How big is too big...adjustable wrenches that is

[Burgerkong]

18"? 24"? Saw a 18" Irega 77 locally, just thought if I should wait for a 24" because 18" is already oversized for many jobs hence fits the same niche as the 24" - except the 24" is longer and bigger. We all love longer things.

 

[ibedayank]

I have 4 inch to 15 inch and bigger and will use the pipe wrenches

 

[Bagherra]

we use a 36" underwater..

 

[dutchgray]

Depends how much it was, I would definitely pick up an 18" Irega if the price is right, I already got a USA 24" but the 18" would still be nice to have.

 

[Burgerkong]

He was asking 30 Loonies, bring it down to 20 perhaps.

 

[Jeremy77]

I use a 24" regularly doing industrial maintenance. Some times used in conjunction with a cheater so a 36" wouldn't be out of the question.

 

[Jbullfrog]

Adjustable go up to 24". OTC has a 36" that has a bolt on jaw which allows the size to be changed. Above these are 48" and 60" pipe wrenches with 8" jaw opening.

 

[B_Bimmer]

I regularly use a 24 on the farm. Rarly for turning bolts, but often for straitening anything from heavy sheet metal to light framing. If I had a metal break that would probably decrease my usage drastically... Always something else to buy.

 

[Murphy4570]

Depends on what you need.

Better to have and not need, than need and not have.

 

[davethorik]

I have 2 old Crescent Jamestown adjustable in 15 and 18 inch. And almost every smaller size. When 24s do come up for sale always expensive. If I could find one cheap enough I'd go for it.

 

[PureLeaf]

I got a 24" Proto for 95 bucks off Ebay, brand new. It definitely looks like its probably made by Wilde, as do all the wrenches that size. Seen them from Wright, Proto, Wilde, few others, but clearly the same original manufacturer.

Honestly for as big and heavy as my 24 inch is, I bet the 15" or whatever is around that size Knipex pliers wrench would work better, may even have a larger capacity. My 12" knipex definitely has much more capacity then my 15 inch adjustable wrench.

 

[Thumper68]

I have a 18" Facom comes in handy from time to time, I use it a lot to adjust steel for welding.

 

[trackwelder]

I got a 24" Proto for 95 bucks off Ebay, brand new. It definitely looks like its probably made by Wilde, as do all the wrenches that size. Seen them from Wright, Proto, Wilde, few others, but clearly the same original manufacturer.

Honestly for as big and heavy as my 24 inch is, I bet the 15" or whatever is around that size Knipex pliers wrench would work better, may even have a larger capacity. My 12" knipex definitely has much more capacity then my 15 inch adjustable wrench.

sometimes you need to beat on a adjustable with a hammer to break things lose. Can't do that with pliers.

 

[bwringer]

I have a 18" Facom comes in handy from time to time, I use it a lot to adjust steel for welding.

Same here. I don't work in a factory or on an oil rig, so the main uses for my Dad's old 24" Crescent are tweaking metal stuff. I don't know if the thing has ever been used on an actual hex.

 

[bobcatdan]

12 to 18" are the normal sizes I use. Smaller next to never. My 24" is handy to have when the job calls for it. It depends on what a guy does if he needs one that big. For the average tool user, a 18" is probably big enough.

 

[sberry]

I have bigger but really only use a 15 on occasion.

 

[dlfiene]

Channellock makes a 30" adjustable wrench! I ran across a brand new one on Ebay, sold for 75 dollars. Wish I would have bid on it now, since they sell for 300 or more at most places. Not that I needed it but it looks cool and adjust a little different than most adjustable wrenches.

https://www.channellock.com/830-Adjustable-Wrench.aspx

 

[Ericgst]

I have a wide opening 18" (about 2 1/2"). Not all adjustables open the same amount. Cheap ones sometimes open as must as the next size down of a better brand.

 

[JBradley500]

I grabbed one of the gearwrench 24's when they were like 30 bucks.

 

[rmsg0040]

I bought a no name 18" adjustable and only ever used it once, if your going to use it go for it

 

[zmotorsports]

I have an 18" and 24" that I routinely used for both industrial maintenance as well as in our Fleet shop. I don't use them as much at home but on occassion there as well when working on large RV's.

Mike.

 

[MJD1]

I have the 30" bluepoint, use it a lot for straightening bent brackets and such. Beats a pipe wrench for bigger stuff.

 

[Jim C.]

I'm a serious DIYer but for some reason don't find myself using an adjustable wrench too often. I have a 16" that was given to me several years ago by a friend of mine and I don't think I've ever used it. When I do have an occasion to use an adjustable wrench, it seems to usually be a 10".

Jim C.

 

[sberry]

I use 10's more than I used to. Back in Ironwork it was a 12 and a lot of 8 in farm. I have a couple small but can could live without them.

 

[Gotcha640]

I have a 48 inch aluminum proto pipe wrench and a 36 inch adjustable that I got for $10 each from the steam plant at a college. The maintenance was being subbed out, and they auctioned off most of the tools. Everyone else said "why would you need such ginormous tools?!?" and I said "what a silly question!"

 

[johninct]

I will give a dumb answer. It does depend on what you work on. I had to use my 24" with a cheater pipe to take the tank nut off of my Snap-On YA-700 jack. I would buy a 3' or 4' if a saw a good deal.

 

[PSD_Ryan]

Used a 24 often in the oilfield. Sometimes with a 5 foot cheater pipe. Don't think I'd have a user for one at home

 

[popparoach]

30" bluepoint isn't big enough sometimes.doesn't open up wide enough

 

[airrj]

I bought a 3 piece set from Harbor Freight years ago. 15",18" and 24". I use the 15" regularly as a wrench, the 18 and 24 I find myself using for bending and straightening mostly. I have been very happy with the low cost versions. And I don't use them all of the time, but they have been very handy.

 

[wagon]

I got a 24" Proto for 95 bucks off Ebay, brand new. It definitely looks like its probably made by Wilde, as do all the wrenches that size. Seen them from Wright, Proto, Wilde, few others, but clearly the same original manufacturer.

probably western forge.

 

[Burgerkong]

Ugh, enablers. Simpler question this time. Irega, or Diamalloy (Diamond)?

 

[popparoach]

irega,ftr

 

[shamrock12]

I have Irega adjustable wrenches that ranged from 4" up to 18". Almost sprung up to 24" but decided that the high cost and little use wasn't enough to justify that size. I concluded that I would be better off using my 24" and 36" pipe wrenches for anything larger than what the 18" adjustable can handle.

 

[Burgerkong]

Thought I'd put this here as well, my pickups for the day (the Bahco's). Still like the Channellocks more due to the wider capacity and smoother thumbwheel, but 25 Loonies for the 4 adjustables I just HAD to take it.

 

[drink]

18"? 24"? Saw a 18" Irega 77 locally, just thought if I should wait for a 24" because 18" is already oversized for many jobs hence fits the same niche as the 24" - except the 24" is longer and bigger. We all love longer things.

It depends on what you are working on. My set only goes as high as a 12" adjustable wrench. However, I have been interested in buying a bigger one.

 

[MacMcMacmac]

A 48" steel pipe wrench is forged in hell itself....

 

[rharman]

18" Craftsman - probably 30 or more years old - USA. Still looks like new.

Use it rarely but there's no substitute when you need it.

I'd buy a 24" if I could find one reasonably priced. Just to hang it on the wall!

 

[gmwelder86]

Have 2-15s and a 24" gearwrench I got a couple years ago just cause it was on sale. Have yet to really find a need for it but looks neat in the tool box. At work 36-48" pipe wrenches pretty common occurrence.

 

[jvitez]

Thought I'd put this here as well, my pickups for the day (the Bahco's). Still like the Channellocks more due to the wider capacity and smoother thumbwheel, but 25 Loonies for the 4 adjustables I just HAD to take it.

25 bucks? Score!!! And the Bahco's are made in Sweden, cool.

I only had my Dad's old 10" Gray adjustable for a long time, then decided I should get a collection of different sizes, because, well, I might need them some day, and, well, you know, I like tools.

I've used my 15" Channellock (Irega) a few times only, but nothing else would have worked. Best was doing the belly crawl in my crawl space fixing geothermal PVC pipe and cranking on new brass fittings. I have Gray, Indestro, Crescent, and Channellock/Irega adjustables. The Irega made ones are the best: smooth action, the least slip, and widest opening.

Would I ever get a 24" adjustable? I'd have no need for it, but if the price was right, it would make a great conversation piece hung in my shop.

 

[Amish]

From 4" up to a 30" Bluepoint one
I think the smaller one in the pic is a 12" for comparison.