The folks at Chestnut Tools and Lee Valley came out with a simple, pocketable, and self-adjusting wrench that looks to be great for EDC (everyday carry) in your pocket, bag, or as part of your portable tool kit.
The Pocket Wrench is 5-1/2″ long, and can accommodate fasteners 5/16″ to 3/4″ (8 to 19 mm) wide. There are three jaw opening settings, so that you can work with larger fasteners and still maintain a comfortable and strong grip.
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Both jaws are finely grooved and slightly angled to create a strong gripping action, and so you might not want to use this on delicate fasteners. On the other hand, if you’re using a tool like this in a pinch, chances are that you want a strong grip and quick results.
Given how the tool’s fastener grip is dependent on your hand grip, loosening up on the tool after each turn allows for a sort of ratcheting action. This means that you can quickly tighten or loosen a fastener without having to reposition the wrench.
It’s made from heat treated stainless steel, which should give it some corrosion resistance.
What I like is that Lee Valley says it is no substitute for owning a full set of wrenches or sockets. Too often, tools like this are hyped up to be wrench and socket set replacements. The fact that Lee Valley flat out says it’s not meant to replace a full set of wrenches or sockets, and that it is an outstanding tool for field repairs and for keeping in convenient locations greatly increases its appeal in my eyes.
If all that wasn’t very convincing, consider that the Pocket Wrench is priced at just $9.50.
For less than $10, it’s hard to say no to the Pocket Wrench. Needless to say, I already ordered one. I’ll share some feedback once it arrives.
Buy Now(via Lee Valley)