Best adjustable wrench?

[pwd72s]

After watching this, had to run to my rollaway...whew! All my craftsman are the old made in USA stuff. Anyway, interesting video...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyOd05PUix4

[cabmandone]

I have two of the Irwin adjustable wrenches. I bought them when I broke a hydraulic line on an excavator down inside a woods I was working in. Sadly I lost all of my old school Craftsman wrenches in crawl spaces . My favorite by far is an old Diamond adjustable wrench I've had for over 25 years.

[Sooner or later]

I have a few really old Diamond Tool and Horseshoe tools. The adjustable wrenches are bulletproof.

[David]

Snap On. I've had my 12" for 40 years and it's still the best one I have. Of course I try not to use an adjustable wrench or the open end of a combination wrench if possible.

[GH85Carrera]

I have a few old made in USA adjustable wrenches. They don't rank space in my toolbox. I hang them on a nail in a cabinet. I use them mostly for my propane bottle. I have a fixed wrench for that as well, but I never remember the exact size. It is a large nut, so no worries about rounding it off.

I have open end wrenches from 6mm to 38mm, so adjustable is a rare use item.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by David

Snap On. I've had my 12" for 40 years and it's still the best one I have. Of course I try not to use an adjustable wrench or the open end of a combination wrench if possible.

Any long time car wrench will agree with your post.

I have a big Harbor Freight wrench that's 15 years old. I'm thinking in the 2' long range.

I use it for steering tie rod work. Not much is unmovable with it. However, if the truth be told, it's the torch that does the real work if things get tough.

[dad911]

Not cheap, but these Knipex have replaced adjustable wrenches for me (in most cases)

[A930Rocket]

The adjustable wrench section in my toolbox.

[URY914]

^^^How did you bend the handle?

I've always liked the black finish on an adjustable wrench. Looks more purposeful. I have 3 that are black.

[Superman]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

..... propane bottle. ....

Get a cheap combination wrench that fits the shutoff valve, and hang it on a hook at the valve location. This is a pretty important safety measure.

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

Any long time car wrench will agree with your post.

I am unconvinced. The open end of a combination wrench is often faster and easier to use. Mechanics care about speed/efficiency. The open end slips onto the fastener quickly and easily. If the fastener has to rotate multiple turns, the open end gets the fastener removed more quickly. IMHO.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by Superman

I am unconvinced. The open end of a combination wrench is often faster and easier to use. Mechanics care about speed/efficiency. The open end slips onto the fastener quickly and easily. If the fastener has to rotate multiple turns, the open end gets the fastener removed more quickly. IMHO.

Faster, yes. Stronger though? Nope. I've had some bolts that were really tight and had to really lean into them to break them loose. I've had the open end open up on me when a bolt is really tight.

Then we gotta get into those fancy high fallutin open end wrenches that are designed to sort of ratchet.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by Superman

If the fastener has to rotate multiple turns, the open end gets the fastener removed more quickly. IMHO.

Speed box wrench.

Always a situation though where an adjustable wrench is a good choice.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I love project farm! His testing is intelligent, innovative and best of all, anal. Love this guy.

I have an old USA made 8 or 9" Craftsman adjustable and it's a decent wrench. Don't use it all that often but it works well. the best adjustable wrench ever made?

15" Craftsman, hands down. These things are precision, nearly zero slop or play and are stronger than anything you'll be loosening. I have 2 of them, best possible wrenches for all 911 oil lines. They seem to grip tighter on torque if that's possible, they are hard to get off after loosening. Rolling the knurled adjuster is practically sensual. No better wrench of any kind for handling large nuts.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

No better wrench of any kind for handling large nuts.

It's sweet you have metric AND English adjustable wrenches.

[cabmandone]

^^^
Yeah! But can ya use it as a hammer? That's the true test of quality

That and putting a 2' pipe on the end because you just can't get enough leverage to break something loose without it.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by cabmando

That and putting a 2' pipe on the end because you just can't get enough leverage to break something loose without it.

Shaun's look like they were made for a cheater pipe. Plus they are forged.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

Shaun's look like they were made for a cheater pipe. Plus they are forged.

Exactly! What's the point in having that nice tapered handle if you're not gonna put a cheater pipe on it?

And since I don't see any marks on the side I can only surmise that they have never been used as a hammer. I think that's a flagrant foul or something.

^^^
Strike that! Upon further review, I can clearly see marks on the side which would imply that it has indeed been used as a hammer. Shaun will not be charged a timeout.

[Superman]

Open end wrenches are weaker than box end, sure. But pro mechanics use good tools, and everybody prefers to use the box end to break a fastener loose. Adjustable wrenches are, generally sort of crap. It would indeed be nice to have a high quality one. Something made by the Germans.

[cabmandone]

^^^
Or in this case, one made by Milwaukee (I think it tested the best didn't it?)
And ya can't use an end wrench as a hammer... unless it's at least a 1 5/8 or better. Those make a good hammer.

[maxnine11]

I've found the Japanese mfg'd Top 8" adjustable to be excellent.