How useful do you find adjustable wrenches?

[El_Guapo]

I use adjustables quite a bit around the house and the shop. I carry everything from 4"-24", but the 8" and 15" get used most.

 

[Provincial]

Back in the 1970's I had a coworker who made good money betting that he could break a 12" Craftsman adjustable just by tightening a bolt with it. He would adjust it a little loose on a 5/8" hex head bolt and then throw his weight into tightening the bolt. He weighed about 175 lbs and was all muscle, and it put a kind of snapping action on the wrench. Every time the fixed head would fail at the base of the upper jaw.

I think the combination of adjusting to a loose 15/16" jaw opening and his technique of putting an accellerated load on the wrench handle provided just enough stress to break the wrench at the critical point in the design.

 

[crewchief888]

in my service truck i have 2, a 16" CM adjustable, only use it for a hyd filter cover that has a 1 1/2" or so square. i'm too lazy, and cheap to buy an 8pt socket for the once every couple months i need it. i keep a 10" with my torch set

i have a 10" & 12" in the house for plumbing.

i have the correct size wrench for MIG regulator.

have a 6" in the tool bag on my harley

 

[TwoInch]

Back in the 1970's I had a coworker who made good money betting that he could break a 12" Craftsman adjustable just by tightening a bolt with it. He would adjust it a little loose on a 5/8" hex head bolt and then throw his weight into tightening the bolt. He weighed about 175 lbs and was all muscle, and it put a kind of snapping action on the wrench. Every time the fixed head would fail at the base of the upper jaw.

I think the combination of adjusting to a loose 15/16" jaw opening and his technique of putting an accellerated load on the wrench handle provided just enough stress to break the wrench at the critical point in the design.

That's strange. I've seen a bunch of adjustables fail. Never saw the static jaw break off. Even beating them with large hammers or putting them in hydraulic presses. Almost always, they will flex just enough to jump the flat, without breaking anything catastrophic. Usually locking up and useless.

Is like to see someone consistently break the jaw off and figure out what's happening there



Sent from my LGLS676 using Tapatalk

 

[L.Cheapo]

That's strange. I've seen a bunch of adjustables fail. Never saw the static jaw break off. Even beating them with large hammers or putting them in hydraulic presses. Almost always, they will flex just enough to jump the flat, without breaking anything catastrophic. Usually locking up and useless.

Is like to see someone consistently break the jaw off and figure out what's happening there



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[isb cornbinder]

I use them all the time. All of you complaining about rounding off nuts and bolts don't know how to use the tool properly.


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I consider it necessary to maintain these adjustable wrenches.This is the key to having then work really well. I have re-ground the jaws and made new pivot pins for the knurled nut on a few of my Crescents." My biggest adjustable wrench is/was a SQUIRREL BRAND. I was not made in North America. Well, it took me a few minutes to mill that insult off both sides of the handle. I bought this really big adjustable wrench for one hydraulic hose job. The jaw was so loose I could not use it right away. I made a bushing for the knurl to fit the shaft. I could have bought a Crescent Made in USA for less, when I include the shop time to make modifications. The wrench will open to 2 inches.

 

[sberry]

I havnt seen one fail since the days of the 3$ India flea mkt specials and they have pretty much went away when a way better wrench is now available for a dollar or 2 more.

 

[PFSard]

My biggest adjustable wrench is/was a SQUIRREL BRAND. I was not made in North America. Well, it took me a few minutes to mill that insult off both sides of the handle. I bought this really big adjustable wrench for one hydraulic hose job. The jaw was so loose I could not use it right away. I made a bushing for the knurl to fit the shaft. I could have bought a Crescent Made in USA for less, when I include the shop time to make modifications. The wrench will open to 2 inches. [/SIZE][/FONT]

Just for the record, there are others. I found one riding my bicycle one day.

Squirrel Brand Wrench
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=171952

 

[joe_pinehill1]

Plumbing, it saves time, but if I'm tightening flare nuts like for the dishwasher line, I'll use a proper wrench.

 

[intillzah]

I use them on quick jobs, like tightening a nut or bolt in the house. Otherwise. I get the proper wrench for the job from the shop.

 

[isb cornbinder]

Just for the record, there are others. I found one riding my bicycle one day.

Squirrel Brand Wrench
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=171952

Wow, an adjustable wrench riding a bicycle. Amazing.