Craftsman CMMT12003 Adjustable Demolition Wrench Review: A Crude Tool That Earns Its Keep

Introduction

Combination demolition tools occupy a special place in any workshop, and the Craftsman CMMT12003 adjustable demolition wrench is exactly the kind of oddball, workhorse implement that rewards a closer look. It is labeled a 10-inch adjustable demolition wrench, sells for around $20, and is built to be used hard.

Build Quality and Finish

This tool is made in China, but for a deliberately crude, abrasive instrument, precision is not really the point. The finish work is appealing in a stripped-down way, almost like Swedish axes: the business end is polished while the rest carries a heavy black oxide coating. The jaws open to well past the claimed one and a quarter inches, closer to one and three-quarters.

The adjustment screw is staked so it cannot come out; spin it with a screwdriver and it just turns in place. It is also heavier than its nominal size suggests, with a lot of meat in the head.

Sizing: Bigger Than the Label

The “10 inch” designation undersells it. Measured with a tape, the tool runs out to over 11 and a half inches. Compared side by side with a 10-inch professional wrench, the head dwarfs it, and even a 12-inch Japanese-made wrench looks smaller in the front end. Against a 15-inch American-made Craftsman, it is closer to the 15 than to the 12. If you want a compact tool with an oversized head, this is that.

Nail Pulling in Practice

There are nail pullers at both ends: one on the tip and one in the center. For nails with intact heads, you slide the wrench over, pry, and pop them out much like a traditional nail puller.

The center puller also handles headless nails: seat it, run it down tight, and pull. One caveat: the hammer face is small and slightly convex, with gaps at the edges against a flat object. Dressing it flat on a hard wheel would improve it as a striking surface.

As a Pry Bar

In some ways this works even better as a pry bar than as a nail puller. The body has a dialed-in universal bend similar to professional designs, with a standard-style pry bar end and a large rolling surface. For a nail seated too high to grab cleanly, wedge the wrench on, twist sideways to roll it out, and pull free.

The end has striking caps, and you could pound on it, though this is closer to a sacrificial tool: designed to be used hard, do its job, and be replaced if it breaks.

Warranty and Value

Craftsman backs it with a full lifetime warranty, and the fine print says if a product fails to perform for any reason, they will replace it with no proof of purchase required. For around $20, that is a reassuring safety net on a tool meant for abuse. It is carried at some retail stores as well as online.

Where It Fits and Who It Is For

A crude, heavy tool like this lives happily in a bug-out bag, car kit, or garage drawer. It is not something most people already own, which also makes it an easy, practical gift. If you do demolition work, pull nails, or just want a tough grab-and-go utility wrench, it is hard to argue with the price.

Conclusion

The Craftsman CMMT12003 is not refined, but it does not need to be. Oversized for its label, capable with nails, solid as a pry bar, and covered by a lifetime warranty for about $20, it is a cheap insurance policy for any kit where rough work happens.