Thread: Closest thing
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Old 06-14-01 | 12:39 PM
  #14  
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RainmanP
Mr. Cellophane
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Joined: Nov 2000
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From: New Orleans, LA
Follow-up on the Proto and Stanley wrenches.

I am not particularly impressed with the Proto wrench with "Click Stop" the clicks are so fine it just feels like the adjusting screw is a littl gritty. Not enough resistance to really hold it in a particular position. Once you put pressure on, it does hold reasonably well. However, what I was looking for was a sturdy click mechanism that would hold it in a fairly fixed position, without tightening or loosening from an inadvertent touch. I find that more often than loosening inadvertently, an adjustable wrench will tighten slightly, clamping itself in place and requiring considerable finger pressure to loosen the grip. This is a pain when you have to engage and disengage repeatedly. Unfortunately, the Proto just does not seem to me to be a significant improvement over a plain old Crescent or Rigid or Craftsman adjustable wrench. And the jaws are actually THICKER that a standard adjustable rather than thinner as described. They taper slightly in thickness, but the narrower tips are still very thick.
VERDICT - Not worth the money.

The Stanley locking adjustable looks like a better bet. I ordered one of those for my Dad for Father's Day. He loves tools, especially gadget tools. It has a SERIOUS, vice grip type locking mechanism that looks more promising. What I envision is something that you can lock at an opening that just slips easily onto a hex nut, bolt or screw, like the fit of an open end wrench. The Stanley looks like it should work that way though the head was enclosed in that heavy plastic packaging that you have to destroy to open so I wasn't able to try it. It only comes in a 10" size and it is massive. Definitely not a seat bag item. If you need a larger size adjustable wrench for times when nothing else will do, this might be handy in your tool box. But at the price it is probably a better thing to get (or give) as a gift than buy for yourself. And, as always, box ends and sockets are best, with open ends next. I like combination wrenches to I have both handy.
OVERALL VERDICT - For your seat bag, stick with a plain old 6" adjustable for times when the multitool might not get the job done.
Raymond
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