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RapidSlide Adjustable Wrench

mechanomy.com

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Re: RapidSlide Adjustable Wrench

#91

Post by nicoburns »

prova_modena wrote: post #68
mauvehaus wrote: post #27

I haven't yet run across an adjustable wrench that was worth a shit. Even old (notionally decent?) Crescent ones. The jaws invariably splay when you apply force, even if you're using them correctly. I've come to the conclusion that it's just intrinsic to having a moving jaw that moves easily enough to be useful. At this point, if I expect to need the wrench ever again (or need to reuse the fastener), I'll just buy a…

The best quality traditional style adjustable wrenches I am aware of are made by Bahco. They are made with tighter tolerances than typical Home Depot grade stuff, which reduces slipping and damage caused by jaw movement. https://www.bahco.com/int_en/products/wrenches/adjustable-wr... However, I prefer the Knipex pliers wrenches mentioned by other commenters. They are also useful for many other gripping, pressing and…

I second the recommendation for Bahco. I bought one of their adjustable wrenches on the basis that it would last, and I have no regrets: it's an incredibly well made tool.

For other options, there is a youtube video comparing different adjustable wrenches for strength (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyOd05PUix4). The Bahco did indeed do well, although it was not the very best the tested.

Re: RapidSlide Adjustable Wrench

#92

Post by ls15 »

mauvehaus wrote: post #72
gorbypark wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Knipex makes some decent adjustable wrenches (not crescent style, though). Their Pliers Wrench line has an adjustment mechanism like a channel lock plier, but then has a jaw that’s on a cam mechanism to keep the two jaws parallel. One direction they’re just as good as a crescent wrench, but in the other direction it “self tightens” and you can really reef on it. The cam mechanism allows you to loosen your grip and th…

I've heard a lot of recommendations for Knipex. I might yet break down and buy one of those even if it is a little bulky.

The mini version isn't bulky:

https://www.knipex.com/products/pipe-wrenches-and-water-pump...

A thing of beauty

Re: RapidSlide Adjustable Wrench

#94

Post by mikestew »

sliken wrote: post #50
Rebelgecko wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For me it's more of a pareto thing. 90% of the time, the Harbor Freight tool is gonna do the job. Even if I end up needing to buy a more expensive tool 10% of the time, I'm still coming out ahead. YMMV depending on how often you need to use various tools or if you're buying jack stands (or anything else where failure could lead to death/injury)

However I got a harbor freight pneumatic nail gun, oiled it before use, and every night before putting it away. It almost lasted the building of an 80 foot fence, almost. Funny enough I did buy some jack stands that looked good, and we recalled for catastrophic failures: https://images.harborfreight.com/hftweb/recalls/Jack-Stand-R... If you need a single or low use unpowered tool I consider harbor freight. Generally…

From the recall notice:

...a potential, while under load and with a shift in weight, for the pawl to disengage from the extension lifting post, allowing the stand to drop suddenly.

Having just run to the garage to make sure that my Harbor Freight jack stands aren't in that recall, it occurred to me, "how do you fuck up jack stands?" If there ever was a patent, it had to have run out before my grandfather was born; just go copy a high-quality model, sorted. Even if one doesn't just plain copy the design, I don't think you'd have to be much of an engineer to come up with something that won't collapse on itself under load. I mean, there's three pieces to the whole damned thing, and the design seems to allow a lot of slop on tolerances. Yet the folks at Pittsburgh Jack Stands(tm) seemed to think, "but we could save another nickel if we made the tolerances just a bit larger."

Anyway, that's why I always slide some sort of backup under the vehicle no matter the quality of the jack stand.

Re: RapidSlide Adjustable Wrench

#95

Post by roflyear »

gibspaulding wrote: post #20
roflyear wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

True about some things, but there is a segment of tools where the first or second time you use it ever will be "this tool is garbage" and then you have to buy another one. It depends on the tool. Personally, I have a ton of Rigid tools. They all work really well. I replace them with Rigid if they break, actually, because my batteries work with Rigid. But, my table saw is a good table saw, because I want it to be safe…

I recently inherited a much nicer table saw than the second hand Harbor Freight one I had before, and it was quite a revelation how much easier it was to get good results with it and how much safer it feels to use. I'd definitely agree on that one. The other category where I like to spend more is tools I hate to use. Some things I have specifically for jobs that suck and anything that makes those jobs easier is worth…

A good table saw basically does the project for you, it is amazing.

Re: RapidSlide Adjustable Wrench

#96

Post by cptskippy »

twblalock wrote: post #75
mauvehaus wrote: post #27

I haven't yet run across an adjustable wrench that was worth a shit. Even old (notionally decent?) Crescent ones. The jaws invariably splay when you apply force, even if you're using them correctly. I've come to the conclusion that it's just intrinsic to having a moving jaw that moves easily enough to be useful. At this point, if I expect to need the wrench ever again (or need to reuse the fastener), I'll just buy a…

Adjustable wrenches exist for situations where you don't have the proper size on hand. They are not intended to be used for everything. But when you need one, few other tools will suffice. A lot of people don't know that there is a correct direction to turn these wrenches (and Channel Locks, and pipe wrenches). Older Crescent models had an arrow engraved on the handle to show this. You turn the wrench with the smalle…

> Adjustable wrenches exist for situations where you don't have the proper size on hand.

I would say convenience and use case are just as important. A crescent wrench is non marring unlike alligator jaws or vise grips. It's also perfectly fine for low torque applications. It isn't for torquing lug nuts.

I have a wonderful wrench and socket set in standard and metric measures. It's in a nice case on a shelf in my garage. My crescent wrenches are hanging 5 feet away on a pegboard.

I needed to loosen an RP-SMA connector the other day. What size is that nut? Do I want to break out my wrenches and fiddle? Nope, the nut is only just beyond finger tight so two crescent wrenches and 5 seconds to get it off.

Re: RapidSlide Adjustable Wrench

#97

Post by PaulDavisThe1st »

legitster wrote: post #89
PaulDavisThe1st wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, you are ignoring several things: 1. is the milwaukee doubly-engineered compared to the ryobi? because if you end up with 2 ryobis, that's twice the material/energy input of the one milwaukee 2. you seem to be ignoring the possibility that the milwaukee is "so" over-engineered that you pass it on to someone else, greatly extending its effective lifetime.

Again, from personal experience I have yet to ever get rid of a tool because it failed on me. The only reason I have ever lost a tool was through theft, the battery/charger/replaceable component was no longer supported, or the tool was too unsafe to use. If I was a professional or ran a tool rental business I would 100% agree. But I wouldn't buy a pickup track no matter how durable if all I need it to do is grab groc…

for the typical level of work expected, or (as most Americans do with their vehicles) the "max" level of work expected?

There are plumbing tools I will never buy because I'm not a professional plumber. But you can be sure that the plumbing tools that I do own are top of the line for the tasks that they can accomplish.

Re: RapidSlide Adjustable Wrench

#98

Post by dbg31415 »

ekidd wrote: post #54
dbg31415 wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I guess... what you're saying is not bad advice. Maybe instead, aim to buy tools as cheaply as you can the first time. I think it's best to just get your tools as gifts, or from garage sales. But there are a lot of tools that are cheap, feel cheap, and will break on you. Avoid using cheaply made tools -- this is also good advice. A neighbor bought a table saw with really flimsy legs... and the whole things just shook…

> Look, you don't want to use a table saw like that. For... all the common sense reasons. For example, you might have an increased risk of wood kickback, very nearly lose a leg, and spend years in physical therapy trying to replace the muscle mass that died. (I knew a guy.) Or you might bleed out. Seriously, a few extra safety features on a table saw can make the difference between life and death. Assuming you don't…

> I have a cheapish table saw, but one that isn't complete garbage. I treat it with about the same caution I'd treat unexploded ordnance from World War II.

For good reason! https://duckduckgo.com/?q=table+saw+accident&t=ffab&iar=imag...

Re: RapidSlide Adjustable Wrench

#99

Post by darksaints »

CoastalCoder wrote: post #43
darksaints wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've been burned repeatedly by your philosophy. It only seems to hold if you know exactly what you want. I've got closets littered with high quality things that I don't ever use anymore because I lost interest before I could ever appreciate its quality.

Not detracting from your point, but maybe sell them on Craigslist?

Selling them is a pain of its own. I would have preferred to have bought cheap and not have to worry about recuperating value.

I think people get it into their heads that they need to be a buy cheap or buy quality person entirely, and I think the most succinct point I could make is that it doesn't have to be one extreme or the other. Buy quality for the things where you know what you want and value the quality improvement, and buy cheap for the things that are new and unknown to you. You don't need a pro-quality snowboard before you decide that you like snowboarding.

Re: RapidSlide Adjustable Wrench

#100

Post by alanbernstein »

legitster wrote: post #89
PaulDavisThe1st wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, you are ignoring several things: 1. is the milwaukee doubly-engineered compared to the ryobi? because if you end up with 2 ryobis, that's twice the material/energy input of the one milwaukee 2. you seem to be ignoring the possibility that the milwaukee is "so" over-engineered that you pass it on to someone else, greatly extending its effective lifetime.

Again, from personal experience I have yet to ever get rid of a tool because it failed on me. The only reason I have ever lost a tool was through theft, the battery/charger/replaceable component was no longer supported, or the tool was too unsafe to use. If I was a professional or ran a tool rental business I would 100% agree. But I wouldn't buy a pickup track no matter how durable if all I need it to do is grab groc…

What is the difference between "too unsafe to use" and "failed on me"?
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