A few months ago, I purchased a Skil Ratch-N-Lock pliers, which are awkward-looking self-adjusting ratcheting pliers. It looks like Skil has taken the same ratcheting jaws and built them into a new ratcheting adjustable wrench.
The new Skil 013-479 adjustable wrench has a double cam “slip-n-grip” ratcheting action and jaws that can open to 1-1/8″ to fit any fastener.
Advertisement
Price: $18-20
Buy Now(via Sears)
First Thoughts
The Skil Ratch-N-Lock pliers were so clumsy to use that I never got through testing them. I had a post-it note constantly reminding me to test the pliers, but by the time I found the will to force myself to use the pliers, it was after the 2013 holiday season and the tools vanished from Home Depot’s sales floor. So I tossed the pliers into a “save for later” pile and forgot about them.
The new ratcheting adjustable wrench looks quite similar to Skil Ratch-N-Lock pliers, but with a far simpler adjustment mechanism and handle. Although this design looks to be more user-friendly, the jaws still look like they will mar and damage fasteners.
I try to be open-minded about new tools and tool designs, but this is not the type of adjustable wrench I could see myself using.
Advertisement
Mike47
“Excuse me sir, but why do you keep inventing wrenches that nobody wants or needs?”
“Because I can!”
Stuart
“Because people keep buying them” is a more accurate answer.
Some folks might find this wrench useful. Remember, just because you and I don’t see the benefit in a tool’s design, doesn’t mean others won’t get good usage out of it.
DaddyO
Well stated…….money rules the market and if you can come up with something that looks cooler or maybe can take the place of a few tools, people will buy them! I used to love the old Bob Villa commercial with the Craftsman all in one wrench putting together the outdoor jungle gym. The wrench was big and would not work for most items under the hood but seeing it turn all the different head sizes on that jungle gym without having to stop and grab other wrenches was excellent marketing! I remember this commericial well as (at least for me) was one of the first multi wrenches I can remember and set the example for all the ones that come out today!
DaddyO
Additional Note: I have always been a sucker for the easy screw extractor tools and have yet to come across any that work good better than the tedious, time consuming process with the old standard screw extractors. Now that I have gotten older and more time conscious, if the screw is not crucial, I will just drill another close to the original!
Allen
So it is pretty much a pipe wrench.
Stan
Hard to imagine at some point in history, Skil made REAL tools and even tools that were made in the United States.
I can’t ever imagine using a “tool” such as this though. If I need pliers, I use tried and true pliers. Same with adjustable wrenches and so forth.
SteveR
It appears to be more of a “tool of last resort” (i.e., one used when you can’t get a fastener loose with a conventional wrench or socket), and you don’t care if you mangle it in the process. I’m basing that on what appear to be two spring-loaded grippers (black) in the head of the tool, which will conform to a rounded-off or otherwise damaged fastener. Even if they’re not spring-loaded, they do have the ability to grip with fine-toothed ferocity, similar to a stud remover or a bolt extractor.
Perhaps a less-aggressive tool for removing stuck hex nuts would be the Vise Grip 7LW locking wrench, which triangulates around a stubborn fastener. The jaws are smooth, which doesn’t chew up the nut/bolt beyond recognition. Vise Grip also makes a 4LW and a 10LW version. I got mine from Amazon, and they’re probably available at HD, Lowe’s and Sears, among others.
In any event, I can’t imagine using this tool for installing or removing fasteners that are finely made and chromed, such as bathroom plumbing fixtures, etc. As Allen pointed out, this is pretty much a pipe wrench (with half-round jaw faces).
Gary Keene
Not very informative. It’s ridiculous that all five posters, including the author (Stuart Deutsch) posted negative comments for a tool that none of you have actually used. Come on, Stuart, your “review” boils down to “LOOKS to be more user-friendly . . . LOOK like they will . . . damage fasteners.”
So apparently you looked at the tool, made up your mind, and never actually applied it to a nut or bolt.
Stuart
Do you work for the company that designs or makes these for Skil? Because normally they just leave comments praising the tool. Criticizing my opinions would be a first.
If you reread the post, you’ll see no negativity, just observations and frank opinions. Does this tool look like it could mar fasteners? Absolutely. The jaws are not flat and smooth, they’re toothed all around. The entire jaws, even the ratcheting parts are grooved.
I use words like look, might, and seem so that readers can differentiate hands-on observations and opinions. I want readers to make up their own minds about tools, but there’s no reason why I should hide my opinions. That’s why they’re in a “First Thoughts” section, for greater separation between facts and opinions.
This version looks more user-friendly than the Skil Ratch-N-Lock pliers I bought and tested a few months ago. The Ratch-N-Lock was not a great tool – it was clunky to use and DID mar fasteners more than other tools would. Since this new tool shares the same jaw design and ratcheting mechanisms, it’s reasonable to assume that nothing will be different.
By all means, if you’re a tool user and not at all affiliated with any company related to the design or marketing of this tool, buy one, try it out, and report back as to how well it works.
Abe`
Many fasteners are hidden from site or not critical on their appearance, so it seems to me that this tool would be a unique addition to any tool box based on the premiss that it can be adjusted to multiple sizes saving valuable room in a tool box by eliminating the necessity to carry a plethora of wrenches. I would buy it for that reason alone.
Patrick
its ugly enough – like a waste of space in a toolbox. imaginative handle – i like the way the top part’s wider, but some of the metal @ the front should move towards the back 2 give less pressure on the heel end of the hand. rough casting’s a good idea. plating’s not up 2 par: flaking off on the imperial ruler, of all places. spiral nut drive’s a joke: too slippery. not convinced the word Skil’s at the right place n it’s hard enough 2 c 2o. it might be inconsequential, but i cringe @ the grinding: flat end of jaws are not parallel, when you look at them head on the correctly ground lower jaw’s 1.2 mm wider then the upper one with it’s skewed grinding job. top view reveals casting of lower angle is not perpendicular 2 the tool, but right hand end of that line is more towards the back by about 4 mm!
Richard
At first view, I think I have the perfect application for this tool.
My shed is laying on 8 “hard to reach” adjustable screw/legs and concrete blocks.With winter frost, it has to be leveled every spring and this is kind of a pain in the ass. I have to lay flat on my belly with head and arms up, (un-natural position) and try to fit the 28mm flat wrench on the nut and turn only 1/6th of a turn at a time until everything is leveled. Can’t use any ratchet there so this is where this tool looks to be the perfect tool because I could leave it in and keed ratchetting til desired.
Didn’t buy, didn’t try it yet, sure an old style pipe wrench would do the job as well.
Right now I use something I built myself based on that design:
http://c.shld.net/rpx/i/s/i/spin/image/spin_prod_242881001?wid=140&wid=180hei=140
and works quite well but could be better.
Skil, I think your concept has plenty of applications
Andy
I use this wrench all day at work installing one time use fasteners on a demo job. It saves me a little time, but its really heavy