Hands-On: Irwin’s Quick Adjust Wrench
By Sean O'Hara
You need to know up front that the Irwin Quick Adjust ratcheting wrench isn’t a standard adjustable. It’s a totally different tool intended for different use.
Almost everyone who picked it up in the shop made fun of the fact that our test model is marked specifically for SAE. ”Why mark it for SAE if it’s adjustable?” they ask, then laugh. Why, indeed. Read past the jump to find out, and to see why you might want one of these in your kit.
Unboxing
After removing the mercifully simple packaging, the wrench fell into our hands with a solid thump. Its 8 ¼” frame is pleasantly heavy and feels good in hand. The blue and yellow handle feels just like it looks: very comfortable to hold. It’s easily among the most comfortable wrenches we’ve ever tested.
A large large metal button slides down to free the wrench’s teeth and let the jaw slide open or closed freely. Letting go re-engages the teeth, preventing the wrench from opening further — but allowing it to ratchet closed in 1/16″ (for the SAE model we tested) increments. To ratchet it close, simply push on the side of the moving jaw.
This is important enough to bear repeating: this wrench doesn’t crank closed to just any old size. It ratchets closed in 1/16″ increments. Hence the 1-inch SAE scale broken into 1/16″ markings running along the bottom of the jaw.
Read on to page two for our in use experiences with the Quick Adjust.
Pages: 1 2
July 31st, 2007 at 4:57 pm
How does this one differ from the new adjustables from Crescent? The snapping action?
July 31st, 2007 at 8:38 pm
First off, Irwin makes good stuff. That said, why would anyone buy one of these gimmick tools? I don’t care who makes it, knucklebusters are pretty much useless. Better than nothing but just barely. And if you do buy one, why would it be one that’s strictly metric or fractional? Defeats the purpose, doesn’t it?
August 1st, 2007 at 12:41 am
The whole point of an adjustable wrench is to quickly adapt to any size, be it SAE or Metric, when there’s a limit on the amount of tools you can carry. I can’t see any use for this tool as I’d need two just to cover the standard sizes *without* the ability to adapt to mishapen nuts or bolts.
August 1st, 2007 at 6:33 am
At $18 it isn’t too expensive. I wonder if Irwin will make a Metric one so a pair would cover you. More disappointing than SAE only is the problems with small bolts. The trade-off for SAE-only should be that it does all SAE well.
August 1st, 2007 at 9:03 am
What Fstedie said. I have a couple high quality adjustables that work well already… don’t need another gimmick wrench.
August 3rd, 2007 at 3:32 pm
[...] Hands-On: Irwin’s Quick Adjust Wrench This isn’t your standard adjustable wrench. Instead of adjusting, it ratchets into position, giving you the ability to move from fastener to fastener without re-adjusting. Of course, it ratchets in fixed increments, so you can’t fit just any fastener. Check out the post for details. [...]
September 9th, 2007 at 2:18 pm
When will this wrench be available?
I checked lowe’s, HD, and others and none have them.
I even sent a E to Irwin asking when it will be available and all that clown wrote me was maybe special order.
March 1st, 2008 at 7:02 am
Grainger has them. http://www.grainger.com