Crescent or Craftsman Adjustable Wrench?
- Thread starter chewy7
- Start date
i also was trying out the channelock versions, they are nice too but a little pricey . like 99.99 for an 18 inch wrench vs.109.99 for 3 big craftsman's in 12,15,and 18. I did notice on the channelock versions you can remove the pin with a flat head screwdriver for maintenance? .
The Bahcos are made in spain to the same quality standard as those snap-on is selling? Do you think the swedish ones were better or is the quality about the same since moving production to spain?
trainwreck
Well-known member
Thanks for the picture, oldjacks. That makes a lot more sense now that there's a nut in the picture. Reminds me a bit of Craftsman Extreme open end wrenches.
Wrenches of Death
Well-known member
Agreed about Cresent. I picked up a new Cresent 15" one on sale at Lowes a while back. I got lucky and they had about a half a dozen of them hanging on the display so I could pick and compare. Mine's "tight". Most of the others weren't. One was really horrible. I would think that most or all of the machine work would be CNC or something automated. How can there be that big of a variance between each one?
It's ashamed that you have to pick through brand new wrenches to get the one that was actually built like they all should have been.
Twenty years ago you could swing by an industrial supply house and grab a new Proto or Williams and never even have to give the fit of the wrench a second thought.
It's enough to make one a very sad panda.
WoD
I don´t know, but i guess they´re the same, just with a different name forged in. At least they look + feel the same.
I don´t see big difference in the Spain/swedish ones but i only have 4 of them in 4 sizes, so you should compare same sizes with each other. I once made some measurements which i wanted to post (but forgot) so i can´t remember which wrench had which amount of play (side play of the lower jaw) and which wrench had a noticable gap between the jaws, some have a gap in the back some in the front or side of the jaw. Better so far was a "Irega" brand wrench. But "perfect" none of them.
Bahco
Irega
blue dog
Banned
blue dog
Banned
adm84
Active member
i personly feel that since production has been taken over by palmera the quality of the snapons has slipped, the jaws move all over the place and the chrome finnish isnt as hard wearing. the only new production adjustables i think are the same quality as my old diamonds are the current production irega, the finnish is top drawer and the jaws are nice and tight.i recently took delivery of 10+12" klien (excellent quality) and crescent brand (absolute ****!) the crescent brands have a rough finnish and the jaws wobble terribly and dont line up squarely, i have taiwan specials that blow the crescents away.
I'm waiting for the S-K adjustables.
Spareparts
Well-known member
I recently got to drop by Epstein Tool in KC Mo and picked up a repalement for my 18" Williams that got broke. The one I got was by Western Forged and the identical wrench as the Williams but no markings and no brand name, just the W F cast on the handle. $47.00, a replacement brand name was $136.00 at another tool store. Picked up a 12" with the Epstein Tool logo on it and have never felt a better quality adjustable wrench and just $19.
kc-steve
Well-known member
Those Epstein guys are too modest to post this 10" adjustable wrench (below) on their website. When a company like Epstein puts their name on a tool then you KNOW it's a quality tool.
Steve
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idoitproject
Well-known member
I want one.
bart1
Well-known member
I have a couple but rarely use them. Crescent and Craftsman, I think. I would like to try a Knipex Plierswrench, though.
saturdaymechanic
Well-known member
I use my cman professional set mainly for plumbing and other odd jobs around the house, so they work in that aspect.
There isn't much play in the jaws, but they are bulkier than others.
There isn't much play in the jaws, but they are bulkier than others.
Spareparts
Well-known member
Have to correct my earlier post it was actually the 10" wrench with their logo on it, seems they have a large Gov contract to provide 2 of the 10" wrenches for a tool kit going to the troops in Afghanstan. That is why their Logo in on the wrench along with their web adress on the other side, this came directly from the sales person in their store. Been buying name brand tools from them since 1978, and it is like going in a candy store for a tool junkie.
woody 73
Well-known member
You guys are just killing me,first old jacks has me hunting for old air tools and now you guys will have me hunting for odd shaped crescent tools,darn I need a drink!
Tool Pants
Well-known member
sberry
Banned
Most of them are pretty good anymore, back in the day you really could tell the difference between a good one and a junk import, now a lot of those have come up in quality. I am kind of partial to Proto but have most of them, Diamond is good too but a bit bulky like the heavy Craftsman. I really lean on adjustables, must have 40 or 50 and still glean one from the fleas on occasion. Pliers similar to channeloks fall in to this same category, really cheap ones don't get it.
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bobcatdan
Well-known member
I just bought a 15" crescent to replace a craftsman. I thought the crescent open wider, it's the same. Tighteness is about same. I ended up keeping the craftsman in the service truck. In hindsight the crescent is industral finish and I figured it would rust where the craftsman hasn't. Over all they are a horse a piece. Craftsman mayby easier to warranty, I don't know about the crescent.
i suppose it depends who has a 15" crescent wrench in stock
me too
honcho
Well-known member
Ok, I know the OP asked about adjustable wrenches and wants USA made but if he doesn't consider the Knipex Plier Wrench he is doing himself a great disservice
Downside is that they are pricey for an adjustable wrench and for the OP, they are not made in USA. Made in another home of good tools--Germany.
Here's a listing at Amazon but I think chadstoolbox probably has the best pricing
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000X4OG94/?tag=atomicindus08-20
These things are great!
Downside is that they are pricey for an adjustable wrench and for the OP, they are not made in USA. Made in another home of good tools--Germany.
Here's a listing at Amazon but I think chadstoolbox probably has the best pricing
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000X4OG94/?tag=atomicindus08-20
These things are great!
adm84
Active member
i have the bluepoint branded knipex plier wrenches and they are great, but ive recenyly started using my newly acquired kleins recently and they absolutley rock! the jaws are realy nice and tight and the chrome finish is realy tough and durable, they are the best quality USA made adjustables out there even on par with irega.
honcho
Well-known member
I've been looking for a compact adjustable wrench with wide opening jaws to use for headset locknuts on bicycles. I had been considering a Bahco adjustable but saw a Channellock model that is made in Spain. I had never heard of Irega before but I suspect the Channellock model may be made by Irega for Channellock. The Channellock design appears to be the same as the Irega SWO 92
Channellock
http://www.channellock.com/Category.aspx?zcid=134
Irega
http://www.toolbaydirect.co.uk/cata...-Chrome-Adjustable-Wrench-8in-Blister/158634/
Channellock
http://www.channellock.com/Category.aspx?zcid=134
Irega
http://www.toolbaydirect.co.uk/cata...-Chrome-Adjustable-Wrench-8in-Blister/158634/
HandyManny
Well-known member
The biggest difference you will find between the newer Craftsman Adjustables and Crescent Adjustables arethe following:
Craftsman - thinner cross section overall, high carbon tool steel, jaw capacity still traditional (not as wide), thinner jaws, plating is different material (cobalt/nickle), plating is rougher to the touch a slight bit yellow in appearnce but more durable, generally tighter moveable jaws.
Crescent - made from their proprietary Alloy tool steel, a bit larger jaw capacity, bulkier with thicker cross section overall, looser moveable jaws. Chrome plating is whiter and smoother but the plating seems less durable.
Overall they are both pretty durable and high quality tools. I would place the newer Craftsmans as higher in quality overall thought. I personally don't like the newer plating or the bulkyness of the newer Crescent brand ones.
The older, pre-Cooper, Crescent adjustables were very good quality tools. I like the old versions much better than their newer offerings.
The USA made Craftsmans have always been a real high quality adjustable wrench. They have been made for sears by a few different companies over the years i.e. Utica, JH Williams, JP Danielson, and within the last 30 years by Western Forge. Interestingly enough Western Forge makes adjustables for many professional grade tool brands including newer S-K, Wright, Rigid, and a few others. In some cases I'm told they supply the exact same quality to most brands with only the roll marking being different and in some cases the styling being different. As in Rigid, they simply make a different style. They can make a special design upon customers request, but in general the steel, durability, heat treating, plating, and function are generally the same quality for all lines. You're just not paying as much for the Craftsman brand.
Craftsman - thinner cross section overall, high carbon tool steel, jaw capacity still traditional (not as wide), thinner jaws, plating is different material (cobalt/nickle), plating is rougher to the touch a slight bit yellow in appearnce but more durable, generally tighter moveable jaws.
Crescent - made from their proprietary Alloy tool steel, a bit larger jaw capacity, bulkier with thicker cross section overall, looser moveable jaws. Chrome plating is whiter and smoother but the plating seems less durable.
Overall they are both pretty durable and high quality tools. I would place the newer Craftsmans as higher in quality overall thought. I personally don't like the newer plating or the bulkyness of the newer Crescent brand ones.
The older, pre-Cooper, Crescent adjustables were very good quality tools. I like the old versions much better than their newer offerings.
The USA made Craftsmans have always been a real high quality adjustable wrench. They have been made for sears by a few different companies over the years i.e. Utica, JH Williams, JP Danielson, and within the last 30 years by Western Forge. Interestingly enough Western Forge makes adjustables for many professional grade tool brands including newer S-K, Wright, Rigid, and a few others. In some cases I'm told they supply the exact same quality to most brands with only the roll marking being different and in some cases the styling being different. As in Rigid, they simply make a different style. They can make a special design upon customers request, but in general the steel, durability, heat treating, plating, and function are generally the same quality for all lines. You're just not paying as much for the Craftsman brand.
FergusonTO35
Well-known member
I have a few Mac adjustables. They work great, I suspect they're made by Proto. I also have a Snappy Flank Drive Plus adjustable, now that thing has some grip!! Its bigger and heavier than most others of the same capacity though.
jeffmoss26
Well-known member
Crescent!
93sr20det
Well-known member
Wright!
sberry
Banned
Think it matters much?
Probably not. I use a Crescent brand adjustable. It does the job. Played with the Channellock (Irega) adjustables and really didn't see much of a difference. Of the three, I think the Craftsman seemed to have the least slop. If I was looking for a new one, I'd probably go with the Craftsman.
My dad has a made-in-Japan "Award" brand adjustable that he must have picked up years ago god knows where. That wrench has practically no slop at all. It's beat to hell, and I don't know much anything about the brand, though.
My dad has a made-in-Japan "Award" brand adjustable that he must have picked up years ago god knows where. That wrench has practically no slop at all. It's beat to hell, and I don't know much anything about the brand, though.