Is Crescent really the original inventor of the adjustable wrench?

Yes we are! In 1907 Swedish immigrant and inventor Karl Peterson founded the Crescent Tool Company. Soon after that he introduced America's first open-end adjustable wrench a revolutionary concept that replaced an entire set of dedicated-size wrenches

Adjustable Wrench Frequently Asked Questions

What is an adjustable wrench used for?
Adjustable wrenches are used for gripping, holding, and turning a variety of fastener types.
How do I use an adjustable wrench properly?
First, use the knurl to adjust the jaws to the correct size of your fastener. Next, place the jaws on the flat sides of the fastener. This is important so that you don't round off the fastener. Finally, turn to the right to tighten or to the left to loosen the fastener. Remove the tool from the fastener and repeat until the fastener is fully loosened or tightened.
How do I maintain my Crescent wrench?
Ensuring that your adjustable wrench is stored in a clean and enclosed environment will help eliminate any risks of corrosion. For even better maintenance, consider cleaning or wiping off your adjustable wrench after each use.
What is the difference between an adjustable wrench and a crescent wrench?
Fun fact: nothing! An adjustable wrench and a "crescent" wrench are the same tool. Founded in 1907 by Swedish immigrant and inventor Karl Peterson, Crescent Tool Company revolutionized hand tools by introducing America's first open-end adjustable wrench. This innovative adjustable wrench design replaced the need for multiple fixed-size wrenches, making it a versatile and essential tool for professionals and DIY enthusiasts alike. Learn more about our history on our About Us page.
Why does my adjustable wrench slip?
Your wrench might be slipping for different reasons. Such as: the jaws might be too loose, you might be gripping on the corners of the fastener rather than the flat edges, or the fastener might already be or starting to round.
Can I use my Crescent wrench on plumbing or automotive repairs?
Yes! Both plumbing and automotive settings contain many hex-shaped fasteners, which are the ideal fasteners to use with an adjustable wrench.
What sizes are adjustable wrenches available in?
Adjustable wrenches can come in a variety of sizes. Crescent offers adjustable wrenches as short as 4 inches all the way up to 24 inches.
Can an adjustable wrench replace a full set of wrenches?
An adjustable wrench does have the potential to replace sets of wrenches. However, each specific size of adjustable wrench has a specific jaw capacity. We recommend you evaluate the most common fastener sizes you encounter to ensure that an adjustable wrench can replace your most used wrenches in your tool bag.
Which adjustable wrench is better, one with a cushion grip or one without a cushioned grip?
Cushion grip versus non-cushioned grip is going to be up to user preference. Fortunately, we offer many types of adjustable wrenches with shared features, in both cushion and non-cushion grips, so that users can choose the right wrench for them.
What does Crescent mean when they say "quick-fit jaw"?
The "Quick-Fit Jaw" refers to the patented head technology in the latest adjustable wrenches from Crescent. This technology includes a 1° sloped lead-in on the jaws, allowing for faster fitments onto fasteners without needing to re-adjust. We've paired this feature with our off-corner loading, a proprietary design that allows the jaws of our wrenches to fit exactly on the flat sides of fasteners, eliminating the worry of rounding and stripping fasteners. Learn more about our quick-fit adjustable wrenches.
What does "off-corner loading" mean, and what is the benefit of it?
Off-corner loading refers to our proprietary jaw design that helps prevent applying stress on the corners of fasteners. This ensures that the jaws of our adjustable wrenches rest on the flat sides of the fastener and prevents rounding or stripping the fastener.
How do I pick which is the best adjustable wrench style for my job?
We recommend you evaluate the work settings you are in most often, along with the most common fastener sizes you come across in your day-to-day tasks. This will help you decide which size and style of Crescent wrench is right for you.
Do Crescent adjustable wrenches work on both SAE and metric fasteners?
Yes, our adjustable wrenches work on both SAE and metric fasteners. Our wrenches include laser-etched size scales for SAE and metric on the heads of our adjustable wrenches.
What makes the Crescent wide jaw adjustable wrenches different than the other adjustable wrenches that you offer?
Our wide jaw adjustable wrenches offer the same jaw capacity as a standard adjustable wrench, the next size up. For example, our 10" wide jaw adjustable wrench (ATWJ210VS) offers the same jaw capacity as our 12" adjustable wrench (AC212VS). Learn more about our wide jaw adjustable wrenches.
How do I know if I need a chrome finish adjustable wrench or a black oxide adjustable wrench?
You'll want to evaluate the environments you will be working in and whether your tools would be prone to corrosion. If the environments you work in could be prone to corrosion, we would recommend going with our chrome finish adjustable wrenches since the chrome adds protection against rust and corrosion, plus they're easy to clean. If you're working in greasy, industrial settings, our black oxide adjustable wrenches are a better choice.