Antique pipe wrenches ?

[xxandriiaxx]

I moved into a house with a bunch of neat stuff in the basement...

was wondering what these things are worth and if there are people out there that still buy them ?

18" Trimo Pipe Wrench

14" Walco (Walworth company) Pipe Wrench

10" Improved Walco pipe wrench (possibly from 1951)

10" Ridged Heavy duty pipe wrench

8" Ridged pipe wrench

I will post a few pictures soon being that the website wont let me do it through my phone..

what are your thoughts on these tools? about how old are they? and how much would do you think I'd get if I sold them?
I have no use for them and I think it would be great for a collector or someone that can put these tools to good use rather than collecting dust.

thank you in advance

 

[Hank McMauser]

unfortunately for you old pipe wrenches don't usually sell too well, it seems everyone has gone to plastic plumbing anymore and I'd bet that plumbers usually only break them out on rare occasion. They also are pretty heavy so they don't lend themselves to internet sales well either.

 

[camarotoolman]

2nd on Hank, they are basicly scrap, the Ridgid might by worth $5-6.

 

[jeffmoss26]

Post some pics. I have a drawer full of various sizes of Ridgid pipe wrenches!

 

[byoungblood]

Those Rigids are the only ones worth anything, and as already mentioned the smaller sizes won't bring much. I bought a couple of 14" Rigids at a yard sale last year and paid about $6-7 each for them if I remember right. Someone on CL around here has had some up for $15-20 each for 5-6 months and apparently none have sold.

 

[beerdog]

Keep them for your self. Old pipe wrenches work just as good as new ones assuming the jaws are still good.

 

[Junkman]

Old pipe wrenches are worth there weight in iron... I have a small collection of Rigid from the smallest being about 8" to the largest about 4'. The only time that you need a pipe wrench today is when you are working with black iron piping. It is still used in industrial applications, however, not much in residential applications other than to plumb a new oil tank.

 

[reptilezs]

i pick them up at yard sales for a buck or two. i am looking out for the bigger ones now. got a 10 12 and 14. looking for the 18, 24. used to have a 24 but sold it for 20 bucks or so

 

[beerdog]

I find myself using pipe wrenches on just about anything except pipe. One good use for the the smallest ones is removing bolts with broken off hex heads.

 

[lilredex]

Good for adjusting your vehicle's toe-in, if you have those cylindrical "turnbuckles".

 

[hdpusher]

I collect old/odd one's I find at sales. Usually I never pay over 5 bucks each for them.

 

[lbgradwell]

Those Rigids are the only ones worth anything...

Not sure I agree entirely here.

Those are all good brands and from a functional perspective - assuming the jaws are still sharp - are as good today as they were new. But, as has been pointed out, they are not much called-for anymore...

To be honest, I don't really understand how companies manage to sell any new pipe wrenches considering that there are so many old used ones available for a few dollars!

 

[Jim C.]

I believe that a few old pipe wrenches in different sizes are handy to have around, and buying them used is probably the most ecomomic way to obtain them. My dad has a couple of 14" wrenches that he bought from a farmer several years ago. They cost him next to nothing. He uses them twice a year. Once in the spring to attach a two inch hose to a pump, and once in the Fall to remove it. When you need them, well, you need them. The old antique wrenches will probably get the job done as well as a new one. I don't think there's any real money to be made by selling old pipe wrenches (although I could be wrong). It looks like you have a good range of sizes. I'd just keep them around.

Jim C.

 

[zuk123]

I use mine on my trailer hitch ball... couldn't see a reason to buy a big wrench.

I can't seem to pass them up when I see them at sales.

Lots of black iron pipe and galvi in my local big box stores so someone must still use them.

zuk