Crescent® RapidSlide® wrenches

[derekleffew]

MCM Electronics was having a sale on these:

and I'd always wanted to try try one but my local home improvement supercenter has only carried the 8" version. A 10" and a 6" RapidSlide® Wrench Set for $14.95, such a deal, right?

Not so much. They're permanently in my home tool box. They're not bad wrenches, but have enough oddities as to not persuade me to change. Primarily, my favorite wide-jaw 6" Crescent® wrench weighs 5.3 oz. The 6" RapidSlide® weighs 9.8 oz. May not seem like a lot, but it is. Having that thing in my back pocket all day would drive me nuts. Makes a good hammer though. Second, although the six-inch opens to 15/16", my wide jaw goes to 1 1/16". Note most six-inch wrenches only open to 3/4", inadequate for a 7/8" cheeseborough nut or 15/16" truss bolt. Third, although the new wrench is the same length as the old one, it's considerably wider and thicker.

Just thought I'd share with others.

[gafftaper]

I picked up the Kobalt version from Lowes a few months back. I really liked how it worked and I would make the switch if it didn't weigh so much. My 6" wrench hangs in my pocket all day and I don't even know it's there. As nice as it is to use, it's just way too heavy. A student of mine picked one up and dropped it once from about 4' and the adjustment mechanism broke.

I'm keeping my little Craftsman 6" wide mouth.

[SteveB]

Originally Posted by derekleffew

MCM Electronics was having a sale on these:

and I'd always wanted to try try one but my local home improvement supercenter has only carried the 8" version. A 10" and a 6" RapidSlide® Wrench Set for $14.95, such a deal, right?

Not so much. They're permanently in my home tool box. They're not bad wrenches, but have enough oddities as to not persuade me to change. Primarily, my favorite wide-jaw 6" Crescent® wrench weighs 5.3 oz. The 6" RapidSlide® weighs 9.8 oz. May not seem like a lot, but it is. Having that thing in my back pocket all day would drive me nuts. Makes a good hammer though. Second, although the six-inch opens to 15/16", my wide jaw goes to 1 1/16". Note most six-inch wrenches only open to 3/4", inadequate for a 7/8" cheeseborough nut or 15/16" truss bolt. Third, although the new wrench is the same length as the old one, it's considerably wider and thicker.

Just thought I'd share with others.

Agreed, weighs a ton. Also has a bad tendency for the slider to move when going in and out of a pocket or tool bag, thus you can't leave it set for a 3/4" hex bolt, drove me nuts and I stopped using it for focus.

Steve B.

[Footer]

Still my all time favorite wrench. I have tried the sliders, they fact that they would just slide ever so much drove me up a tree.

[avkid]

Originally Posted by Footer

Still my all time favorite wrench. I have tried the sliders, they fact that they would just slide ever so much drove me up a tree.

What are those?

[phil000]

I love my slider, everyone else hates it. While heavier, it actually is a plus, I find it harder to forget and therefore sit on, or realize I don't have it on me.

Footer: I've handled one of those once or twice, just never liked them at all.

In defense of the sliders, most people think that it'll slide if anything pushes on the jaw, which isn't true...it is annoying when it changes size while in your pocket, but, I still like it over the normal wrench.

I've been thinking about making grooves next to the slider @ certain sizes.

The slider is excellent for knowing where you are in jaw size, say you're tightening the side bolt on a light that you can't see and you have a slightly rounded nut. If you are tightening on a normal c-wrench it can slip off the side bolt and you won't notice (I mean you will if you have had that wrench a long time), with a slide wrench you'll know when you're past the normal size for a side bolt, imho.

are there any wrenches not mentioned so far, worth checking?

[Sony]

Originally Posted by avkid

What are those?

self adjusting/locking wrenches

I personally don't like them because the multiple teeth can damage or strip nuts due to uneven pressure. At least thats what has happened in my past experiences with those things...

[Footer]

Originally Posted by avkid

What are those?

The craftsman clench wrench. It came out around 1996-1997 or so, around christmas. They have not been made for at least 5 years, I have been scooping up all I can find on ebay and WD40 them then throw them in a ziplock bag.

[gafftapegreenia]

Those sliders were all the rage at school last year. My reaction was essentially the same as Derek's - a good idea, but not a replacement.


Now, don't you DARE use any form of wrench or pliers with teeth anywhere near a nut of bolt. If you do I will find you. Nothing like cussing out stripped nuts.
Ever wonder why auto mechanics have entire chests just full of wrenches? It's all about the right tool for the job. Not saying you need a chest, but a basic ratchet set will serve one well.


Now, specialty wrenches. SOOO many to choose from, Ultimate Focus Tool, Jesus Wrench, Lightspeed. They all have their uses and their place, but from the few I've tried, nothing can top a 6" widejaw c-wrench.

There are, however, two that I own:

Clamp Stick Wrench,



Which is nearly perfect, except it can't do the odd nuts and bolts one might come across, but its glorious for cheeseburgers and loft blocks, and great on side bolts.
Roadietools.com Clamp Stik Wrench

And the Mega Combo,


It's a great one to keep in the pocket, and is all one needs to deal with the hang and focus of a S4 rig, as long as you don't come across any clamps that have been gorilla tightened. I've grown rather fond of mine.

Mega-Combo Wrench

Those two "specialty" wrenches are my approved ones.

Alot of people love the Lightspeed wrench, but oh, sorry, no 5/16" opening for the smaller sized f***-it nut. That's a major fail in my book. And at around $35 enough to keep me from buying one.


Ultimate conclusion: Widgets are nice, but c-wrench wins. Who wants to be the embarrassed one asking for a c-wrench when they hit an odd bolt?

One other thing about the c-wrench. It's open jawed, making it much easier to fit on to a nut or bolt with very little clearance. All other wrenches with their closed holes need a bit of clearance to get "over" the bolt head.

[dramatech]

I own at least one of each of the ones shown in all of the previous posts. Used them all for a time, and then they become toolbox litter. As of now I am using the Harbor Freight version of the slide wrench. I like it, but will admit that it is a little bit heavy. I don't carry it all day, and only do a hang day and a focus two days, every six weeks or so. That is the length of our show runs with load ins and load outs and rehearsal. I really agree with the post about wrenches with teeth tearing up bolts. I have one designer that likes to do his own focus, and uses a "Robogrip". Management says that I have to allow him to do so, as we get him pretty cheap, and his shows are usually the best looking of the season. We only have him once this year. Last year had him three times. Ughh!!!