Laugh now, 'cause if you try one of these you'll appreciate it. I got it at a flea market a couple year ago for 2 bucks as a curio, threw it in my box and it's come in handy more times than I can count. You adjust like a standard crescent then squeeze the lever for a vice grip type clamping. What it's really good for is if you have say a seat bolt going through the floor. You put a box wrench on the top, crawl under the car, give the nut a spin and the box wrench falls off. Sheeit. You could use vice grips and mark up the bolt head, or get your wife out there, but these things will grip a bolt as tight as vice grips and not leave a mark. I have also used them on tight bolts that no wrench seems to fit snugly. Once locked on they'll take a bunch of torque without slipping on the bolt head. Maybe these are common, it's the only one I or my pals have ever seen. This one is made in China, with a patent number on it, and seems to be of decent quality.
Is that photoshopped ? Never seen one but I can see the advantages. Wonder when they were made and if they still are ? Don
Available at Amazon...... http://www.amazon.com/Stanley-85-61...0-Inch+Long+MaxGrip+Locking+Adjustable+Wrench
Strange yes,,never seen one,, Made in China and seems to be of decent quality,,that's a oxymoron. HRP
It's real. I should have looked at the other side before I posted, it's a Stanley brand. I'm surprised these things never caught on, it's really handy. The lever pushes up on the worm.
I saw they had that Stanley Locking Adjustable Wrench at Walmart for like $12. I was interested but wondered if it was worth a crap, so I didn't buy any.
quite the tool....may have to go get one "just to have it". Couldn't quite read the patent #, but finally found it on the USPTO site (http://patft.uspto.gov/netahtml/PTO/index.html) You can use the Advanced Search function and type in; 4472986 The patent was issued 9-25-1984 to a Mr Robert Gotleib. What I find to be interesting are the cited patents. Some of the ones listed are darned close to what Gotlieb claims. At some point, Stanley must have obtained the rights to the patent. US patents now have a 20-year life (in line with the rest of the world); whereas they had been 17 years ending in 1994
If you use two on pipe fittings, will it sheer off your thumbnail like a "real" crescent will?...... We call em "Farmer wrenches" here.....
Oh, that's another thing I've used it for, pipe fittings, if room permits. Tighter fit than line wrenches. Think if it as vice grips on the nut, only without the carnage. Crescents have their place. I've been doing nothing but mock up for the last few months, nothing torqued, and having one with you sure beats crawling out to the box for the half dozen wrenches they replace. But yeah, use one to bust loose a torqued bolt and you're asking for skinned knuckles.
Looks damn handy, especially in those 'solo' situations. Have look for one next time I hit BigLots, Ollies, or Wally World, who all usually have a variety of Stanley stuff.
Thanks for the linkee Kevinsrodshop - just bought one on Amazon - $18.71 and free shipping. It will go well with other weird but indispensable tools such as my Alden ratcheting open end wrenches.... www.amazon.com/Alden-8-Piece-SAE-Open-Ratcheting-Wrench/dp/B002W2HCGO
The OP tool is not the "Proper tool for the proper job" (trans instructor in college would say)....on a farm tractor or for use in a junkyard.....
i have to have one now too ,,,, man your getting the word out on this for shure they ougta send you 1 free
I'm gonna have to get one to go along with one of my other odd tools, a nailjack (used to pull nails without damaging wood)
The Jalopy Journal
