best strap wrench -- plumbing escutcheon

[yeldogt]

Doing a bunch of small projects over the weekend (cold weather keeping me inside) -- one of the bathrooms (double vanity) has a leaking tap valve and i can't get the trim ring off one of the colds.

Does anybody make a really good strap wrench -- the one I had was rubber and it just slipped ... when I did get it tight enough ... it snapped.

I was able to get two of the four undone ... I really want to take all of them off and clean them up .. replace all four of the valves and be done with it.

 

[Odes]

I like the ridgid strap wrenches like this one

 

[Odes]

He is the picture of the ones I use

 

[matt_i]

Seems like they are best when brand new and then the rubber decays over time and it breaks.

So, I hit the box store for a new pack, they work great, I'm like wow, why didn't I do this sooner, then they go back in the drawer for a few years, and then they break on the next time out of the barn, rinse and repeat.

 

[yeldogt]

Seems like they are best when brand new and then the rubber decays over time and it breaks.

So, I hit the box store for a new pack, they work great, I'm like wow, why didn't I do this sooner, then they go back in the drawer for a few years, and then they break on the next time out of the barn, rinse and repeat.

That's what happened ... it's spot from age. I never really liked mine anyway -- the handle and strap had a limit after that it would just bend and flex and provide no more rotation.

I don't need anything too big. Was thinking they would have improved -- making the strap out of some sort of plastic that's both flexible and will not scratch.

 

[LXCam]

If you're unable to find a decent rubber one get a canvas one but use some new rubber between the strap and the escutcheon.

 

[rlitman]

I've had luck replacing the straps with pieces cut from an old fan belt.