Kobalt Rapidslide Adjustable Wrench

While in the midst of a complicated repair, one is often too lazy to root through one’s toolbox to find the proper sized box wrench.  Thankfully, the trusty refuge of the lazy mechanic is the adjustable wrench.  The problem is most adjustable wrenches, is that their thumb-busting knurled worm-screw adjustment mechanisms kind of suck.  Enter the Kobalt Rapid-Slide Adjustable Wrench with its velvet-smooth slider which opens and closes the jaws effortlessly with the flick of your thumb.   There is a laser-etched graduated scale with metric and english sizes on opposing side of the jaws.  There are versions available from  Crescent and Cooper, but the Kobalt (pictured) is our preferred incarnation with rubber inset no-slip grips, aggressive styling and thoughtful  box wrench in the handle.  Unfortunately the Kobalt is not available online, but it can be purchased at your local Lowes for about 15 bucks.