Author Topic: Crescent Wrenches? (Read 1272 times)

Ben · « **on:** July 23, 2022, 10:47:38 AM »

Firstly, yes, I know - "Use a real wrench!"

Now that we've gotten that out of the way, I often find myself on the opposite side of the farm from my shop with just the little toolbox I carry in my SxS. I also often find I need a wrench size other than the four that I carry (because they are common to a lot of my irrigation equipment and pumps). Hence I carry several crescent wrenches.

I have a couple of big ones (10" and 12") that I inherited from my dad. They are way old school Craftsman, probably from the 60s. Man, they work like a real wrench. You set the size, and they are solid. Quality. My smaller ones are all crap, including some 2000ish era Craftsmans. Don't hold their setting, loose as a goose, etc.

Does anyone have recommendations for modern, GOOD crescent wrenches? Nothing I've tried in the big box stores seems any better than my current crappy wrenches.

dogmush · « **Reply #1 on:** July 23, 2022, 10:52:46 AM »

https://www.ebay.com/itm/393025395891

I have a couple of these that I like.

Nick1911 · « **Reply #2 on:** July 23, 2022, 02:57:44 PM »

I would also like an answer to this. The best adjustable wrench I've used is a crescent brand that probably dated back to the war.

bedlamite · « **Reply #3 on:** July 23, 2022, 03:44:22 PM »

This one is skookum, but it ain't cheep.

https://www.zoro.com/jamesonitl-1000v-insulated-adjustable-hammerhead-wrench-12-03015/i/G8730276/

Brad Johnson · « **Reply #4 on:** July 23, 2022, 11:27:55 PM »

Project Farm adjustable wrench testing and comparison.

Brad

Regolith · « **Reply #5 on:** July 23, 2022, 11:48:53 PM »

Not a crescent wrench, but these things are neat:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000X4OG94/

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000X4J2H0/

The first set I linked to in particular make a good replacement for a crescent wrench.

HeroHog · « **Reply #6 on:** July 24, 2022, 12:02:44 AM »

Project Farm adjustable wrench testing and comparison.

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

Nick1911 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 24, 2022, 12:19:07 AM »

Quote from: Brad Johnson on July 23, 2022, 11:27:55 PM

Project Farm adjustable wrench testing and comparison.

Brad

Quote from: HeroHog on July 24, 2022, 12:02:44 AM

Project Farm adjustable wrench testing and comparison.

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

Are you two bots?

230RN · « **Reply #8 on:** July 24, 2022, 05:34:45 AM »

^ "Are you two bots?"

One's metric, the other's American.

(Had to, don't jazz me.

)

Judging from the prices I've seen in these links ($68 for those slip joint pliers?), I must have a small fortune in old good tools including huge pipe wrenches I inherited from Pop and brought out to Colorado from NY. Most of them are coated with rust from constant service in NY's salty humid atmosphere, but 100% serviceable.

Consequently, I haven't noticed any lack of quality in modern stuff.

Ben · « **Reply #9 on:** July 24, 2022, 07:16:08 AM »

Quote from: Regolith on July 23, 2022, 11:48:53 PM

Not a crescent wrench, but these things are neat:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000X4OG94/

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000X4J2H0/

The first set I linked to in particular make a good replacement for a crescent wrench.

Hey, that first link looks really interesting. I've not seen those before. Made in the Fatherland, so they should be good quality. For that price, I'm inclined to try the 10" just to see what it's about. If it works well, I could see investing in the 16" for a lot of stuff I do on my wheel line. like replacing the 1" (1 1/4" wrench) drain valves.

charby · « **Reply #10 on:** July 24, 2022, 09:36:49 AM »

Klein makes good tools. Go to an electrical supply place and buy them there.

Brad Johnson · « **Reply #11 on:** July 24, 2022, 12:02:22 PM »

Quote from: HeroHog on July 24, 2022, 12:02:44 AM

Project Farm adjustable wrench testing and comparison.

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

How dare you post the link I obviously forgot to post earlier. You... you... you... meany!

Brad

French G. · « **Reply #12 on:** July 24, 2022, 03:03:26 PM »

Quote from: Ben on July 24, 2022, 07:16:08 AM

Hey, that first link looks really interesting. I've not seen those before. Made in the Fatherland, so they should be good quality. For that price, I'm inclined to try the 10" just to see what it's about. If it works well, I could see investing in the 16" for a lot of stuff I do on my wheel line. like replacing the 1" (1 1/4" wrench) drain valves.

If you look at Knipex also consider the water pump style pliers or the cobra line. They have jaw recesses that do a number on bolts. If I want to operate a bolt wrong that is my choice. I have a snap-on crescent wrench and it does as well as the wrong wrench for the job can. This is where chinese tools come in, tempting to just leave a box of cheap tools at whatever water pump or on every piece of equipment.

Boomhauer · « **Reply #13 on:** July 24, 2022, 06:35:12 PM »

Channellock has some very good ones

The Knipex pliers wrenches are OK but I don’t find them to be replacements for channel locks

I use adjustables a ton, not on smaller nuts and bolts but on hydraulic fittings.

tokugawa · « **Reply #14 on:** July 24, 2022, 08:15:38 PM »

Quote from: charby on July 24, 2022, 09:36:49 AM

Klein makes good tools. Go to an electrical supply place and buy them there.

Yes. Or the thrift store. Klein and Diamond both made wide opening wrench's too- an extra 1/18" is really handy.

Bogie · « **Reply #15 on:** July 25, 2022, 02:10:52 AM »

And...

"Hey, parts guy - I put this bolt on, and now I can't get it off! What do you have that I can use?"

"Well, it looks like you put that nut on that bolt with a pair of pliers... And then tried to take it off with a pair of pliers... And now it's all roundy?"

"Yeah. It's all stuck, and it's your fault. You sold it to me!"

"You're gonna have to weld a nut on that sucker to get it off. And use a 6 point socket on that nut."

"Huh?"

"And did you use something from a tube of the red thread locker on it?"

"Huh?"

"Just heat it with a torch until it glows red. It won't be tight if it is molten."

Brad Johnson · « **Reply #16 on:** July 25, 2022, 09:59:28 AM »

Quote from: Bogie on July 25, 2022, 02:10:52 AM

"Just heat it with a torch until it glows red. It won't be tight if it is molten."

Hot wrench can solve many a problem.

Brad

ConstitutionCowboy · « **Reply #17 on:** July 25, 2022, 10:10:59 AM »

Quote from: Nick1911 on July 23, 2022, 02:57:44 PM

I would also like an answer to this. The best adjustable wrench I've used is a crescent brand that probably dated back to the war.

I've got one of those as well. It's the best of all of the "name brand" and some unknown makes that I have. Funny thing: It's the most durable of the bunch but all the others receive the hardest jobs. When one of them fails, the Crescent takes over and finishes the job.

Woody

PEfarmer · « **Reply #18 on:** July 25, 2022, 02:29:35 PM »

To repeat another poster: Klein, and only Klein. Most everybody else tapers the jaws in to offset for the slop in their garbage mechanism, which means you're constantly tightening and loosening the wrench. Kleins (in my experience) have truly parallel jaws. Much happiness.

grampster · « **Reply #19 on:** July 25, 2022, 02:44:46 PM »

Someone had to mention this: Cough, ahem...I have a marvelous crescent wrench. It has two ends. One for inches and the other for MM.

Ben · « **Reply #20 on:** July 25, 2022, 02:49:25 PM »

I've got the Knipex pliers wrench and an 8" Klein arriving Wed for evaluation.

ConstitutionCowboy · « **Reply #21 on:** July 25, 2022, 04:28:53 PM »

Quote from: grampster on July 25, 2022, 02:44:46 PM

Someone had to mention this: Cough, ahem...I have a marvelous crescent wrench. It has two ends. One for inches and the other for MM.

Damn! I knew my collection was missing something!

Woody

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Author Topic: Crescent Wrenches? (Read 1272 times)