The new Craftsman Mach Series ratcheting slide wrench looks a lot like the Crescent Slide Wrench ($16 via Amazon), but with updated looks and a ratcheting jaw mechanism.
Everything in the Mach Series is about speed. The Craftsman Mach screwdriver allows for rapid two-handed fastener spinning, while the Mach ratchet has a Yankee screwdriver-style push-pull mechanism for speed and to work on fasteners in tight quarters.
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The Mach adjustable wrench follows in the Mach spirit by featuring a quick-sliding adjustment mechanism, and ratcheting jaw that Craftsman says allows for 5X faster use.
Here’s Craftsman’s promo video that shows the wrench in action:
http://youtu.be/sHD-ez7Pr-4
Price: $20 “on sale”
Buy Now(via Sears)
First Thoughts
Going by online reviews, there are two common complaints about the Crescent slide wrench. First, some users report that it doesn’t always hold the jaw opening to the set size. Second, there are durability complaints.
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Let’s say that the Craftsman Mach adjustable wrench was designed with criticisms of the Crescent version in mind. Then there’s still the ratcheting jaw mechanism to consider. I’m not a fan of ratcheting adjustable wrenches. Some are okay, others are just plain lousy.
I’m trying to reserve judgement until I can test one out in person, but this seems like the type of tool I wouldn’t enjoy using. But, who knows, maybe it’ll surprise me.
Don
Im a long time craftsman fan but just the look of these Mach tools tells me I don’t want them. I understand the need to learn how to use a tool, especially a new one that I have never tried, but I don’t want to relearn how to use a ratchet, a screw driver or a wrench. The advantages these tools might supply is just not obvious to me. Annoyance potential looks high.
Larry Zeleznik
Another one of Sear’s chop suey sticks?
If the word “China” appears on this wrench,
I wouldn’t even consider it.
LZ
Stan
Given the Crescent version is 100% made in China, I bet the Craftsman version is the same way.
But I agree with you all the way. I might be willing to try this type of item if this were American made, but only then and only if I could test this in person.
Stuart
So you would discount a good tool design if made overseas, but consider a gimmicky tool if made in the USA?
Stan
I said might not exactly fully agreeing to this. Also. If this were to create some jobs I am all for this. That smaller Gator Grip is USA made and might be a gimmick tool, but works much better than I thought.
I’ve had several of my friends lose their jobs due to outsourcing and some even before they were to supposed to retire. Hence why buying American is important to me and I wish to more people.
Robert
I had the Crescent version of this wrench and eventually gave it away. It not only didn’t hold it’s size, but the slide mechanism eventually began to stick. It was hard to adjust and lubing it didn’t help much either.
I admire and appreciate forward thinkers. I get tired of “paradigm thinkers” who have no idea why their preferences are “best,” except for; “they’ve always done it that way.” Some people are quick to jump the gun and make fun of things like this. Forward thinkers however are the ones who get us out of our ruts and take us in some of our best directions.
All of that said, there’ve been many attempts to create a better mousetrap with the standard adjustable wrench. In the end, I always find myself going back to the time tested adjustable knob. I went back to my “Channellock Wide Azz” following my Crescent “slider” and haven’t looked elsewhere since. This one may have ironed out the kinks, but I would be skeptical that it wouldn’t prove to be more of the same over-hyped wonder.
Pete
We also had the cresent version of this wrench in our shop. While I don’t know how long it lasted all I do know is that it sat in the wrench drawer for a couple years never to be used because it was broken. I barely threw it out this year.
Robert
Incidentally, this looks like just another Sears ordered version of the same standard Danaher/Crescent tool with a typical “Craftsman Mod.”
jesse
Half price on the website at the moment, but is it worth it?
http://www.sears.com/craftsman-8-inch-mach-adjustable-wrench/p-00927319000P
Stuart
Hence the “on sale” snippet next to the price and “Buy Now” button above. That’s BS pricing if you ask me. No way this was ever intended to be sold at $40.
Noah
The entire Mach series seems like it would be more at home if it was the color blue and said Kobalt on it.
typhoon
I tried one at the store. The “ratcheting” mechanism is awful and a pain in the ass to use; I couldn’t get it to work on the demo nut, actually. The whole wrench is stupidly heavy. The Crescent and Duralast ratcheting adjustable wrench designs are much better.
The whole Mach line, with the exception of the humble 1/4″ T-handle, is bizarre. The tools are poorly made, poorly conceived combinations of old ideas (useful and otherwise). They would’ve ended up with much better tools if they had considerably more restraint and released just a roto-ratchet or just a slide-adjusting Crescent wrench. I know the whole point of the line is to get people’s attention, but there are plenty of ways to create novel, useful tools without crossing into embarrassing junk.
They had a “stubby” tool set there too (with a stubby adjustable wrench and such). Didn’t Home Depot have a similar holiday set some years back? It’s sad that Craftsman is reduced to Iron Bridge Tools-manufactured holiday junk (hell, it’s sad Husky is reduced to that too). Not that they never had gimmick tools before—quick wrenches, pocket sockets, the original dog bone and clench wrenches, and so forth—but even those feel like a big step up from this.
Robert
Typhoon,
I’m glad you brought up the weight, I forgot to mention that. My previous Crescent version was overly heavy in my view. Even if the “slider” had worked more in practical application, the added weight wasn’t worth it for the convenience in my opinion.
Toolfreak
The whole Mach series is just gimmicky junk intended to be for holiday gift-giving purchases.
For whatever reason, stuff like this sells easy to people who want to buy for us tool nuts, especially when they really think they are getting a deal buying something that is ‘regularly $40’ for half that or less.
It is pathetic that Craftsman has sunk to this, along with farming out the basic tools like ratchets, sockets, wrenches, etc. to China., producing a lower quality product, selling it at the same price as the USA tools, and only worrying about profit.
Matty D
I bought mine just because I wanted to prove the bad reviews wrong. There were a few bad ones in the lot, so I made sure I got one with a nice sliding action. I hung it up on my tool board on my workbench wall. So proud.
A few months later, I take the wrench down to help me assemble bikes for the kids. I didnt even know how to use the thing, and I needed to tighten the nuts NOW. After fumbling for not even a minute I ended up using a regular adjustable wrench. After the bike was done, I pick up the wrench, and the slider is stuck!!!! I barely touched the thing!!!!
On the other hand, I bought the Mach T handle. One of my favorite tools. C’mon Sears…
Kamran Kamil Kureshi
I am a Pakistani and till now have had a lot of admiration for ‘made in USA’ tools. However, the 8″ Craftsman Mach 8″ adjustable wrench has greatly disappointed me.
The so-called ratcheting mechanism i.e the little red plastic pillow on the wrench’s mouth seems like a cruel joke played on a lower middle income guy of a third world country!! I had to pay equivalent of 30$ for this crap. The sliding mechanism sucks.
All it does is stick!!. What am I supposed to use this tool on ? I’ll probably have to display it as a joke item of American ingenuity!!.
Kamran Kamil Kureshi
There should at least have been a few illustrations on the pack showing the basic use of the tool. I had to check out the Video, which seemed more of an eyewash. I’ve been ‘gypped’ is all I can say!