I just found this at Home Depot a couple weeks back and picked up several for all my in-vehicle tool bags. Looks like it will free up some weight and space. I don't generally buy off on adjustable wrenches, but this one seems to have some serious potential with a novel approach to the mechanics of its adjustable feature.

In my local HD store, the wrench is only about $10, and I understand that it can be purchased online as well.

Tell me what you think.

LINK>>> Husky Total Socket-97764 at The Home Depot

 

I wouldn't describe that as a "socket", but an "adjustable box wrench".

It may have its place, but I'd continue to carry the other stuff, too, just in case......

Pop

 

I wouldn't have called it a socket, either, Marv. Also, until I get a chance to use it a couple of times, I'm not going to crow too loudly over its ability to replace a bunch of other tools. The reviews I've read indicate that it has real potential, though. Also, for me, I don't really have a socket set in the truck anyway, so it's a pure "addition" to my bag at this point.

 

I agree, it might be a handy addition but I wouldn't depend on it.

 

I still like having sockets so your wrench is above the bolt or nut not level with it. There are lots of little parts in the way that a level swing may not work...

 

If it fit over the brake caliper bolt, it would have a home.

 

I've seen one of those on display at home depot. The display had it over a perfectly sized bolt for the wrench. For that sized bolt it looked great.

Now I'm no engineer or anything , but basically this is nothing but an old fashioned crescent wrench that looks and acts a little differently. It still tightens up against two flat sides of the bolt or nut to turn it, but since it has a corner cut into the contraption, it may not get as tight as a crescent wrench could. To me that seems like it may be more prone to rounding off the corners than the old fashioned kind.

 

might be handy for oil changes on different vehicles so you don't have to guess what size to crawl under there with. I'll probably grab a couple, can't hurt

 

I have 3 or 4 of the Craftsman version of those...the "Pocket Socket". They were given to me many Christmas' ago. I use them every now and then...mostly to hold a nut while I ratchet away on the other side. The craftsman version extends out on one side like a socket and is flat on the other. I believe the head is angled just a bit. This is the best pic I could find of what I have (mine are like the red handled versions).

 

I can certainly see some of the limitations you guys have mentioned, and appreciate your insights.

Chris, I would have to differ with your opinion about these adjustable box wrenches being more likely to round a corner. The corner cutouts actually give them more biting surface on the nut/bolt, so I really think that rounding would be less likely. I certainly could be wrong about it though. Time will certainly tell.

 

Pete, I get that the corner groove cut out gives the impression of it being able to grab better, but lay it out on paper, do your analysis, and see where the pressure really comes from.

If we're loosening a nut, the portion to the left of the V on the bottom piece and the piece to the right of the V on the top piece exert pressure on the bolt, right? Does the tip of the V exert any force? What about the parts on the other side of the V?

With any adjustable wrench set up, there's going to be a little slop. That means the part to the right of the bottom V and left of the top V aren't really doing anything in terms of loosening the bolt, right? In fact, I'd say you could actually cut the tool right down the center of the V line (if you could find a way to keep the pieces together) without affecting the capability of the tool. If that's the case, that means you basically have a regular crescent wrench (if you tilt your head a little while looking at it) that may not have long enough jaws for the flat side of the bolt head. The tool is still grabbing the two opposing flat sides to do the work, just like any other fixed or adjustable wrench, only without as much surface area contact.

Or am I missing something?

 

This would help make my motorcycle tool bag a bit smaller for sure.
Nice find!

 

I get what you're saying, Chris, and I've mulled over the same exact things you've pointed out. Having not yet put it on a bolt, though, I'm not quite sure that you DON'T get any benefit from the back side of each angle cut piece. I've played with some drawings and made allowances for where each wrench has potential movement for misalignment, and it still looks to me like the adjustable box wrench has a slight edge over a Crescent wrench.

When you look at the adjustable box wrench, the top is fixed and has no pivotal movement like you have at the base of the "V" in a Crescent wrench. Granted, the bottom "V" in the adjustable box wrench can shift to a non-parallel position, but even it's "V" cannot open up the way a Crescent wrench does. In the end, I believe you'll find the adjustable box wrench will end up creating 3-4 strong contact points on the nut/bolt shoulders where you will typically only get 2-3 strong contact points on the Crescent wrench.

I'm going to play with both in the shop and see if my suspicions are correct.

Again, I may be completely wrong about the potential differences and whether or not there is any real benefit of one over the other.