Quality Adjustable Wrenches ?

[Fast Orange]

Is there any manufacturer making decent adjustable wrenches anymore? I'm planning on replacing my old ,worn out ones,but every brand I see sems to have soft jaws,loose tolerance fits or oversize jaws.As much as I hate to use them,there are times they're needed,so I want something decent that stands half a chance of doing the job without rounding off corners or self destructing on the first use.Crescent,Diamond and Armstrong are what I have,but those brands are either gone or have gone to garbage on the new stuff.
Any suggestions?

George

 

[eschoendorff]

The best ones that I have seen are SK. And they are almost identical to the traditional ones sold by Craftsman. They have the tightest tolerances I've seen. I have some old Armstrong and Proto, but if I had to buy a new one today, it would probably be SK or Craftsman.

For something like this (as far as tight tolerances) you might want to check out Snap On. Expensive, yes, but their tolerances may be tighter. I have no personal experience with SO adjustables; I'd be interested to see how they hold up.


<<<edit>>>

I cannot believe that I forgot this... you might want to check with www.harryepstein.com

They have a pretty good selection of NOS American-made adjustable wrenches at good prices. In fact, you might find examples of the wrenches you currently have in new condition. Good luck!

 

[kartracer55]

Well of the Recent ones, Its a craftsman. Mine has almost no slop whatsoever, but I dont really abuse it.

Ok, here we go, I know its not american *gasp* but Anglo American. Its made in Spain, and I have seen this thing hammered on, and its held up. No idea how old it is or where it was bought, but it has held up to some serious abuse. Its a bit loose (maybe due to all the hammering) but its not all THAT bad.


Jim

 

[gerry]

I have not found any that the jaws are even parrallel. Why can't anyone make good tools anymore? New Cresents are as bad as the cheap imports. I've got old Cresents that are still good and straight but somehow the axle in the thumbwheel is lost

 

[bmwpower]

Just bought the Craftsman Pros the other day. You're right, they are tight. The rubber gripped handle is nice, too. $30 for 2 in a pack.

 

[dink]

A good test to find out a good adjustable wrench is shake it hard.....the more the rattle...the crappier it is...the less rattle and tighter feel its a good adjustable wrench

Alot of companies make a good adjustable wrench

A company to stay away from is Olympia....total **** adjustable wrenches

 

[Jared]

If the new armstrongs are as good as the old ones they be worth getting.

 

[sberry]

One of my favorite is Proto, I like the shape of the jaw. Chinese used to be really bad but we been uing a few from ATD from my auto parts, set of 4 for under 20$ and great for tractores, etc and they really work well. My good ones are all over the place, Craftsman, Sk, snappy, mostly proto and diamond with a few Crecent thrown in. I probably have about 30 of them.

 

[eschoendorff]

One of my favorite is Proto, I like the shape of the jaw. Chinese used to be really bad but we been uing a few from ATD from my auto parts, set of 4 for under 20$ and great for tractores, etc and they really work well. My good ones are all over the place, Craftsman, Sk, snappy, mostly proto and diamond with a few Crecent thrown in. I probably have about 30 of them.

How do Snap On compare to the others (SK, Cman, etc)? Are they markedly better?

 

[dink]

How do Snap On compare to the others (SK, Cman, etc)? Are they markedly better?

Your probably looking at about the same quality....its all about the rattle my opinion

 

[RAMBIN]

how bout bahco...believe its from sweden opens real wide jaw comes out u turn it and put it in backwards and it grips on pipe or any other round object...i've got 2 of them now...seem like great tools

 

[dink]

how bout bahco...believe its from sweden opens real wide jaw comes out u turn it and put it in backwards and it grips on pipe or any other round object...i've got 2 of them now...seem like great tools

Yes Bahco is a good company...owned by Snap-on

 

[eschoendorff]

how bout bahco...believe its from sweden opens real wide jaw comes out u turn it and put it in backwards and it grips on pipe or any other round object...i've got 2 of them now...seem like great tools

I've seen them... and they're nice! Forgot about those....

 

[sberry]

I agree and I bet you could buy 2 proto for 1 snappy

 

[dink]

I agree and I bet you could buy 2 proto for 1 snappy

Most likely...and there wont be a bit of difference in quality

 

[wanna_be]

I have been happy with the 2 Wright that i have.

 

[z28toz06]

I saw a sweet one at lowes the other day. It wasn't a traditional turn screw model. iT had a lever on the handle that you slid. I was gonna buy one but I figured id research first. can't find it one their website though.http://www.irwin.com/irwin/consumer/jhtml/detail.jhtml?prodId=IrwinProd200015

 

[milly]

I have a 12" Snap-On that I love. It is the best adjustable wrench I've ever used. I've used Craftsman, Mac, Matco, and some really cheap ones, but he Snap-On felt better to me.

 

[Buck_nekid]

I have a Snap-on that has the serrated jaws, seems like a decent tool, haven't used it to much.

 

[sberry]

I have a snappy and its a fine wrench, super finish but I have used dozens, and dozens of adjustable wrenches and about the only ones I see that fail to perform what they should are cheap imports. Even good imports work well now, they didnt used to. Same with channelok type pliers. Ridgid made a lot of wrenches, they are good too. I like the nose of the jaw shape of the proto, it is narrower than some.

 

[malibu101]

The tools I use daily at my job are almost all Klein. I don't care for adjustables either, but as was mentioned, they are convinient at times and less to carry. My 8" and 10" have survived much abuse and everything about the adjustables is still in good shape considering what they have been through.

 

[chevy302dz]

Cresent still makes a good adj wrench at least in their cushion grip line

 

[bmwpower]

Got a set of these on the way. Paid $58. List for $215 (the new ones do anyway...I believe these are the older model.

Hopefully the last set I ever own....

 

[KingPerformance]

Got a set of these on the way. Paid $58. List for $215 (the new ones do anyway...I believe these are the older model.

Hopefully the last set I ever own....

That is what I have. Though you guys aren't going to believe this, I don't mind the craftsman units. For the most part you have to remember why you are using this wrench, and how it works. If used properly the craftsman feels like it will hold up nicely. However, I didn't purchase them, and haven't used them so I'm just going by what I examined in the store.

 

[bmwpower]

That is what I have. Though you guys aren't going to believe this, I don't mind the craftsman units. For the most part you have to remember why you are using this wrench, and how it works. If used properly the craftsman feels like it will hold up nicely. However, I didn't purchase them, and haven't used them so I'm just going by what I examined in the store.

I have the Craftsman Pros. I like them - they lock on pretty well. Sometimes so well you have to loosen them up before removing. No complaints other than the lack of more sizes.

The Snap-ons are supposedly Flank Drive Plus. Not sure how much better that will be on an adjustable, but we shall see.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

BAHCO -- Back in 1886 Bahco AB began manufacturing saws under the brand "fisk och krok" ("Fish and Hook"). In 1888 the pipe wrench was invented and in 1892 the adjustable wrench, by one of the company's founders, J.P. Johansson. Today the company produces a wide range of hand-held tools such as handsaws, adjustable wrenches, combination spanners, socket spanners, screwdrivers, cutters, files, bandsaws blades, holesaws, hacksaw blades, secateurs and pruning tools. Professional craftsmen all over the world use our tools.

Bahco AB, is presented in more than 40 countries and is a part of the Snap-on Inc. group of companies.

http://www.bahco.com/asp/pubs/index.asp?lngLevel=0&lngStructureID=1219&lngMenuID=1255

http://extranet.bahco.com/CONndc.asp?Save_UID=1&wp=&GotoCat=true&cmbLanguage=12

These folks invented the adjustable wrench, the pipe wrench, and the bi-metal hacksaw blade, so they are nothing to sneeze at. Bought up a lot of european tool companies prior to Snap-On acquisition. Still operate as an inpendent company.

Don't know about all of their adjustable wrenches but the traditional model 31 adjustable with the alligator jaws on the end of the handle (I have one marked VOLVO for a auto tool kit) has backward twist from American adjustable wrenches, kinda hard to get used to them.

Charles

 

[mulepackin]

Pretty sure Armstrong and Craftsman are made by the same factory - Danaher. Both seem to be very good tools.

 

[kartracer55]

Im still using my craftman's with no problem. No looser than before. Those snap-ons sure look nice...

Lol

 

[KingPerformance]

The main difference is the type of material you will be wrenching on. I use an adjustable wrench to set up nitrous refills. It was easier because everyone would bring a different size adaptor, line etc ... If I used my Snap On adjustable wrench instead of my craftsman wrench I would have had a lot of customers that didn't come back. Highly polished steel and soft aluminum does not do well with flank drive plus. HOWEVER, when I was putting the hot water heater in the shop bathroom … flank drive plus was awesome. Who says you need a pipe wrench?!?

 

[Major Ramifications]

The Craftsman Beak-Jaw units look pretty nice, although I have not used them (yet).

 

[boiler7904]

You all seem to be forgetting this:

Adjustable Wrench

On a serious note, I have the Crescent in various sizes with the rubber handle. No complaints. If I remember right, the price wasn't too bad either.

 

[bmwpower]

You all seem to be forgetting this:

Adjustable Wrench

On a serious note, I have the Crescent in various sizes with the rubber handle. No complaints. If I remember right, the price wasn't too bad either.

Hey what's wrong with the B&D? I got one for Christmas.. I think I'm going to write a review....

 

[eschoendorff]

Hey what's wrong with the B&D? I got one for Christmas.. I think I'm going to write a review....

Click here first:

http://toolmonger.com/2006/12/31/advertising-age-on-how-the-autowrench-stole-christmas/#comments