Two Adjustable Wrenches to Lighten the Toolbox
February 01, 2011, By Greg Hoard 0 comments
At this point in life, I’m always trying to find ways to lighten the load – of everything, especially the toolbox. There are too many rings on this tree to be lugging around a fully rigged, steel box filled with every wrench or socket that might possibly come into play.
Consequently, I’ve become an ardent fan of wrenches that serve more than one purpose and work on just about all the nuts and bolts you come across in the course of do-it-yourself projects.
Here are a couple of wrenches well worth a whirl. Give them try and I’m betting they’ll garner a place of prominence in your workshop or tool drawer.
The Bionic Wrench from LoggerHead Tools™
This little number replaces six U.S. and 10 metric wrenches. It’s eight inches long and automatically sizes and grips bolts and nuts from ½-inch to ¾-inch.
It has a cool, comfortable grip. The makers call it “self-energizing.” It’s easy to handle with one hand and can deal with sticky situations. (In fact, there have been times when it filled me with the illusion of possessing Hulk-like strength, which is hardly the case.)
The best thing about it is that it does not round-off nuts or bolts. It weighs under a pound and is available at most “big box” stores, where they often have displays that allow you to test the wrench.
Cost depends on where you make the purchase and what size or finish you want. They range from the six-inch version to the 10-inch and come in black oxide or nickel finishes. I’ve seen it retail as low as $20 and for as much as $35. No matter which way you go, you won’t go wrong.
Black & Decker Ready Wrench
If you prefer a socket wrench and find yourself working in tight areas, give this one a try. Like the Bionic Wrench, it replaces 16 most popular sets and is a reliable tool. It’s a nice alternative to grabbing the entire ratchet set and jumping into a job. The Ready Wrench, which will run you about $25, and an adjustable screwdriver will get you through most jobs around the house.
All this said don’t expect these wrenches to handle things like rebuilding the engine in a ’55 Chevy. For that, you’re still going to have to haul out the old toolbox and, quite possibly, a little Ben-Gay.
