Do you feel lost in the choice of hand tools that are available for purchase? Looking for flexible equipment you can use for various purposes? The crescent wrench, alternatively known as adjustable wrench or adjustable spanner, could be the only best friend you’ll ever need in fixing random nuts and bolts in and out of your house.
What is a Crescent Wrench?
An adjustable wrench is most commonly called a crescent wrench in the USA. This is because the Crescent manufacturing company of yore was the most common brand that sells this product. Pretty soon people called any adjustable spanner a crescent wrench. A lot like how some old folks might call all sodas as Coke.
An adjustable wrench is an ingenious tool which has evolved from having a set of open-end wrenches, theoretically removing the need for fixed-size wrenches. But a lot of pros disagree about this. This is because many clueless users might use the adjustable wrench in order to insist on a nut or bolt head that might require a tool that is capable of greater torque. As a result, the novice user will find himself on a bigger quandary.
However, no one can deny that a crescent wrench is a very good investment as a first-time hand tool for beginners. With proper care and use, you can adjust, fix, and replace your bolts easily with adjustable wrenches.
Uses for Adjustable Wrench:
Crescent wrenches are extremely handy. You could use them to:
• Fix some types of plumbing problems, installing home decors (i.e., ceiling fans,) fix a kid’s toy, etc.
• Use a crescent wrench to tighten or loosen nuts and bolts in the home or outside (bikes, cars.)
• A good quality adjustable wrench is essential in your toolbox if you can’t afford to bring with you or afford to buy a set of open-end wrenches.
• The adjustable jaw of the adjustable wrench makes it handy for many different sizes of nuts and bolt heads.
Brands and Budget: How much should a good quality adjustable wrench cost you?
Wondering how much an adjustable wrench might cost you? And what should you look for in a wrench that could practically outlast you? Yes folks, quality tools like a great adjustable wrench can still be bought by us. A well-built adjustable wrench could last someone as many as 5 decades. So first thing first, don’t be tempted to waste your $$ on a cheap crescent wrench, invest in something that you could actually use once you do need one.
Crescent wrenches made of forged alloy steel are great products that you can trust. They should handle the pressure needed in turning any bolts or nuts you would need to adjust in the future. If you find that they are unavailable in your local handy man’s shop, Amazon carries a wide-variety of class A wrenches.
The Stanley MaxSteel Adjustable Wrench with its bi-material feature on its handle can be your best friend if you hate slippage while busy working. A six-inch Stanley crescent wrench costs about 13 bucks a pop. But Amazon sells them for only 9 bucks.
People with arthritic hands or are suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome should opt for bigger handles in buying their adjustable wrenches. A great quality tool with wide-grip is the Crescent Adjustable Wrench 4 Inch by Cooper Hand Tools.
If you fancy a modern beast of an adjustable wrench, the battery powered Black & Decker AAW100 which is capable of handling as much as 220 pounds of torque is the product for you. This wrench is so great because it only measures about eight inches, making it a versatile hand tool if you live with limited space or looking for a flexible tool you could bring along anywhere. It’s no wonder then that this product is currently the best-selling adjustable wrench at Amazon.
Proper Use and Care for Your Adjustable Wrench:
In order to prolong the life of your adjustable wrench, make sure to keep these tips in mind:
• The jaw of the crescent wrench should always be set to a snug fit on the sides of a nut, before exerting any great force.
• To use the wrench correctly, make sure that you apply the pulling force towards the stationary jaw. Applying extensive force against the weaker adjustable tool might ruin your tool and might cause some sort of injury.
• The adjustable wrench is not made for power adjustments, so don’t overstrain it.
• Keep the moving parts of your wrench well-oiled.
• Don’t use your adjustable wrench as a replacement for a hammer.
The crescent wrench is one of the most handy tools in the house. Keeping these tips in mind will ensure the longevity of your adjustable wrench.