How useful do you find adjustable wrenches?

[johninct]

I keep an old Crescent Brand one above my work bench along with a few open end wrenches.. Just because someone doesn't use it in their work doesn't mean that other people don't use it all of the time.

 

[Can I try?]

They're fine if one's used to them, but what can an adjustable do that a pliers wrench can't do as well or better?

GJ is currently in an intense extended love affair with the pliers wrench. I get it. I have them. They're cool. They work well.

A good adjustable can do everything a pliers wrench can do. A pliers wrench can not do everything a good adjustable can do.

A pliers wrench can not withstand being used with a cheater pipe. A pliers wrench can not be used as a striking wrench.

 

[Negen]

I have never seen broken pliers wrench. I now you got me wondering how long of a cheater pipe I need to brake them. Most adjustable wrenches made by WF seem to be able to brake with just average force from a cheater pipe. I wonder what the most accurate way to measure the breaking point would be.

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[pstemari]

Until I brought a 1-3/16” service wrench, the main use for mine was connecting and disconnecting the hose reels from the hose bibs in the spring and fall.

Since then, they're been very lonely. Everything I used to use them for now has properly sized OE wrenches that I use instead.

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[bigjeff94]

I have an industrial millwright/mining background. I carry a 10" adjustable and a pair of channellocks in my back pocket every single day, even when working in the garage at home on our skidsteers, tractors, vehicles, I still have them on me out of habit. I have them from 4" up to 18" and I would not want to be without them. Sure at home if I have the option I'll use the proper sized wrench/socket for the job. But underground or in a prep plant, your toolbox might be a long way off.

 

[Can I try?]

I have never seen broken pliers wrench. I now you got me wondering how long of a cheater pipe I need to brake them. Most adjustable wrenches made by WF seem to be able to brake with just average force from a cheater pipe. I wonder what the most accurate way to measure the breaking point would be.

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I don't hold Western Forge as the standard bearer for adjustable wrench quality.

It's been my experience that they are barely better than cheap import wrenches. They have chunky jaws, don't adjust smoothly, and they're overweight (Compensating for metal quality, maybe?). They do have less slop in the jaws than cheap import wrenches.

Part of the reason that adjustables get a bum rap is because people dismiss the design based on their experiences with lesser quality wrenches without ever having used a high quality adjustable.

 

[Can I try?]

I think I smell a "Fear of Adjustable Wrenches" thread coming.

 

[Negen]

I don't hold Western Forge as the standard bearer for adjustable wrench quality.

It's been my experience that they are barely better than cheap import wrenches. They have chunky jaws, don't adjust smoothly, and they're overweight (Compensating for metal quality, maybe?). They do have less slop in the jaws than cheap import wrenches.

Part of the reason that adjustables get a bum rap is because people dismiss the design based on their experiences with lesser quality wrenches without ever having used a high quality adjustable.

Besides Spain or Japan I never seen adjustable wrenches not made by WF. My Chinese dewalt is stout but sloppy. My Sears Japan made is probably my best. My nepros is OK. My proto are nice but thin and not enough metal. What would you consider to be a good adjustable. In USA I never seen a brand not marked WF. Unless vintage.

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[JBH]

Hold a nut on the other side of the wall with no one holding it.
They have the mass to be a good hammer.
Smooth jaws do not damage what is being worked.
Close up to zero or a few thousands to work sheet metal.
Always parallel jaw faces.

They have their place in my tool box and get used when needed.

lg
no neat sig line

Your reply suggests you're unfamiliar with the pliers wrench, which has smooth adjustable jaws that remain parallel to each other. Here are two examples:

I'll take your point about reluctance to beat on a PW with a hammer though, if only because they're fairly expensive.

They hold on to stuff without having to squeeze the handles with your hand. I hate using pliers for that reason.

Fair enough, though in any situation where you can't just spin the tool a PW's ratcheting action is much faster loosen-remove-reposition-tighten dance required with an adjustable.

 

[johnnyrep]

Bahco good but

Those knipex pliers wrench [above] take the game forward,10 times better than anything else adjustable.

 

[clubairth]

Thanks for the education on PW's! Did not know how they were different.
Sweet Pliers! What is the cost of the ones in the picture?

Here is a variation on the old crescent wrench idea.
I got a couple coming from Sears so will see how they work.

Had not heard of anybody using them?
.
.
.

 

[Can I try?]

Besides Spain or Japan I never seen adjustable wrenches not made by WF. My Chinese dewalt is stout but sloppy. My Sears Japan made is probably my best. My nepros is OK. My proto are nice but thin and not enough metal. What would you consider to be a good adjustable. In USA I never seen a brand not marked WF. Unless vintage.

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I have first-hand experience with Irega and Bahco. They are both miles above anything else I've used in quality, aside from a couple old US-made adjustables I've used. I have a 12" Irega I use at work that has withstood an insane amount of abuse without any degradation in usability. It's never rounded over a fastener thanks to the lack of play in the adjustable jaw. Irega is hard to find here under their own name, but they can be had as Klein or Channellock rebrands.

 

[johnnyrep]

They don’t mark either

 

[larry_g]

Your reply suggests you're unfamiliar with the pliers wrench, which has smooth adjustable jaws that remain parallel to each other. Here are two examples:

I'll take your point about reluctance to beat on a PW with a hammer though, if only because they're fairly expensive.



Fair enough, though in any situation where you can't just spin the tool a PW's ratcheting action is much faster loosen-remove-reposition-tighten dance required with an adjustable.

I thought you were talking about the Americian plierwrench which I have...

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Dave455]

Well, I don’t think I’d ever use an adjustable on anything automotive, or aerospace, or any decent machine tool, which accounts for about 95% of what I work on!

Would I be without one, or two, in my ‘go bag’? No way!

Pretty much an essential tool for pipe fittings, turning square shafts or tightening machine vices, or just changing the gas cylinder on the forklift!

Quality is all though - most of mine are old British made Garrington, but I have a couple of my Grandfathers pre war Crescent wrenches, which are hard to better! Nepros look nice though!

The pliers wrench have their place, and I have a 10 inch in my go bag too, but a decent adjustable works better for most of what I do!

 

[ertman]

Bahco good but

Those knipex pliers wrench [above] take the game forward,10 times better than anything else adjustable.

Yup! The only adjustables I'll use are the Knipex. Game changers.

 

[MBfreak]

A bot off topic, but here goes

I was involved in some aspects of replacing a 650 MVA 1500 rpm 4 pole turbo generator. 19 kV nominal voltage. Mostly calculation short circuit behavior towards the power grid.
It was made in France and beautifully made and installed. The generator French specialists who installed it were superb craftsmen. Each had his standard tool kit in a custom made tool box, each tool was numbered. When taking the out of the locked tool store room they were 100 % inspected every morning and also when returned at the end of the day.
Job was completed on time .
After 62 hours service there was a huge flashover ( they are hydrogen gas cooled)
The copper end shields , 160 mm thick bulged out but luckily the rotor stayed centered so no lamination damage.
Post mortem revealed that an Bacho adjustable spanner , at least what was left of it, weas lodged in the winding ends under the flux shields and had been evaporated to around 50 %. What was left clearly showed that it was a BACHO 10" adjustable.
It was definitely NOT left by the generator specialists.
The only guess was that some ventilation people on a scaffold 10 meter above the generator had dropped it and when it "passed by" the quite strong remaining magnetic field when the rotor is installed had sucked it in to the winding end.
Probably the most expensive Bacho tool, ever. Repairs cost around MUSD 55 and took 4 months. Done at site .

Sorry no pics since there is a very strict policy for photos and cameras inside a nuclear power station.

Ola

 

[davethorik]

Besides Spain or Japan I never seen adjustable wrenches not made by WF. My Chinese dewalt is stout but sloppy. My Sears Japan made is probably my best. My nepros is OK. My proto are nice but thin and not enough metal. What would you consider to be a good adjustable. In USA I never seen a brand not marked WF. Unless vintage.

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I believe you are right about WF wrenches being the only USA made adjustable wrenches nowadays. Well, maybe not only...I assume Ampco is still around, but theirs are non-sparking and $$$ new.

But as far as traditional adjustables...Proto are now WF, same with some of Williams (also seen Sweden).

I have never had an adjustable wrench break, but then again I don't use them as pry bars or hammers. I have a few WF wrenches wearing various brands and they range from sloppy to good. My sloppiest adjustable is an older Proto Clik-Stop 4" that appears unused, surprisingly. My best is an old Utica 12".

Edit: I use adjustables a decent amount at work. My 12" and 6" get most use, but I have an 8, 10, 15, and 20 that get occasional use as well. I used to have a 4" that I used a decent amount too, however the Knipex 5" pliers wrench was a much better fit for my uses.

I keep a 10 and a 6 in my contractor tools (plumbing). I have a 12 and 6 inside my place to assemble furniture and whatnot.

 

[ChrisLS8]

I have a 10" Stanley Maxgrip I thought would be gimmicky and it actually works really well. I use it almost daily at work for all sorts of things

 

[McFarmer]

If I gotta crawl up in a 60 foot silo to change a belt I will run into maybe 1/2, 9/16, 5/8, 11/16, 3/4 and maybe 15/16. Oh, and I’ll need to of them.

Eight and ten inch wrench and I’ve got it covered.

Plus I’ve got the hammer covered too. And the pry bar.

 

[AceofSpad3s]

For the purpose of using it a car like marketers at sears or on TV for some reason think, I don't. But with doing plumbing, I find them a lot more useful, softer materials and stuff isn't as rusted on so as long as long as the wrench isn't really lose, I've never had any issues.

 

[Zebu Fellenz]

A good adjustable is indispensable and one with markings for size is even better!

I use adjustable wrenches as rudimentary calipers to check/confirm fastener size almost as much as I use them as wrenches.

 

[dr_clyde]

I use adjustable wrenches all the time. I have at least 2 dozen of various sizes. I try to keep a pair on every machine tool, and a full set to 15" in each toolbox.

I don't like the pliers wrench. I have 2. They're handy for a small fastener, but I use them mostly as pliers, not wrenches. I rarely grab them.

The pliers wrench is not even close to useful on big fasteners and pipe fittings. My 24" and 30" adjustables are sooo handy on things where you just need LEVERAGE. I may only have the jaws on some bent sheet metal, but having a built in 24 cheater is very useful for bending and straightening steel.

I will admit an adjustable is pretty useless on modern cars. Good thing I don't work on cars much. There is a whole world outside of wrenching on cars.

Industrial fabrication and maintenance uses adjustables all the time. Plumbers,pipe fitters and millwrights would be lost without them.

 

[M6erfan]

I use adjustable wrenches all the time. I have at least 2 dozen of various sizes. I try to keep a pair on every machine tool, and a full set to 15" in each toolbox.

I don't like the pliers wrench. I have 2. They're handy for a small fastener, but I use them mostly as pliers, not wrenches. I rarely grab them.

The pliers wrench is not even close to useful on big fasteners and pipe fittings. My 24" and 30" adjustables are sooo handy on things where you just need LEVERAGE. I may only have the jaws on some bent sheet metal, but having a built in 24 cheater is very useful for bending and straightening steel.

I will admit an adjustable is pretty useless on modern cars. Good thing I don't work on cars much. There is a whole world outside of wrenching on cars.

Industrial fabrication and maintenance uses adjustables all the time. Plumbers,pipe fitters and millwrights would be lost without them.

Your post is a great example of "it depends what you work on"...

 

[Negen]

I never even considered adjustable wrenches for a car. Was that ever a thing? I always thought of them for pipes brass or chrome or stainless where you wouldn't want teeth marks. My other thought is industrial stuff where 2-3" bolts are used.

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[mrjaw14]

I was replacing shut off valves under my sink recently and the nuts were like 1 1/8. I have a 1 1/8 wrench, but it was way to big to fit in the space I had. Made me a believer in adjustable wrenches again.

 

[Iluvbeer]

In my business where I operate my entire livelihood out of a mobile trailer full of expensive equipment, this wrench is my number one tool to handle the multiple size hardware that I’m constantly wrenching on. An adjustable wrench is priceless but ya gotta use them correctly.

 

[AceofSpad3s]

I never even considered adjustable wrenches for a car. Was that ever a thing? I always thought of them for pipes brass or chrome or stainless where you wouldn't want teeth marks. My other thought is industrial stuff where 2-3" bolts are used.

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I don't watch TV nor keep up with any of the tool marketing **** anymore but I recall marketers always having at least one shot of it in use on a car when advertising fathers day gimmick tools, stuff like the dog bone wrench, craftsman mach ratcheting adjustable etc.
The sort of thing they try to advertise as good to people that don't actually know how to work on things.

 

[Yarpo]

I was replacing shut off valves under my sink recently and the nuts were like 1 1/8. I have a 1 1/8 wrench, but it was way to big to fit in the space I had. Made me a believer in adjustable wrenches again.

Yah as a plumber I love my irega adjustable wrenches. Use them everyday on finishes!

 

[plinker]

They hold on to stuff without having to squeeze the handles with your hand. I hate using pliers for that reason. I use adjustables 20 times more than I do pliers. Pliers are a last choice, not the first. Now, for automotive, it would be a different story. But for general around the shop use, adjustables are a necessity.

One reason I somewhat dislike the Snap-on PWZ pipe wrenches is that you have to squeeze them tight to keep them tight on whatever it is you're doing. Hence preferring actual pipe wrenches and adjustables. You can focus on turning the nut/bolt/fitting instead of trying to keep them tight and turning said object. This isnt important if the object is somewhat loose, seized is another story. PWZ's are nice to have though when needed.

The pliers wrench would be the same thing to me, I dont want to have to squeeze something to keep it tight, if that is the case I'd get a combo wrench and be done with it.
I dont think a pliers wrench is pipe friendly either.

About the only place where a adjustable wrench has been mostly useless for me has been auto repair.


WF made wrenches are Ok, nothing super special, but solid IME.

I really like the older US made Kliens, Super smooth jaws, (Japanese design IIRC) they are now made in Spain like most on the market. The Wide jaw Channellock 8" is one of my favorites Spain/Iegra) when work on hydraulics.

Diamond "Diamalloy" wrenches are awesome (even if they have less jaw width then the newer wrenches). A 15" Diamond "monkey" wrench was helpful with some hydraulic fittings.

Pretty sure Snap-on still make them here, not sure on Proto. The made in china 24" Gearwrench adjustable I have has held up very well, a 40" cheater pipe worked well with it.

 

[bwringer]

Thanks for the education on PW's! Did not know how they were different.
Sweet Pliers! What is the cost of the ones in the picture?

Here is a variation on the old crescent wrench idea.
I got a couple coming from Sears so will see how they work.

Had not heard of anybody using them?
.
.
.

The locking adjustable is a fantastic idea, just poorly executed in my experience.

In practice the Stanley version is so poorly made from the grottiest sloppiest Chinesium metallic residue that it's not nearly strong or precise enough to be useful.

If there were a version made by a reputable first-world brand like Irega, I'd be all over it. I haven't seen one -- there might be some sort of patent or licensing issue.


Let us know whether that Craftsman version is any better! I'm sure it's still Chinesium, but if it's decent Chinesium that could be a pretty useful tool.

 

[Mr Ratchet]

I have a 10" and 18" pair and don't use them much. When I do use them, it's bending metal, twisting wood studs, pipe unions, or on larger fasteners with the 18". The 18" are used far more often the 10". Other wise it's sockets or wrenches for the most part.

They are a tool I'm glad to have but, I don't get overly excited when I use them.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

Hold a nut on the other side of the wall with no one holding it.
They have the mass to be a good hammer.
Smooth jaws do not damage what is being worked.
Close up to zero or a few thousands to work sheet metal.
Always parallel jaw faces.

They have their place in my tool box and get used when needed.

lg
no neat sig line

Great summary

A good adjustable is indispensable and one with markings for size is even better!

I use adjustable wrenches as rudimentary calipers to check/confirm fastener size

Also true

I never even considered adjustable wrenches for a car. Was that ever a thing?

All the time, alignment adjusters, counterholding larger fasteners while you zip the other end off with an impact, fixing flanges....etc.
I have Williams, Proto, Utica, Danielson, Diamond, Crescent, and a 16" WF that all seem to be fine. I've also had some off brands that certainly weren't fine.
Big ones seem particularly useful in crash repair.

 

[TwoInch]

I don't think "underrated" so much as "obsolete."



They're fine if one's used to them, but what can an adjustable do that a pliers wrench can't do as well or better?

Plier wrenches are amazing tools, and I use mine a lot.

But they are very short for the larger range of their possible fastener size. You can't put a cheater on the easily at all.. If you need to wang on a 1.5" fitting, an adjustable is the better tool. They both have their place.

The plier wrenches shine at smaller fasteners like under 3/4" or so, and only moderate torque in those larger sizes. They are great at 5/8s and smaller fasteners, they are an adjustable with adequate length to apply torque, and apply clamping force on the fastener so they can handle the applied torque well. They also "ratchet" around a fastener like pliers when you let off pressure. Great design

They both shine. Just different but overlapping uses

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[Wamsutta]

I was looking at a Wright 12'' at the White Cap contractor supply.

I'm not sure, but I think it may have been made by Irega.

It was the most comfortable adjustable wrench I've ever had in my hand.

It had the black industrial finish.

 

[paulsomlo]

Can't imagine doing plumbing without one. In fact, I have them in five different sizes. And with nice clean jaws, they work well for flare nuts on automotive stuff.

 

[GrayFlattop]

That Bahco item looks great - it's now on the list.

Adjustable wrenches - I use them mostly for plumbing fittings - and installing / removing regulators for welding gas tanks. Otherwise it's fixed wrenches just about all the time.

A friend of mine loves his adjustable wrenches so much he has a SAE set as well as a Metric set...

 

[hangfirew8]

I had a 8 or 10" Barcalo Buffalo that did it all, I called it my "adjustable metric wrench" back when I drove and carried primarily SAE. Eventually the spiral adjuster broke down and it became unusable. I never found its equal. It was fairly wide and bulky though.

I agree the WF is not as optimal as some of the older brands.

I still use adjustables for hitch balls and plumbing, like others here have said. I love my Knipex Pliers Wrench. It does do things an adjustable cannot, primarily grip with compound leverage. I used it to get off an inner tie rod end from a cramped minivan, when the purpose built tool failed.

-HF

 

[isb cornbinder]

I like an adjustable wrench but I would rather use a fixed combination wrench if I can. I like adjustable wrenches enough to allow them collect in my toolboxes. I doubt 50 Crescent and Monkey styles would be an exaggeration.
My favorite vintage adjustable and one that I never use, was given to me from the estate of a local machinist. He was a nice old guy. I met him when he walked his dog down my lane. He made the wrench while he was an apprentice in the1930s.
I have a few "Monkey style" adjustables with the name KING ****. This is probably not PC in this age of fragile persons.

 

[sberry]

I didnt like them when I was a kid but we really didnt have many. Now I dont care so much as long as it works. In some cases a long handle is good.