Ah, the ubiquitous adjustable wrench. While generally not the best tool for heavier fastening tasks, adjustable wrenches are incredibly convenient.
Sometimes, even if you have other wrenches and fastening tools at your disposal, an adjustable wrench might still come in handy to hold a coupled fastener in place while you turn its partner.
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I have purchased many adjustable wrenches over the years, sometimes for my own use and for others’, but also as a way to understand how different brands, models, and styles differ from each other.
What I have found is that Crescent’s adjustable wrenches are still the best for the money. They offer good value and strong reliability with a timeless design.
Shown above is one of my older Crescent adjustable wrenches, and I have a couple of newer ones in tool boxes and at different workstations.
Crescent’s adjustable wrenches are workhorses. This is the professional standard.
Crescent is a ToolGuyd sponsor, and what I’m about to say might surprise you. This is not my favorite adjustable wrench. My favorite adjustable wrenches cost quite a bit more, and I’m happy to pay the premium.
However, when it comes down to time-in-hand, I now use Crescent wrenches at least as much as my pricier wide-mouth adjustables.
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I of course also adjustable pliers, combination wrenches, socket wrenches, and a variety of other tools.
Despite having other fastening tools and adjustable wrenches at my disposal, I will never give up my Crescent wrenches.
My Crescent wrenches are strong, reliable, and convenient.
And, I recently bought another.
My father-in-law asked me for a larger adjustable wrench, and so I ordered him a 15″ Crescent wrench. Although I don’t anticipate using this size a lot, I also ordered one for myself. Even if I don’t use it often, this Crescent wrench is going to be a lifetime tool.
There are still places where you can get USA-made Crescent wrenches, such as Harry Epstein Co. I purchased several newer production samples from Home Depot over the years, and the quality has largely remained the same. I have noticed some improvements actually, with more recent Crescent wrenches having slightly tighter and smoother thumbwheel gearing.
I find myself in a position that’s difficult to articulate. I tend to use 8″ adjustable wrenches the most, followed by 6″ and then maybe 10″.
No, Crescent’s aren’t my favorites, I like a particular cushion-grip wide-opening model that costs twice as much. Would I buy Crescent wrenches again? Absolutely – I have and I will continue to buy and recommend them to others.
Why? That’s easy – because I keep using them.
Now that I’m thinking about it, I never upgraded my Crescent wrenches either. I added a black phosphate-finish wrench to my kit, and cushion-grip wrenches, but Crescent continues to be my go-to when it comes to chrome finish plain-handle (or dipped-grip) adjustable wrenches. They clean up well, and as mentioned the Crescent tools have been strong and reliable.
As for what prompted this post, I’ve been working on a more expansive tool kit buying guide, and of course an adjustable wrench must be a part of any properly capable kit.
After some comparisons, I came to the conclusion that Crescent is still the best brand of adjustable wrench for the money.
For a few years, I thought I “outgrew” the brand, until they proved their utility once more. Since then, this 8″ returned to my main tool box and is again an indispensable part of my kit. I have a couple of others where they might be needed, and also in my reserve box.
There are still reasons to consider other brands or models, but that doesn’t change the fact that Crescent is still the industry standard. While a couple of competing brands have tried to challenge Crescent’s popularity and market dominance, but they’ve been widely unsuccessful.
Let me know what you think – is Crescent still the best adjustable wrench for the money?
Raise your hand if you’ve got a Crescent wrench in your kit.
Ian M
Having never owner a Cresent branded wrench I can’t judge them. I currently own Bahco with the cushioned grip, Irega, Milwaukee and Channel lock with the blue cushioned handles. I own more than one size of each as well. Bacho are the best by far and the one I always reach for first.
Stuart
I bought a Bahco but it never really WOWed me.
The Irega-made Channellock are a fantastic upgrade, but it can be a hard sell for some.
I also have wrenches from Proto, Facom, Craftsman, Husky, and recently bought quite a few from Japanese brands.
I always wanted to try Ridgid’s, but the style I was interested in was quietly discontinued a few years ago.
Dewalt’s design has potential but fell flat over the years.
Milwaukee’s are decent.
Still, I end up with two brands of adjustables in my main box – Crescent and Channellock.
Usually if I’m moving around, I like the satin chrome Crescent in a pocket. It’s also the easier-to-clean choice.
Crescent also has a wider capacity line, but they are harder to find.
With all the models out there, Crescent seems to be the best “default” choice in its price range and without qualifications.
fred
Many years ago the guys seemed to like ones from Williams. Back then they had a little pin in the center of the adjusting nut that could be used to lock the mechanism and they had little slop when locked. Then Williams seemed to change the design or something else and the guys said that newer ones were garbage. They never liked Crescent brand ones – because of slop/not holding adjustment. At one point I recall that we tried some from Klein that I think they liked better – but then about 20 years ago we discovered Knipex plier wrenches and reduced use of adjustable wrenches. We did move on to Channellock adjustable wrenches- particularly wide mouths – and I never heard any complaints about them.
In my personal collection – I’ve been pleased with Channelock wide mouths and witha diminutive specialty thin jaw one from Engineer
https://www.amazon.com/Engineer-TWM-08-Pocket-Adjustable-Wrench/dp/B002MJHGN6/
fred
I should have added that my Engineer TWM-08 is about 10 years old and was made in Japan. I see that reviews on Amazon say the current crop are made in China – and some of the precision may have given way to slop. But I also paid about $40 for mine – while Amazon is selling the new one for $27
Jim Felt
fred. I think there are still Japanese based eBay sellers with original Made in Japan stock. That’s where I bought mine a year or two ago.
Stuart
I’ll have to dig mine up, but I paid $26 back in 2015, and so it’s been that price for a while. I believe mine was made in Japan.
It’s an interesting tool that I found mainly (and perhaps solely) comes in handy for very specific thin electronic nut applications.
fred
I may have just overpaid.
I agree with you that its has a very specific niche – like for toggle switch and potentiometer nuts. At 110mm long its not meant for applying much torque.
Rick Widlund
I have many Crescent wrenches 4-15 inch. Screwdrivers, tin snips,pipe wrenches,Screwdriver-flip hammers. The quality, due to the age of these tools is incredible. Born &raised in Jamestown, NY I was lucky to acquire such a collection.
Aaron
Project farm on you tube has an adjustable wrench shoot out to see what the best one is you should check it out.personally ive always liked wright adjustable wrenches for the money i think they cannot be beat,also usa made.
Matt the Hoople
I agree. I have lots of Crescent adjustable wrenches for that very reason. The price to performance ratio is very good so it is the go to any time I need a couple more for another tool box. I’ve been looking to get a couple of the Channelock wide jaws that you like but the price keeps holding me back when the crescents do what I need. I’m thinking I will bite the bullet on the small 6” wide mouth Channelock which would be perfect in the bicycle tool kit because it opens wide enough to tighten the headset nut on most bikes.
Nate B
Heck no. There is no task for which a Crescent is superior to a parallel-jaw “pliers wrench”, now that the latter exists. Unless maybe the task is “round off a nut”.
Dave P
Really?
I have many 15” adjustable wrenches, a few 24”, and one monster that’s maybe a 36”.
Even a 12” will get a 1 and 1/8” nut REALLY right if you put a cheater pipe on it or kick it HARD. And for many users these sizes of adjustable wrenches are normal, daily tools of the trade. While they have their place, a parallel jaw pliers wrench isn’t going to do what these big adjustable wrenches do, EVER…..
MM
I love the pliers wrench and I own most of the sizes that Knipex makes. They are among my most commonly used tools, and I use them more often than an adjustable wrench. But there are times where an adjustable wrench is preferable. For small fasteners in tight places my 4″ Bahcos will fit where even the smallest plier wrench will not. The pliers wrench are also difficult to use for thin nuts flat up against a surface, like the nuts used to mount electrical switches and knobs on control panels. An adjustable wrench can fit flush against the panel to access that very thin nut. A pliers wrench can’t do that because the jaws are thinner than the joint. And as much as I like the “XXL” model plier wrench once you start getting to that kind of size you cannot get as much force on it as you can with an adjustable wrench of similar size. My most commonly used are a pair of 4″ Bahcos, an 18″ Proto, and a 30″ Blue Point.
Matt the Hoople
I can afford the two dozen crescent and USA made Craftsman’s that I own. I would have a hard time paying for two dozen good pliers wrench (or at least justifying it to the wife and CFO). I do own a couple pairs of the Knipex pliers wrench and they are great but are very pricy if not being used professionally to make a living.
Dt
How do the imported Crescent wrenches compare to the old stock USA made?
I am glad the old stock is available at HJE, but what if I needed a 15” wrench on Saturday afternoon? How does the import Crescent compare to the Husky?
Stuart
In my opinion, the import versions are a little more refined, with tighter gear meshing. If I recall correctly, this wasn’t true initially, but the design was updated since then.
I bought a couple at different times for comparison, but there was no story.
I bought the USA version of the 15” because of their increasing scarcity, but I have also had good experiences with the imported wrenches.
I prefer the USA-made-style cushion grip over the newer grip style, based on a general texture preference.
Patrick McIntosh
While Cooper owned Crescent and a lot of other brands, they spent no money at all on their tools division, they were an electrics firm and that was their focus. Then When Apex was born, Cooper + Danaher, the tools stayed the same. Eventually Apex started spending money on new tools and improving their older tools. The USA made Crescent wrenches had very sloppy fittings, they were called (inhouse) the shake rattle and roll tool, due to the poor fitting of all parts of the tool, which were made from extremely old dies. Then manufacturing was moved to china, to the GearWrench family of plants. The quality suddenly improved, the precision of the tool improved and the usability of the tool improved. For my money the made in China adjustables are as good as the old made in the US models. Yes I used to work for both Cooper and Apex.
Stuart
You have a pass-thru bolt with nut in the other side. The Pliers Wrench requires two degrees of effort – you need to hold it in position while also squeezing the handles together. An adjustable wrench only needs to be held in position.
A lot born people try to self-justify their $45+ alternatives to a $15 adjustable wrench. My opinion? Buy both if you can. There’s a lot of overlap, but there are still many tasks where an adjustable is a better alternative when a wrench or socket isn’t a available or convenient.
Zev
Crescent style, sure if the Pliers Wrench is too expensive or doesn’t work in a particular case.
Crescent brand, nothing special far as I can tell. I guess they could be a good value but unless I see a project farm type comparison I’m not convinced they are better than HF, Husky, etc. Just look at some of the bad reviews on Amazon. (Granted the overall ratings appear good)
Based on the headline I assumed this would be a sponsored post. This is still the best tool blog x1000 but I take posts like this with a grain of salt.
Stuart
Crescent IS a sponsor, and I’ve been working with some of their newer tools.
This is a tough one, and I hoped a post would help me sort things out and learn more about reader preferences.
I’m putting together tool kit recommendations, I got stuck on adjustable wrenches.
Ultimately, there are plenty of “buy this one if you want…” options, but Crescent sits at the center of them all.
I have spent so much time exploring specialty and unique designs that this snuck up on me. I also reorganized a couple of drawers recently and realized that as many tools as I’ve given away in the last few years, I haven’t and won’t part with my Crescents.
This seemed like an interesting perspective to share.
Dave P
Diamond brand (no longer made) is far superior, but Crescent is far better than most now days. Pretty decent for the price.
Jim Felt
I’ve had good luck over the years since Diamond closed down on eBay. So many of their tools are still in boxes and cabinets that I expect to see them in decent or even as new shape for a while yet.
fred
Diamond started as a calk and horseshoe company in 1908 in Duluth MN. They traced their heritage to the Swanstrom brothers blacksmiths. In the 1920’s they started producing an alternative line of adjustable wrenches to compete with Crescent. In 1958 the company changed its name to Diamond Tool and Horseshoe. With declining business they sold out to Cooper – since merged into the Apex Tool Group (Bain Capital). The Diamond factory in Duluth was closed. I believe that Cooper and/or Apex continued to use the brand for a while – but then seemed to consolidate brands – with Crescent surviving as a leading brand name.
Meanwhile the Swanstrom family opened a company under their own name in 1983 – when the Diamond was sold off. Swanstrom seems to produce mostly pliers and tweezers now for the electronics, jewelry and similar trades.
The Diamond brand is still used on some new tools for farriers – but I believe that those are made by the Royal Kerckhaert Horseshoe Factory
MM
I’m a huge fan of the so-called “Army Pick” that Diamond Calk made for the US in WWII. It is a handy compact size that is a lot easier to carry than a full-size pick, very good quality steel that holds an edge, and if you put a 3-foot handle on it it’s not giving up much digging power compared to a full-size pick. In my opinion one of these is a must-have garden tool. The pick heads are easily found on the surplus market and House Handle Co (among others, I’m sure) makes both the original 2 foot and the longer 3 foot handles.
Patrick McIntosh
Dave, Diamond was owned by Cooper, the diamond adjustable wrenches were just rebranded Crescent.
Patrick McIntosh
Hey Dave P, Diamond was a Cooper brand, as too, Lufkin, Crescent, Weller, Erem, plus plus. When Danaher took over the tools division of Cooper they sold off the diamond brand, they didn’t see farriers tools a a future part of their business. You will find that you Diamond brand shifters were in fact Crescents branded Diamond.
Albert
I used to think my Made in USA Crescent wrenches were the best and the jaws loosened every time I moved the wrench off the fastener because I didn’t know what I was doing. Then I got a Made in Spain Channellock and now look forward to using it. When the holiday sales start, I’m going to get one of those Knipex adjustable pliers with the locking lever and see what else I’ve been missing.
Travis
I agree, whatever Spanish company makes those adjustable wrenches for Snap-on, Blue Point and other brands. They are vastly better than any Crescent I have ever used (old or new.) Thinner, stronger and tighter fit.
Patrick McIntosh
Irega make all of these brands, they are a good quality brand but when all is said and done, a good adjustable wrench is just that a good adjustable wrench.
Christer Lotegard
Crecent is a copy of Bahco! The Swedish patent for the Bahco 1892!
Patrick McIntosh
Irega make all of the Shifters you are talking about. I have about 7 different size shifters, most of them the newer version of the Crescent brand. I can’t fault them, I have some local branded Irega shifters done for local tool distributors who call them selves tool manufacturers!!! and I have to say there is no difference in quality over these two brands of shifters. As one poster pointed out that he has had 2 Crescent brand shifters bugger up on him, that’s something that is to expected in any manufactured product. Show me a car manufacturer who has never had a vehicle break down because of a manufacturing issue, an aircraft manufacturer, a lawn mower manufacturer, etc etc. At the end of the day, a shifter is just that a shifter. A tool that shouldn’t be used in place of the proper tool for the job, but they are.
Adam
They are a great value & I still have several, but after using the Milwaukee version, the red is much superior. There is absolutely NO slop holding onto nuts, with it’s 5 groove thumbscrew.
The 8″ wide permanently resides in my truck.
IronWood
I have a couple old Made in the USA Crescents kicking around somewhere. They’re fine. My main users are Channellock/Irega and Proto, all of which are excellent. I don’t use adjustable wrenches a whole lot, but I definitely appreciate good ones when I do, and I don’t really see trying to save a couple bucks if I need another. I can’t really weigh in on whether the new China Crescents represent “good value” or not, as I haven’t bought anything from Crescent since they went offshore.
MM
I don’t own any Crescent brand personally, but I have used many of them over the years. I don’t think they are the best by any means. But they are a good, dependable, tool for a good price.
I own several Bahcos, a few early 2000’s vintage Craftsman, one Proto and one massive 30″ Blue-Point. My only gripe with any of them is that the chrome finish of the Craftsmans was poor and they quickly rusted through the chrome. I’ve had zero rust issues with the others, even though the Blue-Point and the Bahcos are all plain black oxide finish.
TMedina
I’ll probably buy a Crescent 4″ to play with, but my go-to right now is a Channellock 6″ and 8″ for the slimmer jaw profile for maneuvering in tight spaces.
I’ve tried and tried to get onboard with the pliers-wrench, but they just don’t work for me; at least, the head is always too big to fit the spaces where I’m working – but an adjustable wrench will almost always fit the same space.
Peter Fox
You just need to get the smaller pliers wrenches. I have all of them but use the 6″ (150 mm) more than any other for just that reason. The 7.25″ (180 mm) and the 10″ (250 mm) are the most common and are fine if you are using them for larger hardware and fitting but I agree they are unwieldy for most common smaller hardware.
Peter Fox
Nope
Current Crescent brand adjustable wrenches are on my nope list. Far to many better options to even consider them.
Like any one else who has been enlightened Knipex pliers wrenches are my first choice for an adjustable open end wrench. If I truly need a set it and it stays set adjustable anything made by Igrea tops the list. If I really want it to stay put the in expensive but decent 10″ locking adjustable wrench that Stanley makes is one of my favorites. I really wish someone would make those in more sizes.
Unfortunately beyond name recognition Crescent doesn’t stand out to me. Either continue to make the same great product to extremely high standards or innovate otherwise you are an “Also Ran”
Steve
I never understood why a hammer needs to be adjustable. Or why I just can’t seem to find metric ones. 🤷♂️
Seriously though, I never use adjustable wrenches if I can help it, I just don’t like them. I prefer using the proper size for the job. They are too bulky and tend to loosen up just enough when you really need them not to. I only have two adjustable wrenchs in my main tool box, both are large sizes to cover the range above where my combination wrenches top out.
fred
Metric adjustable wrenches?? Sure! – Irwin makes (or made) ones advertised as such:
https://www.afsupply.com/irwin-2078602-8-inch-metric-quick-adjusting-wrench.html
I suppose that what was metric about them was some mm markings visble as you opened the jaws.
Maps Bam
I can’t even remember the last time I used an adjustable wrench to do any actual wrenching. My dad has an adjustable wrench that has a sizing ruler on it. I did use this wrench to size the bolt head so I could get a real tool. I’ve never found an adjustable wrench that didn’t open or wander under load.
mattd
I grew up thinking that that style of wrench was actually just called a crescent wrench. I still call them that no matter the brand, and my kids will surely grow up thinking the same.
Tim B.
Same here… just like Kleenex, etc. I still tend to call any of them ‘crescent wrenches’ even when it is just an any-brand adjustable.
Patrick McIntosh
In Australia we call them shifters.
JD
Adjustable wrenchs are the perfect way for a tool company to show how much quality they want to put into a tool. As Stuart says Cresent is good enough to get the job done for 99% of users.
I appreciate higher quality tools, but all but one of my adjustable wrenches are Crescents. The other is a 12″ Barcalo that I inherited from dad. While it’s made in the US, the quality isn’t so great. But I still use it. It’s good enough.
On really low-end adjustable wrenches the lack of quality can be clearly visible. Loose jaws, ugly forging/casting marks, no effort to properly finish the tool. Still, even these low-quality tools usually work- for a while.
My go-to is a vintage Made in Jamestown Cresent. It’s much heavier than my later made in the USA Cresents. Much higher build than the Barcalo, and with a little lube is adjusts smooth as silk.
Plain grainy
Adjustable wrenches need an adjusting wheel to get a tight fit. Then a lock mechanism to keep the setting in place. Can’t beat the size selection that’s built into the adjustable wrench. Has SAE & Metric all in one.
Jared
Crescent, then Channellock, then the Knipex pliers wrench. Moving up the ladder should depend on budget and how much use the tool will see.
Channellock is a noticeable upgrade from Crescent – but they aren’t the same price. If it’s a size you use a lot, the upgrade might be worthwhile. I use my 8″ Channellock the most, but would look at Crescent for larger sizes to save some coin.
Channellock is also a bargain, but of a different nature. Comparing it to Crescent it is a minor but noticeable upgrade, for twice as much money (or more depending on the size). That doesn’t make it look value-priced.
However, Channellock compares favorably to adjustable wrenches which in turn cost twice as much or more! Even if you’re after an upgrade from Crescent and want a really nice adjustable wrench and are wiling to spend the money, I don’t really see the need to buy something more expensive than Channellock (unless maybe you want to go all the way up to a Nepros? 😄). In that context, Channellock is a bargain because it could easily bear a different brand name and a higher price tag.
Lastly, the pliers wrench. Where the Channellock is around $22-25 for an 8 inch, the pliers wrench is $55-60. However, it offers additional utility the traditional style of adjustable can’t. Try:
– holding onto a piece of metal with an adjustable wrench while you press it against a bench grinder (😆 just kidding, don’t do that – you’ll lose an eye),
– using an adjustable to squish something (better be soft like cheese because it’s hard to generate force with a thumb screw),
– ratcheting your adjustable around a fastener,
– straightening metal, etc.
It’s hard to describe all the ways the pliers wrench is different until you use one.
However, just because I have a few pliers wrenches doesn’t mean my adjustables are useless. Sometimes it’s nice to hole a backing nut or to spin around a pipe etc. There’s room for all these options.
MM
You can’t “ghost-wrench” with pliers wrenches either!
By “ghost-wrenching”, I mean: Sometimes you may have to hold a nut while loosening or tightening a bolt, but you may not have access to both at the same time because other parts are in the way. Ideally you’d have a helper keep a wrench on one side while you worked the other, but you may not always have help. So you can brace or wedge a wrench against some nearby solid object and let it hold the nut while while you work the other end.
IronWood
Great point. Never heard “ghost wrench” before, but I’m going to use it now! I’ve always called it “jamming a wrench in there real good.” Typically followed by something I can’t post here when it falls off right before I’m finished…
MM
I must admit I recently picked up the term from a guy on youtube but I’d been doing it for years and never knew what to call it.
And yeah, I know what you mean about the second part…
IronWood
I use an adjustable wrench all the time for bending or straightening metal. They work great. I also use the hole in the end for looping heavy gauge wire and cable. And I can “ratchet” around a fastener just fine with either and adjustable or open end wrench. Pliers wrenches can be handy, but they’re not essential and overpriced for my taste.
Dave the tool
Just purchased a 3 piece set of crescent brand adjustable wrenches from a local hardware store chain. Ordered online for local pickup. I don’t use adjustable wrenches much however I had 3-4 different brands and sizes in my toolbox and wanted to have all of them the same company in the 3-4 most popular sizes. I knew Crescent has sold their soul to the Evil Empire years ago but I kinda of expected their bread and butter tools ie adjustable wrenches to still be made here in the USA. I was wrong. They were all manufactured in China! Bummer and the last Crescent Tool I will by from them.
Jared
But were the wrenches good? I realize some just won’t buy imported tools no matter what, but I suspect in this case moving production to China let Crescent still produce a quality tool while remaining bargain-priced.
Josh
I have a do it best hardware brand I got about 20 years ago and it has been about the only modern adjustable wrench I found that actually has a tight tolerance on the jaw and screw. I haven’t used a Milwaukee but in the store it seems good. All my other adjustable wrenches are probably as old or older than i am snd those are good.
Rich
The problem is if you’re looking to buy a Crescent adjustable wrench, common e-commerce and box store are going to only have ones made in China and those are a NOTABLE step down from their good US made ones, which availability is just going to get worse and worse. If you’re looking for a made-in-the-US (or other reputable region) adjustable wrench, you have to look at other brands. With that being a huge consideration, what would be the recommendation now? I’d say it’s probably going to be your Channellock. They’re readly available and are built in Spain. Still, I’d like to hear some thoughts.
IronWood
Channellock/Irega is about my favorite. Bahco is good if you like cushioned grips (I don’t). You can get nice Proto or the tool truck brands used for reasonable. I have several Proto in the bigger sizes and like them a lot.
fred
You might also take a look at what Klein offers. they have quite a few styles. We like the few that we bought and I think they come out of the Same Irega factory in Spain where the Channellocks are made.
Ed Sichler
I too am a fan of Crescent. I have two (8 and 6 inch respectively) in my rolling tool chest and 6 inch ones in the car tool bags for both mine and my wife’s car. There is also an 8 inch one in the “tool drawer” in the kitchen for use and needed in the house. The two in my tool chest are much more than 10 years old and they still work great.
JoeM
I’m still working with Mastercraft (A nice 5-piece padded handle set.) and numerous Jobmate 6″ go-to standard ones. These are Canadian Tire house branded I might add. So, I believe the Mastercraft set are made by SBD, and the Jobmate are made by… Someone else… TTi? Crescent? They’re all standard designs you could practically pull out of nearly any other brand, but Canadian Tire commissioned these brands to be House-Branded by the original companies. Instead of being knock-offs, they go to highly-rated brands and get a deal to rebrand the identical models with the House Brand name on them, and sell them significantly cheaper.
Is it possible I’m actually using Crescent wrenches, renamed Jobmate? Possibly. Those Jobmate wrenches are inexpensive enough that, whenever something needs an adjustable wrench for one of its functions, but doesn’t contain one in the package? I go to CT and grab a 6″… usually for around $2-$4 depending on whether they’re on sale or not. At the time? I just need a wrench to be kept with the tool, so I don’t care.
Now… Price not an issue? Yeah… Crescent, Gear Wrench, Stanley… They would replace these ubiquitous Jobmate ones. I have my eye on some Wera Joker series self-adjusting wrenches for hard-to-reach situations that my bear-paws can’t get a really good grip on. The bolts on the toilet seat come to mind… No matter how tight I get them… They loosen over time… I need something I can tighten them with that isn’t going to severely damage the porcelain throne if my hand slips. The auto-adjust Wera Joker series just has to come in the right size, and it’ll replace my Mastercraft ones.
But, totally… Crescent. It’s like a standard-issue brand. It’s almost like Kleenex. We may not all use “Facial Tissue” in a sentence, but we certainly ask for a Kleenex when needed. Crescent the brand and A Crescent Wrench are different things, I know, but Crescent Brand is very close to being that name we use for “Wrench” in general. “18mm Crescent!” “Got It!” “The Open Jaw or the Ratcheting?” “Oh… Got both, which you want?” “Need a Ratcheting” “Done and Done” You know what I mean, right?
Jerry
I would agree, for the money you really can’t do d a better adjustable wrench. I like them for carrying along under.the seat of my pickup and that sort of thing. For serious work in the shop, I spend the extra for Knipex pliers wrenches, or ChannelLocks. But for occasional use Crescents are just fine. I don’t have a fear they are weak so much as they don’t hold adjustment as well as the ChannelLocks.
Boyd
Bahco got me through everything I’ve needed.
I broke out in the North Sea. One of the first things my lead taught me was…
“Gee yersel twa gaed shifters”.
That Doric (Northern Scottish) for “go get two Bahcos…. and don’t lose them” 😉
Ben
I’ve had two of the red handled Crescents with manufacturers defects in the last year. To where they lock up and won’t adjust. Kobalt has been a lot more reliable for me.
Rick Widlund
I’ve got several wrenches, tinsnips, chisels,& screwdrivers + more in my collection. Great tools to depend on.