I never really use combination wrenches

[malt0se]

Between sockets and adjustable wrenches...what is the main purpose of combination wrenches? I bought a nice gear wrench set a year ago and I haven't even opened it because Ive never needed it.

 

[shawhite]

So u would rather use an adjustable wrench than use a ratcheting wrench?

 

[KingCobra98]

I use mine mainly if I need to break a bolt or nut loose with a sledge or if I need to hold a wile I am running the bolt with a impact or ratchet.. I babby my gear wrenches

 

[n8n]

I prefer to never use an adjustable if I can help it... using it means a) I am on the road and don't have a full tool set with me b) I don't have the right box or open end wrench or c) I'm doing something questionable (e.g. grinding a new flat on a rounded off fastener head in a last ditch attempt to not just grind it all off) but in that case I'm probably using a pipe wrench anyway. Yes, I have several adjustables, but I prefer not to use them.

 

[4xdog]

Interesting. I probably use combination wrenches -- both ends -- more than sockets. Maybe it's the way a 52 year old British sportscar is put together.

Adjustable wrenches? NEVER if I can avoid it. NEVER on ANYTHING, but especially NEVER something that counts.

 

[cbrxfr67]

I use my gearwrenches first and foremost. Typically my first choice,.....

 

[48RON54]

i also hate using adjustable wrenches. I will use anything but. Any box end or open end wrench for that matter works better than an adjustable IMO.

It is to each their own though, use what you like. I just round off a lot of bolts and bash my fingers/knuckles/palms A LOT with adjustables.

 

[royesses]

I' need to be desperate to use an adjustable wrench. I reach for a box end wrench or a socket/ratchet first.

 

[Matt_C]

The only thing I use an adjustable wrench on, is interior mirrors. And even then, most of the time I use this;

 

[jakemac]

I thought this thread was about combination wrenches, why all the talk about ratcheting wrenches and adjustables ?

A combo wrench is usually the first thing I reach for. If only to break the threads before using a socket.

 

[Matt_C]

Didn't you read the OP?

 

[Askme42]

My dad kills me he think one adjustable replaces all kinds of wrenches. I'm like NO NO NO!!!!

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

Combination wrenches for me give a more solid connection than a socket when you have the space. You're putting all your turning effort directly upon the fastener instead of having the offset that a ratchet gives. Both have their purpose, and I like to have both, especially in combination for breaking loose or tightening through bolts.

I have found I like the internally ratcheting combination box wrenches a lot recently.

 

[franzdom]

I thought this thread was about combination wrenches, why all the talk about ratcheting wrenches and adjustables ?

A combo wrench is usually the first thing I reach for. If only to break the threads before using a socket.

The talk of ratcheting wrenches has to do with the OP saying he bought GearWrench combination wrenches, and those don't necessarily mean ratcheting but many people have assumed it does in this case.


The talk of adjustables has to do with the OP saying he preferred them as well as sockets to combination wrenches.

 

[1950mercury]

You must round off alot of nuts and bolts. Using an adjustable.

 

[95vette]

Hello, Combination wrenches are used a lot in industrial applications such as changing valves etc. where box end won't fit nor adjustables. I work in a paper mill and every mechanic has combination wrenches in his box.Jim

 

[skruft]

I use combination wrenches all the time, perhaps because they were the first tools I had.

 

[Zeke]

I don't have a problem with a Crescent wrench. Great for back up and now and then for the active side of the fastener. I think the misuse and boogering of so many nuts and bolts casts a shadow on those that know how and when to use an adjustable wench.
YMMV.

 

[Packard V8]

It's possible for those who grew up north of the Artic circle to have learned to do ballroom dancing in Sorel snow boots, but not the first choice for most of us. Same with adjustable wrenches; large, clumsy and imprecise for serious fastener work. Try the GearWrench and the adjustable will become the tool of last resort.

'm prolly the last guy who doesn't own any GearWrench. Because having full sets of Snap-on combination, OE and box have always gotten the job done, I just didn't see the need. If I were a flat-rate tech, then maybe.

And X2 on reaching for the combination first; the box end to break loose the fastener and the OE to remove it. If it's a long thread or a lot of them and if there's room, the speeder is the tool of choice./socket.

Yes, I've got air and electric guns, but the noise and lessened tactile feedback make them large project or special application choices. If I'm changing five sets of tires spring and fall, then fer sure.

Bottom line - it's nice to have choices and nice to have the experience to know which to choose.

jack vines

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

Hello, Combination wrenches are used a lot in industrial applications such as changing valves etc. where box end won't fit nor adjustables. I work in a paper mill and every mechanic has combination wrenches in his box.Jim

I find I have to use them when installing fittings on airlines or tools a lot.

I really love flare nut wrenches on brake and fuel lines.

 

[madison069]

lol, sounds like you work on Pump Jacks!

I remember my boss told me if I couldn't fix a pump jack with a big adjustable wrench, a BFH, and channel locks for tools then I couldn't fix anything.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

I think the OP is simply baiting everyone to stir up $hiT and get all of the adjustable wrench haters fired up. Given the number of responses, it seems he did the job well.

Charles

 

[Zrexxer]

I think the OP is simply baiting everyone to stir up $hiT and get all of the adjustable wrench haters fired up. Given the number of responses, it seems he did the job well.

Quick - someone start a "Why do they sell SAE tools anymore, everything's metric now?" thread - it will help distract the trolls!

 

[espyking83]

Why would you use an adjustable wrench over a combination wrench?

 

[Dust Devil]

maybe he's a plumber ?

 

[malt0se]

maybe he's a plumber ?

i have been known to lay my share of pipe, yes

 

[nieuport17]

I wonder if Superman ever round off any bolts with his hands.
also, I never use adj wrench on cars. Its asking for trouble.

 

[SASORacing]

Adjustable wrenches are a last resort type tool. They are for times when you dont have the right size Combo wrench or socket.

They are great for on the road, on a motorycle etc. because they cover a lot of sizes 0mm - 20mm about.

As for the title and question of the thread, I use Reversible Ratcheting Combo Wrenches mostly. Much faster.

 

[ez-duzit]

adjustable wrench

Why would you use an adjustable wrench over a combination wrench?

Actually a very good question. When away from your shop:

working out of a minimalist, highly portable or emergency repair kit

where there will be a mix of SAE and metric

in difficult access areas (up a sailboat mast...)

when you have to hoof it and just don't know what to expect.

...

One of my favorite adjustables is the Ford style by Diamond.

It has such a large useful range. Most excellent for your motorcycle's roadside repair kit.

Don't scoff at a professional with an adjustable wrench. When I have to carry tools over great distances, like a yacht way out at the end of the dock, my tool kit has been pared down, a bit. Working, alone, even the lowly Vise-Grip is often used. And without leaving marks or scratches or rounding any fasteners.

Combination wrenches are normally my first choice; I have mostly Craftsman and Snap-On. They can usually be made to work, even where there is no room for a socket. They provide a very precise feel and are a pleasure to use.

 

[fatfillup]

I think the OP is simply baiting everyone to stir up $hiT and get all of the adjustable wrench haters fired up. Given the number of responses, it seems he did the job well.

Charles

That was my first thought but with only 13 posts he would hardly know what to ask to get folks fired up.

I am thinking he doesn't do a lot of serious wrenching and gets by with what he is used to.

 

[Matt_C]

That was my first thought but with only 13 posts he would hardly know what to ask to get folks fired up.

I am thinking he doesn't do a lot of serious wrenching and gets by with what he is used to.

Quantity of ones posts has no bearing on the amount one can read

 

[Altmech]

I use mine all the time. It's faster than trying to guess sizes if your working on something unfamiliar. Also a lot easier to carry 1 adjustable in the field instead of a bunch of combos. The key is 1 to have a good adjustable find one with really tight jaws and 2 to realize when the adjustable is slipping and stop and go get the right size wrench. No way can a adjustable ever replace combos but I would rather carry a couple common sizes in my tool bag and an adjustable and have to walk back to my van the few times when I don't have the right wrench in my bag than lug a full set of metric and saw wrenches into my customers every single day

 

[hickfied]

I don't even have my combos in my tool cart, they stay in my big box. I'm pretty sure I've only used one in the last year for anything other than air line fittings - removing the heater tubes from a ford explorer 5.0 (1-1/16" open end iirc).

I keep flex head ratchet wrenches and stubby dbe wrenches in my tool cart.

 

[Cato]

Between sockets and adjustable wrenches...what is the main purpose of combination wrenches? I bought a nice gear wrench set a year ago and I haven't even opened it because Ive never needed it.

A tool box isn't complete without combination wrenches. An adjustable wrench is an "emergency tool," something you use when you can't find the correct size combination wrench. For very small tool boxes, like an apartment dweller who doesn't work on his own car or do anything mechanical, an adjustable wrench is something he'd use.

As for sockets, sometimes the fastener doesn't allow the use of a socket. The bolt might be too long even with deep sockets or you can't only access the nut perpendicularly with the open end.

The box end of a combination wrench provides the best registry (?) between a fastener and the tool.

 

[3xpendable]

Quick - someone start a "Why do they sell SAE tools anymore, everything's metric now?" thread - it will help distract the trolls!

I like to buy all the SAE tools no one wants here. We still use them in the RV world

 

[franzdom]

 

[greasemonkey44]

I use combo wrenches a fair bit; the open ends of them infrequently.
You can put a large amount of torque with no slip in very tight quarters with one.
A very good set of combos goes along way on a repair. I also use sockets and adjustable wrenches daily; just like a combo wrench they are extremely useful

 

[espyking83]

Re: adjustable wrench

Actually a very good question. When away from your shop:

working out of a minimalist, highly portable or emergency repair kit

where there will be a mix of SAE and metric

in difficult access areas (up a sailboat mast...)

when you have to hoof it and just don't know what to expect.

...

One of my favorite adjustables is the Ford style by Diamond.

It has such a large useful range. Most excellent for your motorcycle's roadside repair kit.

Don't scoff at a professional with an adjustable wrench. When I have to carry tools over great distances, like a yacht way out at the end of the dock, my tool kit has been pared down, a bit. Working, alone, even the lowly Vise-Grip is often used. And without leaving marks or scratches or rounding any fasteners.

Combination wrenches are normally my first choice; I have mostly Craftsman and Snap-On. They can usually be made to work, even where there is no room for a socket. They provide a very precise feel and are a pleasure to use.

No, why choose one over a combination wrench? I have several adjustables in my box, but I would never choose one over a combo if I couldn't help it.

 

[Premium08]

Depends on what your field of work is. If you work on cars I cant see an adjustable being used very much, but if you're a maintenance tech at a plant like me then an adjustable wrench is a must. A tool cart can only get you so close to your work, so if i need to tighten a bolt or a prox switch im taking an adjustable and chanel locks

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

 

[Danglerb]

Half the nuts and bolts on my car can ONLY be reached with a combo wrench due to clearance issues etc. Must be a nice world where something clunky like an adjustable will work.