Review on 🔧 Chrome Adjustable Wrench by Williams, Model 13406A by Richard Cartner

This review includes ten adjustable wrenches (nine new, one old), including this one. This updated review includes 3 additional notes from my original review. Here is a list of adjustable wrenches that I have purchased. Products in this test: #1: Urrea 708 #2: Channellock 808W 8" Chrome Adjustable Wide Wrench #3: Klein Tools 507-8 8" Heavy Duty Adjustment Wrench #4: JH Williams AP-8A 8" Adjustment Wrench #5: BAHCO 8071-R-US 8" Black Phosphated Reel Wrench #6: 8" Rigid Reel Wrench 86907 #7: Craftsman 8" (about 10 years old) #8: TEKTON 2310 8" Roller Wrench #9: JH Williams 13408 Chrome Adjustable Wrench Set 8" #10: Titanium 208 8" Adjustable Wrench Goal: My goal is to find a good quality adjustable wrench. I chose 8" " adjustable wrenches to keep the purchase price reasonable. I believe I will also be purchasing the appropriate 6", 10" and 12" models of the ones I choose. I define a good quality wrench as: 1. A smooth mechanism that will not snap when turned 2. Jaws, that stay stationary, minimal wobble and stay parallel 3. Smooth handling of the tool with no sharp edges I choose These adjustable wrenches can be viewed as examples of wrenches made both in the US and abroad including some so-called industrial brands I have also added an old Craftsman wrench (#7) to the group I didn't buy #1, #3 and #7 from Revain Adjustable Wrench characteristics: #1: Urrea 708: 262g, 24, 7mm hole, made in Mexico #2: Channellock 808W: 256g, 31.9mm hole, made in Mexico Spain #3: Small 507-8: 219g, 29.5mm Hole made in USA #4: JH Williams AP-8A : 256g, 28.6mm hole, Made in USA #5: Bahco 8071-R-US: 260g (with cardboard tag), 28.2mm hole, Made in Spain #6: Ridgid 758: 265g, 28.2mm hole, made in USA #7: Craftsman 8" (about 10 years old): 266g, 29.3mm hole, made in USA #8: Tekton 2310: 232g (with tag), 26.3mm hole, made in China #9: JH Williams 13408: 285g, 30.2mm hole, made in China #10: Titan 208: 257g (with tag), Hole 25.1mm, Country of Origin Unknown First Impression: #1: Urrea 708: 3/5 for smoothness, 3/5 wobble of cheeks, sharp finish near cheeks. Urrea used to be the Mexican division of the Proto industrial brand. My rating: 2 stars. #2 : Channellock 808W: 5/5 smoothness, 3/5 jaw pivot Manufactured by Irega, a well known adjustable wrench manufacturer in Spain. The Channellock seems to be cheaper to buy than the corresponding Irega model. My rating: 5 stars. #3: Small 507-8: smoothness 5/5, cheekpiece curve 4/5, short cheekpieces, lightest weight. Interesting story, apparently Klein wrenches started out as a licensed version of a premium Japanese brand of adjustable wrenches. My rating: 5 stars. #4: JH Williams AP-8A: smoothness 4/5, jaw wobble 2/5, body cast not smooth. My rating: 2 stars. #5: Bahco 8071-R-US: Smoothness 4/5, Jaw Vibration 3/5. To my knowledge, buying a snap-on wrench is a reworked Bahco. Apparently they used to be made in a factory in Sweden and I've heard the quality dropped when production was moved to a factory in Spain. My rating: 4 stars. #6: Ridgid 758: Ride 4/5, jaw swing 3/5. My rating: 4 stars. #7: Handyman 8″ (approx. 10 years old): smoothness 2/5, jaw swing 2/5. My rating: 2 stars. #8: Tekton 2310: 4/5 smoothness, 3/5 wobble. My rating is 3 stars #9: JH Williams 13408: Smoothness 4/5, Jaw Swing 2/5. My rating is 2 stars #10: Titan 208: smoothness 2/5, cheek sweep 1/5. My rating is 1 star Verdict: In my opinion the worst wrench was #10, the Titan brand wrench. I measured jaw sloppiness at 50% more than any other wrench in my comparison. My other least favorites were Urrea and both JH Williams. My favorites were Channellock and Klein followed by Bahco. I bought the black phosphate version from Bahco because the chrome version was too expensive. Channellock is manufactured by the well-known company Irega in Spain. Based on the WF markings on the wrenches, I believe the three US wrenches are made by Western Forge (#4, #6, #7). Of Western Forge's three keys, I like Ridgid the best. The raftsman is less smooth than I remember, probably because it's not a new key. Ultimately I think I would be happy with Channellock, Klein, Bahco and Ridgid in that order. Final Thoughts: I prefer a smooth tool. If Klein had longer jaws and was cheaper, I would probably choose it (and probably still would if weight was a bigger priority for a portable tool bag, for example). However, considering all factors, including value for money, I left Channellock (Irega). I also offer Knipex pliers (Knipex 8603180 7 inch pliers wrench) as a quality (and expensive) alternative to adjustable wrenches.