What, "WideJawzz" wasn't edgy enough?
Do you know what this wrench on the left is called? It's called the WideAzz. The WideAzz! Channellock, the bad boys of the wrench world, introduced their BigAzz pliers about ten years ago. Shortly after that, the vaguely suggestive NutBuster line appeared. But this new wrench just sounds, I don't know, nastier. I called the company and asked to hear a pronunciation, identifying the tool by its catalog entry, the HWC8. To hear them tell it, you're supposed to really buzz on the Z sound. Also, according to their marketing department, WideAzz was chosen after several other suggested "handles," including FatAzz, BadAzz, DumbAzz, and so on.
Now, I wouldn't be making Channellock the, er, butt of a joke if the WideAzz weren't an exceptionally good wrench. The jaws really are wide—8-inch handle wrenches, like this one, usually only have inch-wide jaws. The $25 WideAzz gives you an extra half-inch, accommodating more nuts and bolts in smaller spaces. Plus the adjustment is precise, the slim jaws firmly hold their setting, and the rubber grip is nice for heavy-torque turning.
But these names—I just don't get these names. Even with both jaws spread wide, the wrench resembling anything Azz-like is, well, a bit of a stretch. Am I missing something? Is there something subtly callipygian about wrenches and pliers? I know sex sells, but guys, this is too much booty.
Posted by Harry Sawyers | Categories: | Permalink




(1) Comments
Harry, I enjoyed your article...it was well written and the subtle humor had me laughing out loud. Unfortunately, Channellock's new "wideazz" wrench does not make much sense to me. ANSI/ASME have set standards for adjustable wrenches and Channellock's new wrench does not (nearly) comply with the appropriate length to achieve the proper leverage required of its "wideazz" jaw opening capacity. In fact, ANSI/ASME recommend a wrench that is 15 inches long...almost twice the length of the "Wideazz" with the same jaw opening capacity. Furthermore, when Channellock increased the jaw opening they had to extend the length of the wrench head "rail" thereby ENLARGING the wrench head! This actually PROHIBITS wrench head accessibility in confined spaces where there are obstructions around the work piece! I think someone had the right idea in mind when they suggested Channelock call their new wrench "dumbazz"!