Hatred of Adjustable Wrenches?

[jsharpphoto]

Does anyone else hate using adjustable wrenches? I'm only a hobbyist motorcycle mechanic and homeowner, but I have NEVER had a situation where I thought the adjustable wrench was the right tool. In my youth, I rounded off far to many bolts using them improperly, i suppose, but now I cringe that I even have them in my tool box. And I consider throwing them away somewhat regularly.

 

[Loscaldazar]

Plumbing. Use them a ton there, because you're going to use the open end of a wrench (which is identical to a good adjustable wrench in terms of grip), and it's stupid to carry around the wrenches needed (since there are so many different sizes and some of them would be giant and super expensive). I plumbed a short system for my air compressor and used them to put adapters on.

 

[pendragon1998]

I didn't have a tap wrench handy last week and I used one to turn my tap. Worked surprisingly well.

 

[928'er]

Does anyone else hate using adjustable wrenches? I'm only a hobbyist motorcycle mechanic and homeowner, but I have NEVER had a situation where I thought the adjustable wrench was the right tool. In my youth, I rounded off far to many bolts using them improperly, i suppose, but now I cringe that I even have them in my tool box. And I consider throwing them away somewhat regularly.

I agree.

I don't think they are ever the right tool for the job. I do, however, still have a little 6" Diamondcalk in my tool bag. The only time I can recall using it was to replace a bicycle spoke when I didn't have a spoke wrench handy. I still remember cursing at it.

 

[jsharpphoto]

Plumbing. Use them a ton there, because you're going to use the open end of a wrench (which is identical to a good adjustable wrench in terms of grip), and it's stupid to carry around the wrenches needed (since there are so many different sizes and some of them would be giant and super expensive). I plumbed a short system for my air compressor and used them to put adapters on.

That may be a fair point. I touch plumbing stuff maybe once a year. I always used groove joint pliers, which i hate only slightly less, for plumbing, but every plumbing project I touch is either PVC or PEX.

 

[thebeekeeper1]

They work great for removing pipe plugs from gearboxes on farm equipment when adding lube. One size fits all!

 

[ChrisLS8]

I love my Channellock Wide Azz wrenches for loosening ball joint and tie rod nuts. I use them just as much as any regular wrench for that purpose..

I also like the ones that have the reversible jaws.

 

[geojag]

They work alright in large fasteners. And probably more so than any tool, there is a heck of a difference between a cheap and a quality adjustable. I use them frequently and have no problems with them, although I do use them less since I picked up a pliers wrench.

 

[superchargedv8]

i use mine when i hook up lines to my TIG machine or to the tanks.

 

[RonnieC]

They might not be the right tool, but they may be most convenient at the time. I use them fairly frequently.

 

[Kevin54]

Adjustable's are not the correct tool for anything really, but are a convenient tool to grab when you really don't need a correct fitting wrench, or if you have a couple of different size of nuts or bolts that you need to tighten or loosen. I keep on by the lathe to adjust the compound. But most of the time, I try to grab the correct size of wrench for the bolt or nuts. It's easier to grab the correct size wrench than it is to get in the truck and go buy some new bolts or nuts to replace the rounded off ones.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

Does anyone else hate using adjustable wrenches? I'm only a hobbyist motorcycle mechanic and homeowner, but I have NEVER had a situation where I thought the adjustable wrench was the right tool. In my youth, I rounded off far to many bolts using them improperly, i suppose, but now I cringe that I even have them in my tool box. And I consider throwing them away somewhat regularly.

Well, if you did not understand how to use an adjustable wrench properly, that was the biggest problem. Having an inferior brand of tool would be second. Damage due to these two problems combined, and add rust and deterioration may render an adjustable wrench the only wrench left that will remove that damaged bolt or fitting.. Rufus and his pipe wrench are not always an option...
Also, adjustables are a Godsend when a bracket on a piece of machinery needs straightening.. I have a 24" Duro that has straightened the sickle bar on more combines, swatters, and mowers than I can count.. My 12" ProTo, If properly adjusted, will hug a nut better than many open end wrenches.

The adjustable wrench may be outnumbered,, but it is definitely not outcast..

 

[crab]

3 or 4 good adjustable wrenches are a must have in any tool box. If it does what you need it to do then it's the right tool.

 

[Boilerhouse]

I used to do equipment inspections with machinery throughout a 10 acre plant on a 300 acre property. A 6 or 8 inch adjustable wrench was the perfect tool for removing small covers, snugging up air tubing lines and dozens of other uses. It was not always practical to run back to the shop for the "correct" wrench,.... adjustables worked fine for light duty work, as long as the guy before you did not torque the **** out of the fastener.

 

[Shipfittin]

I use them for:
- Torch Guages
- Large Fasteners
- Turning plate, I-Beam, T-Bar etc.

I find them very versatile and always keep 12" Crescent in my tool bag.

 

[finn]

Good for installing the regulators on the welder tanks, pulling the dock from the lake
(rusted fasteners), some plumbing jobs, and probably a few other odd jobs.

Useful enough to keep them around

 

[LXCam]

Bet you'll stop hating them when your stuck in the middle of no where without the right size wrench .

I have a complete collection up to 24", they rarely get used but when they do there wasn't a better tool for the job.

 

[efb16acrx]

Only time i really use them is when I'm out on a service call. About once a week something will blow a hydraulic hose and instead of walking over with a bunch of wrenches because I never know what hose blew and what size it is, I'll take 2 adjustables over. Unless it's somewhere I can drive the truck right up to it, which almost never happens.

 

[MikeF2316]

I most often use mine to straighten/bend/twist brackets, almost never on a threaded fastener.

 

[ProCharger]

I have a duralast that has sizes etched into it, metric one side sae other, alot of times if I am unsure of the fasteners size I will tighten it down on the fastener and remove to get the proper size socket or wrench the first time. I don't work with nuts and bolts every day so I can't judge a size on the first look. Works great.

 

[Askme42]

I feel like my pliers wrenches will quickly take their place.

 

[joebachor]

knipex pliers wrench is my go to adjustable wrench . I have all sizes plus extras that I keep with my cars, truck and a couple of my bikes. far from conventional in design with german engineering and amazing quality. you may change your mind about adjustables if you try them.

 

[SweetD]

Funny this comes up as I usually have the same thought as the OP. But today I needed to adjust the angle on my table saw blade, and the adjustment wheel is long gone. The adjustment shaft was round bar with a flat machined in it where the adjustment wheel would have been originally.

Adjustable wrench was the perfect solution. First time I've used one other than plumbing stuff for quite a while.

Dave

 

[fury9]

I just picked up a Cman USA mini adjustable wrench from ace. I'm in remodeling and it's rather handy, especially in kitchen and bath demos

 

[Jim C.]

I don't hate adjustable wrenches, and I do have a few different sizes, but I have to admit that I rarely use any of them. To me, it's one of those tools that could come in handy, so I keep them around, but it's never been the first (or second) tool I go for when I need to turn a fastener, etc.

Jim C.

 

[johninct]

If you know how to use them they work great!!! Put them on the nut or fitting slightly loose then snug them up, turn wrench, loosen the adjustable, reposition wrench then snug it up , turn etc. Had to do a Hyd. line on a payloader, regular wrenches too long, 15" adjustable was perfect!!

 

[Deadsquiggles]

As an outside machinist, since I don't like carrying a heavy *** toolbag, I'll check out an unfamiliar job with a flathead screwdriver and 12" crescent wrench.

 

[eddie_fl]

I use my Bahcos daily and I've never rounded off a bolt or damaged a hydraulic fitting. Use a tool correctly and you wont have an issue.

 

[MacMcMacmac]

I have a vintage 4" Utica Tools adjustable that comes in handy for so many things. They are also very useful for things like pipe unions, where you have two different sizes of hex's to turn, and no two companies seem to make a union the same way. You can also make them into semi-impacts if you set them a bit loose to let you get up some steam before they grab. If you look closely as a lot of pipe fittings, you will see little ridges that you can grab with an adjustable wrench when you don't have a pipe wrench handy, as seen on the couplers to the left, and on the pipe cap.

An adjustable wrench is a versatile tool under the right conditions.

 

[metaldad]

in my daily users, i have (1) 6'', (2) 8, (2) 10, (1) 12, (1) 15.
along with a complete set of sae combos, and sae sockets.

 

[SantaAna12]

Well, if you did not understand how to use an adjustable wrench properly, that was the biggest problem. Having an inferior brand of tool would be second. Damage due to these two problems combined, and add rust and deterioration may render an adjustable wrench the only wrench left that will remove that damaged bolt or fitting.. Rufus and his pipe wrench are not always an option...
Also, adjustables are a Godsend when a bracket on a piece of machinery needs straightening.

The adjustable wrench may be outnumbered,, but it is definitely not outcast..

Well said.

 

[mrvm]

Big difference in quality between the good ones and the cheap imported adjustables that can leave a lasting indifference to all adjustable wrenches. IMO a good set is good to have in the tool box.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

When I worked in industrial maintenance, I carried a few tools in my pockets that got me through 80% of the repairs. One of them was a 10" crescent wrench. Not only was it good for fasteners, the hole at the end of the handle made a handy cheater bar. Yes they can be cumbersome and won't handle very tight fasteners, but they beat carrying a complete wrench set (IMHO).

 

[tarbellb]

_ almost any plumbing job

_ almost any gas line job

_ hooking up my propane and welding tanks

_ ruining some hardware on a quality job

These are all things I use my adjustable wrenches for
and slip joint pliers will all f**k up.

(and yes, I think the Knipex will be replacing my AWs soon)

 

[sonvolt]

A good quality adjustable is a must have in certain situations ie: industrial maintenance, plumbing, field service work. I use mine regularly.

 

[shockwave]

Not so much these days the knipex pliers wrench is my go to

But mostly use adjustable wrench for low torque application where the rounding of nut is less likely or as wrench holder

And adjustable wrenches is one thing you should spend top dollar on channel lock sells some nice one for money

 

[hoston23]

I like using the snap on ones with the little teeth built in. they are good for those hard to reach places and are smaller than the wrench of the same size.

 

[Davefr]

No, I love them for holding the back nut of a fastener. Like when you're using a ratchet or wrench for the bolt head side..

 

[slip knot]

I cant imagine not having adjustable wrenches handy. I keep a 6 and a 12 on each machine. every pump house has a 12 in it too. The trucks each carry several. They may not be the best option but often they can be the only easily available option.

 

[JackDiddly]

I knew I read it here.
I hope this link works:
http://www.garagejournal.com/2009/04/harry-miller-the-adjustable/