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Brilliant Design: An Adjustable Wrench Where You Don't Have to Jiggle the Dial With Each Turn

Fujiya's Kurokin Rapid-Clutch Wrench removes a UX hassle

By Rain Noe - January 27, 2021

in Tools & Craft

Adjustable wrenches are well-used here on the farm, we've got several scattered around the property. They're versatile, but all have the same annoying property: In between each turn of the nut or bolt, you must disengage the jaws to pull the wrench free, reposition it, then retighten the jaws. Get too fast-and-loose with this and you'll round the bolt over.

This constant futzing with the wrench dial is cumbersome, particularly with gloves on. So Japanese hand tool manufacturer Fujiya, which has been around for nearly a century, has redesigned the adjustable wrench to remove that specific hassle. To do that they've gotten rid of the dial altogether, and added a clutch mechanism.

You adjust the wrench by pushing a button, and a spring-like action eases off of the bolt between each turn, as you relax your grip on the handles. Here's how that works (you don't have to be able to read Japanese to understand what's going on):

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The wrench is part of Fujiya's high-end Kurokin ("Black Gold") line. In the 'States, the Rapid Clutch Plier/Wrench Combo and other Fujiya tools are distributed by Micro-Mark.

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Sam Swift

3 years ago

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just to pile on too, yes knipex got there first, some research is needed on these posts I think

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Charles Moore

3 years ago

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Knipex was awarded worldwide patents for this back in 1989 - Patent # EP0421107A2. Patents have expired which is why you are seeing more and more copies in the wild (including this one).

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Jacob Brooks

3 years ago

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I have a Knipex wrench that is literally the same design. It's great. I wonder who came up with the design first. Dun dun dun!

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- Nathan D.
  
  Jacob Brooks
  
  3 years ago
  
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  Knipex has had them for years. Sears had a version 30 years ago. The only thing this one seems to add is the ruler along the channel.
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