Straightening a bent pipe wrench?

[relic7680]

I bought this 24" Ridgid (steel) at a swap meet for 8 bucks and have used it for various things ever since. You'll notice it has quite a bend in the handle (from who knows what). It's kind of bugging me, even though the wrench works fine. Any ideas on methods to put it back straight? Thanks in advance....

 

[Gidge]

Put it in a vise and pound on it with a 3# hammer ?

If you have a blacksmith in the area, I am sure he could do what needs to be done to get it back to where it needs to be.

 

[87Pomona]

A shop press would straighten it out.

 

[SCscoutguy]

Unless the bend is getting in the way of doing a specific job I would just leave it the way it is and continue to use it.

 

[kams1973]

Don't let it bother you. The bend actually adds character.

 

[rlitman]

Wow, I've never seen that happen. I thought they were either cast iron, or aluminum (except for my beryllium copper ones).
Either way:
http://www.ridgid.com/Tools/RIDGID-Warranty-1/index.htm

 

[Outlawmws]

A shop press would straighten it out.

Wow, I've never seen that happen. I thought they were either cast iron, or aluminum (except for my beryllium copper ones).
Either way:
http://www.ridgid.com/Tools/RIDGID-Warranty-1/index.htm

Nothing to see there:

What is Covered

RIDGID tools are warranted to be free of material and workmanship defects.

 

[Givl Reggin]

Unless the bend is getting in the way of doing a specific job I would just leave it the way it is and continue to use it.

^^-This is the correct answer - bending it back will most likely weaken that spot and make it more prone to failure.

 

[Higgins]

I would just like to know what the previoius owner was doing to bend it so far?

AL

 

[strutaeng]

I like it!

It looks cool....

I'd say continue using it the way it is!

 

[rlitman]

free of material and workmanship defects.

i.e. it should not bend in use. I'd take it to a Home Depot, and ask for a replacement.

 

[Zeke]

I would just like to know what the previoius owner was doing to bend it so far?

AL

Using a cheater bar only half way up the handle.

 

[G_P]

i.e. it should not bend in use. I'd take it to a Home Depot, and ask for a replacement.

Using a cheater bar only half way up the handle.

Exactly. People used to bring pipe wrenches back to HD for a refund all the time that looked like this. They would even return the cheater pipe along with it

 

[neophyte]

Find someone with another Ridgid pipe wrench that's missing it's jaws.

 

[Givl Reggin]

Is it me or is it bent in the opposite direction from what the teeth would bite in - if it was bent during use shouldn't t be bent in this direction - http://www.morningjournal.com/content/articles/2010/06/06/business/mj23125122.jpg

 

[neophyte]

Is it me or is it bent in the opposite direction from what the teeth would bite in - if it was bent during use shouldn't t be bent in this direction - http://www.morningjournal.com/content/articles/2010/06/06/business/mj23125122.jpg

It's bent in the right direction.

 

[relic7680]

It's bent in the right direction.

Indeed.....somebody must have cheater piped it hard....but a fine tool for what I paid...!? Anyway, I'm questioning whether or not bending it back would in fact work harden it and compromise the handle. That pic with the 40" is crazy....thanks for the input, fellas.

 

[greasemonkey44]

where i used to work every damn pipe wrench was like that
its from having a cheater on it halfway
if it really bugs you, you could straighten it in a press

 

[RCStocker]

If you are working in a basement or on a pipe up against the wall it will give you more room to get a bite by letting the jaws swing back farther. If it ain't broke don't fix it. It already has metal stree so I would not hit it. I might heat it up and bend it back in a vice or press then heated it up and dip it in water or oil to retemper the steel. If it were mine I would leave it the way it is. On a wrench that long it will not matter that it is bent.

 

[WWIIjeep]

RIDGID tools are warranted to be free of material and workmanship defects.

Yes, but if you put a cheater on it, this part of the warranty should come into play:

Warranty coverage ends when the product becomes unusable for reasons other than defects in workmanship or material.

Failures due to misuse, abuse or normal wear and tear are not covered by this warranty.

If there's evidence that a cheater bar was applied to the handle (nicks in the handle from the end of the cheater bar usually suggest that) it might be argued that the user made the tool unusable for reasons other than defects in workmanship or material, and that the failure was due to misuse or abuse.

 

[ADSR]

Don't let it bother you. The bend actually adds character.

That's what she said.

 

[Outlawmws]

Yes, but if you put a cheater on it, this part of the warranty should come into play:



If there's evidence that a cheater bar was applied to the handle (nicks in the handle from the end of the cheater bar usually suggest that) it might be argued that the user made the tool unusable for reasons other than defects in workmanship or material, and that the failure was due to misuse or abuse.

That was more or less my point. They don't even NEED the second part to dismiss a warranty claim... nothing about that bend says, "Materials or workmanship" ...

 

[Grumpy365]

Wow, I've never seen that happen. I thought they were either cast iron, or aluminum (except for my beryllium copper ones).
Either way:
http://www.ridgid.com/Tools/RIDGID-Warranty-1/index.htm

I got serveral pipe wrenches from my grandfather upon the occasion of his death. Every one was steel and bent. I still use them with great pride.

He worked in the oil field and understood the benefit of a good cheater bar.

 

[Gregg33]

That's what she said.

lmfao

 

[sberry]

Leave it.