cornwell, and Irega (made in spain, some channellocks are Iregas).

 

[NoahG]

Who makes the Proto adjustables?


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[48RON54]

Never use adjustables except the 24" once in awhile on really big hardware that I don't have a wrench or socket for.

Never use one on automotive stuff.

Rare exceptions to this rule include furnitures or bicycles where the parts aren't held on strong enough for me to want to bother digging through the "drawer o' sockets" to find the right one.

 

[methomas70]

Center console box in the car/truck.
Takes off the screw-on antenae before going through car wash.

And a bazillion other uses.

 

[stovebolt6]

I like having a few around. My wrenches only go up to 1" and 24mm, so if I run across something bigger (though rare), out comes an adjustable. Also, if I'm working on something non-automotive I'll often grab an adjustable because I'm a lot better at guessing sizes of fasteners on cars than I am on other things (like plumbing) so having an adjustable is just a lot quicker.

I don't get all the hate for them. They are great for the right tasks.

 

[jcfields]

.

 

[Kracin]

in short. not every person has a toolbox 10 feet from them. and not every person can easily take an entire set of wrenches everywhere

 

[PugetDude]

So many different uses- why would you not want them in your toolbox?

 

[softailgarage]

Can't stand them. Same goes for Channellocks. I fully understand their versatility and it is much easier to carry around 1 tool, but I have yet to find one that isn't sloppy and doesn't end up either rounding off the nut or marring the area around it. Larger applications, a little different, but I would still prefer using a combo wrench to an adjustable any day. As a matter of fact I can't remember the last time I used one and I own 4 or 5.

 

[OutsideMachinist]

I have always been taught by my trade/technical instructors that using them often indicates you are lazy or a hack. They refer to them as a carolina socket set or a crescent hammer. That said, when I go into the field I see them used quite a bit. The situation should dictate their use I think. I prefer using ridgid e110 for hydraulic fittings etc. I would definitely like to grab those knipex pliers wrenches eventually. I wonder what the anti adjustable crowd's opinion of those is?

 

[BDT/NWMN]

Buy a good quality adjustable for the same reason you would buy a Snap-On flare nut wrench.... Reason being: less chance of fastener damage...

Well;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;maybe nobody should own an adjustable wrench;;;;;;;;;;just strap a KRL on your *** and go climb that ladder

 

[KEH]

Well, I'm from Carolina(SC), so maybe that's why I have some. They are useful on the farm. I keep a 12 inch adjustable in each tractor tool box, along with Channelocks, a big screwdriver, and regular pilers.

KEH

 

[Fretters]

I have always been taught by my trade/technical instructors that using them often indicates you are lazy or a hack.

Much as I tend to avoid using adjustable spanners whenever possible, (though I do have a couple of Bahco's here which do see occasional use), I tend to think that anyone who has that opinion of adjustables has never had to do any real work where they aren't always within feet of a fully stocked toolbox and also not working on equipment they know inside out.

Some form of adjustable is pretty much a necessity, IMHO, and if good quality spanners are used and used correctly, they are quite usable. I've seen apes who can round nuts & bolts with even the best of tools. As the saying goes, "It's a poor workman who blames his tools".


p.s: That isn't a dig at you, btw. I justed replied to your post on the matter with you mentioning your instructors having that opinion.

 

[sberry]

A good point made here, The other day we were doing something and said,, no way is this going to work, sent my helper to get the right tool which wasn't real complicated all its own, probably a China combo. Its not that I cant round off a bolt but I don't. We just don't twist something till it breaks to figure out there might be a problem.

Agree, under car hood work is not where this shines but maintenance and construction type jobs. Mine save me miles and hundreds of man hours. This is a little "pool" if them in a hi traffic work area, no excuse for someone not to grab a wrench for a chore or to be able to leave on on a golf cart if its short or on the job as needed.

 

[Cadillac fan]

I use mine for square and triangle bolts. I do come across few and find them really useful. Also today I was testing some old spark plugs I bought against my small engine and the shifter was able to hold them better than pliers could.

I always have a shifter in my car because it is easier than having stacks of spanners and sockets.

Also works great at the scrap yard getting things home, so much better than needing spanners and sockets. One shifter can dismantle a mower and other equipment so it will fit in the car

 

[mrvm]

Why? It's my favorite version of the old monkey wrench. Adjustable wrenches are the "jack of all trades but master of none wrench", which is why they belong in the portable tool box. Most whom dislike the adjustable wrenches probably had a poor experience using the low-end wrenches with loose, wiggly jaws with a real shiny flaky finish

 

[87FoRunner]

Hydraulic fittings.

 

[Kracin]

Can't stand them. Same goes for Channellocks. I fully understand their versatility and it is much easier to carry around 1 tool, but I have yet to find one that isn't sloppy and doesn't end up either rounding off the nut or marring the area around it. Larger applications, a little different, but I would still prefer using a combo wrench to an adjustable any day. As a matter of fact I can't remember the last time I used one and I own 4 or 5.

i hear that alot from people who haven't had the joy of walking a mile or two to get to and from a tool box because somebody retrofitted something onto a machine you are working on. everything on the machine came in metric, and somebody added sae fasteners. making all the wrench you brought useless. and carrying two whole sets of wrenches and other tools gets old fast when you aren't doing a ton of precision work.



if people would use them right they would round things off easily. gotta put it on, then close the jaw on the fastener tight, break it loose, and then you can let the jaw be a little lose for quick turning til you can turn by hand.

anymore though i use the knipex pliers wrench more. its more versatile and quicker.

 

[sberry]

anymore though i use the knipex pliers wrench more. its more versatile and quicker.

I only have standard pliers but there was a 1 tool question and I would have to say 440 Channelock over any other.

 

[Kracin]

I only have standard pliers but there was a 1 tool question and I would have to say 440 Channelock over any other.

same lol. that was a standard carry, the 420s where i was employed before in a foundry. no way to pull a cart because of uneven and buried dust floors, the place was 8 stories tall at the tallest point. and there was no way you would carry a bag full of tools everywhere

sometimes you need an all around tool to get the job done. as farmer/jerry rigged as it sounds, not every place has the luxury of a full toolbox at your disposal.

even now where i work i have a large box with every tool i need, but you cant push a huge box everywhere all day and keep up with down machines. and your bag can only be so heavy on the cart before you start carrying damn near everything you own

even with a full set of wrenches you stil run into the odd situation where you need tools like an adjustable wrench.