European Adjustable Wrenches
- Thread starter BrandonV
- Start date
ZRX61
Well-known member
I had a Swedish Bahco about 40 years ago.
scooby074
Well-known member
Stahlwilie says made in Germany. Looks like Irega though.
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stonesfan68
Well-known member
Facom may still make adjustable wrenches in France
Jack Ryan
Well-known member
Powder coated (which I don't believe) and left handed like a Bahco.Stahlwilie says made in Germany. Looks like Irega though.
Jack
four.cycle
Well-known member
@BrandonV -
I may be mistaken, but I think Irega is the only one making them now in Europe. I know we no longer make them here (other than Snap-on? or are they outsourcing them as well?)
Another member posted a Japan-made unit that he sounded pretty impressed with. Not sure if it was in "new tools" or "tools of Japan" thread.
Might want to consider that as an option?
I may be mistaken, but I think Irega is the only one making them now in Europe. I know we no longer make them here (other than Snap-on? or are they outsourcing them as well?)
Another member posted a Japan-made unit that he sounded pretty impressed with. Not sure if it was in "new tools" or "tools of Japan" thread.
Might want to consider that as an option?
Dave455
Well-known member
As far as I am aware, Irega and Irimo are the only European manufacturers, both in Spain.
Gedore are Chinese. I’ve seen them and don’t much care for them.
Facom, under SBD ownership, are also made in China. Don’t much like these either. Nowhere near traditional Facom quality.
Bahco were originally made in Sweden, and very high quality. Since being bought by Snap On their wrenches have been made by Irimo I believe, also owned by Snap On, who make the Snap On adjustables. I don’t know if Irimo manufacture for any third parties outside the Snap On group.
The fact that a product is made by a particular manufacturer doesn’t necessarily mean that it will be the same as other products from the same maker. Different customers can request different specs.
The Irimo wrenches made for Snap On, for example, have a very high standard of finish.
I own a Stahlwille adjustable wrench obviously made by Irega, the quality of which I can certainly vouch for. I don’t think it’s quite as good as my Swedish made Bahco, but it’s close. I would say the same of Hazet.
Neither are as good as the U.S. made Crescent I inherited from my Grandfather!
The best selection of new adjustables seems to come from Japan. Those made by Top and Lobtex are well regarded here.
Best of the bunch is probably the Nepros.
Gedore are Chinese. I’ve seen them and don’t much care for them.
Facom, under SBD ownership, are also made in China. Don’t much like these either. Nowhere near traditional Facom quality.
Bahco were originally made in Sweden, and very high quality. Since being bought by Snap On their wrenches have been made by Irimo I believe, also owned by Snap On, who make the Snap On adjustables. I don’t know if Irimo manufacture for any third parties outside the Snap On group.
The fact that a product is made by a particular manufacturer doesn’t necessarily mean that it will be the same as other products from the same maker. Different customers can request different specs.
The Irimo wrenches made for Snap On, for example, have a very high standard of finish.
I own a Stahlwille adjustable wrench obviously made by Irega, the quality of which I can certainly vouch for. I don’t think it’s quite as good as my Swedish made Bahco, but it’s close. I would say the same of Hazet.
Neither are as good as the U.S. made Crescent I inherited from my Grandfather!
The best selection of new adjustables seems to come from Japan. Those made by Top and Lobtex are well regarded here.
Best of the bunch is probably the Nepros.
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Never heard of Irimo before. But a quick look at their website tells me they could have made the non-comfort grip adjustable wrenches. Although Irimo doesn't list COO on their website.
But the Snap On adjustable wrenches I own have the comfort grip and made in Spain. I have to assume they were made by Bacho as you can purchase nearly identical Bahco branded wrenches.
Our Brands | Snap-on Incorporated
Irimo tools, the wisest business investment.
Irimo is a Spanish-rooted brand within SNA Europe, the premier hand tools European manufacturer. An international network of distributors allows Irimo to get to professionals all around the world. With sales offices in most of the countries. You have a direct contact in your local language for...
www.irimo.com
rancherbill
Well-known member
That very problem has kept me from buying some of the really nice Euro stuff I see.
Dave455
Well-known member
Never heard of Irimo before. But a quick look at their website tells me they could have made the non-comfort grip adjustable wrenches. Although Irimo doesn't list COO on their website.
But the Snap On adjustable wrenches I own have the comfort grip and made in Spain. I have to assume they were made by Bacho as you can purchase nearly identical Bahco branded wrenches.
Our Brands | Snap-on Incorporated
www.snapon.com
Irimo tools, the wisest business investment.
Irimo is a Spanish-rooted brand within SNA Europe, the premier hand tools European manufacturer. An international network of distributors allows Irimo to get to professionals all around the world. With sales offices in most of the countries. You have a direct contact in your local language for...
Bahco and Irimo both made adjustables at one time.
They are no longer separate entities however.
They have both been bought up by SNA Europe, who can use either brand name on any product.
You can consider that the Snap On adjustables are made by Bahco if you like, but the original Bahco factory in Sweden is, I believe, long gone. They certainly don’t make adjustables there.
Bahco and Irimo adjustables, although subtly different, both originate from the same (Irimo) factory in Spain
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Dave455
Well-known member
Read carefully!Hazet offers several adjustable wrenches with the COO listed as Germany. Not sure of the actual manufacturer though. Chrome or phosphate finishes, both are nice.
The 600N combination wrench is “Made in Germany”, but no COO is listed for the 279 adjustable.
I can tell you they are made in Spain as the Irega pattern is quite distinctive.
oldschoolcraft
Well-known member
How did it wind up that Irega in Spain makes 99.99% of all adjustable wrenches by total quantity produced annually that aren't aren't otherwise made in China?
four.cycle
Well-known member
@oldschoolcraft -
^ Because that's all they do, and they do it well. Everybody else tried to devise ways to outsource, or increase profit margins by compromising product, or got acquired by another company, or simply went out of business.
^ Because that's all they do, and they do it well. Everybody else tried to devise ways to outsource, or increase profit margins by compromising product, or got acquired by another company, or simply went out of business.
Anyone notice that Stahlwille prices have dropped by an order of magnitude?...........I used to get colour flyers from the local agents with prices like $600 for a set of 8 combi wrenches ...astronomical ...........now the tools are on ebay ,of all places.
richfinn
Well-known member
Knipex Pliers Wrench anybody?
Not really sure why you would need an old school Adjustable nowadays, Knipex have a better solution
Not really sure why you would need an old school Adjustable nowadays, Knipex have a better solution
Stahlwille is made in Spain (says so on their own data sheet), so 100% Irega. I don't know where folks see made in Germany.
All the Bahcos I know of are either made in China or Spain. I don't know of any Swedish these days.
Edit: scrap that, even the Gedores are made in China.
All the Bahcos I know of are either made in China or Spain. I don't know of any Swedish these days.
Edit: scrap that, even the Gedores are made in China.
esben57
Well-known member
Back in the day the old timers would have just 2 - 3 open end spanners. Old chunky Snail brand and the like.
These would be adjusted to fit any bolt or nut by packing the jaws with washers.
Have a 30 plus year old Swedish Bahco - now Chinese made.
Have a Gedore, German made identical pattern to Bahco, very good.
These would be adjusted to fit any bolt or nut by packing the jaws with washers.
Have a 30 plus year old Swedish Bahco - now Chinese made.
Have a Gedore, German made identical pattern to Bahco, very good.
They're bulkier though and simply cant fit into all the places a traditional adjustable can.Knipex Pliers Wrench anybody?
Not really sure why you would need an old school Adjustable nowadays, Knipex have a better solution
u118224
Well-known member
Does Nepros offer an adjustable bigger than 250mm (10 in.)? I thought they did but i can't find anything online.
Dave455
Well-known member
No, sadly just the one.Does Nepros offer an adjustable bigger than 250mm (10 in.)? I thought they did but i can't find anything online.
KTC offer a variety of sizes in their regular lineup, as do Top.
Lobtex offer different sizes, and also many different models.
Even different colours, should you opt for dip coated.
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Used to buy the Chinese 18 "and 24 " shifters for $20 each by the carton ,no one was going to steal Chinese,like if you paid $200 for a Crescent ,it was gone in 60 seconds ,as they say........... a lot of the fitters would grind a piece out of the worm to make them slip adjustable ......I hate that ,but can tolerate it on a $20 wrench.................also got a 30" Bahco ...pre Bahco actually ..B.J. Hjorth &Co.
KnurledNut
Well-known member
The latest C-series are made in Elizabethton, TN.
neophyte
Well-known member
Irega decided to set up to manufacture adjustable wrenches,
and only adjustable wrenches.
The Knipex Plier Wrench works poorly for nuts and fasteners made of softer material, like zinc alloys and plastic, because it crushed the fastener nuts with too much force.Knipex Pliers Wrench anybody?
Not really sure why you would need an old school Adjustable nowadays, Knipex have a better solution
This excess force makes it harder to turn fasteners.
A regular adjustable wrench gets set at the correct width, and then just turns against the flats, eliminating the problem of crushing a fastener.
Knipex Pliers Wrench anybody?
Not really sure why you would need an old school Adjustable nowadays, Knipex have a better solution
I think they are different tools. Personally I don't like the pliers wrench. Had 2 of them, tried to use them, but ended up selling them. Adjustables are easier to adjust and use. Hard to explain.
four.cycle
Well-known member
^ The "pliers wrench" idea doesn't work for everyone. I gave a buddy a pair of them and he asked me a couple weeks later "What are you supposed to use these things on?"
(As a rule, he does NOT use "adjustable" wrenches.)
(As a rule, he does NOT use "adjustable" wrenches.)
richfinn
Well-known member
I like my Knipex Pliers wrench to the point I've discarded my old Bahco Adjustable, they are lighter to carry, faster to adjust and less likely to slip, and slimmer in profile.
I don't do any plumbing, just automotive stuff. So they might not suit everyone I suppose.
"Made In Germany" if it matters to the OP
I don't do any plumbing, just automotive stuff. So they might not suit everyone I suppose.
"Made In Germany" if it matters to the OP
Right you are! The Hazet 279 does not appear to be made in Germany.
I've checked with the company I purchased mine from (www.jensputzier.com) and they've responded that the Hazet 279 had been manufactured in Spain but, according to Hazet, is now manufactured in Taiwan.
KnurledNut
Well-known member
If you’re a mechanic you do plumbing.
Does anyone know who makes the insulated adjustable wrench for Knipex?
Wamsutta
Well-known member
The Kleins are super nice. Very smooth mechanical action and very comfortable. Made in Spain.
neophyte
Well-known member
Grainger says the Knipex adjustable insulated wrenches are made in Spain, and the wrench looks Irega made to me.If you’re a mechanic you do plumbing.
Does anyone know who makes the insulated adjustable wrench for Knipex?
It’s possible Knipex does the insulation, since Irega insulated wrenches have a slightly different insulation pattern.
neophyte
Well-known member
He specifically asked for something European that is NOT Irega. If it's Spain it's Irega. That ****** company supplies half the world.
Wamsutta
Well-known member
What's wrong with Irega ? Did we ever figure that out ?
They make okayish wrenches, but from my little to no experience they get loose easily. I for one hate adjustable wrenches. I have 2 Milwaukees (which are a tiny bit better) and use them once every blue Moon. The pliers wrenches get little to no use either. I like to use wrenches of the proper size unless I don't have that size, which is usually 42 mm for plumbing or on really rare occasions some imperial size (that is not 1/2). If I wanted something good I'd probably go with Lobtex.
Dave455
Well-known member
Not strictly true.
Irimo are made in Spain also, and they’re not Irega.
Looks like the Klein above might be made by Irimo, it’s the same style as the wrench below, although Irimo also make the Snap On and Bahco branded wrenches, which are both slightly different.
