Where do you get good tools these days?

[wdfifteen]

Working around our farmlet I carry four tools on the tractor, a knife, a screwdriver, a hammer, and a "Crescent" adjustable wrench. Lately both my 8" adjustable wrenches were hard to use - slipping, hard to adjust, won't hold adjustment etc. A bunch of my tools were stolen a few years ago and with them went my good tools. These were just a couple of cheap ones I found lying around.
I was at Harbor Freight a couple of days ago and looked at the wrenches - crap, all crap. Our local hardware sells Channel Lock wrenches and I picked one up based on the name alone. I'm not very impressed. It looks and feel weird, it's sturdy and functions pretty well but it just doesn't feel right.

[varmint]

garage sales,
eBay
waiting for relatives with nice tools to die

[wdfifteen]

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.



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.



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



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.



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.

[cabmandone]

I have a couple of Irwin crescent wrenches that have taken a pretty good beating. I also have a 25 year old Diamond crescent that I tend to reach for first when I'm using a crescent wrench.

[dan79brooklyn]

It’s interesting to learn that crescent wrench is actually a brand name not a tool.

https://www.crescenttool.com/about

[rusnak]

"crescent" are sold at Lowes.

I'm lucky to have a local hardware store that sells Knipex, Klein, Patriot, Wright Tool, etc.

[DanielDudley]

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=locking+adjustable+wrench&t=newext&atb=v235-1&iax=images&ia=images&iai=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.homedepot-static.com%2FproductImages%2F7c393eab-8ca4-40d2-a4a7-b3bdd92d2ff6%2Fsvn%2Fstanley-adjustable-wrenches-85-610-64_1000.jpg

[matthewb0051]

Here is the only Cresent branded wrench that I own. That's my XL hand for reference

[look 171]

Originally Posted by DanielDudley

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=locking+adjustable+wrench&t=newext&atb=v235-1&iax=images&ia=images&iai=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.homedepot-static.com%2FproductImages%2F7c393eab-8ca4-40d2-a4a7-b3bdd92d2ff6%2Fsvn%2Fstanley-adjustable-wrenches-85-610-64_1000.jpg

We just bought a couple of those. They guys swear by them. Why didn't anyone think of them sooner. This thing is a game changer.

This thing. I am ordering half dozen of them. Great for tight places like under sink.
https://toolguyd.com/crescent-ratcheting-adjustable-wrench/

I also like this Knipiex. Have it in my tool box in my truck. https://www.homedepot.com/p/KNIPEX-10-in-Auto-Adjusting-Water-Pump-Pliers-85-01-250-US/205944373?source=shoppingads&locale=en-US&mtc=Shopping-B-F_D25T-G-D25T-25_1_HAND_TOOLS-Multi-NA-Feed-PLA-NA-NA-HandTools_PLA&cm_mmc=Shopping-B-F_D25T-G-D25T-25_1_HAND_TOOLS-Multi-NA-Feed-PLA-NA-NA-HandTools_PLA-71700000034127224-58700003933021546-92700031755124811&gclid=CjwKCAiAlNf-BRB_EiwA2osbxQMKU_oW6zdAs-IShw7lNvBVSXqLhqrEt2F8GwGsCnrZ6zq77dkCuBoCVT4QAvD_ BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

[onewhippedpuppy]

I feel like today you basically have two tiers. There’s the higher end stuff like Snap On, Proto, Klein, and then the rest of it is Chinese junk. I’m not aware of a middle tier made in America option like Craftsman used to be.

[look 171]

We still have these mom and pop tool shops for the construction industry. They only carry quality tools, no junks. I can think of four we frequent. A couple of them even carry small to large scale wood working machinery along with very high quality hand tools. This is a huge city and have the industry to support them. Small cities may not be able to do so. I got yapping with the owner last year when the construction is booming, he still say, they are only making a living unlike the days before home depot came to town way back in the early 90s.

[A930Rocket]

I have several that are up to 50-60 years old. Diamond, Wescott, etc.

It’s very rare that I use them...it’s a last resort tool for me.

[NY65912]

Being in the plumbing business I have access to a few "pro" tool companies. I found this online a few months ago and have ordered tools for my personal use from them.

https://www.harryepstein.com/

[hcoles]

Originally Posted by NY65912

Being in the plumbing business I have access to a few "pro" tool companies. I found this online a few months ago and have ordered tools for my personal use from them.

https://www.harryepstein.com/

Thanks, some great deals on good tools in the closeout section. Lots of other good tools here as well.

[onewhippedpuppy]

When I was a mechanic, I had a crusty old codger tell me that no real mechanic uses an adjustable wrench.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

When I was a mechanic, I had a crusty old codger tell me that no real mechanic uses an adjustable wrench.

I heard the same thing!

I own a couple of Cresent wrenches, and they get very little use. I prefer a real wrench, and I have everything from 6 mm to 29 mm and that fits everything I have and I only work on my stuff. About the only time I go for one of my Cresent wrenches is to change the propane bottle. I never remember just what size it is, and it is a pretty simple procedure to change it.

[GH85Carrera]

Metric sizes!



Not mine!

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

When I was a mechanic, I had a crusty old codger tell me that no real mechanic uses an adjustable wrench.

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.

[911boost]

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.

[look 171]

Being in the construction business, often we have to deal with big nuts, that's some of the home owner BTW, so an adj wrench is what gets the most attention. Most of the time, they nuts and bolts aren't that tight unless its an iron pipe. That will require a big pipe wrench to get it lose. Adj wrench isn't even in the equation when it comes to working on a car. No way, that's asking for it.