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Who forgest adjustable wrenches?

S

Southern Forester

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Joined
Mar 27, 2017
Messages
31
Location
Southern Mississippi
The Proto wrench discussion over on the vintage side led me to wonder. In the world of AR-15's, the lowers might have any number of manufacturer names but in reality, only about 4 companies actually manufacture the forgings. Those guys generally recommend looking for the animal mascot you like most on the receiver as they are all the same.

I know this is the same with tools - even realized this a few decades ago when Walmart changed from their Popular Mechanics store brand to Stanley. I have two double-flexing ratchets from that time, one marked with the Popular Mechanics (which itself evolved from ProMark) and the other Stanley (as well as a Husky so marked). Those ratchets are great for snaking into tight places, so much so that I wish a US manufacturer made them. So, the same manufacturer in Taiwan made all three, all being sourced from Stanley.

My point is that I know that Western Forge makes adjustable wrenches for a number of companies (Craftsman, Proto perhaps, etc). What other players are there in this game? I have an Allen 15" adjustable that looks identical to a NAPA version (US made wrenches) and probably Armstrong.

This is one of those pondering posts that occurs when I'm just about done with my coffee and am awake but not quite about to get started with work.
 
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B

Brownsfan

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Joined
Apr 16, 2012
Messages
5,975
Location
Cleveland Ohio
Pretty sure the only USA manufacturer of adjustable wrenches is western forge. Get the craftsman branded ones while you can. Won't be long before they are China made. The pliers have went clearance so I'm sure the adjustable wrenches are not far behind.
 
J

JR 42

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Joined
Nov 2, 2013
Messages
966
Location
Sunny Seattle
I think I read recently in an old thread that Crescent was making adjustables in the US (long after I thought all their production moved to China), and were also making them for Armstrong.

I don't know if they still are... the Wikipedia entry for Crescent says they're manufactured in Sumter, SC, where the Armstrong line just folded.

Klein might still make them themselves...


JR
 
6

6PTsocket

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 12, 2014
Messages
4,593
JR 42 said:
I think I read recently in an old thread that Crescent was making adjustables in the US (long after I thought all their production moved to China), and were also making them for Armstrong.

I don't know if they still are... the Wikipedia entry for Crescent says they're manufactured in Sumter, SC, where the Armstrong line just folded.

Klein might still make them themselves...


JR
Click to expand...
It sounds like it was the other way around, from what you are saying, with Armstrong making Crescent. The also just shuttered Allen was another Apex casualty.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
 
6

6PTsocket

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 12, 2014
Messages
4,593
Southern Forester said:
The Proto wrench discussion over on the vintage side led me to wonder. In the world of AR-15's, the lowers might have any number of manufacturer names but in reality, only about 4 companies actually manufacture the forgings. Those guys generally recommend looking for the animal mascot you like most on the receiver as they are all the same.

I know this is the same with tools - even realized this a few decades ago when Walmart changed from their Popular Mechanics store brand to Stanley. I have two double-flexing ratchets from that time, one marked with the Popular Mechanics (which itself evolved from ProMark) and the other Stanley (as well as a Husky so marked). Those ratchets are great for snaking into tight places, so much so that I wish a US manufacturer made them. So, the same manufacturer in Taiwan made all three, all being sourced from Stanley.

My point is that I know that Western Forge makes adjustable wrenches for a number of companies (Craftsman, Proto perhaps, etc). What other players are there in this game? I have an Allen 15" adjustable that looks identical to a NAPA version (US made wrenches) and probably Armstrong.

This is one of those pondering posts that occurs when I'm just about done with my coffee and am awake but not quite about to get started with work.
Click to expand...
Allen and Armstrong and KD were all Apex brands that were just shut down. NAPA, of course, like Craftsman, makes nothing.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
 
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D

DonglordActual

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Joined
Dec 28, 2016
Messages
76
Location
Wichita, KS
We'd have to approach the question like this: Who are the major American tool manufacturers/non-store brands? Who owns them and where is their adjustable wrench sourced from?

Channellock (independent)
Supplies Cornwell's adjustables with Channellock stamping on them. Channellock discontinued their USA-sourced adjustable wrenches at some point and switched to sourcing from Irega in Spain.
  • 810 series (Spain)
  • WideAzz series (Spain)

Klein (independent)
Klein closed the Roselle, Illinois plant that made adjustable wrenches in 2012-13. Operations were transferred to Texas for most other things. Irega in Spain now makes their adjustables.
  • 500 standard capacity (Spain)
  • 506 standard capacity (Spain)
  • 507/D507 high-capacity (Spain)
  • 509/D509 extra-wide jaw (Spain)
  • 3227 / 3239 adjustable-Head construction wrench (USA)

Mac (Stanley Black & Decker)
  • AJ series adjustable wrench (COO unknown, if they're not China/Taiwan, they're Proto, therefore WF)
  • AW series adjustable wrench (COO unknown, if they're not China/Taiwan, they're Proto, therefore WF)

Proto (Stanley Black & Decker)
  • J712SC black oxide adjustable construction wrench (USA)
  • J7**L satin finish Clik-Stop adjustable wrench (USA)
  • J7**SL black oxide Clik-Stop adjustable wrench (USA)
  • J7** satin finish adjustable wrench (USA)
  • J7**S black oxide adjustable wrench (USA)
  • J7**G cushion grip satin finish adjustable wrench (USA)

S-K (Ideal Industries)
  • 80## series adjustable (USA)
  • 380## black oxide adjustable wrench (USA)
  • 38516 adjustable spud wrench (USA)

Snap-on (independent)
Supplied by facilities they own in Spain (they have three facilities there and I am not sure which one it is. They are in Irún, Placencia, and Vitoria. Placencia makes the Bahco Ergo screwdrivers.) for normal adjustables. Normal Blue-Point adjustables are Chinese. Blue-Point side adjustables are from Spain also. Blue-Point aluminum AN fitting adjustables are made in the USA by an unknown manufacturer. Another company called Allstar Performance has an almost identical American-sourced adjustable AN fitting wrench.
  • AD adjustables (Spain)
  • ADHW wide mouth (Spain)
  • FADH Flank Drive Plus adjustable (Spain)
  • ANADJ Blue-Point aluminum AN fitting adjustable wrench (USA)
  • GAJS## Blue-Point side adjustable wrench (Spain)
  • GAJS##A Blue-Point adjustable wrench (China)

Western Forge* (Ideal Industries)
Supplier for:
  • Proto
  • S-K (they're owned by Western Forge's parent company now)
  • Williams (at least, historically)
  • Wright (probably)

Williams (Snap-on)
  • AP series adjustable wrench with chrome finish (USA)
  • AB series adjustable wrench with black finish (USA)
  • APC series adjustable wrench with comfort grip (USA)
  • 134##A heavy-duty industrial grade adjustable with chrome finish (Taiwan)
  • 136##A heavy-duty industrial grade adjustable w/ black phosphate finish (Taiwan)
  • 131## ratcheting adjustable wrench with comfort grip (Taiwan)
  • 13625A adjustable construction wrench (China)

Wright (independent)
  • 9AC## chrome finish adjustable wrench (USA, formerly Spain apparently)
  • 9AB## black industrial finish adjustable wrench (USA, formerly Spain apparently)
  • 9AG## cobalt finish, cushion grip adjustable wrench (USA)

* private-label manufacturer

I know it is sad that Klein and Channellock no longer have US sourced wrenches. The biggest tragedy is the loss of Diamond Calk Horseshoe who made the smoothest ones I'd ever felt.

I know they aren't ideal but they're such a ubiquitous thing.
 
G

GirchyGirchy

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Joined
Nov 14, 2011
Messages
9,874
Location
Central Indiana
The last Crescent adjustable I bought, a small 6", is ****. It no longer has the USA marking and there's COO to take its place. I have a slightly older one so it's easy to see the differences. The casting and finishing quality are the obvious visual differences, plus the metal deforms more easily and the fit is sloppy as hell.
 
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