Is there good and bad adjustable wrench?

PoorOwner · Nov 12, 2007

For an adjustable wrench, 6-10" set, What would be the difference between a Pittsburgh one from HF and Craftsman forged made in USA? It's like 3x the cost.

I don't use them on cars but for things like brass fittings they work very well because they are always seem to be in different sizes.

eschoendorff · Nov 12, 2007

My favorite is the Channellock brand... they're sourced from Spain, but they are beauties! And not too expensive either.

http://www.channellock.com/acb/stores/1/Chrome_Adjustable_Wrenches_C25.cfm

bmwpower · Nov 12, 2007

bad....

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000EGM1ZM/?tag=atomicindus08-20

kartracer55 · Nov 12, 2007

Craftsman adjustables are my favorites. They are relatively cheap, but they are built very well, the adjustment mechanism isn't all sloppy like many other brands. I say go for the craftsmans, the HF will be junk

Junkman · Nov 12, 2007

Good ones will work well whenever you need them. The bad ones will work well if you never take them out of the tool box. If you do, they are guaranteed to round off the corners, jam your knuckles into the wall, or some other hard object, and make you swear like a drunken sailer that just got off the boat for the first time in 6 months. I value my hands, so if it were me, I would look for a more expensive one that will hold its adjustment under the pressure of you hand and bad temper using a tool for some purpose that it was never intended to be used for. They do make good hammers in a pinch... :lol_hitti

Charles (in GA) · Nov 12, 2007

eschoendorff said:
My favorite is the Channellock brand... they're sourced from Spain, but they are beauties! And not too expensive either

Channellocks adjustables I saw in Lowes last week were "Made in USA". Biggest I have at home is 10" and at work I have an 18" which is useful. I was considering 12" and 15" at home for those rusted tractor nuts and other things that nothing else will get.

Charles

ImportTuner · Nov 12, 2007

I really like very gimmicky quick adjust Crescent ... works well for general usage; I just don't use it when working on cars ..

PoorOwner · Nov 12, 2007

I do have the HF junk already, they do seem a little sloppy. I went to sears and made sure the Craftsman is made in USA, and it is. Nice finish too.

I am just gonna get the regular silver finish (not the craftsman profession ones) if you guys think that's ok

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00944664000P?vName=Gifts&keyword=adjustable+wrench

bmwpower · Nov 12, 2007

PoorOwner said:
I do have the HF junk already, they do seem a little sloppy. I went to sears and made sure the Craftsman is made in USA, and it is. Nice finish too.

I am just gonna get the regular silver finish (not the craftsman profession ones) if you guys think that's ok

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00944664000P?vName=Gifts&keyword=adjustable+wrench

Get the PROS...your hands will thank you...

wilbilt · Nov 12, 2007

The good...

The bad...

And the ugly...

They all have their uses... :beer:

plinker · Nov 12, 2007

Klien adjustable wrenches are also nice.

Diamond is also another quality wrench, too bad they are no longer made.

wilbilt · Nov 12, 2007

plinker said:
Diamond is also another quality wrench, too bad they are no longer made.

Not to worry, Harry Epstein has plenty of them.

Agreed, Diamond made some really nice tools.

wythors · Nov 13, 2007

20+ years ago I bought a pair of Mac adjustable wrenches. The difference between them and the cheapo chicom **** they replaced was astounding.

Danglerb · Nov 13, 2007

A cheap adjustable wrench tends to bind so its hard to adjust after force is applied, and slop in the mechanism prevents it from holding a size. Tighten it down on a nut, and force jams the adjustment screw, the jaws slightly open, but then slightly close when you pull it off the nut so it doesn't go back on.

They can work, but they can also ****.

Some decent adjustable wrenches are on my when I find them cheap list, but I shouldn't be using them for real torque anyway should I?

NOMAD · Nov 13, 2007

I got the set of three HF adjustables with the black rubberized grip. I am actually pretty happy with them I have very little use for them but they are etched with the sizes so when you grab the bolt you know what size it is.
Mine are fairly tight, it's my craftsman that are sloppy. Maybe I should take my craftsman in for an exchange.

The large one did a great job on my E30 BMW fan clutch bolt.
That's about all i;ve been able to use them for.

shopforeman · Nov 13, 2007

Wow! An original Crescent brand adjustable wrench. In my family the "adjustable wrench" has always been called a "Crescent Wrench". It's like facial tissue. When you need one you ask for a kleenex...well at least mosts peeps around here do.

You have to buy a quality adjustable wrench. The cheap ones will just frustrate, damage fasteners and knuckles!

wilbilt · Nov 13, 2007

shopforeman said:
Wow! An original Crescent brand adjustable wrench.

I have 3 or 4 "genuine" Crescent wrenches. That big old 18-incher is over 60 years old.

ultgar · Nov 13, 2007

Here's a "comfort-grip" version with a mm scale at the jaw opening.

wilbilt · Nov 13, 2007

ultgar said:
Here's a "comfort-grip" version with a mm scale at the jaw opening.

That looks so...French...

Uncle Buck · Nov 13, 2007

The bad...

They all have their uses... :beer:

[/QUOTE]

I bet you use that bad Ohio Forge job to bang on stuff and generally use as a hammer, or for anything other than tightening or loosening stuff right! :lol_hitti

Jononon · Nov 13, 2007

"Is there good and bad adjustable wrench?"

No. They're all bad. Try a Knipex Pliers Wrench and never look back

wilbilt · Nov 13, 2007

hholmberg said:
I bet you use that bad Ohio Forge job to bang on stuff and generally use as a hammer, or for anything other than tightening or loosening stuff right!

I don't think I have ever used it. I found it in the road in front of my house. It will be useful to lend out, I guess.

kblazer87 · Nov 13, 2007

If the question is Harbor Freight, then the answer is no.

Tiny Jackson · Nov 13, 2007

I use the "Crescent Brand" black oxide finish. Its all I like.

Rickster · Nov 15, 2007

I have several in my tool box. The SnapOn and Proto seem to be the tightest fitting with no slop in the mechanism. The SK comes in second.

lbgradwell · Nov 16, 2007

wilbilt said:
Not to worry, Harry Epstein has plenty of them.

Agreed, Diamond made some really nice tools.

True, but those are Cooper-era Diamonds from the late 1990s, not the old Diamond Tool & Horseshoe Co. (or older still Diamond Calk Horseshoe Co.) product...

wythors said:
20+ years ago I bought a pair of Mac adjustable wrenches. The difference between them and the cheapo chicom **** they replaced was astounding.

And those MACs are very likely New Britain-manufactured. Very nice indeed!

Is there good and bad adjustable wrench?

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