Decent quality adjustable wrenches

[thool]

I've somehow survived all this time with an old Williams branded adjustable wrench that opens just shy of 3/4". After about 20 years of finding myself in situations where I wish I had a larger adjustable, I finally buckled and got the black HF 3-pack laser-etched ones.

How do I put this nicely...THEY ****. There is an obscene amount of play in the wheel and the moving jaw, and the moving jaw itself has a huge amount of play in the channel. I tried using them on something recently and it kept losing its setting.

So I'm looking for a decent set that won't break the bank. I saw GearWrench had some very poor reviews, which surprised me because their socket sets are quite nice (I have 2). I'd like to find a medium and large wrench that doesn't have slop and feels pretty good in my hand.

For the record: I don't use these often, but sometimes if I'm in the shed or helping a friend, I can't bring every tool along. Or if I find I need 2 3/4" wrenches, one to hold something and the other to turn something, the adjustable is adequate for the holding. Plus I have a gap in one of my tool drawers!

 

[JiminAZ]

The US made NAPA ones are good. Have a look at HJE. Also I've bought a larger (15") Wright adjustable from them for about $35IIRC and never looked back. That thing is great.

 

[Air21]

Have you looked at the Knipex Pliers Wrench? It's a little pricey but I find something to use it for twice as often as I do my crescent wrench

 

[Bigblockyeti]

I have a couple Proto that I've been easy on and they still look and perform like new after 15 years. I had a three pack of early HF black oxide and the play in them was terrible. Crescent are okay for what they are but the fit and finish aren't up to the higher end brands.

 

[smuro04]

I have a few of the Channellock Code Blue adjustable wrenches made by Irega in Spain. Price is reasonable and quality is excellent.

 

[Rattle]

Klein makes a decent adjustable wrench

 

[JiminAZ]

Here's the Wright 15" from HJE. Overkill for 3/4" but you still need one.

Also others from Wright at HJE. Not cheap but not super expensive either.

And HJE has their own branded adjustables now. Look like the Western Forge models that a lot of folks sell, which are serviceable in my mind.

I like the folks at HJE. No connection just a happy customer.

 

[B_Bimmer]

The older proto forged ones are the best I have used, amazingly tight and smooth. They are readily available used in decent shape on ebay. Even the 24" is a work of art.

 

[Yarpo]

Any of the channellock ones made by Irega in Spain. Dont think you'll find better quality for the price

 

[Professional Tool User]

I would go find an old USA made used one. Pipe and adjustable wrenches are inexpensive and plentiful on the used market.

 

[uncwstudent]

The Channellock adjustable wrenches are pretty good. They're made in Spain as well.

 

[thool]

Thanks. I'd like to balance my set with more American-made products, so that will be a factor in my decision.

 

[eschoendorff]

I have a few of the Channellock Code Blue adjustable wrenches made by Irega in Spain. Price is reasonable and quality is excellent.

Any of the channellock ones made by Irega in Spain. Dont think you'll find better quality for the price

This. Fantastic wrenches for the price

 

[RedneckWelder]

The US made Craftsman ones (made by western forge) work extremely well

 

[paulsomlo]

Here's the Wright 15" from HJE. Overkill for 3/4" but you still need one.

Also others from Wright at HJE. Not cheap but not super expensive either.

And HJE has their own branded adjustables now. Look like the Western Forge models that a lot of folks sell, which are serviceable in my mind.

I like the folks at HJE. No connection just a happy customer.

I 2nd that emotion - I bought both an Allen brand and the HJE branded adjustables from Harry Epstein's, both good and both made at Western Forge.

 

[d.mcfarland]

I have a few of the Channellock Code Blue adjustable wrenches made by Irega in Spain. Price is reasonable and quality is excellent.

Irega is the best current production in my opinion.

 

[AS556]

I like my Proto USA marked adjustable 8". They're $20 on Amazon.

I have the Spain marked Channellock 6" and it's nice too. It is my belief after examining both that the Klein and Channellock are coming out of the exact same factory.

 

[65k10]

Another vote here for the Spanish made Channellock adjustable wrenches.

 

[sberry]

There must be 2 or maybe 3 Asian makers. They are sold under Napa, maybe ATD and are very good. You can find them ink stamped "China" in other white boxes and flea mkt. HF must not contract with that maker. I have had old HF and they were not good like this other model which I suspect was American engineered.
I got lots, in the 8 and 12 this is what's in my road box. It's hard to improve on something made so long but they did it in a generic model that can be sold,, same wrench branded and sold under different price points.

 

[matt_i]

My fave was the Diamond Tool and Horseshoe adjustable wrench. Forged in USA, Minnesota I think.

Next were the very early 2000s Snap on AD-series (before the unhappy red cushion grips got molded on the handles )

And +1 more for the Spanish Channellocks. They have a very "sharp" thin jaw way out at the end and I bent the tips on a 12" wrench recently trying to unstick a stubborn pipe fitting but I don't fault the tool for that.

 

[trackwelder]

We use nothing but Proto at work and they take a beating. Most of the discount china ones I have used got thrown as far as I could pitch them. I like hitting estates and garage sales for tools. I have bought hundreds of quality USA brands for dirt cheap. I have a few in every car, truck, shed, or piece of equipment.

 

[metaldad]

channey -

 

[AS556]

channey -

What are the strips of tape for?

 

[davethorik]

You have 2 basic options for new...WF or Irega. Aside from vintage wrenches, most new adjustables you find will be WF, Irega, or rebrands of those 2.

Edit: or Chinese made. Lol

 

[BikeRider]

I just got a locking adjustable 8" Craftsman at Sears. So long as you crank the wheel down just before you lock it in, it stays put and tight, like a vice grip but with parallel jaws and with only a slight bit of compression, like maybe a mm if that, so fewer worries about deforming softer metals. I just used it for a minor task (I used a larger impact socket than I should have to remove a lug nut, which jammed the two together, and needed something to hold the socket firmly while I punched out the nut), and it did exactly what I needed it to do. Costs $18. Well worth it. They also have a 10", and a set with both.

 

[Elsinore13]

Garage sales and estate sales for the win. Getting to the point that I love my old tool scores better than buying something shiny and new. Good old American iron never goes out of style

 

[plinker]

Irega & Western forge make the majority of the adjustable wrenches in the US market. Cant really go wrong with either.

Klein (newer) & Channellock are Irega. Older US made Klein were essentially made on TOP tooling (Japanese brand) and are very smooth & excellent quality. The newer Kleins have a size chart on the jaw. The wide jaw Channellock wrenches are very handy. I have a couple WF made wrenches, S-K & Craftsman, no issues.

 

[sberry]

I probably got 1 of most brands, several of some including Proto and Diamond. Sprayed handles orange on some, using them in snow.

 

[seanb02]

Channellock has my vote. While they don't make the wrenches themselves, it is one of the cheaper rebrands you will be able to find for a great quality made in Spain wrench.

 

[mikebaker1129]

Bahco and Snap On.
Bahco has a line made in China and some others are made in Spain.
I like the Swedish made Bahco's but the knurl is backwards from every other ajustable out there. THe chrome snappys are excellent ,but tend to grows legs and find a new home.

 

[tonyciambrone]

I will agree with Irega made adjustables are great and also that the Knipex pliers wrenches are more useful to me.

usually that opinion gets flamed, oh well.

I have 10 12 and 15" adjustables at work but they just sit in the drawer. the 7, 10 and 16" Plierswrenches are what get used, along with Cobras all the way up to the 22" pair

 

[metaldad]

What are the strips of tape for?

so i know, which box/bag/truck gets what

 

[Dieselhammer]

One answer, Wright. i've used quite a few brands of adjustable wrenches and of all that i've used my favorite is my trusty 12" wright wrench, i'll take it even over the snap on offerings and i'm a big snap on fan. Super solid, no slop, can be an adjustable wrench, metal bender, or crescent hammer as needed and never complain lol.

 

[cherrybomb]

I'm really happy with my Proto click stops.They stay in the adjustment you have chosen.The fit and finish is great,I have one with the black finish and a 12 inch with the coated,I will buy a 15 inch .

 

[Fix Until Broke]

Check for Bahco on Amazon. Just like Williams, they are owned by Snap On and are the same wrenches you buy off the truck but without the chrome finish and brand name. I have 2 of them, a 10" and 12" I think. Very nice for the price.

Unfortunately they are made in China these days, but you can always buy Crescent brand at your local Home Depot, Lowes, Ace, etc...

I have not used some of the Spanish wrenches mentioned above, but have used a lot of the Bacho and was impressed with them regardless of the price. The jaws open much wider for a given size compared to most others allowing you to use a smaller (shorter) wrench on a larger bolt which is really handy. The jaws are narrow at the tip/wide at the base so will fit better in tight spaces and there's not a lot of extra material in the head where it's not needed.

https://www.bahco.com/en/p/80-serie...ac-35-fd-6f-92-f6-ab-05-5f-7d-3c-da-fa-c1-0a/

Have you looked at the Knipex Pliers Wrench? It's a little pricey but I find something to use it for twice as often as I do my crescent wrench

Don't overlook these - they're AWESOME! I bought one because it looked handy, boy was that an understatement. I almost never use a regular pliers anymore and use regular wrenches less often as well.

https://www.knipex.com/index.php?id=1216&page=group_detail&groupID=1500&d=1

 

[Crabman]

I got good deals on a couple of USA Protos through the ebay permathread on Hot Deals. They are both very nice and tight. 18" was $30 delivered new which was a honking deal I think. The smaller one I bought was so good I ended up buying a spare.
Bruce

 

[Fialaja]

Cripe distributing has some Kd, Napa, Allen stuff for cheap on eBay

 

[Dagny]

bahco

 

[crasher98]

What are the strips of tape for?

so i know, which box/bag/truck gets what

My guess was red = standard, blue = metric, orange = torx, yellow = weapon.

 

[TheLoamRanger]

Have you looked at the Knipex Pliers Wrench? It's a little pricey but I find something to use it for twice as often as I do my crescent wrench

+1 on the Knipex Pliers Wrench. Easily one of my favorite tools. Admittedly, I haven't tried most of the other adjustable wrenches here (I have a few older Craftsman and Williams ones), but the Knipex are super versatile.

They aren't exactly cheap, but they are worth every penny IMO.