Who makes damn good pipe wrench?

[Hoss356]

I got put on a crew pulling out an old FM 200 fire suppression system today and found out I need a decent pipe wrench. I got by pretty good with just my 14" diamond tongue and groove pliers on most of the pipes the weren't frozen with plumbers goop and I had to borrow a cheapy 18" pipe wrench from one of the crew the worked like poop, the wrench not the dude. The pipes ranged from 1" and 2" mostly with a few larger diameter sections.

So I really don't like having to rely on someone's else's tools and I'd like something that works better than that Chicom POS. Are Ridgid pipe wrenches the end all be all or are there a few other choices that'll grip good and last for a long time.

I'll pick up a larger wrench later but need something right now in the 18" to 24" length for a good all around wrench for working in semi tight areas while still providing decent leverage.

So, who makes damn good pipe wrench?

 

[barney rubble]

Ridgid and nothing but.

 

[MrMark]

Pretty much just Ridgid. There are Reeds too but harder to find. The Ridgids are the best without a doubt. Anything over 14" and I would get Aluminum. I have 4 of them ranging from 6" to 18" and they are really nice.

Harbor Freight's top of the line "Pittsburg", which can be had for the princely sum of 2 dollars with a coupon and a free odor eliminator fragrance dispenser, works fine, or so my brother's uncle's neighbor told me.

 

[Boiler]

I've got a 24" SK Wayne that I don't use anymore due to having picked up an aluminum ridgid. It was a sweet wrench, but is heavy as hell. If you're going to use a big one like that all the time you'd definitely want an aluminum one.

 

[NJHandyGuy]

i remove boilers and heaters for scrap with my ridgid amazing amazing unit

 

[Hoss356]

I was thinking 18-24" was a little one? How durable are the aluminum ones? I mean pipe wrenches usually have pretty rough life. How'd the SK wayne work? I've been using SK tools since I was halfway to high school, any places to find a nice older SK?

 

[MrMark]

Ridgid are lifetime warranty on the body and the jaws are a wear item but replaceable. You'll never break it unless you are the type as some on here that could wreck a bowling ball.

 

[BanjoSavesTheDay]

I keep hoping someone will find some other brand besides Ridgid that makes great pipe wrenches, just for something different. Alas, my search continues.

 

[MrMark]

Well, if you really want to get into exotic stuff the Euro's make a "Swedish Pattern" locking plier type device that Euro Plumbers use. They look interesting enough, but the Ridgids work so well why mess with a good thing.

 

[crewchief888]

my "best" pipe wrench is a 12" cresent brand

 

[BanjoSavesTheDay]

Well, if you really want to get into exotic stuff the Euro's make a "Swedish Pattern" locking plier type device that Euro Plumbers use. They look interesting enough, but the Ridgids work so well why mess with a good thing.

Hey that's pretty cool... Thanks!

 

[bgott]

Craftsman has a good pipe wrench.

 

[MrMark]

 

[american lockpicker]

Ridgid is good(I've used one made in the 60s or 70s...)

 

[JASTECH]

+7 on RIGID Is the Best. My gpa made some when he worked for Hughs Aircraft that were up to 6' long out of aircraft aluminum, somebody stole them out of my gpa's truck! He made a lot of custom tools.

Thanks, JASTECH

 

[kams1973]

Most definately buy RIDGID pipe wrenches!

 

[littlekillertoad]

Rigid is definitely the best I've ever used. I do have a smaller proto that's pretty darn awesome too. It's great for removing those tenacious studs from the engine block.

 

[back2class]

Screw Ridgid. They jerked me around on warranty. I am never buying their **** EVER. My aluminum pipe wrench broke. Replaced with HF unit that works fine.

 

[jabberwoki]

I keep hoping someone will find some other brand besides Ridgid that makes great pipe wrenches, just for something different. Alas, my search continues.

I have a nice big old walworth if it maks you feel better?

 

[JAKE-THE-TOOL-MAN]

Snapon Makes a similar wrench to this one, its awesome the more you crank on it the tighter it grips the pipe

 

[Dale B]

I've got a couple of aluminum Toledo brand pipe wrenches , a 14 and an 18. They are good , but I don't know if they are still in business....

 

[dieseltech]

i REALLY like lennox brand pipe wrenches but ridged is good as well

 

[Danglerb]

Other than heavy or it breaks, what would be a BAD pipe wrench, no teeth? ***

With a lot of work I would not think twice about getting an aluminum pipe wrench, and unless its was a career move it would be a cheap one from HF, maybe two of them in different, but big sizes.

*** I've use some old junky pipe wrenches, so I do know what a pain they can be with a lot of slop in the adjuster so they get stuck on pipes.

 

[doctorschmullus]

I've used a few genius tools pipe wrenches heavily
Flamin Awesome

 

[rodm1]

Ridgid and nothing but.

24inch model

 

[Monte]

Dako (Gedore) and VBW

 

[Underdog]

Ridgid and nothing but.

+2

If you are going to keep them then consider Aluminum ones, just so much lighter and easier to place.

 

[Boiler]

I was thinking 18-24" was a little one? How durable are the aluminum ones? I mean pipe wrenches usually have pretty rough life. How'd the SK wayne work? I've been using SK tools since I was halfway to high school, any places to find a nice older SK?

big and little are subjective. If you're working on under the sink, 24" is pretty freakin big. Installing pipelines? Not so much. I use my 8" and 12" the most. Sold my 18" proto to my friend who needed it often, and now the 24 inchers are mainly just my backup pursuaders.

few sk's left on amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias=tools&field-keywords=sk+pipe+wrench

 

[Mike83]

Superior Tool sells some nice ones. Made in Spain (or they were).

 

[bayou985]

Ridgid...ridgid...ridgid...ya heard me????

 

[plinker]

All but 3 of mine are Ridgid, the other 3 are china made Williams(pretty good overall).

I use a 10" most of the time followed by a 18" or 24". In the 18" to 24" + size, aluminum is nice, but dont use a pipe on it, they wont last.

I dont think a pipe wrench is too hard to screw up, The Ridgid's are a little heavier (weight wise) than the Williams though.

My Dads has some Craftsman (made in Japan) that have held up well over the last 20-some years.

 

[bsaint]

Ridgid. Everything else is either a gimmick or a pos.

 

[wilb1976]

Another vote for the Ridgid Aluminum. Hands down the best out there.

 

[Mike83]

I really like this one - it is not gimmicky at all and makes tight work really easy.

http://superiortool.com/tools/pipetool/02614.htm

 

[Danglerb]

I bought this set of 3, 10", 14", and 18" from HF about 10 years ago for $13, they seem to make pipes turn just fine, what am I missing? Just the 14" from Rigid is like $30.

http://www.harborfreight.com/3-piece-steel-pipe-wrench-set-94067.html

18" aluminum is $15
http://www.harborfreight.com/18-inch-aluminum-pipe-wrench-39605.html

 

[rodm1]

Snapon Makes a similar wrench to this one, its awesome the more you crank on it the tighter it grips the pipe

Harbor Fright dues to.

 

[MrMark]

Those Harbor Freight look awesome. I think I will get me some.

 

[supertooljunkie]

I have Ridgid for all my smaller pipe wrenches. Then I have 2 ea. 36" pipe wrenches, a cast iron Facom, and a aluminum Ridgid. I have beat on them, put cheater pipes and two fat guys on the cheater pipe and they have held up well. The Facom is heavy as hell though.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

I have 4 Snap-on ones and love them. I assume they're made by Ridgid.

 

[iagsxr]

Snapon Makes a similar wrench to this one, its awesome the more you crank on it the tighter it grips the pipe

I just bought two Snap Ons. They're on sale right now.

Haven't used them yet, but I hooked his demo wrench on a tractor tie rod and picked myself off the floor w/it.