The Ultimate Adjustable Spanner?

[Ian X]

Metric or imperial adjustable wrench is the decision though...View attachment 458506

No use to me, I am struggling to find a BSW adjustable, I would appreciate it if someone can point to a supplier, perhaps a far eastern supplier.

 

[Barking Mat]

Not really workshop tools, certainly come into their own in the onsite tool bags for the machines.

Bob

Exactly this.

Many years ago I asked a mobile mechanic, why use adjustables ?

He replied, when the tractors in the middle of a field, and you can't be bothered to transport all your tools, that's when.

 

[finyuk2005]

Exactly this.

Many years ago I asked a mobile mechanic, why use adjustables ?

He replied, when the tractors in the middle of a field, and you can't be bothered to transport all your tools, that's when.

same on boats, especially as most the fittings you are working with are on the bigger side, so slightly less chance of rounding off!

 

[RWD3M]

Back in my aircraft maintenance days, the adjustable spanner was positively frowned upon, at least it was until I moved from working old british aircraft (Hunter, Buccaneer and the Anglo French Jaguar) and moved to working on the Lockheed C-130. The 6", 8" and 12" adjustables were pretty much the only spanners you needed! Those along with a GS screwdriver and a BFH and most jobs could be tackled!

 

[Ian X]

The worlds Stilson population feeling sad and neglected because they don't get a mention.

 

[brightspark]

The worlds Stilson population feeling sad and neglected because they don't get a mention.

i have about 8 pairs gave extra 5 sets away to mates

 

[Ian X]

i have about 8 pairs gave extra 5 sets away to mates

I love them, barely ever use them but they are like Mason bowls, come in all sizes from cute handbag size to monster proportion. Somewhere in the developed world is a garage with a wall display of them, I would put 30p on that assertion being factual.

Someone must own or use one of these for making a living or gloating over, not the 12" version pictured, the 48" version.

 

[Ross365]

Back in my aircraft maintenance days, the adjustable spanner was positively frowned upon,

When I was with Royal Ordnance, our test sites were assembled pretty much entirely using Swagelok pipe fittings, for which the crew used little else but adjustables. We got a party of German visitors go around on one occasion - they seemed very "amused" by the sight of all these particular tools, pointing and laughing at them.

 

[finyuk2005]

Swedish nut lathe An AvE (youtuber) term, or thats were i first heard it!

 

[Prajna]

In Portugal an adjustable is called a "chave englaise", an English key (any tool that turns something - a screwdriver, wrench, Allen key, etc - is called a chave = key, which leads to some confusion).

 

[Farside]

In my plumbing toolbox reside a brace or a triplet of adjustables, along with various common plumbing-sized spanners.
The reason is, when working on older installations there is a common mish-mash of various sizes, none (or very few) of which will mate with normal spanners, and it would drive you to drink, sorting them out.

 

[Ian X]

Just returned home from a big brocante and among the vendors of stuff that should have been fragmentised or melted down years ago was more scrap in the form of boxes full of adjustables and every sort of pipe wrench too, lots of them. The vendor had them sorted roughly by size, anything under 160mm was €3.50 (negotiable of course), 160mm to 350mm €7.

The image I grabbed from reddit, one end is for loosening, obviously.

 

[plewlandsbob]

I love them, barely ever use them but they are like Mason bowls, come in all sizes from cute handbag size to monster proportion. Somewhere in the developed world is a garage with a wall display of them, I would put 30p on that assertion being factual.

Someone must own or use one of these for making a living or gloating over, not the 12" version pictured, the 48" version.
View attachment 458643

I don't have a Beryllium Copper one, but these are the smallest and largest , Stillsons, I carry in my works van. 6" Snap on and a 48" Record. Also carry a 14" , a 24" and a 36"

 

[winchman]

Just returned home from a big brocante and among the vendors of stuff that should have been fragmentised or melted down years ago was more scrap in the form of boxes full of adjustables and every sort of pipe wrench too, lots of them. The vendor had them sorted roughly by size, anything under 160mm was €3.50 (negotiable of course), 160mm to 350mm €7.

The image I grabbed from reddit, one end is for loosening, obviously.
View attachment 458848

I have one I bought it as I didn't have one!
One of the Hose contractors who comes to work has a full set of adjustable's on the wall of his van always makes me smile

 

[Ian X]

One of the Hose contractors who comes to work has a full set of adjustable's on the wall of his van always makes me smile

Bet they have seen a few miles in their lives, I wonder if he has given them names.

 

[arther dailey]

In Portugal an adjustable is called a "chave englaise", an English key (any tool that turns something - a screwdriver, wrench, Allen key, etc - is called a chave = key, which leads to some confusion).

reminds me of dad , as a child watching him hit a 3" wood screw in with a claw hammer , he turned to me a said this is what is known as a american screw driver ,happy memories.

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

I love them, barely ever use them

I used them just the other day to provider a counter hold when changing a tap fitting...very handy to provide a counter to the adjustable spanner (T fitting with a plastic pipe which was buried so I really did not want any issues!).