New Proto & Other Adjustable Wrenches

[CaseyJoes.]

Does any body have experience with or purchased Proto adjustables recently? I am looking at buying the 3pc. set along with a few other sizes. I found one place online where somebody thought that the tolerences on the jaw was kinda loose and sloppy? Is this true or just bs? I know older Proto adjustables were top of the line, but with the way things are these days I thought it was worth it to check before buying.

I am not a fan of the Snap on adjustables or other brands similar to that. I am also curious as to which USA made plain adjustable wrenches tended to have the tightest tolerances. I would assume other brands include Williams, Wright, Crescent, and Wilde primarily?

 

[Stutes]

I really like my Armstrong adjustable spud wrench. Has tight jaws. My favorite I have is my little snap on 8". Believe they are made by Bahco, diddnt buy it, found it in a belly pan of a machine. But it's real tight and the jaws have a gripping edge on them that holds real good. It's nice but don't know that I would pay what they want for it. Never had any issues with anything proto so I wouldn't be hesitant to go that route either.

 

[bobcatdan]

Craftsman adjustables made by western forge are about the one tool I would buy from sears anymore. I have a 12" and 15" as my go to adjustables and have not found any brand that was better and woth buying. WF supplies adjustables to most "good" tool manufactures. That said I have no idea what the protos are like.

 

[AZ_Catskinner]

I bought a new Proto 15" a couple of weeks ago and it was identical to the older one it replaced.

Western Forge Craftsmans are easily the best value in adjustables. I've got Protos, Craftsmans, a couple of SK's (also Western Forge) and a handful of Crescents and all are excellent for what they do.

 

[cmandp]

What is "Clik Stop" on the Proto adjustables?

 

[CWP1616L]

What is "Clik Stop" on the Proto adjustables?

It means the thumb wheel has tiny detents that keep it from rotating freely. That wouldn't work for me because I loosen and reposition the wrench on every turn. Klein makes the best adjustable wrenches in my opinion.

 

[CaseyJoes.]

Okay well it sounds like quality is right where it always has been/should be. Does anybody know for sure what brands are made by western forge?

 

[dappledachsund]

i have the mac no rattle adjustable wrench( 10'') and a 10'' and 8'' snap on flank drive plus adjustable wrench, and i can say for certain i regret buying the snap on ones. same exact adjustable wrench as bahco's just much more expensive. the jaws are def loose compared to the mac adjustable. the mac adjustable wrench is my goto when doing front toe adjustment. i put pipes on the end of the wrench often too and it hardly ever slips. great wrench def worth the money. its also about 20$ less than the same snap on adjustable

 

[CaseyJoes.]

After some more looking, it appears that both Williams and Wright have went to the rebranded Bahco. I'll most likely be buying the Proto's or Wildes.

 

[WWIIjeep]

After some more looking, it appears that both Williams and Wright have went to the rebranded Bahco. I'll most likely be buying the Proto's or Wildes.

Take a look at this thread, from post #5 onward, where we were discussing the current origin of Proto and other adjustables recently:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=2395014

I haven't yet ordered the parts I said I was going to order 3 months ago so I haven't asked Proto yet, but judging from the look of a Proto adjustable I saw not too long ago, I don't think they're the same as they used to be--or at least, not the same as my 60s and 70s vintage Protos.

Before you buy, it's probably worth a call to them to find out who's making their adjustables now.

It means the thumb wheel has tiny detents that keep it from rotating freely. That wouldn't work for me because I loosen and reposition the wrench on every turn. Klein makes the best adjustable wrenches in my opinion.

Regarding Clik-Stop, even with the detents, the adjusting wheel rotates freely. The detents only come into play when you apply force on the wrench handle during use. The loose jaw then presses against the detents and theoretically won't move. Normally, you can't easily adjust any adjustable wrench at that point just by the force of friction alone, so Clik-Stop should have no affect on the use you describe.

 

[CaseyJoes.]

Thank you for that link. From what I can tell, the SK and the Wilde adjustables seem to be made my Western Forge as they both have the markings the end of the handle that looks like the W F , as well as looking similar in every other aspect. The Protos look the same as Cooper built wrenches in every aspect as well. So I guess basically as far as new USA made adjustables go, one is choosing between Western Forge and Cooper.

 

[oak_park]

Don't forget Klein too. USA Made except for some older Japan made versions. I prefer to buy adjustables by inspecting in person as there are minor variations in tolerances between all brands imho. Channellock Adjustables made in Spain by Irega are very nice too.

 

[RedFordTruck]

The western Forge Craftsmans seem to be well made. I wish I had bought them instead of old stock USA crescents.

 

[CWP1616L]

Don't forget Klein too.

People are always over looking Klein for adjustable wrenches; I don't understand why. They come with or without vinyl dipped handles, with or without industrial finish, and they have the smoothest operating mechanism in the industry.

 

[CWP1616L]

The western Forge Craftsmans seem to be well made.

My only reservation about those is that they look and feel like they've been sand blasted. They'd be ideal if you're working around a lot of hydraulic fluid I suppose though.

 

[CaseyJoes.]

People are always over looking Klein for adjustable wrenches; I don't understand why. They come with or without vinyl dipped handles, with or without industrial finish, and they have the smoothest operating mechanism in the industry.

When I think of Klein I think electrical tools. I am checking their adjustables out now though

 

[bigcaddy]

I have a complete set of new-ish Proto Click stops and Proto's with the industrial black finish, 15" down to 4".

They are excellent wrenches and have yet to let me down. They were bought used from a HVAC guy that was downsizing and looked brand new. They could be 4-5 years old but its anybodies guess.

 

[thesilverone]

My only reservation about those is that they look and feel like they've been sand blasted. They'd be ideal if you're working around a lot of hydraulic fluid I suppose though.

fashion over function, right? :supergay:

 

[Steve_P]

I bought a new proto adjustable of ebay about a yr ago and it is made by WF- the same as my Craftsman and many other rebrands. I also have 1970s vintage Proto and Williams and they're all about the same quality for fit of the jaw. The only difference to me is the plating with the newer WF having thin nickel plating that will rust if you don't keep it dry and occasionally oiled.

 

[CaseyJoes.]

Emailed Williams about their standard grip adjustables, such as set # 13342 . They emailed me back and said they were made in Taiwan, such a shame.

 

[Mickey O]

People are always over looking Klein for adjustable wrenches; I don't understand why. They come with or without vinyl dipped handles, with or without industrial finish, and they have the smoothest operating mechanism in the industry.

Klein adjustable wrenches are some of the best out there. Avoid the Japanese Klein ones, they're good but they're Japanese and who wants Japanese tools when you can get superior quality USA made one.

 

[RedFordTruck]

My only reservation about those is that they look and feel like they've been sand blasted. They'd be ideal if you're working around a lot of hydraulic fluid I suppose though.

fashion over function, right? :supergay:

I'd rather have the matte-type finish of a more expensive WF USA made adjustable that has little slop in the wheel versus a sloppy but shiny-chrome chicom one from Lowes/HD/HF/etc