Tool question 

"DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time" (dc3ls-) 02/04/2017 at 19:10 • Filed to: None

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So I’ve tried to use cheap adjustable wrenches in the past and they’ve been absolutely useless on anything, even lightly torqued bolts. So my question is; are there any adjustable wrenches that actually work? I know none will probably work on something highly torqued like an axle nut or crank bolt, but just something could work on relatively loose bolts without just stripping the hell out of them.

Because I like keeping tools in the car and it’d be nice to just have an adjustable wrench than an entire socket set in the car.

Anyhoo, what does oppo think?

crowmolly > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 02/04/2017 at 19:13

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To be honest I’d just keep properly sized stuff in the car. Never been a big fan of adjustables for car use and a wrench roll up doesn’t take up *that* much space.

bob and john > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 02/04/2017 at 19:16

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my set hasnt failed my yet, and I use it to tighten the rear wheel on my motorcycle

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > bob and john 02/04/2017 at 19:19

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What brand is it?

bob and john > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 02/04/2017 at 19:30

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i’m not at home right now...I’ll ask my parents if they can take a photo and send it to me.

Sovande > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 02/04/2017 at 19:31

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I have a Stanley that I have used with a cheater bar on a big ass nut and it worked just fine. Bought it on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000NIGOBS/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1486254680&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=adjustable+wrench+8+inch&dpPl=1&dpID=31vI4v1Q1yL&ref=plSrch

Frenchlicker > Sovande 02/04/2017 at 19:43

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Stanley stuff is trusty at a great price.

Chariotoflove > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 02/04/2017 at 19:46

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I buy Craftsman hand tools. People say they aren’t the best anymore, but if they fail, you can bring them to any Sears and get a replacement, no questions asked. Forever. And my wrenches have never failed in me.

EDIT: I should mention that my Allen wrenches strip on me because I am a heavy handed ape. This is how I know the replacement policy works as advertised.

crowmolly > Chariotoflove 02/04/2017 at 19:48

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Warranty’s not exactly the same anymore. Still decent enough tools.

Chariotoflove > crowmolly 02/04/2017 at 19:50

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It is for hand tools, but not for anything else. No garden hoses, lawn mowers, etc.

Frank Grimes > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 02/04/2017 at 19:53

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learned this recently

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > Frank Grimes 02/04/2017 at 19:57

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This x1000. If you go the wrong way the torque will force the jaws open and let the wrench slip which ends with smashed fingers and stripped bolt heads.

My bird IS the word > Frank Grimes 02/04/2017 at 20:13

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Mind. Blown.

I just generally avoid adjustable wrenches. Was it Clarkson or May that called it the tool of the charlatan?

Frank Grimes > My bird IS the word 02/04/2017 at 20:18

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I don’t remember who it was I am guessing May. I admit to hating adjustable wrenches because they all seem to be worn out probably from being used incorrectly. I should get a new wrench and do some tests.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 02/04/2017 at 20:19

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Knipex parallel jaw adjustable pliers. The jaws are flat, smooth, and always parallel. Best of all, because of their geometry they tighten as you increase torque. Not cheap, but in my professional opinion, Knipex makes the best pliers on the planet by a good margin.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000X4OG94/ref=mp_s_a_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1486257426&sr=8-7&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=knipex&dpPl=1&dpID=312tkT7gswL&ref=plSrch

My bird IS the word > Frank Grimes 02/04/2017 at 20:21

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generally I have a problem fitting in adjustable wrenches where I need them, which makes them similar to other wrench-alternatives. this one looks neat but has the same problems:

https://www.amazon.com/Loggerhead-Tools-BW6-01R-01-Adjustable-6-Inch/dp/B000JPN2QK

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 02/04/2017 at 20:22

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I keep a set of groove-jaw Vise grips around for dealing with stubborn bolts. It is very much a hack and you’ll probably destroy the bolt, but they’ve gotten me out of a lot of sticky situations when the right size wrench wasn’t available as a temporary fix.

bob and john > bob and john 02/04/2017 at 20:27

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the ones I have are Bahco wrenchs.

http://www.bahco.com/en/s/adjustable-wrenches/05-1f-b1-02-28-9e-19-84-bf-92-88-95-ac-13-54-a7/

word of warning...these are VERY expensive wrenches. that said, lifetime warrenty, and strong as shit.

Frank Grimes > My bird IS the word 02/04/2017 at 20:38

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I have used one of those. pretty much pointless because the awkwardness of the short handles means low leverage and having to hold the two handles together.

My bird IS the word > Frank Grimes 02/04/2017 at 20:47

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So just another dud. figured.

I did get these “steel grip” Kobalt sockets that are slightly similar, Ill post a review this summer once I actually get to try them. I am having a serious fastener/wrench problem with all this rust.

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > My bird IS the word 02/04/2017 at 21:25

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May. He was mocking Clarkson for using an adjustable wrench.

BloodlessWeevil > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 02/04/2017 at 21:43

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I have a bunch of Tekton ones that have served me well. Heck, I use one for my motorcycle axle nut (75 lbs-ft.)

Tazio, Count Fouroff > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 02/04/2017 at 22:12

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Others seem more experienced with adjustable wrenches than me...fwiw Craftsman ones have been fine over years of light use...

...because is your car SAE or metric? If it’s metric, on ours 80% of the bolts and nuts are either 13 mm or 17 mm and about 15% more are 8 mm or 10 mm.

It’s been the same with every car from that manufacturer, and I’ve wrenched on several, so with a travel kit of as few as 4 wrenches — if your car’s like this, too — you could be good for 95% of the fasteners? 

(The fitted wrenches do work waaay better, so the crescents just haven’t gotten used.)

Do your rides have a bunch of different sizes?

(Haven’t wrenched much on SAE but iirc there were lots of 1/4" or 1/2" plus just one or two other sizes I can’t recall)

My bird IS the word > You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much 02/04/2017 at 22:23

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Hey it was an upgrade for him. He could have used a hammer instead.

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > Tazio, Count Fouroff 02/04/2017 at 22:49

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I only have one car, 95 Integra, so yeah I could get away with 3 or 4 wrenches. But if I could get a decent adjustable I wouldn’t have to worry about a random 13mm messing things up.

shop-teacher > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 02/04/2017 at 23:24

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Crescent brand, made in the USA versions, are very good. I haven’t tried Channellock brand adjustable wrenches, but I have lots of their other tools and love them all.

shop-teacher > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 02/04/2017 at 23:26

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I’ve been wanting a set of those for a while, but haven’t pulled the trigger. Glad to know they’re as good as they look. Thanks! :)

Nauraushaun > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com 02/06/2017 at 05:22

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These things can be amazing for unsticking stuff. But in my (somewhat limited) experience they tend to strip stuff as well. Use with caution