Thread: tool wanted
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Cydrome Leader Cydrome Leader is offline
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Default tool wanted

wrote:
On Tue, 03 Feb 2015 16:58:18 -0800, Larry Jaques
wrote:

On Tue, 03 Feb 2015 10:02:07 -0800, Gunner Asch
wrote:

On Tue, 3 Feb 2015 17:57:27 +0000 (UTC), Cydrome Leader
wrote:

Bob La Londe wrote:
"Cydrome Leader" wrote in message
...
Anybody have any made in USA 4" adjustable wrenches for sale? They just
don't seem to make them here anymore, even the 4" one from Klein is
imported nonsense.

I just want one or two because they're pretty darn cute. Ebay has nothing
but imports, new or used.

I've got a couple 4" adjustable wrenches as key fobs. It used to be a major
affectation for me when I was younger, but now they are just there. My
tractor key, and the spare key for my son's car still have them. After
reading your post I decided to look and see. One is a Master Mechanic
wrench stamped USA. It reminded me that back in the around '80 when my dad
opened his hardware store Master Mechanic tools (a TrueValue brand) were
still made in the USA. The other was an S-K wrench. It is also stamped
USA. I know S-K basically went out of business and then was recreated, but
they might be worth a look.

I found a old Williams on ebay, should arrive today. The normal current
normal sized wrenches from Western Forge (they're don't seem to sell stuff
as themselves, but make tools for everybody else) are nicely made, but I
don't see any with a a really nice dull chrome plating these days.

By far the nicest adjustable wrench I have is a 10" Armstrong of
unknown age. Perfect fit, perfect finish, perfect balance. It doesn't seem
to rust, the nut never binds or feels funny, and it never opens or closes
on its own.

Ive got crescents up to about 24"...and the Armstrongs are among the
best I own.


I have a 12" Companion and it's nothing to brag about.

Have you seen my black slipjoint (channellock) pliers? I saw them at
Searz back in the late 70s (while returning tools thrice a week) and
nabbed them. They're great. They have a 5+" opening with a 4+"
depth, and at 21" long, they have a good grip. I used them once to
press a small u-joint together.

My only pair of authentic Channellock pliers (#484 I think) are 4.625"
long, have a capacity of 1/2", and depth of 3/8". Of course I have
several pairs of larger, knock off, slip joint pliers which I use
regularly, but the little Chanellocks reside on my desk and heaven
help any son who tries to borrow them.
I also have a knock off Crescent wrench, 2 11/16" long, 3/8"
capacity; and a "Monkey wrench" 1 5/8" long, capacity 3/16". Both of
these are key chain tools that I inherited from a former landlady from
whom I rented her sewing room plus single bed for ~12 years while I
worked out of regional office. The guys in the office maintaned that I
managed to stay in "travel status" for the entire time - there were
times I didn't sleep in my rented room for six months.


Channellock has some real cute "ignition pliers", for
playing with spark plugs or something like that. They have the real slip
joint and all.

http://parnass.com/images/gripping-tools.jpg

I kind of want those Knipex ones now too. I have the little vise-grips.

I must admit, if there's pliers in the back pocket, it's a pair of Knipex
pump pliers with the pushbotton size adjustment. They fit in tigher places
than the channellocks ever could.