Cheap or good pipe wrench??

[joedodge]

So I’m a heavy diesel mechanic who does a lot of hydraulic work. Lately I’ve had a lot of large cylinder to pull end plates off of or tighten up that my chain wrench just don’t do in the application. Since I’m not a pipe fitter or plumber is there any grand reason to get a rigid pipe wrench to abuse and use cheater pipes on over a cheapy one??

 

[Mgdoug3]

I don't use a pipe wrench that much but I have three Rigid pipe wrenches. I bought one 14" at the flea market that doesn't look like it's been used for $15. One 36" I found on the side of road and another 36" I got from my grandfather. My grandfather's is in great shape and is from the 1940s. If a tool could outlast him, it was well made.

Long story short, I would much rather spend the money on a Rigid. They can take more abuse and can be passed down generations. You don't have to buy new and used can be a bargain. I wouldn't want to take a chance on trusting a cheap one.

 

[plinker]

When I was working hydraulics, we'd use a 3' Ridgid chain wrench on round cylinder gland nuts (Serco), worked well. Sometimes an air hammer would be used to remove the nut as well, though it typically would get replaced when doing so.

The Ridgid pipe wrenches are a considerable step above the cheap ones, they're not sloppy and wont really break easily that I've seen. The handle will bend if a cheater pipe is improperly used, IE; not covering the full length of the handle. Used can be had fairly reasonable.

 

[larry_g]

I had a cheap pipe wrench using it in your situation and the damn thing broke the moveable jaw, putting me on my ***. I'd suggest that you frequent the used market as pipe wrenches are cheap used and get a good one or two as they are used a lot in pairs.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[joedodge]

Thanks so much guys! I use a chain wrench a lot also they are amazing

 

[Carquest]

Nothing but good IMO. Usually when using a pipe wrench, you're in an awkward situation, the last thing you need is a wrench to slip or break. Not good for the job, but really not good for your health

 

[4xdog]

My dad used to say, "we're not rich enough to afford cheap tools." He grew up with little, and spent his professional life as a schoolteacher after he learned machinery rigging with his father wasn't for him, so never had money to blow. But he was right about spending money on the right tools for safety and quality work.

I still have, and still use, the Ridgid pipe wrench he bought circa 1950, years before I was born.

 

[redwrench60]

The hydraulic cylinders I've fooled with were all off old *** equipment and were stuck like chuck. They required an anchored steel bench with a large vise and a big (36"+) pipe wrench/cheater combo.


You can get away with cheap pipe wrenches putting brand new pipe and fittings together but taking old worn out rusty **** apart requires good strong tools that can handle the abuse and strain. Check pawn shops, flea markets and garage sales for quality pipe wrenches cheap.

 

[samss]

A couple of years ago I bought a Lennox 18" pipe wrench and wasn't impressed with it's grip. The local supply house had Black Rhino brand, much better. Thinking about tossing the Lennox for another Black Rhino. Also have Craftsman, Keen cutter and Rigid....all good.

 

[EOC_Jason]

I think the Craftsman are just rebranded Ridgid...

You can usually find Ridgid pipe wrenches at pawn shops, flea markets, estate sales... Even on eBay pretty cheap...

 

[Ign]

Yeah cheapies slip while good ones bite. Pipe wrenches are one of those used markets like vises where they go for pennies on the dollar.

 

[GrayFlattop]

I've always ended up throwing away cheap pipe wrenches after they break and I bust my knuckles. They simply are not worth the price - at any price.

My pipe wrenches have seen heavy use over the years in manufacturing. They have been used to install several thousands of feet of black iron air pipe. And yes they are pretty-much all Ridgid from 48" down to 8" I think the only non-ridgid are a 8" Williams, a 10" Craftsman and a 24" Greenlee with Aluminum handle.

If you promise to NEVER use a cheater, the Aluminum handle pipe wrenches are great - especially if working overhead.

 

[sberry]

Pair of 48. I don't know about big ones but some of the smaller cheap aint bad, beats no wrench. I lost part of the jaw to one of my 24 HF and got them in alum 18, 24,36 Rigid but never outright broke a cheaper one and liked it till somehow it fell apart when I wasn't paying attn.

 

[3jakes]

Head to the flea market & buy a used Ridgid for the price of a new Harbor freight.
Maybe even less.
Pipe wrenches are cheap as the average guy has no use for them with plastic pipe killing the need to turn stuff.
I still use my Dad's 60 year old 24" Ridgid.

 

[Wamsutta]

The teeth will mash down on cheap pipe wrenches; making them useless.



.

 

[bob15]

Buy a Ridgid, Proto or Reed once and be done with it.....

 

[Wamsutta]

I'd like to try one of those aluminum Ridgids sometime.

 

[kythri]

What size are we talking? I see used pipe wrenches all the time, Ridgid specifically, up to 36" and aluminum, anywhere from $40-$80...

 

[Firebrick43]

Ridgid is worth it, especially the aluminum one in 12"+. The 36" at work is steel and its work just getting it to the worksite.

 

[tym]

The local used tool place had a bin of Ridgid pipe wrenches for $0.50 apiece.

 

[Jlarson]

I'll use cheap ones in smaller sizes, like we've got a bunch of cheap 10," 14" and 18" inchers we use for new pipe and conduit but all the bigger 24" and up are Rigid.

I'd like to try one of those aluminum Ridgids sometime.

They are really nice although don't hold up as well to being beat on obviously.

 

[Wamsutta]

They are really nice although don't hold up as well to being beat on obviously.

That's fine by me since I don't beat on my pipe wrenches.

 

[Gmonkee]

If its Cat that you work on mostly you can MAKE one that will not chew up the end cap.

This one took about 3 hours to make.

3/4 cold rolled body, hook cut from tempered 7/8" wear plate and (2) 3/8" cold rolled side plates. The pin is cut from a 1/2" grade 5 bolt.

 

[WittHay]

The really cheap large pipe wrenches seem to be half the weight of a Rigid 24". They are sloppy, hard to adjust the nut and teeth wear out faster. Handles bend quite easy also.

There are other brands besides Rigid but i wouldn't call them cheap. My opinion is why try to save 20 to 30 bucks when the tried and true Rigid is readily available.

 

[joedodge]

Thanks so much everyone I really appreciate it. Rigid it is

 

[geartow]

https://www.toolsource.com/pipe-wrench-c-194_224_233/universal-pipe-wrench-4134-p-124209.html?tsqtid=&zenid=b1q4kk23anh2h5kckj4e2takn6
same as snap-on pwz5 at less than half the cost .
Best bite n grip I have ever used

 

[AngryBeaver]

Thanks so much everyone I really appreciate it. Rigid it is

I am a heavy machinery mechanic/half *** plumber/hald *** HVAC technician. (world wide emergency rental company)

I have gotten rid of all my pipe wrenches except a 48" rigid and an 18" chain wrench. I picked up the some of the snap on Pipe Wrench Pliers a few years ago. They are also called swedish pipe wrenches. Bahco makes the same ones as the snap on's, except the grip is cheesier. a few other companies make similar ones, but they don't work as well.

there is not a better tool for removing cylinders. I have two pair of the PWZ1's, pwz2's, one pair of pwz3's and the pwz4's. the 3's rarely get used. they open wide, but lack the length to get alot of *** on something like a glad nut. the pwz4's are more suited to that. I use the pwz1's and 2's on everything from 1/2 npt fittings up to 2" ball valves.

They are expensive. they adjust easy, are so much easier to get into hard access places due to the design on the head. they work as a large crescent wrench also and won't mar nuts and fittings like a pipe wrench would. the 1's and 2's are excellent for hydraulic lines and fittings. I literally cannot praise these things enough. my coworkers have bought the cheaper bahco versions, and after having mine, wouldn't buy them if I had to.

 

[Ign]

If you come across a 24" Ridgid w worn jaws, replacement jaws on AWD, ~$13
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B001HWOOES/?ie=UTF8&condition=all

 

[finn]

I rarely use a pipe wrench, but when you need one, well, you need one.

I have a couple of HF wrenches. Broke the pin that retains the lower jaw and rounded off some of the teeth while using one to fix the seized tailgate latch mechanism on my dump truck.

Typical HF quality. Use once or twice, then discard in the recycling bin.

 

[IdahoMan]

I'm glad this topic came up.

Just how worn-down/smashed do the teeth of a pipe wrench have to be before it becomes not good for use?

And are the teeth hardened? Could you use a triangular metal file to get the teeth back in order?

 

[Ign]

I'm glad this topic came up.

Just how worn-down/smashed do the teeth of a pipe wrench have to be before it becomes not good for use?

And are the teeth hardened? Could you use a triangular metal file to get the teeth back in order?

I would HOPE a file wouldn't touch 'em. I'd try abrasives on the power tool of your choice.

I know I've tried to machine vise jaws before and those are HARD. Carbide tooling does it but it's a fight

 

[cvairwerks]

Here's a good solution for the larger gland nuts...
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000I1POHU/?tag=atomicindus08-20