I'm sorry if this been discussed before but I could not find much in a search. I know my question sounds like an oxymoron but here goes. I'm looking for some good quality adjustable wrenches. The ones that the company provided me are some **** westword brand from grainger that really ****. I know what most people will say is "use the right tool for the job" but a good quality adjustable wrench is invaluable if you are up in a boom lift or other place where the odd size bolt crops up and your tool box is out of reach. In my previous job as a Tech at a GM dealer I can count on one hand the times I used an adjustable wrench in a year but now I use one almost every day. I have a couple of Snap-On adjustable wrenches and they are probably the worst ones I have used, they have extremely sloppy jaws. Any Ideas?
The best adjustable wrench
- Thread starter Aqua-Andy
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allinon72
Well-known member
I like Channellock which is a rebranded Irega made in Spain
How about channel locks or a pliers wrench.
Seriously try a pliers wrench by knipex. A lot of people to crazy about Knipex here, but IMO the pliers wrench is the only one to go crazy about. This will allow you to squeeze what you are turning, making it less likely to round.
I try not to use them, if the Snap-On one is junk maybe try to find an old US made one.
Seriously try a pliers wrench by knipex. A lot of people to crazy about Knipex here, but IMO the pliers wrench is the only one to go crazy about. This will allow you to squeeze what you are turning, making it less likely to round.
I try not to use them, if the Snap-On one is junk maybe try to find an old US made one.
lbgradwell
Well-known member
OutsideMachinist
Well-known member
Havent tried these yet but plan to. You can read the raves about them:
espyking83
Well-known member
bob15
Well-known member
Diamond, Williams, Proto, Cresent, Challenger.
Have them all, cannot complain about any of them. All serve their purpose just fine.
Have them all, cannot complain about any of them. All serve their purpose just fine.
senlow
Well-known member
Irega is the best traditional adjustable wrench that I've used. The Knipex Pliers Wrench is also very good.
Herod
Banned
Clik stop Proto is pretty good. Don't have to keep tightening the wheel after every bite.
BirdMobile
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Knipex Pliers Wrench.
Best adjustable I've ever used.
Best adjustable I've ever used.
GirchyGirchy
Well-known member
I like my Kleins.
I do have a Knipex Pliers Wrench but generally go for the 'normal' Kleins. If I had to choose between one or the other I'd ditch the Knipex.
I do have a Knipex Pliers Wrench but generally go for the 'normal' Kleins. If I had to choose between one or the other I'd ditch the Knipex.
truckdriver
Well-known member
The old style SO with the teeth in the jaws are the only ones I will use. Mine are nice and tight. I have thought about trying the Knipex out though.
2 of those are no longer available new (Diamond and Challenger), and Crescent is now made in China.
Diamond/Diamalloy adjustables were excellent, as were Diamalloy pliers, but Cooper/Apex changed all of that. The last of the Diamond/Diamalloy-branded adjustables were made by Crescent, and then Cooper/Apex discontinued all of the Diamond tool line except for the blacksmithing and farrier tools, and 2 remaining styles of pliers (fence pliers and end-nippers/nail cutters).
Hako86
Well-known member
My favorite adjustable is by far my 1955 Proto. It has really tight jaws and it is very nice to use.
It's much better than my new USA made Craftmans and my brand new Kraftwerk. Not bad considering it's 59 years old
!
It's much better than my new USA made Craftmans and my brand new Kraftwerk. Not bad considering it's 59 years old
!
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Kirbot
Well-known member
2 of those are no longer available new (Diamond and Challenger), and Crescent is now made in China.
Pretty sure the newest Crescents came back to America.
sberry
Banned
My faves are the plain ones I got fro Auto Value about 20$ for a set of 4 and they are as good as any with the bonus of having a better adjuster and opening a size wider on the jaw. They sell them at the fleas too and are marketed in different packages all the way up the price line,,, same wrench.
Tronyadorable
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As a history fan I like my Iregas. It's what they do and they do it VERY well....hence the huge amount they produce for everyone else too.
Companies like Irega, Klein, Channellock, Knipex etc deserve rewarding to their focused product dedication........unlike the 'tards at Millslackee and their heated hoodies and other halfass nonsense.All their line is missing is prostate massagers and M78 "Brushless" chicken pluckers..
Companies like Irega, Klein, Channellock, Knipex etc deserve rewarding to their focused product dedication........unlike the 'tards at Millslackee and their heated hoodies and other halfass nonsense.All their line is missing is prostate massagers and M78 "Brushless" chicken pluckers..
dgxlh
Well-known member
+1
I have mine and they are the best. I have a Wright adjustable and it isn't to bad but Snappy takes the cake
Bigblue&Goldie
Well-known member
I use all Proto click stops; they are the best I've come across.
I also have the Knipex plier wrench and it's worth the hype I wss surprised with the torque they could handle.
I also have the Knipex plier wrench and it's worth the hype I wss surprised with the torque they could handle.
davethorik
Well-known member
I dunno about the click-stops but I thought WF made Proto's adjustables now? They are on par with US Craftsman, Wright, etc.
I like older Williams that had one end of the adjustable jaw squared in the through hole so they were less sloppy.
I like older Williams that had one end of the adjustable jaw squared in the through hole so they were less sloppy.
Yes all the new proto adjustables are made by western forge for Proto. Honestly my favorites would have to be the Spanish made ones also they just seem to be tighter then the rest.
My best are a Bahco that was made in the mid 50's. Well used and little jaw slop, they cost nearly nothing.
I had 15 or more to choose from, when the great adjustable cull of 2012 hit, jaw slop was the big point of the initial sort. Rebranded Asain madeTruper pulled a close 2nd and those remain with me also.
I had 15 or more to choose from, when the great adjustable cull of 2012 hit, jaw slop was the big point of the initial sort. Rebranded Asain madeTruper pulled a close 2nd and those remain with me also.
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They are made by Western Forge but they're much better than their Craftsman counterpart. Just because manufacturer xyz makes products for multiple companies doesn't necessarily mean they're made to the same spec...
The clik-stop is the noticeable difference (the jaws stay where you set them while you are using them). The jaws seem to be a harder steel also, I don't know if the heat treating is different or what
The edges of the jaws on my Craftsman's are rounded over and not parallel anymore where the Proto's are still perfect after the same cheater pipe abuse. Just my experience with them.Cope
Well-known member
Those have a really smooth, rounded handle also.
Cope
Well-known member
I have vintage Williams, Billings Utica, Proto, Craftsman, Klein and Crescent. I like the Williams best, but they're all good.
hackwelder
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- Jul 12, 2014
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This Stanley is not the best but is very handy for some jobs, locks TIGHT and will not slip...also inexpensive.
bob15
Well-known member
2 of those are no longer available new (Diamond and Challenger), and Crescent is now made in China.
Diamond/Diamalloy adjustables were excellent, as were Diamalloy pliers, but Cooper/Apex changed all of that. The last of the Diamond/Diamalloy-branded adjustables were made by Crescent, and then Cooper/Apex discontinued all of the Diamond tool line except for the blacksmithing and farrier tools, and 2 remaining styles of pliers (fence pliers and end-nippers/nail cutters).
I know Diamond aren't made anymore, but that is why Al Gore gave us the internet and ebay.
KnurledNut
Well-known member
Proxene has an outstanding reputation for their adjustable wrench quality, if you dont mind COO Taiwan. They are rebadged as NAPA's Carlyle brand and others. I like mine.
That being said, i also really like my Sweden made Bahco, and my Spain made Channellock.
That being said, i also really like my Sweden made Bahco, and my Spain made Channellock.
The 'old standards' of 'adjustable wrenches' were the Crescent 'Crestoloy', the 'Diamond Calk Horseshoe Co. 'Diamalloy', the Williams, and the Danielson pattern.
The Danielson works, which was bought out by the Plomb Co. in the late 1940's, made the best grade, in terms of convenience in use, with slightly thinner jaws and generally better moving parts fitup. The Danielson pattern adjustable wrenches are otherwise much the same as the other makes, to be sure, and may be found marked as Danielson, Plomb, Proto, Herbrand, and a couple of other 'brand names', made on contract for various other lines of tooling.
The 'Diamond' pattern, nearly identical to the 'Crescent' pattern, was also sold by Snap-on, marked 'Blue-Point', and also under other 'brand names' made on contract.
In practical use, any of the 'Crescent wrench' style, as made by the better makers, are functionally identical, and there is little, if any, actual reason to prefer one make over another.
The older versions of the Swedish-made 'Bahco' wrenches were some of the best adjustable wrenches ever built, but they weren't sold in this country, and are not easy to find.....the current 'Bahco' brand is not the same. A good example of the older style are often found marked 'Volvo', as Volvo car maintenence tools.
Unfortunately, several makers in later years have chosen to re-design the common Crescent pattern for use of lower grade steel, resulting in cheaper, clumsier wrenches, which are less convenient to use.
Adjustable wrenches, or 'shifting-spanners' will be with us always, as they are the 'convenient tool', but its really prudent to minimise the use of them, if at all possible, in favour of the socket or box-end 'ring-spanner' class of wrenches, as the obvious workplace safety issue.
cheers
Carla
The Danielson works, which was bought out by the Plomb Co. in the late 1940's, made the best grade, in terms of convenience in use, with slightly thinner jaws and generally better moving parts fitup. The Danielson pattern adjustable wrenches are otherwise much the same as the other makes, to be sure, and may be found marked as Danielson, Plomb, Proto, Herbrand, and a couple of other 'brand names', made on contract for various other lines of tooling.
The 'Diamond' pattern, nearly identical to the 'Crescent' pattern, was also sold by Snap-on, marked 'Blue-Point', and also under other 'brand names' made on contract.
In practical use, any of the 'Crescent wrench' style, as made by the better makers, are functionally identical, and there is little, if any, actual reason to prefer one make over another.
The older versions of the Swedish-made 'Bahco' wrenches were some of the best adjustable wrenches ever built, but they weren't sold in this country, and are not easy to find.....the current 'Bahco' brand is not the same. A good example of the older style are often found marked 'Volvo', as Volvo car maintenence tools.
Unfortunately, several makers in later years have chosen to re-design the common Crescent pattern for use of lower grade steel, resulting in cheaper, clumsier wrenches, which are less convenient to use.
Adjustable wrenches, or 'shifting-spanners' will be with us always, as they are the 'convenient tool', but its really prudent to minimise the use of them, if at all possible, in favour of the socket or box-end 'ring-spanner' class of wrenches, as the obvious workplace safety issue.
cheers
Carla
Please try a Knipex pliers wrench, i bet you´ll like it.
the japanese usually make good stuff too ...e.g.:
https://nepros.net/?cat=3&grp=17
http://ktc.jp/catalog/html/wm-150~300.php
http://www.lobtex.co.jp/products/tabid/140/pdid/PUM/catid/9/Default.aspx
http://www.toptools.co.jp/english/products/tools/wrenches/wrenches/179.html
the japanese usually make good stuff too ...e.g.:
https://nepros.net/?cat=3&grp=17
http://ktc.jp/catalog/html/wm-150~300.php
http://www.lobtex.co.jp/products/tabid/140/pdid/PUM/catid/9/Default.aspx
http://www.toptools.co.jp/english/products/tools/wrenches/wrenches/179.html
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sberry
Banned
This is true. Back in the day there were cheap India types and a strong guy could strip the jaw right out of a 12 inch, now with cheaper modern steel making they really have disappeared from the market. We bought some cheaper ones thinking it would keep the Proto at home but they soon blended in and a guy cant tell the difference.
dutchgray
Well-known member
Bahco Sweden were good but the new ones are not the same, so now I use Irega ones, I would like to try a Toptool one but I haven't found a supplier yet for the UK.
espyking83
Well-known member
How far do the jaws open up on the smaller ones?
JR 42
Well-known member
My favorite feature of the Danielson adjustable I've got is the 12- point box end broached into the hanging hole, it's a clever use of space and is occasionally useful.
JR
Pantsfall_McFixit
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- Oct 8, 2012
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I have the new Bahco adjustables, made in Spain. They're better than anything I've found in the big box stores, and the made in Sweden ones must be legendary, as I quite like the ones now.
kylefitz
Well-known member
Another vote for Proto. I don't like the clik-stop versions though.