Crescent wrench directional arrow

[Dalez]

Thought about it once in awhile but didn't know there was a right way and a wrong way.

 

[Shiftless]

Is that a left handed or right handed Crescent wrench?

Metric or SAE?

 

[oldwino]

The arrow indicates direction of pull. The strength of the wrench is the solid side, not the adjustment

 

[Dadillac]

My thought is that regardless which way you turn it there should be equal force on the slide jaw. I cannot believe that both jaws (fixed and slide) aren't doing the same amount of work

Don

 

[nadogail]

The arrow points in the direction you should apply the force.

Should and does are not always the same, you don't always have to do things the way you should but I am not always right either.

 

[K'ledgeBldr]

To this day I remember my Dad telling me how to "properly" use an adjustable-end wrench. I was like 10 and couldn't comprehend the reason- then years pass and the lightbulb goes on... force goes against the fixed/forged part of the wrench, not the moving/adjustable jaw.

 

[The Cobbler]

Tubalcain on You tube did a video on direction of adjustable wrenches

 

[finn]

My thought is that regardless which way you turn it there should be equal force on the slide jaw. I cannot believe that both jaws (fixed and slide) aren't doing the same amount of work

Don

No.

The bolt head contacts the flats of the wrench at the corners, not the center.

That means the jaw loading isn’t symetrical.

 

[blackdak8]

My thought and experience has always been that with the angle offset direction between the handle and jaw centerline, if you pull in the direction of the arrow, it helps force the fastener tight into the valley of the jaws where the tool is strongest and helps prevent slipping. Same theory I use with open ended wrenches. May be wrong thought but has worked better for me.

 

[NUTTSGT]

To this day I remember my Dad telling me how to "properly" use an adjustable-end wrench. I was like 10 and couldn't comprehend the reason- then years pass and the lightbulb goes on... force goes against the fixed/forged part of the wrench, not the moving/adjustable jaw.

Funny how that works. You get told to taught something and never understand why. Then one day the light bulb . . . . .

 

[tarmy]

Is that a left handed or right handed Crescent wrench?

Metric or SAE?

You idiot...it is a Metric left handed reversible SAE righty tightly special.

 

[johninct]

There is the correct way to use an adjustable wrench but sometimes, you have to use the wrong way because the head is angled and you need the angle the opposite way.

 

[unslow1]

Is that a left handed or right handed Crescent wrench?

Metric or SAE?

I have seen an adjustable wrench with marked increments SAE on one side and metric on the other. Actually I think it's a good idea.

 

[58Yeoman]

I use crescent wrenches just like a pair of Channel locks.

 

[king nero]

shouldn't the arrow be at the heavy side of the wrench? To indicate the "business end" when you use it as a hammer?

 

[Shiftless]

I have seen an adjustable wrench with marked increments SAE on one side and metric on the other. Actually I think it's a good idea.

That way you could use it as a heavy duty, not very precise caliper for measuring bolt head sizes.

 

[Ign]

Tubalcain on You tube did a video on direction of adjustable wrenches

Yep, I think this is one of those "in theory" and "tool trivia" things that doesn't much matter in practice.

 

[Ign]

Also thread from '16:
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=326260

 

[logical]

That's the direction to rotate it when you toss it in the garbage.

Actually, I have several and pull them out for light duty stuff where I am a ways away from the tool box and just want to carry a few of them without making a trip back to the box if i find out I guessed wrong about the size. I don't remember who, how or when i learned but I don;t remember ever not knowing which direction to use them.

 

[laser3kw]

I use crescent wrenches just like a pair of Channel locks.

... to beat on things!

 

[CraigStu]

tarmy, king nero, logical, laser3kw, thanks to all of you for a great series of morning chuckles.

 

[NUTTSGT]

... to beat on things!

I was going to say "to drive nails ?"

 

[Ben Buck]

I was curious- looked my adjustables.

Only found an old Crescent 12 inch that had an arrow on it, both sides.

My Channellocks- made in Spain have increments scribed into them, no arrow.

Have a couple of Kung Foo's- no arrow.

Hadn't really thought about an arrow- always torqued a fastener with the fixed end doing the work, off or on ?

YMMV

 

[snyder]

Now that everyone is checking out their adjustables, do all of your wrenches have the thumb wheel work in the same direction. I own one that may be German and it is opposite of all my ofhers.
Sorta like the harbor freight ratchets with the backwards selector.

 

[rockettgpw]

Now that everyone is checking out their adjustables, do all of your wrenches have the thumb wheel work in the same direction. I own one that may be German and it is opposite of all my ofhers.
Sorta like the harbor freight ratchets with the backwards selector.

Ahhhhggg that is the only thing that infuriates me about shifters, all the other shortcomings I can work around. I have a set of Swedish Bahco ergo from 4" to 15" but the 10" is from spain and the thumb wheel on that one is bass ackwards.
Sometimes wonder if I should recommission Dads set from the 70's.

 

[Hobby_Man22]

What about regular wrenches? All you guys must be lucky and get to work in wide open areas. I always though they were angled like they are so you can turn the nut with limited room. Am I the only one who flips the wrench around each time I remove it to get more of a turn out of the fastener? In tight places of course otherwise I just leave it on and turn it. Remember the box end of a wrench is made for breaking things loose, then. You're SUPPOSED to use the open end after its loose.

 

[Seagoon]

What about regular wrenches? All you guys must be lucky and get to work in wide open areas. I always though they were angled like they are so you can turn the nut with limited room. Am I the only one who flips the wrench around each time I remove it to get more of a turn out of the fastener? In tight places of course otherwise I just leave it on and turn it. Remember the box end of a wrench is made for breaking things loose, then. You're SUPPOSED to use the open end after its loose.

Does that mean if you use a double box end wrench you should go and get an open end wrench after you have broken the nut free?

 

[Hobby_Man22]

Emphasis on the wood suppose. Lol I keep it on the box end side and make a 360 degree rotation if space allows. Lol.

 

[SundayFunday]

... to beat on things!

You need this special model.
It was made as a joke for one of the mechanics at the factory I work at, but he used it everyday!

 

[unslow1]

You need this special model.
It was made as a joke for one of the mechanics at the factory I work at, but he used it everyday!

"Every tool has a hammer side."

 

[justanengineer]

. Remember the box end of a wrench is made for breaking things loose, then. You're SUPPOSED to use the open end after its loose.

The box end is good for helping ensure the wrench doesn’t slip off in minimal access areas where you can’t easily pull perpendicularly, but you should be able to shear any fastener with an open end. They’re the same as an adjustable, used properly they won’t open up. Used incorrectly and the weaker jaw opens up and either rounds off the fastener or breaks the wrench.


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[LS6 Tommy]

You idiot...it is a Metric left handed reversible SAE righty tightly special.

I have seen an adjustable wrench with marked increments SAE on one side and metric on the other. Actually I think it's a good idea.

Tarmy, the wrench in the pic is a cheap universal size. Unlsow1 is talking about the REALLY good ones. The problem with them is, you need two, one Metric "loosen"/SAE "tighten" and one Metric "tighten"/SAE "loosen".

Then there's this beauty, suitable for the most discriminating gimmick owner:







Tommy

 

[Ben Buck]

I forgot to add this picture of one of mine.

Son-laws dad made it- last years Xmas present.

No arrow though.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Didn’t any of you have to watch the “Primitive Pete” black & white cartoon films in high school shop class? Told you all about the right ways to use tools. If you didn’t you were a “Primitive Pete” cave man character. Those showed us the right way to use an adjustable wrench.

And I admit I tend to use them way too much (shoulder shrug)

 

[Solpainter]

It’s time again to review The ABC of Handtools. See it on you tube. A little over 12 minutes into it explains the correct way to use an adjustable wrench. First saw this WW2 training video in high school in the 60’s. As a former shop teacher it was shown to all my classes each year. GM use to give away the booklets that went with the film. I gave them out to my students each year.
I still have a copy of the booklet.

 

[justanengineer]

I don’t remember any good tool usage videos that weren’t focused on removing fake limbs. Will definitely have to lookup those videos mentioned tho for fun, thanks for sharing.

I do remember textbooks, lectures, and tests in HS, trade school, and again in engineering school on proper tool use including wrench rotation. Machine trades courses were especially full of interesting tidbits for measuring and fixturing.


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[firebirdparts]

My thought is that regardless which way you turn it there should be equal force on the slide jaw. I cannot believe that both jaws (fixed and slide) aren't doing the same amount of work

Don

You can’t look at it and see the strong side? That’s pretty remarkable to me. Look at open ended wrenches also.

I don’t think I’ve seen one with the arrow.