School me on adjustable wrenches

[quattroJoe]

Thank you everyone for your feedback. I've ordered a few Protos, and I'm probably going to pick up a few (Irega) Channellocks. I figure whichever one I like better will stay at the shop and the other will go in my home box. I'm also going to grab a Knipex Pliers Wrench too, I've been eyeing them for a while.

I was very tempted by the Facoms, they look great, but I was concerned about access to warranty service. Likewise, while there is plenty of USA Craftsman stock available now, who knows what I'd be getting on a warranty exchange a few years down the road.

 

[quattroJoe]

Well my Proto wenches arrived today, I got 4, 6, 8, and 10 inch with the Clik-Stop feature and the black finish.

The 4" and 6" have a lot of play in the jaws... Is this normal for adjustables of this size? Maybe they're just too small to machine tight tolerances? I've mainly used 8" or larger in the past.

The 8" is perfect, virtually no slop in the jaws, and the movement is smooth through the entire range.

The 10" has very little slop as well, but only opens about 1/4 of the way and then jams. I tried using leverage against the jaw while opening, thinking maybe it just had a metal chip or small flaw and once I got past it the mechanism would smooth out, but no luck. That one is definitely going back.

 

[tradesmanschoice]

Bahco made in Sweden used to be the great. Hastily fingered a new spanish made one and it felt ok, not sloppier than they used to be, but I haven't used them, nor checked if dimensions is the same.

I've had lots of people tell me the Spanish versions bind on the nut, so the jaws are not properly parallel. No problem with the original Swedish ones.

You can't go wrong with Irega, they make adjustables for many brands such as Channellock, Stahlwille etc.

TOP adjustables from Japan are also great.
http://www.onlyqualitytools.com/catalog/TOP/Adjustable_Spanners.html

I've had a 6" plain TOP adjustable for 20 years and it's still fine.

Cheers,
Mark.

 

[shamrock12]

I'm looking to add some adjustable wrenches to my arsenal and it sounds like Irega has the top reviews. I see that they are available in two series ... the 77 series and 92 series. It seems the latter has a ruler engraved/etched on the jaw while the earlier has none. Other than this feature, is there any difference between those series?

 

[Gmonkee]

Quattro, not to rain on your parade but it seems to me that Proto dropped the ball a bit on the QC on what you got.

The play in the jaws should be within limits of keeping the jaws square while under pressure, always nicer when the dynamic jaws has little to no play though. Little or big adjustables can be equally precise in the tolerances across the board.

That said of the pile of adjustables that I've bought and sold only 6 were really well adjusted for play, I still have those and use them. Most of the rest have gone to new homes already.

 

[nicksnothereman]

Those of you who use adjustable wrenches, what brands do you like? Which ones hold up well and have little slop? I'm sure the truck brands are great, but that's out of my budget for now.

The Channellocks look nice (same as Irega/Bahco/Wurth) but I haven't gotten my hands on one out of the package. Their is still a ton of new USA Craftsman around here, and some USA Crescent.

Is the Knipex Pliers-Wrench up to the task of replacing a normal adjustable? They are interesting, and I've seen the video of them being used on pipe fittings, but would they reliably handle automotive fasteners?

Thanks!

I would use crescent usa (depends on the price though). Like most of my incidental tools that I don't really use I just have store brand stuff (the kobalt 3 piece chinese set). I used them for plumbing work (to replace a valve seat and spring) last week, no real complaints.

I wouldn't use an adjustable wrench on a car though. I'm not sure why anyone would...maybe for lines it would be okay but still might strip. Adjustable wrench is less of a car tool than say groove joint pliers but you still shouldn't use either unless you're really in a pinch and are going to replace the fastener (or radiator petcock).

 

[outdoorsman310]

what about snap-on adjustables?

 

[quattroJoe]

I wouldn't use an adjustable wrench on a car though. I'm not sure why anyone would...maybe for lines it would be okay but still might strip. Adjustable wrench is less of a car tool than say groove joint pliers but you still shouldn't use either unless you're really in a pinch and are going to replace the fastener (or radiator petcock).

They're not my first go-to (hence my lack of knowledge) but they have their place. One example is when you're turning a bolt with a nut you have to hold stationary and you don't have two of the same sized combination wrenches. I also use them in a pinch when I encounter an uncommon size SAE bolt, my SAE sets aren't quite as complete as my metrics. And there have been times when dealing with a stripped out torx or internal hex that I've cut flats on two sides and broke it loose with an adjustable. I just feel better having them when the need arises.

 

[jvitez]

sberry and PowerGenGuy: nice to see some Canuck Gray adjustables on here! sberry: where did you get yours? It looks the same as mine which was my Dad's, probably from the 70's. It was my favorite adjustable until I left it in my boat over winter, now flaking and somewhat rusted. Grrrrrrr.

I've upgrade my adjustables since, and my favorite is Irega. I bought the Channellock variety as Irega branded ones aren't easily available here. They have very nice finishing, tight jaws with wide openings for the handle length, and are much better finished than the USA made Crescent I have.

 

[Freeborn John]

what about snap-on adjustables?

I have a set, frankly, they're awful, very sloppy.

 

[Jeanke]

I have bahco ones, used & abused, very happy with them

 

[Freeborn John]

I have bahco ones, used & abused, very happy with them

I have a pocket sized Bahco, 100mm, that goes everywhere with me, it's a handy little thing.

 

[ecally]

what about snap-on adjustables?

They are expensive but they are awesome. Really grip well and adjust smoothly. I have a few sizes. I have Bahco also but the SO are my favorites.

 

[Jrussell86]

I have an older SK and an older Napa USA in my truck that I picked up used. They are ok but nothing like the new Snap On ones. My opinion save your money up and buy a set of Snap On.

 

[shamrock12]

Can anyone please explain what the differences are between the Irega 77 and 92 series other than the scale etched on the jaw?

 

[shamrock12]

*bump*

 

[Grigg]

Look on their website and read about them.
http://www.irega.es/

 

[shamrock12]

Look on their website and read about them.
http://www.irega.es/

I already did that but they really do not explain the difference between those series. Not very informative there.

 

[Grigg]

The 77 is a very well made but plain old adjustable, pretty much identical in shape and design to a good older thin handle Crescent but even better quality. I have a 4, couple 6's, and an 18".

The 92 I don't have. They say:
"The first 22º 30’ adjustable wrench with non protruding jaw shank .
In 1989 IREGA was the first company to produce a 22º30’ adjustable wrench with a non protruding jaw shank when in its maximum opening. Others have since tried to follow in our footsteps."

So sounds like the 92 is a newer design, a somewhat more modern adjustable.

I like the 77 and will buy those but if someone gave me the newer 92 I sure wouldn't complain.

Grigg

 

[shampoop]

Love my klein adjustable. Not one bad thing to say about it, every feature is perfect as far as i can tell. Through using it as a hammer I've found out that the chrome is VERY durable. They also make ones with coated handles for lots of grip in slick situations.

 

[soulstryke]

Ive had a few, Benchmark, Mastercraft, Proto and Proto Clikstop, Crescent, Westward and Jet. All verying from 8"-24" most of them are 10" though. None of them have fallen apart and i am very rough on my crescents overtorqueing them frequently and using them as a hammer quite often. All these above brands seem to have "slop" in the jaws nothing too terrible imo, but none have mechanically fallen apart, unless you count the screw on the bottom working its way out on my crescent and jet wrenches (both easily fixable).

Rubber handles seem to fall apart before the wrenches from what ive witnessed (Only one i had with a rubber handle was a mastercraft but i lost it). Also it depends on what you want and how your going to use it. Some are slimmer, some are heavier, some have wider jaw openings, like the crescents for example are heaver and work great as a wrench and you can easily get a cheater bar on it while the westward economy i have is wide hard to get a snipe on but is slimmer so its easier to loosen 2 nuts off on top of each other.

All comes down to what feels good i guess, and the Clikstop on the proto only lasts for about a month then its just a regular crescent wrench again.

 

[soulstryke]

Missed comments on page 3 and seen now that you have already boughten Proto's

Jaw slop is normal as i have never owned a adjustable without some slop (mind you i have never owned a Bahco or Irega). As for the clikstop only lasting temporarily, no big deal as your adjustables sound like low use items (automotive) so they should last longer than mine and they cost the same as regular Proto's.

 

[rtole]

I have some 15 year old snap ons. In flank drive plus. They are not like the new cushion grip ones. These have great looking chrome, a nice fat back on side you are supposed to push on, and they grip like no other! They dont make them anymore, I would buy another set if they did. I used to use them for everything. Someone stole my 10 inch. I pick up the new ones on the truck and it makes me sad. I wven used them before I got fdp wrenches when my regular wrenches rounded something, and they always came through.

 

[rtole]

I should mention, before I bought these I had a large collection of nice older ones. Diamond, proto, crecent, and other nice ones. I gave the others away after I got these.

 

[Chadwilliam1]

I am looking at the Bahco 86 which is a 24" adjustable and i can only find one thing that says the COO which says china i thought these were made in Spain. I will order the Proto if these are made in china now.

is this right?
http://www.toolsdelivered.com/Bahco-86-Hand-Tools-Wrenches-Adjustable-ergo-Adjustable

 

[Ruger_556]

I am looking at the Bahco 86 which is a 24" adjustable and i can only find one thing that says the COO which says china i thought these were made in Spain. I will order the Proto if these are made in china now.

is this right?
http://www.toolsdelivered.com/Bahco-86-Hand-Tools-Wrenches-Adjustable-ergo-Adjustable

I really like my Proto clik-stop wrenches...

 

[sberry]

I looked back here for giggles, I don't know where I got the Gray, might have been in old inherited box???
This is somewhat interesting due to the time frame and am in a business where they are used hard and I was in the trades early and contracting, they are like a commodity to some extent and I watched the evolution closely on this particular tool to the point it was a Proto or nothing trade mentality to an import I bought 10 years ago has passed it as my go to wrench.
I was purchasing for an outfit and a couple of the gearheads didn't much care back then if it was import etc, they wanted their paycheck and some of the hillbillies were ahead of the curve and knew the tool had changed since the early flea mkt and 2$ wrench from India.
2 or 3 times I bought cheap adjustables,,, a couple Pittsburg and a couple ATD from the auto parts store and I think maybe a couple Napa with the intention we would seed them and deign in our better stuff but that lasted about 5 minutes and once it all blended one never gave it much thought until the advent of the forum.
Well we kind of gave it some thought prior to this in the sense that once we really got a grip on the fact good could be had cheap we seeded and saturated a few things for a while till it kind of hit a level. I still could use another 9 side cutter and a couple heavy dykes and I need to pinch a half a dozen 7/16 combo and 3 new razor knives.
We are not always busy where duty cycle is high but get a few things spread out quickly. Its not hard to find yourself looking for common tools and maybe a 2$ screw driver from Sears isn't the ultimate its new and use is part time,,, sort of. It got a lot cheaper to buy a few tools than it fif for people to pick their nose looking for them.