Originally Posted by dad911 (Post 11142541)

I have one of these also. One of my go-to tools. Someone walked off with my knipex water pump pliers, miss them.



I have one with a bent bar. ;)

Originally Posted by wdfifteen (Post 11140973)

So yesterday I went through my tools including a box of stuff that came from my dad. Turns out I have SEVEN 8" adjustable wrenches.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1607896874.jpg

Most of them are made in China. One is an ancient Proto which was probably a good wrench in its day, but is worn out. One is an S-K Wayne made right up the road in Defiance, Ohio and is still a good wrench. There is an S-K Tools Chinese knock-off that is a piece of crap.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1607897042.jpg

One wrench that is actually pretty good just says "Drop Forged China" on it.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1607897150.jpg

The Channel Lock wrench appears to be good quality when compared to some of the others, but it does feel weird in the hand - not like a good old Crescent. It's made in Spain.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1607897261.jpg

It's nice to finally be getting my shop organized, getting rid of the crap tools I've been living with since my good stuff was stolen and actually knowing where things are.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1607897345.jpg

Originally Posted by look 171 (Post 11142629)

Its a hammer, I mean Cresent wrench so what did you guys expect? Move the jaw and if it feels solid without slop, then its good enough. I really don't understand some of the photos. Why have so many or every size Cresent, OK, OK, adj wrenches. Are they adjustable after all. So a couple of sizes will do. They over lap. Its was never meant to be precise anyway.

Originally Posted by Nostril Cheese (Post 11142765)

Man these Knipex are awesome..

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1608010409.jpg

Originally Posted by look 171 (Post 11142629)

Its a hammer, I mean Cresent wrench so what did you guys expect? Move the jaw and if it feels solid without slop, then its good enough.

Originally Posted by look 171 (Post 11142629)

I
I really don't understand some of the photos. Why have so many or every size Cresent, OK, OK, adj wrenches.

Originally Posted by sugarwood (Post 11142181)

Channel Lock makes great stuff.

Originally Posted by wdfifteen (Post 11142863)

Channel Lock makes great pliers. The other tools it sells with the Channel Lock name are imported tools made by someone else, so guys like me will say, "Channel Lock makes great stuff," and get fooled into buying inferior imported tools.

Originally Posted by wdfifteen (Post 11142861)

It takes a good wrench to meet that criterion. A lot of them don't.



When I retired and moved I consolidated my 3 shops and the boxes of tools from my father, which included tools he inherited from his brother. So the tools I have now are basically a 60 year collection from 5 different shops. I'm in the process of giving the lower quality stuff away. I'm keeping 2 of everything that's worth keeping.

Originally Posted by wdfifteen (Post 11141833)

When you're out in the fields on a tractor you can't take a whole tool box with you. After loading in the necessary hitch pins and bailing wire there's only room for a big screwdriver, little screwdriver, pliers, hammer, and a 10" adjustable wrench.

Originally Posted by matthewb0051 (Post 11142222)

I have a few of the open end wrenches with different size ends. They are really nice and usually thinner which comes in handy at times.

I was stationed in Germany and on the neighboring Army installation 20k down the road there was a junk yard lot, just like a pick and pull in the US. It was awesome! I got tons of stuff at that place, including tools to fill out my empty car set.


On another note:

Does anyone know who is making Craftsman now? Since they are in Ace and Lowes, I'm wondering whether they are still made by the same company.
Also, back when Home Depot started selling Husky, I would swear that they were made in the same factory as Craftsman. Anyone know if that is true?

As to estate sales and garage sales: my experience is that sellers have become wise to the deal and usually price the good stuff accordingly and sometimes even higher than market price. That is if you are lucky enough to get there before the people that show up at 6am...

Originally Posted by 911boost (Post 11141892)

I used adjustable wrenches when I was a plumber and have them still. They get the most use when working on the sprinkler system or gas lines on the RV.

Originally Posted by RANDY P (Post 11143019)

Craftsman supposedly working on being made in 'Merica again- I dunno if that's gonna hold true with the incoming administration- may not make sense anymore cost-wise.

I just wish they would quit making bulky tools that look like they came out of a Transformer's toy set. Fortunately all my C-man is still USA- bought i over 20 years ago and still have almost all of it (a miracle in itself)

rjp