adjustable wrenches

[Chuck122]

hey I see a lot of you guys have a lot of adjustable wrenches. i was wondering what you use them for because, i personnaly only own one big *** that i use on nitrogen regulators and such. I was always told that the adjustables were meant for homeowners trying to do some half-*** job... i'm sure you guys will shed some light on that...

 

[joedodge]

Large lines and fittings mostly I use a adjustable for some alignment procedures also

 

[jhelrey]

I am a maint. tech at work. When I need a wrench, its my go to tool. I could no way in hell carry a full set of wrenches.

 

[jmm]

They're not my favorite tool, but they have their place. I use mine most often for holding odd shaped stuff (ie grease fittings) when a combo wrench wouldn't work. They're great for bending things, especially sheet metal. Once in a blue moon they work on rounded fasteners. At home, where I don't have a very extensive collection, I use them to actually turn bolts, but I try to keep that to a minimum because they obviously like to spread and slip.

 

[rusty65]

I mostly use them for cheating on wrenches by using the round hole they tend to flex alot less then if you just double up wrenches.

 

[ddo]

Use em all the time as portables. Generally larger nuts and bolts they work fine on. One of the most used tools. If i mess up a bolt it doesnt matter...it gets swapped out the next time around. Adjustables are a huge time saver in plant settings. Dont work on cars so dont get all worked up about rounding bolts like the trend is on here. Only see that very infrequently, and when i do its a nobrainer to grab a different tool and go not worrying about damaging cheap fasteners.

 

[jontar]

I agree, in plant settings as an electrician, we use them daily, they have their place like anything else does. If you buy higher grade ones, irega, channelock, klein, etc, you won't have the issues of the cheaper ones.

 

[plinker]

General use and pipe thread & hydraulic fitting's. I have them 6" to 15", plus a new 24". They get used often to say the least.

It's also handy to have a couple adjustable wrenches when changing hoses and you dont know what the hex size is.

 

[JSBriggs]

Among other things I use them to flange sheetmetal.

-Jeff

 

[taylorchristie]

General use and pipe thread & hydraulic fitting's. I have them 6" to 15", plus a new 24". They get used often to say the least.

It's also handy to have a couple adjustable wrenches when changing hoses and you dont know what the hex size is.

I second this. I have them in 6"-30" in bluepoint brand. I find them to be good quality in comparison to local princess auto brand and canadian tire master craft. They work awesome when I can't bring all the proper size wrenches for hydraulic and pipe fittings

 

[basspro]

Like ddo, I use them all the time in a plant setting, huge time savers. When I worked at a hydraulic shop, I used all sizes from 6"-24" with my most common sizes being 8" and 12". I like Craftsman and USA Crescent, but will probably give Channellock a try next. Ive used The black/yellow plastic handled Stanley in 12", and it was nice, opened beyond the standard 1.5" jaw opening. I only work on cars as a hobby, and I use adjustables less frequently. Use them all the time though when working on the late model, as we dont reuse too many nuts and bolts.

 

[Pumpman1968]

I'm a Maint Mechanic as well and have spent LOTS of time on lifts, climbing to get to things, climbing INTO things, climbing UNDER things etc and the less you carry in, the less you carry out.......or lose.....or drop. They aren't perfect tools but they definitely have their place in my back pocket. I don't buy the cheap ones.......lots are name branded Western Forge and work just fine.

I would rather use the correct size wrench but your under the gun, I climb up with my 4 way Klein screwdriver and my Craftsman 10" adjustable and pump pliers in my pocket for that initial inspection.

 

[DTB]

In the automotive field I use them rarely but in the farming scene I can't have enough of them...Use the 15",and 18" mostly but have a 24" adjustable for when the going gets tough...Mostly use them for hydraulic fittings when a hose blows,or the plumbing on the NH3 toolbar,but needed the 24" the other day changing out the hitch that had 2 1-1/4 diameter bolts,didnt have the correct size wrench.Every tractor has one,and they even substitute for a hammer as well.lol

 

[Jagmandave]

The key to using an adjustable wrench is to use it correctly, the opening jaw goes in the direction of rotation.

They work fine if used correctly, but not as a replacemnt for good wrenches so much as an adjunct.

 

[Steroblan]

Another former industrial mech here. I Carried a 12, 8 and 4" adjustable and two pair of Channel Locks in my pouch. Like Jehelrey said, no way to carry a full set of wrenches. I use both combination wrenches and adjustables on the farm.

 

[Holt]

They are time tested and Provence themselflves when the time come you will know when you need one. Any field service tech will carry one. Fittings also come to mind for hydros and plumbing

 

[Scout Driver]

Handy on larger hose fittings on farm equipment. Also good for bending sheet metal.

Scott

 

[zcbauer89]

I farm, and I take a 15in to the field, one wrench vs several. Very handy to have in the box

 

[thebeekeeper1]

I find myself chasing threads a great deal. They work great for that.

 

[wolf_from_wv]

I have one on the seat of my truck. I used it the other morning (2am) to loosen my battery cables and tighten them to see if the truck would start.

I like the Sears brand that they stopped making. They are the slide adjust, where you pull the adjustment screw back and can slide the jaw back and forth. My dad said they were the only crescent wrench he ever saw that would tighten up as you used it... So much that it is a little annoying trying to get it back off the bolt..

 

[Jeff]

I have one in each of my vehicle kits.

 

[Chris_L]

I'll often times grab one for large fasteners I don't feel like playing the guessing game on. Track bar adjustment on the jeep, etc.

 

[cyato]

After getting a set of Knipex Pliers Wrenches, my regular adjustable wrenches are pretty lonely. They pretty much serve the same purpose, the Knipex just do a way better job.

 

[pendragon1998]

I agree, in plant settings as an electrician, we use them daily, they have their place like anything else does. If you buy higher grade ones, irega, channelock, klein, etc, you won't have the issues of the cheaper ones.

Are the craftsman black oxide adjustable wrenches any good?

 

[cookefab]

Towing/recovery hydro fittings, D-ring screws that bind, tweaking mangled sheet metal to get the no-insurance/no-funds loser back on the road so I can load the poor ******* he wrecked...

Sarcff

 

[cryan]

For people operating plants (in my case, ships engine rooms) they are invaluable when on inspection rounds. Use them for everything from adjusting pump glands or bleeding air from pumps to adjusting pressures on different equipment. You simply can't run a plant efficiently without one. I only ever use Bahco.
They have their limitations though. If using them for actual strip downs etc they are a bit of a butchers tool.

 

[kc-steve]

After being around for decades, it is hard to deny the lowly adjustable wrench a place in toolboxes. Like others have said, I used one in a traveling toolbag for electronics equipment, where nuts were not extremely tight but carrying a set of wrenches was out of the question.

Steve

 

[sberry]

I would be lost. A lot of thge places I use them are not on cars or really boogered or rusted etc but general service and install, repair. If its humanly possible I am on it with a simple wrench. A lot of my stuff is a turn or 2 or holding, most nuts come off by finger, simply need tightened etc.

They make smaller and they make bigger but my personal standards are 8 inch and 12. You can do about anything with an 8 as you can smaller and simply need the leverage. An 8 will do an LP bottle. Same for 12, can do all a 10 can do and some of an 8 and its so much bigger for power. I got a couple 6's and little stuff but I never use it.

I take the lightest one I can lug around, got a few 10's, do use them, have on occasion where weight was a factor. It will not fit a 3/4 structural nut, a machine nut yes as well as a torch. I carried one in hi rise sign installation, a channelok, number 9, pair of Tstrippers, a couple of screwdrivers and a couple nut drivers.

I hadnt really thought about it but I have these 8 inch in 10 different brands. From 30 yrs ago I would have been extremely predudice against the HF and flea mkt stuff but that HF has integrated itself,,, I bought it on spec to test, figured wtf? Its been in routine use for a long time.

 

[sberry]

A lot of the worlds work is done with these tools, what a boon it must be to the third world where now the cost of a good wrench is 20% of what it was 20 years ago. I can see a huge future in the use of small inverter welders in deleloping countries.

 

[jeffmoss26]

Stage lighting

 

[Applesauce]

I try not to use one. I would rather use the correct-size combination wrench or socket. I use a crappy adjustable wrench for bending things quite often, though. Around here we call them "Saskatchewan all sixteenths."

Having said that, I won't deny they probably have a place in many other fields.

 

[Zelatore]

Like a lot of guys have already said, I too carry a couple for 'quick and dirty' work. I've got a full set of metric and SAE wrenches in my bag, but for a quick adjustment, or to simply hold a nut while I tighten down a bolt, or some other non-critical/low torque job it's much easier/faster to simply grab the adjustable instead of digging out the whole wrench roll and getting to the correct tool.

I used to hate them as well, and almost never use one in a shop setting, but in the field they sure are handy.

 

[kapster]

Very handy thing to have, I use the bigger ones more then small ones. For the big sizes it wouldn't make sense to make wrenches in.

Check out the channelock brand adjustable wrenches, nicest I've had/used. Made in Spain, as are the snap ons. They open wider then others when compared to the same size in another brand.

 

[Chuck122]

I try not to use one. I would rather use the correct-size combination wrench or socket. I use a crappy adjustable wrench for bending things quite often, though. Around here we call them "Saskatchewan all sixteenths."

Having said that, I won't deny they probably have a place in many other fields.

Or Newfoundland fix-all

 

[redline380]

i find them most useful you woudlnt want a full set of wrenches, so like the cabin for changing out propane tanks and taking docks and boat lifts in and out. at the papermill i used to work at, all the millwrights and electricians carried adjustable wrenches. those and channellocks. youd be amazed how much maintence can be done on a papermachine with those two tools. if we had a big project going on, they would bring their boxes down by the machines, but still mostly only use channellocks and adjustable wrenches

 

[strutaeng]

Good thread!

Finally, GJ folks agreeing on something!

 

[crewchief888]

i use mine mostly for connecting and disconnecting regulators on gas bottles.

absolute most used was the 4" matco i used to carry on my keyring.

 

[jontar]

When these idiot engineers design all these new vechicles they should give them a blade screwdriver, an ADJ WRENCH, a hammer, a pair of pliers (any kind, but only one) and a 9pc socket set, if you can't fix it using those tools they should have to re-design it.

 

[soulstryke]

for all sorts of fittings and fasteners.....the 10" i carry makes a good pocket hammer anyways

 

[mashguy4077]

After getting a set of Knipex Pliers Wrenches, my regular adjustable wrenches are pretty lonely. They pretty much serve the same purpose, the Knipex just do a way better job.

I am surprised to see your the only one on this thread that uses the knipex version


It seems great, and I am looking at picking up a set down the road sometime.