Irwin Vise Grip adjustable wrenches

[n8n]

Anyone got any hard use experience with these?

I just picked one up the other day, ended up in a situation where *only* two 8" adjustables would work (replacing valves under a tight kitchen sink; no standard size wrenches would fit and neither of my 6" adjustables (one Crescent, one ancient Diamalloy) would quite open up enough to hold the bodies of the valves) so I ran to Lowe's to get another one. Big disappointment, Crescent brand wrenches are now Chinese :/ The Irwins were at least made in Taiwan and not much more money so I got one of those instead.

Here's the shocker - it feels a lot tighter than my USA Crescent one (probably purchased w/in the last 10 years, that one I know I bought myself) and reminds me in appearance and function of Irega or Snap-On.

Do they hold up as well as they feel?

One disappointment - unlike all my others it appears that it cannot be dissambled if ever necessary, instead of a screw it looks like the shaft running through the worm is peened to retain it. I know, an adjustable wrench should never need to be disassembled, but I do like to fix stuff whenever possible unless it's completely hopeless.

 

[1950mercury]

From my experience if it says irwin and its not made in Germany its junk..soft metal junk. Id buy a western forge rebrand...craftman,sk etc

 

[thesilverone]

good advice

 

[n8n]

From my experience if it says irwin and its not made in Germany its junk..soft metal junk. Id buy a western forge rebrand...craftman,sk etc

Disappointing. Well I guess I'll put another 8" adjustable on my wish list.

Besides SK (are Craftsman still USA made? Everything else seems to be offshoring) and Irega, who else makes "the good stuff?"

 

[BFHtime]

Get some channellocks. Good tool for a good price, they last forever and can take some serious abuse. I have used them with a hammer and as a hammer. US made still. They are for plumbing, if I am going under a sink or dealing with pipe fitting, the first tool that comes to mind is a set of channel locks. They get good leverage, and the adjustablility is usually very good.

 

[zcbauer89]

Bahco makes an excellent adjustable. They are available on Amazon. I have the Snap On re brand and it's excellent.

 

[sberry]

If you have an ATD vendor for auto parts they have a 4 pc set, they are the real deal with a cheap package and label. They open a size wider than a Diamond and Proto. Very good quality and super cheap.

 

[n8n]

These?

http://www.eastwood.com/4-piece-adj...9dH-SwuTEzfwLSEMG-q5tYlmB017HKL3uBhoC7sDw_wcB

Never heard of them before, what parts chains typically sell them? I only have one indy left that I know of and they sell K-Tool and SK (the latter only by order though)

 

[wait4me]

Disappointing. Well I guess I'll put another 8" adjustable on my wish list.

Besides SK (are Craftsman still USA made? Everything else seems to be offshoring) and Irega, who else makes "the good stuff?"

The craftsman adjustable wrenches (not evolv) are still USA made by Western Forge and are very nice. The Ridgid Adjustables are also made by western forge and go up to 24".

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001HWQGSA/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[dutchgray]

Irega, I used to get Bahco but since they have switched to Spain you may as well get the Irega 99 series which are better anyway IMO.

 

[kctyphoon]

I have one or two on my truck at work.. They work for whatever I've needed them for.. I mean - it's an adjustable wrench, not the most precise tool to begin with. I have a few different kinds, in different sizes, and can't say i favor one brand over the other.. I'm not one of those people that focus on brand or where it's made.. To me, if the things will take a nut off of a bolt, it works..

 

[sberry]

These?

http://www.eastwood.com/4-piece-adj...9dH-SwuTEzfwLSEMG-q5tYlmB017HKL3uBhoC7sDw_wcB

Never heard of them before, what parts chains typically sell them? I only have one indy left that I know of and they sell K-Tool and SK (the latter only by order though)

Yes, those. They are the go to ones if I had a choice. They open one size bigger and the 12 opens to 1 5/16. They are on sale on occasion, I don't care about a 6 much but live on 8 and 12. These are really good.

 

[RMHoward]

I avoid all Irwin tools since they moved iconic vise grip (all, I believe) manufacture to PRC. Thats just me.