LAST UPDATED: October 24, 2019
Best Adjustable Wrenches: Quickly Fasten Loose Nuts and Bolts
An adjustable wrench is a handy tool you can’t do without
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PUBLISHED ON October 24, 2019
If you’ve ever struggled to tighten loose lug nuts or wheel bolts, you know how valuable an adjustable wrench is. It has a wide range of applications, thanks to its expandability. But don’t be quick to buy the first wrench you come across; pick one that ticks all the right boxes. We’ve evaluated many top-rated adjustable wrenches and have included three of the best in this guide.
If you’ve ever struggled to tighten loose lug nuts or wheel bolts, you know how valuable an adjustable wrench is. It has a wide range of applications, thanks to its expandability. But don’t be quick to buy the first wrench you come across; pick one that ticks all the right boxes. We’ve evaluated many top-rated adjustable wrenches and have included three of the best in this guide.
The Channellock Slim Jaw 8-Inch WideAzz Adjustable Wrench is an excellent all-around adjustable wrench. This tool is tough and sturdy, and it’s also uniquely designed to offer you more reach in tight spots. Made out of high carbon steel, this adjustable wrench features Channellock’s unique Xtra Slim jaws, which measure 3/16 of an inch. They allow you to access narrow areas and hard-to-reach places with long, thin, and strong-gripping jaws. The wrench jaws are 40-percent thinner than a regular wrench of the same size. Additionally, the jaws open extra wide for maximum accessibility. They can expand to 1.5 inches, providing more capacity and improved performance. You can grip anything and trust this reliable adjustable wrench for every job.
The Olympia Adjustable Wrench is a great tool to add to your arsenal. It’s made out of hardened and tempered drop-forged alloy steel, which offers long-term durability and consistent strength. It measures 15-inches long and features a set of jaws that can open up to 1.75-inches wide. The exterior of the wrench is chrome-plated and fully polished, which helps resist corrosion and keeps your wrench working through the toughest jobs. The wrench jaws are precision machined and use a knurled adjustment worm. You get a smooth twist when you use this tool for any kind of job, from vehicle maintenance to furniture assembly to home repairs. You can really put this adjustable wrench through its paces, and you’ll always get superior performance.
The IRWIN VISE-GRIP Adjustable Wrench Set is more than just one adjustable wrench — it’s a set of four wrenches in different sizes. Plus, they're all built to be wonderfully durable. This is the adjustable wrench set you need in your toolkit if you want to be prepared for the toughest jobs that require the most gripping strength. You get wrenches in the following sizes: 6 inch, 8 inch, 10 inch, and 12 inch. Each adjustable wrench is made out of durable chrome vanadium with machined jaws that deliver maximum gripping strength. A set of ProTouch grips on these wrenches help you achieve a comfortable grip while reducing your hand fatigue as you work. Each of these adjustable wrenches is marked with both SAE and metric scales and gives you a strong, unflinching grip as you turn and twist.
The Tekton 6-Inch Adjustable Wrench is another great adjustable wrench thanks to its sliding jaw and ability to deliver a tight, grippy fit. Made out of drop-forged and heat-treated carbon steel, the wrench is coated in a corrosion-resistant satin chrome plating that prevents rust and decay. The sliding jaw is precision machined, and a worm gear gives you an exact fit to many fasteners for smooth adjustments. A quick-fit jaw opening guide features permanent, laser-etched size markings in 1/16 of an inch and 1 millimeter increments. You can easily get a grip any fastener with this wrench, and it delivers the right amount of torque and twist. You can also reach fasteners in narrow, slim spots with this adjustable wrench.
The Workpro 4-Piece Adjustable Wrench Set is a wonderful option if you’re looking to grow your tool selection and add simple, straightforward wrenches to it. These adjustable wrenches are sleek, strong, and made out of high-quality forged carbon steel. They are also heat treated for extra durability. They’re covered in a chrome-plated finish for a layer of corrosion resistance. You get a 6 inch, 8 inch, 10 inch, and 12-inch wrench in this four-piece set to suit a wide array of different fasteners and jobs. These four adjustable wrenches offer a jaw capacity that ranges from 1 5/16 to 3/4 inch. They last through many different applications for many years. You get an adjustable wrench for every fastener, and you can change your tools depending on your needs thanks to this comprehensive set’s versatility.
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The Channellock Slim Jaw 8-Inch WideAzz Adjustable Wrench is an excellent all-around adjustable wrench. This tool is tough and sturdy, and it’s also uniquely designed to offer you more reach in tight spots. Made out of high carbon steel, this adjustable wrench features Channellock’s unique Xtra Slim jaws, which measure 3/16 of an inch. They allow you to access narrow areas and hard-to-reach places with long, thin, and strong-gripping jaws. The wrench jaws are 40-percent thinner than a regular wrench of the same size. Additionally, the jaws open extra wide for maximum accessibility. They can expand to 1.5 inches, providing more capacity and improved performance. You can grip anything and trust this reliable adjustable wrench for every job.
The Olympia Adjustable Wrench is a great tool to add to your arsenal. It’s made out of hardened and tempered drop-forged alloy steel, which offers long-term durability and consistent strength. It measures 15-inches long and features a set of jaws that can open up to 1.75-inches wide. The exterior of the wrench is chrome-plated and fully polished, which helps resist corrosion and keeps your wrench working through the toughest jobs. The wrench jaws are precision machined and use a knurled adjustment worm. You get a smooth twist when you use this tool for any kind of job, from vehicle maintenance to furniture assembly to home repairs. You can really put this adjustable wrench through its paces, and you’ll always get superior performance.
The IRWIN VISE-GRIP Adjustable Wrench Set is more than just one adjustable wrench — it’s a set of four wrenches in different sizes. Plus, they're all built to be wonderfully durable. This is the adjustable wrench set you need in your toolkit if you want to be prepared for the toughest jobs that require the most gripping strength. You get wrenches in the following sizes: 6 inch, 8 inch, 10 inch, and 12 inch. Each adjustable wrench is made out of durable chrome vanadium with machined jaws that deliver maximum gripping strength. A set of ProTouch grips on these wrenches help you achieve a comfortable grip while reducing your hand fatigue as you work. Each of these adjustable wrenches is marked with both SAE and metric scales and gives you a strong, unflinching grip as you turn and twist.
The Tekton 6-Inch Adjustable Wrench is another great adjustable wrench thanks to its sliding jaw and ability to deliver a tight, grippy fit. Made out of drop-forged and heat-treated carbon steel, the wrench is coated in a corrosion-resistant satin chrome plating that prevents rust and decay. The sliding jaw is precision machined, and a worm gear gives you an exact fit to many fasteners for smooth adjustments. A quick-fit jaw opening guide features permanent, laser-etched size markings in 1/16 of an inch and 1 millimeter increments. You can easily get a grip any fastener with this wrench, and it delivers the right amount of torque and twist. You can also reach fasteners in narrow, slim spots with this adjustable wrench.
The Workpro 4-Piece Adjustable Wrench Set is a wonderful option if you’re looking to grow your tool selection and add simple, straightforward wrenches to it. These adjustable wrenches are sleek, strong, and made out of high-quality forged carbon steel. They are also heat treated for extra durability. They’re covered in a chrome-plated finish for a layer of corrosion resistance. You get a 6 inch, 8 inch, 10 inch, and 12-inch wrench in this four-piece set to suit a wide array of different fasteners and jobs. These four adjustable wrenches offer a jaw capacity that ranges from 1 5/16 to 3/4 inch. They last through many different applications for many years. You get an adjustable wrench for every fastener, and you can change your tools depending on your needs thanks to this comprehensive set’s versatility.
Tips
- The length of the wrench affects the quality of your work. Not only does it determine the effort you put in, it also determines how tight the fastening will be.
- Make sure you check the maximum width of the jaws. This will help you to know the fasteners you can use. Smaller wrenches are good for small fasteners.
- If you have the wrong wrench for a bolt, place a small coin in the gap between the wrench and the bolt. Then tighten your wrench to fasten or unfasten the stubborn bolt.
- You can modify some adjustable wrenches to open wider than normal by removing the adjustable thumbwheel and grinding off 1.5 ridges. This will give you an extra one-quarter inch in usable width.
FAQs
Q: What material is a wrench’s handle made out of?
A: Most wrenches have a steel handle that is covered by industry-standard rubber. This rubber might start to wear off after a while. Simply remove it, and you’ll still be able to use your adjustable wrench. Although, it may be less comfortable to operate.
Q: Should I get an adjustable wrench with or without teeth?
A: Most adjustable wrenches have flat jaws. As long as you place the jaws on a fastener, you should get a proper fit. The adjustment is enough for a firm grip.
Q: Which is the best adjustable wrench?
A: The best adjustable wrench is one that can be used for various projects. You can also get a set to cater to both small and big projects. Factors such as grip and expandability are essential in determining which wrench you should get.
Final Thoughts
Your tool box needs a wrench you can count on. We highly recommend the Channellock 8-Inch WideAzz Adjustable Wrench. However, if you want to save some cash, the Olympia Adjustable Wrench is a good purchase.