The new Skil Speed Slide adjustable wrench looks similar to the Husky Total Socket that came out last year, but lighter and easier to adjust.
I tried the demo unit out in-store, and it seemed to work reasonably well, although the adjustment mechanism was difficult to dial in just right. A better way is to just adjust the jaws according to fit, rather than to try to adjust the jaw opening using the measurement scale.
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This type of wrench can be useful at times, but don’t expect it to work as well as a box-end wrench or individually sized socket.
The Speed Slide wrench is priced at $9.88 and was presumably released for Father’s Day. It looks to be available exclusively at the Home Depot.
Update: The Speed Slide is now available at Amazon as well, through 3rd party suppliers.
Buy Now(via Home Depot)
Buy Now(via Amazon)
Skil has not impressed me with some of their hand tools lately, such as their new awkward-looking ratcheting wrench, but I think the Speed Slide is a reasonably useful-looking tool.
On the other hand, I bought a similarly-styled adjustable wrench more than 4 years ago and have only used it once or twice. These are the kind of cool tools that look good and are great to give and receive as gifts, but they’ll often receive more attention on the coffee table than in the tool box.
I think that the Skil Speed Slide wrench might be a decent addition to a minimalist tool kit, assuming its adjustment mechanism can hold up to rough use.
fred says
I’m not too impressed. I’ve seen a competing Husky wrench on the rack at Home Depot – I wasn’t impressed with it either.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-Total-Socket-97764/204295556
Stuart says
Yup, that’s the Husky Total Socket (mentioned in first paragraph). I have one in my toolbox, but it won’t be there much longer. Decent quality actually, but a little bulky and heavy and sometimes slow to adjust.
fred says
BTW – I took a look at this and see that like the other “Skil” branded ratching wrench you recently posted about – its UPC # starts with “811187” – seemingly belonging to a Chinese company called “E & H Co.” who may be the OEM. The same UPC prefix can be found on some Husky-branded tools at Home Depot
Stuart says
Could also be Iron Bridge Tools, which produces a lot of the seasonal Husky tools that you see one winter holiday season and then never again.
fred says
In fact, the packaging said that it was distributed by Iron Bridge Tools
Mac says
I’ve got my doubts, but for less than $10, I might see how it fares in a motorcycle bag (where space is very limited).
NCD says
Paperweight……..
Stan says
I couldn’t agree more and neither could a buddy of mine that works on bikes. He mentioned if that was brought to the shop he works, you’d be laughed right out of there.
Just another made in China from Skil seemingly.
jesse says
The basic design of this tool has been around forever. I have never been impressed by any specific incarnations of it.
Jeffrey says
Father’s Day gimmick tool.
Jerry says
Craftsman made a similar tool a few years back. While better than nothing, I really never liked it. Theoretically, it was supposed to be a ‘better’ adjustable wrench because it grabbed 4 flats instead of two, but there was too much flex to the frame for it to apply any more force than a well-made Creacent style adjustable wrench, and was mor awkward to use, and didn’t work well in tight areas.
Mahalo says
I thought that I saw these at Sears, and was not impressed with the slide adjustment mechanism. It seemed to get jammed in the store demo unit.
Grady says
Check out the Cresent R2 RapidRench ratcheting socket wrench. I know that the original prototype for this style tool was braking the heads off of 3/8″
Bolts. It had the help of a cheater bar but absolutely no damage to the tool. Too bad it was sold to the government and had a lot of patent and copyrights when along with it.
Dave L. says
I bought a nicely made Swedish version of this that is double ended (one large side, one small) and is worm-driven. I think I have used it twice in maybe 30 years.
DaddyO says
I think the correct word was minimalist and you nailed it perfect Stuart! It is great for someone who wants to keep a minimal set of tools available to them. I have never been that person cause whenever I have tried that approach whether in a tool bag or car tool kit I always need the tool I don’t have. Carry an allen wrench set both metric and standard and the screw turns out to be a star head! Carry an adjustable wrench instead of individual wrenchs and the space is too tight, etc. etc.
Someone did mention the fact of carrying with them for a motorcycle and if it seems to fit into most places then great! Maybe for a bicycle rider too? I myself carry the B&D “bone wrench” with me on bike and love the fact it works for metric and standard on the same wrench. All the others have two different wrenches to use for either standard of metric.
Thirdly I will point out that women are now using tools more for DYI and I am sure they take this into consideration along with gifting as you mentioned for fathers day. I have eliminated this by giving my wife specific pictures and model numbers of any tools I am wanting for this day or birthday as this would be the wrench they would talk her into buying at HD for me and it would go into the unused drawer of my tool box similar to yours Stuart.