When most people picture a plumberโs wrench, they probably think of the long-handled, hook-jawed version associated with the trade for generations. Of course, theyโd be correct โ itโs still right tool for installing and removing pipes and fittings. But itโs certainly not the only wrench a plumber uses. We run into plenty of smaller hex nuts and bolts that a โnormalโ pipe wrench would too cumbersome and sometimes useless! We need a handy adjustable wrench for those situations. But even a traditional adjustable wrench can be too thick, too shallow, or too long to get the job done easily. Theย Proferred Adjustable Plumbing Wrench aims to assist us in those tight spots by being thinner, deeper, and shorter than those normal wrenches. Can itย turn a difficult job into an easy one?
Thatโs what weโre going to find out.
Key Features
Head
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Youโll immediately notice theย Proferred Adjustable Plumbing Wrenchโs very thinย head. The head of aย typical adjustable wrench of comparable length is at least 3/8โณ thick. But the Proferred is a slender 1/4โณ or so. Itโs easy to see how much easier it would be to use in tight and narrow spaces.
Jaws
Youโre gonna need a bigger boat! The wrenchโs capabilities continue with jaws that open to about 1-1/2โณ, much wider than the 7/8โณ of a normal adjustable wrench in this size. Proferred says it opens 55% wider than the competitionโฆ and the math checks out! It means you can do more jobs with fewer tools which isย usually a win โ if itโs effective.
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Depth
Do you avoid those shallow wrenches that are petty gossips, always surrounded by drama? Me too. Fortunately, theย Proferred Adjustable Plumbing Wrench is much deeper than those wrenches โ 30% deeper, in fact, the company claims. I didnโt measure the depth as I did the width, but it looks to be accurate, as well. Iโm rarely this eager to try out a new hand tool, but this one is promising.
Performance
How Much Can You Wrench?
So in my toolbag went theย Proferred Adjustable Plumbing Wrench. And it proved its usefulness almost immediately. I had to tighten a small hex nut under a sink. Those nuts usually come with a tube wrench of some sort from the factory, but there wasnโt one to be found. I was able to get the wrenchโs thin head in the space and just turn the nut with the jaw tips. The wrench bailed me out before my first coffee break.
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Hereโs a welcome surprise: the Proferred Wrenchโs increments are actually correct. Even if you happen to have an adjustable wrench with increment markings, theyโre often off. Sometimes thatโs a factor of the wiggle you find in the jaws of most models. Other times, itโs just inaccuracy.
It just goes to show that quite often a plumber doesnโt need the leverage of a long-handled pipe wrench as much as he needs a wrench to simply fit in tight spaces.
Feel & Action
Weโve all had adjustable wrenches that are adjustable in name only. The worm screw is either hard or impossible to turn and annoying. Well, theย Proferred Adjustable Plumbing Wrenchโs worm screw is smooth as could be. Dialing in the jaws to the appropriate width is easy. It all seems to point to fine craftsmanship.
Wiggle It
In addition to the smooth action, Iโd be remiss if I didnโt mention the rest of the Proferred Adjustable Plumbing Wrenchโs build quality. The moving jaw of just about any other adjustable wrench you pick up will have some play โ back and forth, side to side โ even when itโs new. It probably doesnโt affect theย performance right away, but we all know that ill-fitting parts, use, and time will wreak havoc on a tool. But the Proferred Wrench doesnโt have any of this play โ the parts fit together precisely.
The Bottom Line
It might not be possible to get all jazzed up about a new wrench, but if you can, then theย Proferred Adjustable Plumbing Wrench will probably be the one. It has a greater jaw capacity โ depth and width โ that similarly sized wrenches. Its thin head can access tight spaces. Increment markings are accurate, the worm screw is smooth, and the parts fit together tightly. Iโm not sure what more you could ask for in a hand tool. Itโs always nice to review a tool thatโs so good that it will be on every job!
Related Content
Klein Adjustable Wrenches
Milwaukee Adjustable Wrenches
Proferred Adjustable Plumbing Wrench Features
- 55% Wider Jaw Capacity
- Super Thin Head for Improved Access
- 30% Deeper Jaw
- Black Phosphate Finish
- Ergonomic Grip
- Ideal for Automotive, Plumbing, and Gas Industries
Proferred Adjustable Plumbing Wrench Specifications
- Item Number: T08001 (6-inch)
- Also Available In:
- 8-inch (opens toย 1-1/2-inches)
- 10-inch (opens to 1-3/4-inches)
- 12-inch (opens to 2-1/4-inches)
- Price: $22.97
Find out more about Proferred Toolsย here.
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