Best uses for Ridgid hex "pipe" wrench?

[honcho]

Picked up a 17" Ridgid Hex wrench for a song ($3). Beyond the obvious of big hexagonal pipe connections, are there any other places this style of wrench is really useful? It will likely languish along with my other pipe wrenches but I thought i'd ask anyway.

Thanks in advance for sharing your knowledge (and sometimes your opinions).

 

[rlitman]

I'd expect a plumber to use that on large chromed hex connectors (like drain pipes). The Knipex Pliers Wrench XL kind of made it obsolete.

 

[CGT80]

Think of it as a big adjustable wrench/crescent wrench . Trailer hitch ball nut would be easy with that.

I have a small rigid wrench like that for unions, water heater flex lines, valves, drain nuts, and anything else with flats on it. It might be a 10" size. Doing building maintenance and repair work, it came in handy for commercial and residential.

The 17" version wouldn't be that useful for what I have worked on, but a commercial plumber would probably have good use with large plumbing sizes.

 

[Firebrick43]

That was the preferred wrench for unions, valves, ect on large 3 to 6 inch pipe.

 

[KnurledNut]

That was the preferred wrench for unions, valves, ect on large 3 to 6 inch pipe.

Must be thinking of something else. These don't go that big.
My 25" version maxes out at 3.5" with full adjusting nut engagement, which is about the OD of SCH40.

 

[Firebrick43]

Must be thinking of something else. These don't go that big.
My 25" version maxes out at 3.5" with full adjusting nut engagement, which is about the OD of SCH40.

Preferred wrench style on big pipe would of been better put

Yes a 17" wont go that large and on smaller sizes the torque wont tear up fittings with a standards pipe wrench like large fittings will

 

[KnurledNut]

Think of it as a big adjustable wrench/crescent wrench . Trailer hitch ball nut would be easy with that.

I have a small rigid wrench like that for unions, water heater flex lines, valves, drain nuts, and anything else with flats on it. It might be a 10" size. Doing building maintenance and repair work, it came in handy for commercial and residential.

The 17" version wouldn't be that useful for what I have worked on, but a commercial plumber would probably have good use with large plumbing sizes.

Ridgid E-110
Handy little tool! Love the extra wide jaw capacity and thin jaw.
Being able to hang it on a nut without worrying about it coming off is kind of like having a third hand.

I do wish Ridgid offered the hex wrenches with aluminum handles.



The 12" spud wrench is another useful tool!
Pliers wrenches have their place, but they are still a plier and have to be squeezed. That's where wrenches shine.

 

[HoosierBuddy]

There is a 4-inch steel bollard next to one of the overhead doors where I work with a significant bend in it. Story is a previous employee (long retired) was attempting to disassemble a piping assembly with 4-inch NPT threads. When he couldn't turn a fitting loose with a 48-inch rigid pipe wrench, he got a joint of 6-inch steel pipe to use as a cheater. When that just caused the whole assembly to flip up, he took it all out and chained it to the bollard. When he still couldn't turn the fitting with the 10-foot cheater on the 48-inch wrench he got a backhoe and chained the cheater to the bucket and used the bucket to lift the cheater.

At that point the bollard (4-inch .188 wall steel pipe sunk into a couple of feet of concrete) started to bend. And it's still bent today.

Not sure if he got anything loose or not. I guess he must have, because he didn't get dynamite and blow up that end of the building as the next step. And based on the story...that was likely his next step.

 

[Beerhippie]

There is a 4-inch steel bollard next to one of the overhead doors where I work with a significant bend in it. Story is a previous employee (long retired) was attempting to disassemble a piping assembly with 4-inch NPT threads. When he couldn't turn a fitting loose with a 48-inch rigid pipe wrench, he got a joint of 6-inch steel pipe to use as a cheater. When that just caused the whole assembly to flip up, he took it all out and chained it to the bollard. When he still couldn't turn the fitting with the 10-foot cheater on the 48-inch wrench he got a backhoe and chained the cheater to the bucket and used the bucket to lift the cheater.

At that point the bollard (4-inch .188 wall steel pipe sunk into a couple of feet of concrete) started to bend. And it's still bent today.

Not sure if he got anything loose or not. I guess he must have, because he didn't get dynamite and blow up that end of the building as the next step. And based on the story...that was likely his next step.

Should'a used a Lally post.

 

[redwrench60]

We call them valve wrenches and use em on big pipe unions, big ball valves, gate and globe valves and pressure relief valves. A 24” long one has relatively thin jaws to get on the narrow hexagon connecting zones common on valves used in industrial applications. Super handy to have if you deal in lots of screw pipe and valves

 

[Beerhippie]

We call them valve wrenches and use em on big pipe unions, big ball valves, gate and globe valves and pressure relief valves. A 24” long one has relatively thin jaws to get on the narrow hexagon connecting zones common on valves used in industrial applications. Super handy to have if you deal in lots of screw pipe and valves

I probably need one. I probably can't afford one.

 

[redwrench60]

I probably need one. I probably can't afford one.

I keep a 24” Ridgid version handy. Sometimes it’s the only thing that will fit the narrow hexagon area on valves, have the jaw capacity to fit and the leverage to get it loose. Can’t afford to NOT have it

 

[KnurledNut]

I keep a 24” Ridgid version handy. Sometimes it’s the only thing that will fit the narrow hexagon area on valves, have the jaw capacity to fit and the leverage to get it loose. Can’t afford to NOT have it

Before I had mine, I would fight old pipe fittings like valves and unions and usually resort to a pipe wrench and cheater which always damaged them. Agree on all terms.

 

[redwrench60]

Before I had mine, I would fight old pipe fittings like valves and unions and usually resort to a pipe wrench and cheater which always damaged them. Agree on all terms.

Absolutely. And I always cringe when I see someone gnawing up a brand new 2” brass ball valve with a pipe wrench cranking it into position. They literally make a tool for this lol.

 

[signcrafter]

I bought a smaller ridgid one about 12 years ago when I needed to replace the flush valve on a urinal. Has come in handy many times over the years.