You are absolutely right. I tried and tried and tried to like the pliers wrench. I just can’t get into it. It takes way too long to get a tight adjustment on the knipex (if you’re using it for a variety of fasteners in one setting). You’re also right that you need to see it and have two hands on it to set it. With. Pair of adjustable, you can a pair in each, and adjust each with one hand as youre moving your wrenches to the next fasteners.
My old foremans go bag for a service call was a pair of snapon adjustables, a multi meter, a cutter/crimper/stripper combo and a map gas torch and a multi bit screwdriver. 90% of the time he got it home/back on the road.
I’m an industrial electrician and if I’m going to take a look at a call I always bring a multibit screwdriver, channel locks, and an adjustable wrench. You can fix a lot of stuff with those tools.
I agree 100%. The Knipex is a very well made tool but requires two hands. As a Pipefitter I install brass valves and fittings daily, the good old adjustable wrench is still my go to.
Just like the Knipex Cobras, once you have it set on the fastener, you can just pull on one of the handles and that will provide both the squeezing and rotating forces.
as an hvac guy myself and all my coworkers use the bahco wrenches. adjustables are pretty invaluable in our trade when you don't have the luxury of always having every single tool you own right beside you
i carry both. I found pliers wrench way quicker and more versatile AFTER a while of practice. however ill always carry an adjustable, they are better in some situations.
I had the belief they were dead also, but watching this vid made me realize a couple things. I always struggle to size the Knipex where I want it, one handed or blind. The adjustable may be a better tool than I give credit. Ty
As a mechanic, we use a special tool to crank rear brake caliper pistons back on. Occasionally it takes a lot of torque on a sticky piston. I use a 15” ratchet on the tool and a 12” Crescent wrench to hold the caliper. The more modern solutions would work, but be far more awkward. These tools will never go away IMO. They sometimes solve weird problems.
Those Knipex are very good for bending small pieces of metal because of the way they clamp down with such high leverage. Pegboard hooks, thin pieces of strip metal to make brackets, etc. It's a great reason to own them if you do that with any frequency.
I use my adjustable wrenches almost every day, I use my test light and my regular (non ratcheting) screwdrivers almost everyday too. Newer fancier tools make jobs easier but some problems can only be solved by the fundamentals
Yea I feel ya, I use a 12 inch pair of the normal ones not the wide jaw or whatever in the machine shop to grab weird shaped stuff or real big hex bolts I don't feel like finding a socket for, doesn't always work.
Great video! No tool has bailed me out more than my 10” adjustable wrench. It’s pinch-hit for so many sockets and wrenches on so many occasions when I was otherwise toolless.
On automotive stuff, I never use my crescent wrenches. But on non-auto stuff, I use the heck out of them. Use them responsibly and they don't beat up most bolt heads.
Other than the chrome and red this wrench looks identical to the Bacho, which is owned by snap on. For me, Bacho crescent wrenches are a must in refrigeration. They make a crescent pipe wrench combo that is the bee knees. Also check out klien this are good as well.
Like you said snap-on owns Bahco. That is a Bahco wrench. Snap-On just puts their name on it and makes the handle red. I guess they chrome it too, since most of the Bahco ones I seen or a dark gunmetal gray finished that's not chromed I think they called industrial finish
I have the thin jaw Bahco version of that snap on, and it's great for espresso machines where the equipment has beautiful chrome that I like to wrap in electrical tape before servicing (image search "E61 espresso"). It's the optimal tool because of the compact handle, adjustable size to account for the thick tape, and thin jaws for the thin fasteners.
My favorite is a NAPA, 24", Paid a LOT for it about 25 years ago. Great for hydraulic fittings on heavy equipment. Nice matt chrome finish, slender tapered handle, and it still looks likr new.
I grew up with Bacho adjustable wrenches patented in Sweden by Johan Petter Johansson in 1891 and improved in 1892. In 1888 he took out a patent on an adjustable pipe wrench which gave him the idea to develop the now famous adjustable wrench (spanner). However, the first adjustable spanner had been invented by an Englishman, Joseph Stubs, 50 years earlier. J. P. Johansson patented 120 different inventions during his lifetime. He died in 1943 nearly 90 years old.
I have the big mouth 12 in snap on and I love it. Technically these are called open end adjustable wrenches. When used in the proper situations the open end adjustable can be the most valuable tool in the box.
That old crescent is cool, love Youngstown NY stamp and all. I have an old Bahco that says “AB Stockholm” on it, I actually found it on the street where I used to live. My newer Bahco just say made in Sweden. I mainly use adjustable wrenches for holding nuts while I losen or tighten with something else, socket, Allen key, wrench or whatever. To me they are too crude to use for tightening, the potential for rounding nuts bother me. Also I hate that you sometimes have to readjust after you have had it off the bolt for a second. All this being said I would give the up, even though they are so so, they are still the handiest things - go figure…
I think the reason for going in the "right" direction is due to where the force from the bolt is being applied to the wrench. When tightening in the "right" way, you are putting the bottom jaw in a bind, and it is being supported at the shoulder where it contacts the handle. Furthermore, when tightening in the "wrong" direction, the moving jaw is forced away from the wrench instead of towards it. The location of contact of the top jaw is also evident. Tightening in the "wrong" direction puts the force in the top jaw further towards the tip of the jaw, where it is weaker and could slip more versus tightening in the "right" direction, which puts the force closer to the base of the top jaw. Look at the earliest designs of adjustable wrenches that were not offset at an angle, and translated all the force into the worm gear mechanism. Ultimately you are trying to lessen the stress on that mechanism and many wrenches are misused from people putting cheater pipes on the handle. They're not really suited for high torque situations due to the number of contact points on the hex.
It's indeed about the moving jaw part. The specific way the nut and jaws interact will make the nut want to go down in the pocket on the moving side which is what you want because of the play. There's another point to it too, and the reason these all have the slight angle just like regular wrenches: because of the slight angle, a part of the force you're putting on the handle pushes the fastener further down in the pocket, which as I pointed out before is more important with a Crescent because of the slop. Using them the wrong direction is how we've wound up with nicknames for them like "knucklebusters" when they slip off.
Nice wrench i have irega they made chanelock and one 180 mm gedore pliers wrench.For me adjustable wrench are most useful for plumbing.Greatings from Bulgaria
I love my old Stanley crescent wrench. I don't care if other people stop using them, I will keep mine around. I grinded down a old cheap no brand crescent wrench and I use it for bicycle pedals. I have 3 bikes and they have 2 different sizes and I figured I would try it and it worked for years. I have used it on friends bikes and one guys pedal came off and I was riding my bike, and I always have a few tools and a tube on me. I was able to tighten his pedal on and he said his pedal wrench is about half the size of my small crescent wrench. That's another reason why I love the pedal, crescent wrench I made. It's also my wheel nut removal tool. I highly doubt crescent wrenches will ever go away.
Adjustables are generally used as a last resort. So ideally only if you do not have the correct size spanner/wrench for the task. However in saying that for some scenarios where very large size ranges are required to be carried adjustables do have a place. As an industrial electrician I own the Bahco versions of these Snap Ons in the video. I also own the Knipex plier wrenches. I find the plier wrenches generally open to a larger capacity for a similar sized toolbox/tool bag space footprint despite the wide opening Jaws of the Bahcos. Working on 4 core 95mm steel wire armour cable glands I often need insanely large opening capacity this is easier to obtain with the Knipex pliers wrench. I don’t think any adjustable Bahco/Snap On spanner will go that big. The ratcheting function of the knipex on a panel full of glands is absolutely priceless. I really think the Knipex is a revolutionary tool. I like how they lock into the size selected and actually grip tighter onto the work the more torque you apply - so it can’t slip off. When glanding off three phase motor wiring in tight locations again I think the Knipex is superior. Set the size and ratchet away with comfort and grip. The conventional adjustable Bahco/Snap On wide jaw variety are still good tools and serve well as a back up and are my go to brand for a tool of that type.
I think the standard adjustable wrench is much easier to use than the knipex. I have a couple knipex and I wanted to love them, but ultimately I just don't see what the hype is all about. I'll take a standard adjustable wrench any day. If you use an adjustable wrench and strip a fastener or break the tool, then you are clearly applying more force than the tool was designed for. They are a utility wrench. They aren't made to torque lug nuts on a 747. I also bought a couple of the stubby channel lock adjustable wrenches and cut the handle grips off. Those are one of my go-to tools. I keep one hanging in the shop and have a pair in my emergency tool kit.
I can't say i have any answers but I do have a few opinions. The rubber handles ....yes I slice them off with a razor knife every chance I get. The directions in which you pull them......hasn't really made much difference to me over the years. But I only use them in limited circumstances and that's bigger stuff that will not suffer if the wrench is not overly tight. 12 years in the oil field and I've picked quite a few up off of lease roads all over South and West Texas as well as new mexico. I literally have a 5 gallon bucket full of them anything from 4 in all the way up to 24. The 24 is real nice it's a Williams and that thing retails for serious dollars new. Most are no name but I run into some crescents and some Crescent knockoffs lol. I also have a 5 gallon bucket full of pipe wrenches of various sizes. Lots of ridged ...steel and aluminum and some no names. Anyhow. I think there's a place for crescent wrenches or crescent type wrenches even now, you just got to be kind of careful with them because they aren't the tightest fitting wrenches out there and if you're working on something that's a little bit delicate you're liable to round It Off. Lol. 2 cents deposited.
Obsolete? No, but reduced to the bottom of the drawer. Haha. I did just purchase a pair a short time ago... a set of Channellock Xtra Slim Jaws... 4" and 6". Very handy for tight locations... like bench casters and jointer blade knife bolts! Made in Spain I believe.
The channellock one are made by Irega, I have multiple ones. The plastic handles are exactly the same. I have ones with reversible jaws for working on pipes. And recently I bought one with slim jaws. The quality and finish is very good. They use a little spring inside the barrel to reduce the play. Irega makes only adjustable wrenches in Zaldibar, Spain. But I like your collection. And when I work on delicate parts I use the knipex pliers wrench with a soft jaw.
Snap-on adjustable spanners , brought to you by .....Bahco 😅 I have the same big spanner with the wide opening, exactly the same except anodised and black handle . Made by Bahco , around 50-55 € .
The purpose of the pliers wrench for me is that I can slip it over the bolt or nut by loosening my grip, and therefore move the fastener much quicker than the adjustable wrench. Rule of thumb for me is that if I can spin it all the way around, I take the adjustable. If it’s a tight spot I take the pliers. I also use the pliers to repair sheet metal, they can stamp things flat. I also use the pliers wrench if a lot of the same size fastener is being worked with, because its downside is needing two hands to adjust, so it’s not as easy to set.
Interesting video, thanks. I believe you are right about the Cresent direction. It mostly matters under higher torque. But its more about the angle of the handle than the jaws. Even a typical open ended wrench has a "handle angle". Pulling the wrench in the "correct" direction is pulling the handle towards the work piece. Under torque, pulling in the "less than correct" direction is pulling away from the work, perhaps causing the wrench to slip towards the outer edges of the jaws where the contact is less secure. This is from my experience working with Cresent wrenchs while repairing my bicycles back on the early '70's... many rounded corners on nuts and bolts.
Fwiw open end combination wrenches should be used in one direction too. There is a right/wrong way to use an open end. One way promotes slipping off the fastener, one way doesn't. But nobody really pays attention to this rule.
Not a tool I use often but when I need them for a odd job usually it's all I got. Last time I used my Cresent was on a waterpump driven fan. I put it on the the fastener with a cheater pipe and smacked it with a hammer until it broke free then spun it by hand the rest of the way off. It saved me from having to buy a water pump tool.
When I used to work as a HD equipment diesel mechanic, I wouldn't work with a person who used a crescent wrench. Just something about it...... I hated them. Maybe I had used crappy ones before. Rounded nuts. Lots of slipping off of fasteners.I changed my mind with the knipex because the harder you pull, the tighter it clamps on the fastener. I have one of those on me all the time.
I honestly never knew they were going out of favor. I keep at least two in every truck bag, house box and plumbing bag. My only issue I ever had was when sending out a apprentice in search of the metric version. Them suckers are about as rare as hens teeth. That new Snap On is nice. Thanks for another great video brother.
I bought the Bahco when they first came out for the very reason you like the identical looking Snap-On. The wide jaw opening and the thin jaws were very attractive to me. I just couldn't get used to the thumb adjustment barrel that operated backwards from American design. To gain the extra jaw width makes the frame cumbersome for small work and extends the jaw slide out where it can interfere. Klein offered a compromise that I valued, traditional adjustable wrench shape that was thin while not too thin, and a wider than common jaw opening. Some Diamond tools were similar, but the Klein product seemed better quality to me. I lost a favorite Klein and replaced it with a similar Matco that I also really like. I have most premium brands, but I have never liked the Snap-On versions enough to pony up for their price. In general, I just simply favor the correct Snap-On combination wrench. I own and use the adjustable wrenches for only very limited applications. I can't make myself believe that I could ever overcome my bias against pliers ever replacing a wrench. I love Knipex pliers, but their pliers wrenches seem clunky and bulky. Their cost diminishes any temptation for me to invest in them. I have heard very favorable comments from younger generation bucks that value and use these Knipex tools. I don't use Craftsman grade "crescent" wrenches. I prefer more refined and higher quality tools.
@@porkchop7652 Hi Porkchop. I don't understand your comment. Bahco introduced the particular style of adjustable wrench being discussed 20ish to 30ish years ago years. I have forgotten exactly when I made my purchase. I do recall yielding to the new tool introduction sample from the Bahco salesman. I thought that it would be handy for Sloan flush valve repair with the very wide jaw opening. The then jaws coupled with the reverse direction thread jaw adjustment nut from every other adjustable wrench brand I ever owned made it unwelcome in my hand. To accommodate the wide jaw opening required widening the frame and this gets awkward for small fastener applications. I eventually found a home for it as a dedicated workstation tool in my woodshop. I think that the design tried too hard to be an everything tool. The quality is fine, but design deserves more refinement before I would eagerly endorse it.
Best hammer I ever had was an adjustible made my Taparia. I prefer it over any Snap-On, Cresent, Irwin or other brand. Taparia has very good tools. Second best hammer was my little baby 8 inch adjustible. It was made in Roxborough, Mass and was about 100+ years old. That thing was remarkable. Sadly, some scalper took it and passed it off as trash. Both hammers, Taparia and the Roxborough Mass adjustible wrenches were so smooth and had zero play, it was joyful to use them. ZERO play. Rock solid tools
I live right near Jamestown NY. And I have all kinds of old crescent made tools. Seconds and everything. Wish our area still had cool businesses like that. All we have left is zippo\case, ka-bar\cutco and Ontario knives. But what I wanted to add was I have some old Williams adjustables and they are made slightly different. The section that slide inside is squared off on the top. So it's supposed to give added strength to not break the jaws under load. And also was supposed to keep the jaws tighter. Less slop in movement so they wouldn't strip things as easy. The ones I have are super old and worn out so they are pretty loose. But it's an interesting idea I guess. Williams used to be made in buffalo which is near me too. Used to be a bunch of tool makers up there. Barcalo, mckaig-hatch, keystone... Sad sad sad what's happened to our country and our Industries.
I've always been a Bahco adjustable wrench loyalist, but I recently got a couple of Facom ones with round comfort grip handles just like their ratchets because they were on sale, and I must admit, they do look good and are comfortable. Adjustable wrenches definitely have their uses, especially for holding the back part of a nut and bolt while you're turning the front part with a fixed jaw wrench or a socket.
@@kpttrips more like Irazola(or is that Irega? 🤔) in Spain which also makes screwdrivers and pliers for most SNA brands, including Bahco and as an OEM. still a part of SNA though. 😉 now the really interesting question is _who_ makes the series 80 ratchets sold under the Bahco brand like the 6950? 😏
I always had a dislike for adjustable wrenches, but I still have them. I regularly use my locking adjustable wrench, which is its own beast. That being said, generally, I use a socket or wrench, if I can. That being said, for EDC and not wanting to dig tools out, I more frequently use my knipex pliers wrenches, and have for the last handful of years. I use the XS model the most and the action, like yours - with the adjustable wrench, is second nature. I personally have no issue sizing the XS model (with no button, easily slides based on arm position and pressure). This is kind of hard to explain, but this is what I do: First, grab the plier by both arms, put the nut in back of the jaws - loosely. Then I make sure the top jaw is flat against the nut (jiggle may be necessary). Then, I lift the arm from the center with my index finger, and adjust the bottom jaw between my index and thumb. It isn't exact, but at this point, if you hit the nut with the bottom jaw you can release the arm down, and it will clamp fine when you put force on the top arm. This takes time, and regular usage to get used to it. I guess the question is, if you are comfortable with the adjustable wrench, is it worth getting used to a new tool? Probably not. But I did, specifically because I wasn't comfortable with the adjustable wrench. And that's why we each love different tools. They fit our needs and we pick the one that does that job best, for us.
First of all love your content and videos, very informative and educational. I was wondering if you are a tool collector / reviewer, or do you actually use your tools for work? All your gear and tools looks untouched / unused or the most part. Anyway, either way keep up the good work.
Check out Walmart's HART Adjustable Wrench. It's quite sleek. Extra wide opening jaws too. Cheapo brand. But I have used a couple hart hand tools professionally for years now as a transmission mechanic. The hart rachet is extremely similar in build and assembly as my snap-ons. Worth a look. You really can't go wrong with a tool that's 15 percent the price of a snap on and performance is similar.
Every tool has their own place but with that said,Knipex’s pliers wrench have replaced all of the Adj ones in my tool bags except when doing heavy machinery or large hardware. Still love the long Adj.
I recently found the actual Crescent Jamestown NY wrench same size as yours in an old warehouse laying on some old water lines. Probably been there for years but really cool to find
I’m an Audi tech and when doing alignments a lot of the time the inner and outer tie rod ends are slightly seized. The first tool I go to after even a Snap On flank drive slips is a Chanellock branded adjustable wrench. There has only ever been one time it wouldn’t work and nothing else would either. The inner and outer tie rod ends had to be replaced.
My EDC always was adjustable wrench, an 11 in 1 and a leatherman with a very sharp knife blade. I can almost fix anything. But recently I dumped the adjustable wrench for a small Knipex plier wrench as an experiment. I will try it for a while to see how I feel. I’m one who believes in the ability to solve problems rather than the tool itself.
It's been probably 8-10 years since I willingly used an adjustable wrench, and I couldn't be happier about it. The only time I've used them is working around acidic solutions that I don't want my Pliers Wrenches around. I am a complete convert to the Church of the Pliers Wrench. However, I do have to agree with you that the adjustment isn't as thoughtless. I'm waiting for them to update the line so they are self adjusting like the mini 100 size. It's going to hurt my wallet paying for a all the sizes again, but I'll do it for sure.
I don’t think the adjustable wrench will ever die. The code blues are great, I buy them at my facility for dedicated stations . They’re cheap and people like the soft grip. Personally my favorite are the snap-on wide mouth 8” but the sexiest is by far the Nepros adjustable made by KTC tools in Japan
I don’t think it’s obsolete at all. The two piece moving handle and be hard to manipulate in tight areas and won’t stay on when you slack your grip. The jaws on the pliers wrench are large and round- I really like my Bahco 6 inch because the jaws are like a beak and I can squeeze in and pinch a bolt where the pliers wrench can’t get to
just bought the 2 piece wide mouth set in the eva foam on promo in green for 215. stoked they seem great. got them for hydraulic lines. i have the regular 4 piece flank drive set too. gonna keep the wide mouths on my truck for hydraulic lines on machines.
I have a Stanley one that I use a lot. If I’m zipping off a lot of bolts that have nuts as the fastener and there’s different sizes, it’s easier to grab an adjustable so I can just thumb it to the right size instead of bringing all the different open end wrenches. I never really break things loose with it. I have a lot of them but that Stanley has almost no play in the mouth. What you adjust it too it’s that size and doesn’t walk open when the impact is shaking it.
There's also just something special about vintage craftsman wrenches def before the sears fiasco. Those damn things were tough as nails. The ones today shouldn't even share the name craftsman
Mexican socket sets are indispensable for a service tech. Throw one in your pocket, walk 200 yards from your rig and be able to fix the problem without going back. Love my Knipex Pliers wrench but the angle of the dangle doesn't always suit what your working on and a traditional adjustable is what you need. Rastall spud wrench is top of line and includes a hammer ( we all use adjustables as hammers anyways might as well have it built in). I like the basic Matcos otherwise, nice and tight, solid adjustables.
The surface area of the jaws is usually wider than most open end wrenches. Also, you can snug the jaws up on the fasteners, and apply a greater amount of torque with rounding off the fasteners. I have the bahco red handles. They are great.
When I was pretty young (probably in my teens) I read a story about a young kid who went to interview for a job as a mechanic of some sort. The foreman doesn't ask him any questions or anything, but right off the bat he says "Show me your toolbox." The kid pulls out his toolbox and the foreman starts going through it, pulling everything out, grunting every now and then. Finally he packs it back up and says "Now I can interview you." After the interview, the kid asks "What was that thing with the toolbox all about?" The foreman replies "Oh, I just needed to make sure you didn't have any adjustable wrenches in there. I never hire anybody who carries an adjustable wrench." Needless to say, that story (apocryphal as it probably was) left an impact on me. I keep a few different sizes of adjustable wrenches around for emergencies, but I've always had a mindset of only pulling that out as an *absolute* last resort, instead preferring to use a correctly sized wrench.
I’m not a big fan of adjustable wrenches, but I do like SnapOn ones. I’ve got the 6in with the 1/2 jaw, standard 6in, and standard 12in. A couple coworkers got the new big one you got there in green. I don’t use them unless I just need a quick wrench or something that isn’t torqued down real tight, but SnapOn are the only ones I’ll use now. As far as the direction, I’ve always been told that it was because if you force it the other way, the jaw moves. It causes the wrench not to bite as hard and cause slipping or strip the nut. Always made sense to me because it does feel tighter that way.
I will always default to the correct size socket and ratchet before an adjustable. I came from the car repair world. I see A/C guys using adjustables the most.
Crescent wrenches are useful for a lot more than just turning bolts and actually that's one of the things they're worst at. But they're really good at bending metal. And also if I got a hold the other side of a small bolt like smaller than then a quarter 20. I'm not going back to the shop to get my other f****** wrench going to use the socket and I'm going to use the crescent wrench to hold it because the bolt isn't tight enough to really cause a problem and really with the the snap-on crescent wrench you can use it on a lot tighter bolts than you can a lesser crescent wrench
Should check out the vintage Snail Brand F-type adjustable wrenches. I like the reversible jaw wide mouth Bahco adjustables. I'm on the hunt 4 a nice used big 24" Bahco.
I dont see any lobtex adjustables, highly recommend picking up a few. I am a traveling technician, I keep one on me and 2 in the packout. They are lightweight, thin, and the widest jaw adjustable for the package size.
I handed my Knipex Pliers Wrench to someone, and he had no idea how to use it. I then handed him one of these adjustable wrenches and he was working. They might have better alternatives, but I’m not sure everyone knows about them yet.
The new crescent wrench is an irega design, which has been a similar design for 40 years that I know of. They were in Spain long before BAhCO moved its production to Spain
I think these are great to use no things that don't require a ton of torque Its such a handy tool. Easy and fast to adjust to size. I've watched some videos on them and the good quality ones like the old USA craftsman ones will break before they slip
The Iregas - which make the Channel Locks are the smothest I have found. For the wide mouths, I have an Ares which is wonderful, very smooth, no wobble. I Love the Knipex Pliers Wrench, but you are right that using them blind is problematic. The 6004 Wera Jokers are too limited in their ranges IMHO. A good quality adjustable wrench is not my first choice, but is invaluable for a mobile kit
The adjustable wrenches made in Spain( not sure about the snap on) the channel lock, the wright tool and I'm sure others are made by Igera. I have my Armstrong 12 and 6", the wright 10 and 8" and just bought a snap on 12" for $30
I really like the black oxide finish Channelock crescent style adjustable wrenches made in Spain. Recently used my 18" with a 5ft cheater pipe to straighten a 1" thick steel tab on a stump grinder that was bent when a 1" pin sheared due to wear. It worked great and I'm not sure what I would have done without it. They're just plain handy to have around sometimes. The knipex pliers wrenches are also great and I use those regularly in my shop and at work. The code blue channelocks are pretty fly. Have a few in my shop and a 10" at work. The thin jaw ones are really nice for air and hydraulic fittings or anything with thin jam nuts where normal wrenches don't fit.
I like the pliers wrench for some stuff and I like the adjustable for some stuff. But man, the SO are so smooth compared to everything else. Though I seem to always end up using one or the other for plumbing work. Lol I also am partial to the wide flange handle of the newer Crescent stuff.
The only time I use adjustable wrenches is when I'm doing doing work with air fittings on heavy duty diesel and can't be bothered to grab 3-4 different wrench sizes
You are absolutely right. I tried and tried and tried to like the pliers wrench. I just can’t get into it. It takes way too long to get a tight adjustment on the knipex (if you’re using it for a variety of fasteners in one setting). You’re also right that you need to see it and have two hands on it to set it.
With. Pair of adjustable, you can a pair in each, and adjust each with one hand as youre moving your wrenches to the next fasteners.
Thats why Wera invented the Self adjusting wrench Joker Wrench
My old foremans go bag for a service call was a pair of snapon adjustables, a multi meter, a cutter/crimper/stripper combo and a map gas torch and a multi bit screwdriver. 90% of the time he got it home/back on the road.
I’m an industrial electrician and if I’m going to take a look at a call I always bring a multibit screwdriver, channel locks, and an adjustable wrench. You can fix a lot of stuff with those tools.
My edc is a streamlight stinger, Klein 11-1, and knipex 8”. I used to use a pair of 10” adjustables but I can do so much more with the knipex cobra’s
I agree 100%. The Knipex is a very well made tool but requires two hands. As a Pipefitter I install brass valves and fittings daily, the good old adjustable wrench is still my go to.
Just like the Knipex Cobras, once you have it set on the fastener, you can just pull on one of the handles and that will provide both the squeezing and rotating forces.
as an hvac guy myself and all my coworkers use the bahco wrenches. adjustables are pretty invaluable in our trade when you don't have the luxury of always having every single tool you own right beside you
I have most of my core tools in modular boxes that go with me most of the time. It's not always a luxury!
i carry both. I found pliers wrench way quicker and more versatile AFTER a while of practice. however ill always carry an adjustable, they are better in some situations.
@@Heizenberg32You bring your mod boxes up the ladder with you?
I had the belief they were dead also, but watching this vid made me realize a couple things. I always struggle to size the Knipex where I want it, one handed or blind. The adjustable may be a better tool than I give credit. Ty
As a mechanic, we use a special tool to crank rear brake caliper pistons back on. Occasionally it takes a lot of torque on a sticky piston. I use a 15” ratchet on the tool and a 12” Crescent wrench to hold the caliper. The more modern solutions would work, but be far more awkward. These tools will never go away IMO. They sometimes solve weird problems.
True crescent wrenches will always have their place. They are not the best for every task but some tasks they are the best you have.
They're complete garbage. It is a substitute for the correct wrench.
@@cjr1881 Wrenches are for fasteners. I needed a handheld vise.
Industrial techs at factories with high speed lines use crescents almost exclusively under pressure. There’s no time to find a wrench.
A caliper should never be sticky, it needs replacing
Those Knipex are very good for bending small pieces of metal because of the way they clamp down with such high leverage. Pegboard hooks, thin pieces of strip metal to make brackets, etc. It's a great reason to own them if you do that with any frequency.
working on overhead cranes, a 12" crescent is the most versatile tool we have, and yes, it is a hammer.
I use my adjustable wrenches almost every day, I use my test light and my regular (non ratcheting) screwdrivers almost everyday too. Newer fancier tools make jobs easier but some problems can only be solved by the fundamentals
I'm with you...working blindly an adjustable wrench is easy to use. Seems to be a tool I always grab to use.
I have a love hate with adjustable wrench I'm always have a want to use but it's hard to In a automotive setting
Move over to MD/HD trucks. A good adjustable is invaluable when dealing with brass air/coolant fittings.
i just made a long comment on why i hate them as a mechanic but the short version is they are terrible and i hate them in the shop .
Adjustments, or whenever you need to loosen up a really tight nut instead of grabbing a longer sized wrench.
Yea I feel ya, I use a 12 inch pair of the normal ones not the wide jaw or whatever in the machine shop to grab weird shaped stuff or real big hex bolts I don't feel like finding a socket for, doesn't always work.
Great video! No tool has bailed me out more than my 10” adjustable wrench. It’s pinch-hit for so many sockets and wrenches on so many occasions when I was otherwise toolless.
On automotive stuff, I never use my crescent wrenches. But on non-auto stuff, I use the heck out of them. Use them responsibly and they don't beat up most bolt heads.
Other than the chrome and red this wrench looks identical to the Bacho, which is owned by snap on. For me, Bacho crescent wrenches are a must in refrigeration. They make a crescent pipe wrench combo that is the bee knees. Also check out klien this are good as well.
Like you said snap-on owns Bahco. That is a Bahco wrench. Snap-On just puts their name on it and makes the handle red. I guess they chrome it too, since most of the Bahco ones I seen or a dark gunmetal gray finished that's not chromed I think they called industrial finish
@@darrenporsch you can get them in a chrome finish!
I have the thin jaw Bahco version of that snap on, and it's great for espresso machines where the equipment has beautiful chrome that I like to wrap in electrical tape before servicing (image search "E61 espresso"). It's the optimal tool because of the compact handle, adjustable size to account for the thick tape, and thin jaws for the thin fasteners.
My favorite is a NAPA, 24", Paid a LOT for it about 25 years ago. Great for hydraulic fittings on heavy equipment. Nice matt chrome finish, slender tapered handle, and it still looks likr new.
I grew up with Bacho adjustable wrenches patented in Sweden by Johan Petter Johansson in 1891 and improved in 1892. In 1888 he took out a patent on an adjustable pipe wrench which gave him the idea to develop the now famous adjustable wrench (spanner). However, the first adjustable spanner had been invented by an Englishman, Joseph Stubs, 50 years earlier. J. P. Johansson patented 120 different inventions during his lifetime. He died in 1943 nearly 90 years old.
I would love to see a tour of your workshop or garage. Maybe some organization tips for functionally storing ALL your many tools.
Lobster makes some great adjustable wrenches
I have the big mouth 12 in snap on and I love it. Technically these are called open end adjustable wrenches. When used in the proper situations the open end adjustable can be the most valuable tool in the box.
That old crescent is cool, love Youngstown NY stamp and all. I have an old Bahco that says “AB Stockholm” on it, I actually found it on the street where I used to live. My newer Bahco just say made in Sweden. I mainly use adjustable wrenches for holding nuts while I losen or tighten with something else, socket, Allen key, wrench or whatever. To me they are too crude to use for tightening, the potential for rounding nuts bother me. Also I hate that you sometimes have to readjust after you have had it off the bolt for a second. All this being said I would give the up, even though they are so so, they are still the handiest things - go figure…
I think the reason for going in the "right" direction is due to where the force from the bolt is being applied to the wrench. When tightening in the "right" way, you are putting the bottom jaw in a bind, and it is being supported at the shoulder where it contacts the handle. Furthermore, when tightening in the "wrong" direction, the moving jaw is forced away from the wrench instead of towards it. The location of contact of the top jaw is also evident. Tightening in the "wrong" direction puts the force in the top jaw further towards the tip of the jaw, where it is weaker and could slip more versus tightening in the "right" direction, which puts the force closer to the base of the top jaw. Look at the earliest designs of adjustable wrenches that were not offset at an angle, and translated all the force into the worm gear mechanism. Ultimately you are trying to lessen the stress on that mechanism and many wrenches are misused from people putting cheater pipes on the handle. They're not really suited for high torque situations due to the number of contact points on the hex.
It's indeed about the moving jaw part. The specific way the nut and jaws interact will make the nut want to go down in the pocket on the moving side which is what you want because of the play. There's another point to it too, and the reason these all have the slight angle just like regular wrenches: because of the slight angle, a part of the force you're putting on the handle pushes the fastener further down in the pocket, which as I pointed out before is more important with a Crescent because of the slop. Using them the wrong direction is how we've wound up with nicknames for them like "knucklebusters" when they slip off.
Nice wrench i have irega they made chanelock and one 180 mm gedore pliers wrench.For me adjustable wrench are most useful for plumbing.Greatings from Bulgaria
Always enjoy how passionate you talk about your tools.
I love my old Stanley crescent wrench. I don't care if other people stop using them, I will keep mine around. I grinded down a old cheap no brand crescent wrench and I use it for bicycle pedals. I have 3 bikes and they have 2 different sizes and I figured I would try it and it worked for years. I have used it on friends bikes and one guys pedal came off and I was riding my bike, and I always have a few tools and a tube on me. I was able to tighten his pedal on and he said his pedal wrench is about half the size of my small crescent wrench. That's another reason why I love the pedal, crescent wrench I made. It's also my wheel nut removal tool. I highly doubt crescent wrenches will ever go away.
Working with crescent wrenches on the daily for work, getting a good one definitely saves you headaches.
Adjustables are generally used as a last resort. So ideally only if you do not have the correct size spanner/wrench for the task.
However in saying that for some scenarios where very large size ranges are required to be carried adjustables do have a place.
As an industrial electrician I own the Bahco versions of these Snap Ons in the video. I also own the Knipex plier wrenches.
I find the plier wrenches generally open to a larger capacity for a similar sized toolbox/tool bag space footprint despite the wide opening Jaws of the Bahcos. Working on 4 core 95mm steel wire armour cable glands I often need insanely large opening capacity this is easier to obtain with the Knipex pliers wrench. I don’t think any adjustable Bahco/Snap On spanner will go that big.
The ratcheting function of the knipex on a panel full of glands is absolutely priceless. I really think the Knipex is a revolutionary tool. I like how they lock into the size selected and actually grip tighter onto the work the more torque you apply - so it can’t slip off.
When glanding off three phase motor wiring in tight locations again I think the Knipex is superior. Set the size and ratchet away with comfort and grip. The conventional adjustable Bahco/Snap On wide jaw variety are still good tools and serve well as a back up and are my go to brand for a tool of that type.
I'm a Maintenance mechanic and I use one everyday, armstrong and wright tools are my favorite
I think the standard adjustable wrench is much easier to use than the knipex. I have a couple knipex and I wanted to love them, but ultimately I just don't see what the hype is all about. I'll take a standard adjustable wrench any day. If you use an adjustable wrench and strip a fastener or break the tool, then you are clearly applying more force than the tool was designed for. They are a utility wrench. They aren't made to torque lug nuts on a 747. I also bought a couple of the stubby channel lock adjustable wrenches and cut the handle grips off. Those are one of my go-to tools. I keep one hanging in the shop and have a pair in my emergency tool kit.
I can't say i have any answers but I do have a few opinions. The rubber handles ....yes I slice them off with a razor knife every chance I get.
The directions in which you pull them......hasn't really made much difference to me over the years. But I only use them in limited circumstances and that's bigger stuff that will not suffer if the wrench is not overly tight. 12 years in the oil field and I've picked quite a few up off of lease roads all over South and West Texas as well as new mexico. I literally have a 5 gallon bucket full of them anything from 4 in all the way up to 24. The 24 is real nice it's a Williams and that thing retails for serious dollars new. Most are no name but I run into some crescents and some Crescent knockoffs lol. I also have a 5 gallon bucket full of pipe wrenches of various sizes. Lots of ridged ...steel and aluminum and some no names. Anyhow. I think there's a place for crescent wrenches or crescent type wrenches even now, you just got to be kind of careful with them because they aren't the tightest fitting wrenches out there and if you're working on something that's a little bit delicate you're liable to round It Off. Lol. 2 cents deposited.
Obsolete? No, but reduced to the bottom of the drawer. Haha. I did just purchase a pair a short time ago... a set of Channellock Xtra Slim Jaws... 4" and 6". Very handy for tight locations... like bench casters and jointer blade knife bolts! Made in Spain I believe.
The channellock one are made by Irega, I have multiple ones. The plastic handles are exactly the same. I have ones with reversible jaws for working on pipes. And recently I bought one with slim jaws. The quality and finish is very good. They use a little spring inside the barrel to reduce the play. Irega makes only adjustable wrenches in Zaldibar, Spain. But I like your collection. And when I work on delicate parts I use the knipex pliers wrench with a soft jaw.
I bought the Bahco version of that Snap-on. Impressive tool
Snap-on adjustable spanners , brought to you by .....Bahco 😅
I have the same big spanner with the wide opening, exactly the same except anodised and black handle .
Made by Bahco , around 50-55 € .
In my line of work. Hvac that is. The pliers wrench size 7.25 and 10 inch have been priceless. Just so handy.
The purpose of the pliers wrench for me is that I can slip it over the bolt or nut by loosening my grip, and therefore move the fastener much quicker than the adjustable wrench.
Rule of thumb for me is that if I can spin it all the way around, I take the adjustable. If it’s a tight spot I take the pliers. I also use the pliers to repair sheet metal, they can stamp things flat. I also use the pliers wrench if a lot of the same size fastener is being worked with, because its downside is needing two hands to adjust, so it’s not as easy to set.
Interesting video, thanks.
I believe you are right about the Cresent direction. It mostly matters under higher torque.
But its more about the angle of the handle than the jaws. Even a typical open ended wrench has a "handle angle".
Pulling the wrench in the "correct" direction is pulling the handle towards the work piece.
Under torque, pulling in the "less than correct" direction is pulling away from the work, perhaps causing the wrench to slip towards the outer edges of the jaws where the contact is less secure.
This is from my experience working with Cresent wrenchs while repairing my bicycles back on the early '70's... many rounded corners on nuts and bolts.
Fwiw open end combination wrenches should be used in one direction too. There is a right/wrong way to use an open end. One way promotes slipping off the fastener, one way doesn't. But nobody really pays attention to this rule.
Was using a pair of adjustable wrenches last night. They work and work well when used within their limitations.
I agree with you 100% the Knipex plier wrenches are nice but they're pain in the ass to adjust.
Everyone I work with uses a crescent wrench on a daily basis. Greatest tool to keep on your person
Not a tool I use often but when I need them for a odd job usually it's all I got. Last time I used my Cresent was on a waterpump driven fan. I put it on the the fastener with a cheater pipe and smacked it with a hammer until it broke free then spun it by hand the rest of the way off. It saved me from having to buy a water pump tool.
When I used to work as a HD equipment diesel mechanic, I wouldn't work with a person who used a crescent wrench. Just something about it...... I hated them. Maybe I had used crappy ones before. Rounded nuts. Lots of slipping off of fasteners.I changed my mind with the knipex because the harder you pull, the tighter it clamps on the fastener. I have one of those on me all the time.
I honestly never knew they were going out of favor. I keep at least two in every truck bag, house box and plumbing bag. My only issue I ever had was when sending out a apprentice in search of the metric version. Them suckers are about as rare as hens teeth.
That new Snap On is nice.
Thanks for another great video brother.
I’m a natural gas technician and all we carry and use is an adjustable wrench. My back pocket always has a 12”.
I bought the Bahco when they first came out for the very reason you like the identical looking Snap-On. The wide jaw opening and the thin jaws were very attractive to me. I just couldn't get used to the thumb adjustment barrel that operated backwards from American design. To gain the extra jaw width makes the frame cumbersome for small work and extends the jaw slide out where it can interfere. Klein offered a compromise that I valued, traditional adjustable wrench shape that was thin while not too thin, and a wider than common jaw opening. Some Diamond tools were similar, but the Klein product seemed better quality to me. I lost a favorite Klein and replaced it with a similar Matco that I also really like. I have most premium brands, but I have never liked the Snap-On versions enough to pony up for their price. In general, I just simply favor the correct Snap-On combination wrench. I own and use the adjustable wrenches for only very limited applications. I can't make myself believe that I could ever overcome my bias against pliers ever replacing a wrench. I love Knipex pliers, but their pliers wrenches seem clunky and bulky. Their cost diminishes any temptation for me to invest in them. I have heard very favorable comments from younger generation bucks that value and use these Knipex tools.
I don't use Craftsman grade "crescent" wrenches. I prefer more refined and higher quality tools.
You bought a bahco ajustable in 1892 ?
@@porkchop7652 Hi Porkchop. I don't understand your comment. Bahco introduced the particular style of adjustable wrench being discussed 20ish to 30ish years ago years. I have forgotten exactly when I made my purchase. I do recall yielding to the new tool introduction sample from the Bahco salesman. I thought that it would be handy for Sloan flush valve repair with the very wide jaw opening. The then jaws coupled with the reverse direction thread jaw adjustment nut from every other adjustable wrench brand I ever owned made it unwelcome in my hand. To accommodate the wide jaw opening required widening the frame and this gets awkward for small fastener applications. I eventually found a home for it as a dedicated workstation tool in my woodshop. I think that the design tried too hard to be an everything tool. The quality is fine, but design deserves more refinement before I would eagerly endorse it.
I bought a Nepros recently. Like you I have a large collection of Crescent wrenches. The Nepros is my favorite.
Best hammer I ever had was an adjustible made my Taparia. I prefer it over any Snap-On, Cresent, Irwin or other brand. Taparia has very good tools. Second best hammer was my little baby 8 inch adjustible. It was made in Roxborough, Mass and was about 100+ years old. That thing was remarkable. Sadly, some scalper took it and passed it off as trash.
Both hammers, Taparia and the Roxborough Mass adjustible wrenches were so smooth and had zero play, it was joyful to use them. ZERO play. Rock solid tools
I live right near Jamestown NY. And I have all kinds of old crescent made tools. Seconds and everything. Wish our area still had cool businesses like that. All we have left is zippo\case, ka-bar\cutco and Ontario knives. But what I wanted to add was I have some old Williams adjustables and they are made slightly different. The section that slide inside is squared off on the top. So it's supposed to give added strength to not break the jaws under load. And also was supposed to keep the jaws tighter. Less slop in movement so they wouldn't strip things as easy. The ones I have are super old and worn out so they are pretty loose. But it's an interesting idea I guess. Williams used to be made in buffalo which is near me too. Used to be a bunch of tool makers up there. Barcalo, mckaig-hatch, keystone... Sad sad sad what's happened to our country and our Industries.
I still LOVE adjustable wrenches. I have multiple Knipex pliers wrenches, but I still use my Snappy adjustable wrenches all the time!
I use the 12" Snap-on daily cracking tie rod lock nuts loose doing front end alignments. Love the knurling on the jaws, great grip.
I've always been a Bahco adjustable wrench loyalist, but I recently got a couple of Facom ones with round comfort grip handles just like their ratchets because they were on sale, and I must admit, they do look good and are comfortable. Adjustable wrenches definitely have their uses, especially for holding the back part of a nut and bolt while you're turning the front part with a fixed jaw wrench or a socket.
Bahco makes these Snap on rebrands
@@kpttrips more like Irazola(or is that Irega? 🤔) in Spain which also makes screwdrivers and pliers for most SNA brands, including Bahco and as an OEM. still a part of SNA though. 😉
now the really interesting question is _who_ makes the series 80 ratchets sold under the Bahco brand like the 6950? 😏
I always had a dislike for adjustable wrenches, but I still have them. I regularly use my locking adjustable wrench, which is its own beast. That being said, generally, I use a socket or wrench, if I can.
That being said, for EDC and not wanting to dig tools out, I more frequently use my knipex pliers wrenches, and have for the last handful of years. I use the XS model the most and the action, like yours - with the adjustable wrench, is second nature.
I personally have no issue sizing the XS model (with no button, easily slides based on arm position and pressure). This is kind of hard to explain, but this is what I do:
First, grab the plier by both arms, put the nut in back of the jaws - loosely. Then I make sure the top jaw is flat against the nut (jiggle may be necessary). Then, I lift the arm from the center with my index finger, and adjust the bottom jaw between my index and thumb. It isn't exact, but at this point, if you hit the nut with the bottom jaw you can release the arm down, and it will clamp fine when you put force on the top arm.
This takes time, and regular usage to get used to it. I guess the question is, if you are comfortable with the adjustable wrench, is it worth getting used to a new tool? Probably not. But I did, specifically because I wasn't comfortable with the adjustable wrench. And that's why we each love different tools. They fit our needs and we pick the one that does that job best, for us.
First of all love your content and videos, very informative and educational. I was wondering if you are a tool collector / reviewer, or do you actually use your tools for work? All your gear and tools looks untouched / unused or the most part. Anyway, either way keep up the good work.
Check out Walmart's HART Adjustable Wrench. It's quite sleek. Extra wide opening jaws too. Cheapo brand. But I have used a couple hart hand tools professionally for years now as a transmission mechanic. The hart rachet is extremely similar in build and assembly as my snap-ons. Worth a look. You really can't go wrong with a tool that's 15 percent the price of a snap on and performance is similar.
Every tool has their own place but with that said,Knipex’s pliers wrench have replaced all of the Adj ones in my tool bags except when doing heavy machinery or large hardware. Still love the long Adj.
Just like a bench vice , you apply the force to the fixed side of the wrench
I recently found the actual Crescent Jamestown NY wrench same size as yours in an old warehouse laying on some old water lines. Probably been there for years but really cool to find
I’m an Audi tech and when doing alignments a lot of the time the inner and outer tie rod ends are slightly seized. The first tool I go to after even a Snap On flank drive slips is a Chanellock branded adjustable wrench. There has only ever been one time it wouldn’t work and nothing else would either. The inner and outer tie rod ends had to be replaced.
My EDC always was adjustable wrench, an 11 in 1 and a leatherman with a very sharp knife blade. I can almost fix anything. But recently I dumped the adjustable wrench for a small Knipex plier wrench as an experiment. I will try it for a while to see how I feel. I’m one who believes in the ability to solve problems rather than the tool itself.
It's been probably 8-10 years since I willingly used an adjustable wrench, and I couldn't be happier about it. The only time I've used them is working around acidic solutions that I don't want my Pliers Wrenches around. I am a complete convert to the Church of the Pliers Wrench. However, I do have to agree with you that the adjustment isn't as thoughtless. I'm waiting for them to update the line so they are self adjusting like the mini 100 size. It's going to hurt my wallet paying for a all the sizes again, but I'll do it for sure.
I use them for my propane tanks, I wouldn't have my tool box without one. Bahco 12" seems great
In the industrial field adjustables in my opinion are essential and you can’t cheap out on em.
I don’t think the adjustable wrench will ever die. The code blues are great, I buy them at my facility for dedicated stations . They’re cheap and people like the soft grip. Personally my favorite are the snap-on wide mouth 8” but the sexiest is by far the Nepros adjustable made by KTC tools in Japan
I have the knipex version and I love them they have their place. But nothing beats a good (a really good) Set of old school adjustable wrenches.
Definitely two handed on the Knipex, but it is one and done. Not constantly re-tighening it.
I don’t think it’s obsolete at all. The two piece moving handle and be hard to manipulate in tight areas and won’t stay on when you slack your grip. The jaws on the pliers wrench are large and round- I really like my Bahco 6 inch because the jaws are like a beak and I can squeeze in and pinch a bolt where the pliers wrench can’t get to
just bought the 2 piece wide mouth set in the eva foam on promo in green for 215. stoked they seem great. got them for hydraulic lines. i have the regular 4 piece flank drive set too. gonna keep the wide mouths on my truck for hydraulic lines on machines.
If you like the channel lock without the handle you would like the Klein wide jaw, essentially the same wrench with a simple dipped handle.
I have a Stanley one that I use a lot. If I’m zipping off a lot of bolts that have nuts as the fastener and there’s different sizes, it’s easier to grab an adjustable so I can just thumb it to the right size instead of bringing all the different open end wrenches. I never really break things loose with it. I have a lot of them but that Stanley has almost no play in the mouth. What you adjust it too it’s that size and doesn’t walk open when the impact is shaking it.
I use them for the bathroom sink, when i don't have the correct size Wrench, if i need a quick hammer. They're great i love them!
Check out an adjustable Spud Wrench. The pointed handle (i believe to align holes, like on scaffolding) makes it easy to add leverage.
There's also just something special about vintage craftsman wrenches def before the sears fiasco. Those damn things were tough as nails. The ones today shouldn't even share the name craftsman
Mexican socket sets are indispensable for a service tech. Throw one in your pocket, walk 200 yards from your rig and be able to fix the problem without going back.
Love my Knipex Pliers wrench but the angle of the dangle doesn't always suit what your working on and a traditional adjustable is what you need. Rastall spud wrench is top of line and includes a hammer ( we all use adjustables as hammers anyways might as well have it built in). I like the basic Matcos otherwise, nice and tight, solid adjustables.
The surface area of the jaws is usually wider than most open end wrenches. Also, you can snug the jaws up on the fasteners, and apply a greater amount of torque with rounding off the fasteners. I have the bahco red handles. They are great.
When I was pretty young (probably in my teens) I read a story about a young kid who went to interview for a job as a mechanic of some sort. The foreman doesn't ask him any questions or anything, but right off the bat he says "Show me your toolbox." The kid pulls out his toolbox and the foreman starts going through it, pulling everything out, grunting every now and then. Finally he packs it back up and says "Now I can interview you."
After the interview, the kid asks "What was that thing with the toolbox all about?" The foreman replies "Oh, I just needed to make sure you didn't have any adjustable wrenches in there. I never hire anybody who carries an adjustable wrench."
Needless to say, that story (apocryphal as it probably was) left an impact on me. I keep a few different sizes of adjustable wrenches around for emergencies, but I've always had a mindset of only pulling that out as an *absolute* last resort, instead preferring to use a correctly sized wrench.
I’m not a big fan of adjustable wrenches, but I do like SnapOn ones. I’ve got the 6in with the 1/2 jaw, standard 6in, and standard 12in. A couple coworkers got the new big one you got there in green. I don’t use them unless I just need a quick wrench or something that isn’t torqued down real tight, but SnapOn are the only ones I’ll use now.
As far as the direction, I’ve always been told that it was because if you force it the other way, the jaw moves. It causes the wrench not to bite as hard and cause slipping or strip the nut. Always made sense to me because it does feel tighter that way.
Good video Doc. I have the Klein adjustable wrench also made in Spain.
I will always default to the correct size socket and ratchet before an adjustable. I came from the car repair world. I see A/C guys using adjustables the most.
Crescent wrenches are useful for a lot more than just turning bolts and actually that's one of the things they're worst at. But they're really good at bending metal. And also if I got a hold the other side of a small bolt like smaller than then a quarter 20. I'm not going back to the shop to get my other f****** wrench going to use the socket and I'm going to use the crescent wrench to hold it because the bolt isn't tight enough to really cause a problem and really with the the snap-on crescent wrench you can use it on a lot tighter bolts than you can a lesser crescent wrench
I’m a tech (automotive) and here and there I still use an adjustable wrench. Some scenarios it’s unavoidable and they work very well if quality.
Should check out the vintage Snail Brand F-type adjustable wrenches. I like the reversible jaw wide mouth Bahco adjustables. I'm on the hunt 4 a nice used big 24" Bahco.
That looks like the crescent wrench to end all crescent wrenches right there! That thing looks awesome.
I dont see any lobtex adjustables, highly recommend picking up a few. I am a traveling technician, I keep one on me and 2 in the packout. They are lightweight, thin, and the widest jaw adjustable for the package size.
I handed my Knipex Pliers Wrench to someone, and he had no idea how to use it. I then handed him one of these adjustable wrenches and he was working. They might have better alternatives, but I’m not sure everyone knows about them yet.
I own a 10 inch adjustable which is Italian made and the adjustment wheel has a a reverse thread, opposite to my other ones.
Not dead, just more alternative options now. Still has its uses.
The new crescent wrench is an irega design, which has been a similar design for 40 years that I know of. They were in Spain long before BAhCO moved its production to Spain
I think these are great to use no things that don't require a ton of torque
Its such a handy tool. Easy and fast to adjust to size. I've watched some videos on them and the good quality ones like the old USA craftsman ones will break before they slip
those Swedish nut lathes will never go away , they are simple to use and work every time..
Still use them, I especially love my low profile thin jawed set.
The Iregas - which make the Channel Locks are the smothest I have found. For the wide mouths, I have an Ares which is wonderful, very smooth, no wobble.
I Love the Knipex Pliers Wrench, but you are right that using them blind is problematic.
The 6004 Wera Jokers are too limited in their ranges IMHO.
A good quality adjustable wrench is not my first choice, but is invaluable for a mobile kit
The adjustable wrenches made in Spain( not sure about the snap on) the channel lock, the wright tool and I'm sure others are made by Igera. I have my Armstrong 12 and 6", the wright 10 and 8" and just bought a snap on 12" for $30
The crescent will never be obsolete
In the day of mixed fasteners including metrics that are not true these will always be needed.
I really like the black oxide finish Channelock crescent style adjustable wrenches made in Spain. Recently used my 18" with a 5ft cheater pipe to straighten a 1" thick steel tab on a stump grinder that was bent when a 1" pin sheared due to wear. It worked great and I'm not sure what I would have done without it. They're just plain handy to have around sometimes. The knipex pliers wrenches are also great and I use those regularly in my shop and at work. The code blue channelocks are pretty fly. Have a few in my shop and a 10" at work. The thin jaw ones are really nice for air and hydraulic fittings or anything with thin jam nuts where normal wrenches don't fit.
I like the pliers wrench for some stuff and I like the adjustable for some stuff. But man, the SO are so smooth compared to everything else. Though I seem to always end up using one or the other for plumbing work. Lol
I also am partial to the wide flange handle of the newer Crescent stuff.
6 and 10 inch craftsman beaknose. Obviously you can't get them anymore but, they're my favorite.
2 x shifters can strip and rebuilt almost anything. Lifesavers if there's limited tools.
The only time I use adjustable wrenches is when I'm doing doing work with air fittings on heavy duty diesel and can't be bothered to grab 3-4 different wrench sizes
The snap on / bahco are the best