Hatred of Adjustable Wrenches?

[Fugio]

I HATE them with a passion. If you need to round off a bolt head, then they are the perfect tool. Otherwise, they ****.
I have a drawer FULL of them. From expensive to cheap to weird gadget versions, and they all **** compared to a real wrench.
I think they need to make one that has a lever and lock onto a bolt like a vise-grip. Maybe then it wouldn't round off the bolt heads.

OK there is actually one thing that adjustable;e wrenches to VERY well. When I have a flat piece of metal in the vise and need to bend it (or straighten it), I can adjust the wrench jaws to fit it perfectly and leverage that metal into shape.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

I started to post a "not this S**T again" poster or pic, but decided not to. Virtually every tool has a purpose or use for which it is best for doing the job. Just because one person cannot find a good reason for having such a tool, doesn't mean that the tool should be banned from use, it simply means that that person has never performed a job, (most likely in professional setting) that needed said tool.

Charles

 

[Charles (in GA)]

I HATE them with a passion. If you need to round off a bolt head, then they are the perfect tool. Otherwise, they ****.
I have a drawer FULL of them. From expensive to cheap to weird gadget versions, and they all **** compared to a real wrench.
I think they need to make one that has a lever and lock onto a bolt like a vise-grip. Maybe then it wouldn't round off the bolt heads.

OK there is actually one thing that adjustable;e wrenches to VERY well. When I have a flat piece of metal in the vise and need to bend it (or straighten it), I can adjust the wrench jaws to fit it perfectly and leverage that metal into shape.

I have seen pics of such a tool, but do not know who made it.

 

[AceofSpad3s]

I have seen pics of such a tool, but do not know who made it.

Stanley makes one http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00009OYGZ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Zeke]

No hatred here. I use them all the time in the correct direction. Wouldn't use any other kind around welding stuff, yard tools, hardware grade nuts and bolts, etc. Good adjustable wrenches are just that.

 

[thebeekeeper1]

I thought of something else I use them often for--chasing threads on lightly rusted bolts and nuts. AWs work great on both the bolt head and die.

 

[35chevy]

I don't pick one up often, although I did use one a few minutes ago to add some oil to my compressor. I had one slip a few years back and I ended up with 5 stitches in my hand. It wasn't the tool's fault though, it really wasn't the correct tool for the job. It was just the only thing I had that would fit at the time. I bought several large wrenches not too long after that LOL.

 

[Strouty]

I guess a lot of people don't know how to use them?

 

[ADSR]

I love them! If nothing is around, I'll even use one as a hammer.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

No hatred here. I use them all the time in the correct direction. Wouldn't use any other kind around welding stuff, yard tools, hardware grade nuts and bolts, etc. Good adjustable wrenches are just that.

I'm with this crowd. This type of stuff plus torches and sand blaster mount etc.

Also, once you get a great one, THERE IS A DIFFERENCE

^get it. lol

 

[Beerman]

A 4 inch adjustable wrench from a quality brand is the most handy thing to have in your pocket. I carry one at work everyday and it saves me a trip back to the truck 1-2 per week.

 

[mattygee]

When you have to carry your tools on the heel and toe express you learn to economize on size and weight. A good adjustable is a perfectly legitimate tool.

 

[Strouty]

i love them! If nothing is around, i'll even use one as a hammer.

noooooo!

 

[redwrench60]

Knowing WHEN to use adjustables is almost as important as knowing HOW to use them. In some cases they are the perfect tool for the job and in others, the worst. Today my 24" tapered handle Proto with a 4 foot pipe on the end was the ONLY tool for a bigass turnbuckle with a seized lock nut on a piece of farm equipment.

It's all part of a balanced tool box. If you never need adjustables you're living a sheltered life.

 

[afbrian13]

As long as you use them the right direction they're handy. I use them sparingly when a wrench set is around.

At work when training FNG's (f-ing new guys) I dont let them use an all sixteenth until they are used to using the proper tool. Like safety wire pliers- can't use them until you can twist properly by hand.

I say this, but I just used one 30min ago to change an ice maker hose in the kitchen....

 

[Mohawk Dave]

SNIP

I say this, but I just used one 30min ago to change an ice maker hose in the kitchen....

Lol...yea, plumbing for those and the like, always Knipex pliers wrench and/or adjustable. I swear those sizes are not standard or metric.

 

[RedneckWelder]

Knowing WHEN to use adjustables is almost as important as knowing HOW to use them. In some cases they are the perfect tool for the job and in others, the worst. Today my 24" tapered handle Proto with a 4 foot pipe on the end was the ONLY tool for a bigass turnbuckle with a seized lock nut on a piece of farm equipment.

It's all part of a balanced tool box. If you never need adjustables you're living a sheltered life.

This.

Adjustables are great for certain applications. I keep 8, 15, and 24 inch ones in my box.

That said, I seldom use one on a standard nut/bolt. I tend to use them more on hydraulic/air fittings and plumbing stuff.

These are also useful as hell.

http://www.plumberscrib.com/ridgid-...m_term=31305&gclid=COOK88qM6MMCFQpk7AoddQQAxg

 

[PFSard]

I have one in my bicycle tool bag. And some inside my garage. I use them occasionally. I don't hate them, but I'm definitely not ecstatic about working on something that has had rounded bolt heads or nuts (whatever the cause).

 

[defektes]

You guys rounding bolt heads off are using adj wrenches wrong!

I love my Adjustables, namely my Channelocks, and USA Crescents.

 

[Wamsutta]

You guys rounding bolt heads off are using adj wrenches wrong!

+1

They're supposed to be loosened, repositioned, and tightened before every turn.

 

[rockinacummins]

Well... Ummm... I kinda love them rather than hate them... They are one of the things I avidly collect... Probably close to 50 so far ranging from 2" all the way up to 18"

 

[ADSR]

+1

They're supposed to be loosened, repositioned, and tightened before every turn.

unless you can just 360 em

 

[ADSR]

noooooo!

only import brands

 

[mires]

As a plumber, I love them. They get used every day. The 8'' more than any of the others. A quality adjustable is a joy to work with when dealing with all the fastener sizes we do AND you carry all your tools around with you.

 

[Beemer533]

Stanley makes one http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00009OYGZ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I have that and it actually works very well... I especially like it on towers or overhead work where I don't have to worry about it falls off (I also use lanyards, but it works well by itself)

If you despise adjustable that badly, I'm not sure you are using them correctly? Ultra cheap ones don't help either..

 

[nicksnothereman]

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.

Exactly what I was going to say. Also on some fittings they have square (non-hex) to tighten. Can't do it (well at least) with regular hex stuff.

If you do a lot of different stuff you will eventually run into something that requires something adjustable. I do okay with my low end stuff, most guys will. Just gotta know when to buy at retail. They also sell some bulk channellocks on ebay for around 10 bucks which is an option. Probably best us made bet is wilde but might be wrong.

 

[ADSR]

As a plumber, I love them. They get used every day. The 8'' more than any of the others. A quality adjustable is a joy to work with when dealing with all the fastener sizes we do AND you carry all your tools around with you.

You only use them when wearing your special pants, correct?

 

[Fretters]

An adjustable used correctly and within its limits is no different to any other spanner. There are some naff quality ones out there, however. Those are literally worthless.

 

[General Geoff]

Haven't used an adjustable since I got a Pliers-Wrench.

 

[plinker]

Hydraulic system plumbing is mainly where mine get used. There are times where a person would go nuts without them. I even use a so called "monkey wrench" at times, works great where nothing else will.

They also get used on air line fittings and some fab work as well (bending ****).

 

[Boilerhouse]

I carried a 6 inch adjustable for years. I unthreaded the worm shaft, removed the worm, and filed an additional slot in the movable jaw. The 6 inch now had a jaw opening similar to an 8 inch. Less bulky and similar performance. Not suitable for tearing down a 200 hp Atlas Copco, but fine for pneumatic lines, larger tube fittings and other light duty work.
And an adjustable can double as a real quick and dirty micrometer.

 

[beatcad]

adjustables are fine, but i'll rarely use them on a nut or bolt when i have a proper wrench or socket.
i use 'em more for bending sheet metal & odd fasteners.

OP said he was a motorcycle guy.
a regular adjustable is good on a fork tube top cap/nut but ya wanna know what is even better?
the knipex plier/wrench is the best.

 

[twertsy]

I can't think of another tool where quality matters nearly as much. I didn't read all the posts in this thread, but I guarantee someone has already made this observation (which begs the question "why are you posting it again ") but it can't be stressed enough. Get the click-stops!

 

[sberry]

Just for giggles I used an adjustable to do a tie rod job the other day. Even though I have every "right tool" 3 ft away it wasn't much harder than finding 3 or 4 things. I would be loss without them. 8 and 12 inch mostly with a little dash of 10

 

[RM209]

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.

Yup, that's a perfect application; many different sizes (both metric and SAE), and normally not a lot of torque involved (unless there's corrosion).

RM209

 

[66354dream]

All 16th's wrenches have their place, but I agree I get the funny feeling when I have to bring them out for a job as well.

 

[Bessy]

I have to admit I have probably 6 or 7 adjustable wrenches that I have either acquired as x-mas/birthday gifts, or through inheritance. I found a 24" adjustable hidden between the studs in the garage when we did sheet rock a few years back. it works surprisingly well for installing trailer balls on the four wheeler and mowers.

As for hatred? Not necessarily. while working my summers at the marina, it was a handy tool to have (be it a 6" in my back pocket or a larger one hanging off the work tractor, it beats running back to the shop midway through a job because you don't have the right size, and you don't have to lug around a full set.

 

[Steroblan]

As an industrial mechanic with a tool belt pouch, for basic maintenance jobs, the adjustable wrenches and a pair or two of Channelocks was a mainstay. No room for a whole set of wrenches. If a teardown job came up, the open enders would be deployed.

 

[Exceller8]

When I was a kid a adjustable wrench was the only tool that I used. I used it for everything but mostly for working on my bicycles. The only thing I use them for now is plumbing work. I still have several in my box that I rarely use.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

I own 5 adjustable wrenches total. 1 is in my road box along with a complete set of combination wrenches for those situations when you need two of the same size. I have 3 in my garage box in different sizes, but only use them on random ****. I recently picked up a Knipex plier wrench and they are badass.