First time buying pipe wrench

[davidc1]

So, as a homeowner, this will be my first time pipe wrench buy. I've heard 14" would be the standard size for me. Aluminum is nice, but not necessary for something I may use once every few years. I just want to have one on hand if ever needed.

Cripes Distributing seems to be a good place to get tools at a good discount.

What do people think of the Armstrong, Wilton, or Irwin (see links). I had heard Armstrong was the same company that makes Snap-On?
I know Wilton makes good vices, but I don't think they make any other type of tool anymore?

Also, there is an interesting Superior brand one with what they call Quick Grip. Even though it's sort of a "gimmick" that my guess is a pro wouldn't use, perhaps for a homeowner like me it actually might be an advantage? What do you think? It's opening is only 1 1/2" vs. 2+" for all the others. Does that matter?

Superior Tool Company 02514 14" Super Wrench Quick Gripping Pipe Wrench

Superior Tool Company 02514 14" Super Wrench Quick Gripping Pipe Wrench Spring loaded jaw and enhanced lock allows convenient one handed operation and quick, sure gripping ratchet like action on multiple sizes without adjustment. Durable epoxy powdercoated finish. GRIPPING Length In: 14 Pipe Cap...

cripedistributing.com

Armstrong 73-014 Pipe Wrench 14" Straight Jaw USA

Armstrong 73-014 Pipe Wrench 14" Straight Jaw USA CAST-IRON HOUSING AND I-BEAM HANDLE PROVIDES MAXIMUM STRENGTH AND SAFETY FORGED HOOK JAW, FEATURING EASING SPINNING ADJUSTING NUT, SELF-CLEANING THREADS PROVIDES INSTANT GRIPPING AND RELEASE OF PIPE PIPE SIZE: .250" - 2.5" MEETS OR EXCEEDS US...

cripedistributing.com

Wilton 38114 14-Inch Ductile Pipe Wrench

Wilton 38114 14-Inch Ductile Pipe Wrench Drop Forged Upper And Lower Jaws Floating Hook Jaw With Spring Suspension For Easier Gripping Heavy Duty Adjustable Ring If you have a question about one of our products, please email us. We check our email regularly, and try to get questions answered as...

cripedistributing.com

Irwin VISE-GRIP 274102 14" Cast Iron Pipe Wrench

PRODUCT DETAILS • Constructed from the highest grade cast iron, forged and heat treated to ensure maximum durability. • Unique hammer head design provides a flat surface for hammering • Easy-spin adjusting nut is heat-treated for durability • Wide I-beam handle design provides better weight...

cripedistributing.com

 

[yatg]

Check craigslist or facebook. Always somebody selling an old Ridgid for cheap.

 

[four.cycle]

^ least expensive used 14" Ridgid on Ebay is about $20 bucks including shipping. they might need cleaning, but then so do those pipes.

RE: "Cripes Distributing seems to be a good place to get tools at a good discount."

Ron Cripe = Great people to deal with.

welcome to the site!

 

[d.mcfarland]

Are you buying because you need it or because you want to have it before you need it?

Not many uses in a modern house in my opinion.

 

[Kscardsfan]

II’m partial to Rigid myself, but a pipe wrench is pretty much the same tool no matter who made it. Like some others said, look at garage sales and marketplace etc for some old used ones for cheap.

 

[davidc1]

Are you buying because you need it or because you want to have it before you need it?

Not many uses in a modern house in my opinion.

Just to have one in case it's needed. The only plumbing I'll probably do is under the sink or toilet though.

 

[bobg03]

For the home I have a small 8" ridgid, used it once years ago for a sump pump fitting in another house I owned. With todays modern undersink set up a 10" or 7" inch pair of a channel lock style pliers is more than enough. YMMV

 

[brownbagg]

to me the only pipe wrench is a ridgid alumimum, I like 18, but if it not a daily tool, then harbor freight is good, the thing that wears out on pipe wrenches are the jaws, and they are replaceable.

on buying, i bought one, and got about 12, people just leave them around, flea market, trash, most i find in old tool boxes. what im saying people will throw away, worn out ridgid alumimum and couple dollars its like new

 

[mike93lx]

Are you buying because you need it or because you want to have it before you need it?

Not many uses in a modern house in my opinion.

I used a 14" wrench to change out a shower valve just a couple weeks ago. Made it nice and easy. Sure, I could have used pump pliers, but it was near effortless with the pipe wrench.

To be fair, that's a once ever 10-20 years thing though.

 

[ForrestT]

Buy used. Look for a ridgid. Flea market, Facebook market place, or Craigslist. No need to buy new. Aluminum nice but not needed.

 

[Rc_Guy]

Just to have one in case it's needed. The only plumbing I'll probably do is under the sink or toilet though.

do you have an old house with pipe? Threaded pipe?

 

[mepstein]

I know some people like to shop garage sales and craigslist but for a simple tool like this, I'll just go to a big box store, amazon or ebay and order what I need. Why waste the time and gas to save - what, $10-15?

 

[BTL-A4]

I've used my American-made aluminum Ridgid 18" and aluminum Harbor Freight 14" pipe wrenches on sprinkler valves. The cap on them is hard to remove with Channel Locks. I also use them on the union fittings I put on all my sprinkler valves. I bought mine new.

The used ones are usually pretty beat up. Treat yourself and buy some new ones. If you don't want two, get a pipe wrench and a bigger Channel Lock. You sometimes need two pliers; one to hold the pipe and one to turn it.

I also got a smooth-jaw pipe wrench (spud wrench) for the nicer fittings. The smooth jaws won't mar the finish.

 

[ChevyEFI]

I agree with going Ridgid. I had their basic steel pipe wrenches for work, some grew legs. I stocked missing sizes in aluminum when I was using a good Zoro coupon.

 

[kngelv]

Ridgid all day long.

James

 

[Kent_B]

One axiom I learned many years back is that if you need 1 pipe wrench, you're going to need 2. One to turn the pipe, one to hold what you're turning it into or out of.

 

[nmk_61802]

I just want to have one on hand if ever needed.

FYI, Usually 2 are required to do most jobs that require one. Poster above and I were typing at the same time. Also 10" or 12" should be all you ever need

 

[DAustin]

Once every couple of years? Get one at HF.

 

[Whitworth]

OMG, pipe wrenches are cheaper than dirt new.

Yeah, drive around your town all weekend long wasting time and gas looking for that garage sale "you ****" find.

 

[Tools4Me]

Don't bother with any "quick grab" style pipe wrenches, they are mainly gimmick tools. 14" is probably the most versatile size of pipe wrench for the average homeowner, followed by 10" and then 18".

Some pipe wrenches do grab onto pipes noticeably better than others, but most decent brands are pretty good at that aspect these days. However, with any pipe wrench, be safe using it. Think of where your body will go if the pipe wrench slips or breaks and try to minimize any issues you may encounter. Higher quality pipe wrenches (like Ridgid) make their wrenches out of materials like ductile/malleable iron. Ductile iron will bend a bit before fracturing if a cheater pipe is used on the wrench and the wrench is overstressed. You can find images online of abused Ridgid pipe wrenches with 30 degree bent handles and they still work. Cheaper pipe wrenches are often cheaper because they use lower quality forms of cast iron, which are still very strong but they're also brittle. The wrench will appear fine and then suddenly snap when overstressed without bending first to warn you. The same dynamic exists with the quality of the aluminum used in aluminum pipe wrenches. For a homeowner, that difference likely won't matter, but always be careful if you decide to use a cheater pipe on a pipe wrench, especially if it's a cheap one.

 

[Boogerman]

Like one said, you need 2 if you need 1. I use lot bending steel, more than plumbing use. I have 7 x 14" Ridgid on floor shop now, get rid of. Send me $34, I send you best two; that $10 each + $14 flat rate box ship. Or buy new if like new; cheap enough.

 

[Retroman]

Rigid Aluminum 18" should be all you ever need.

 

[The Cobbler]

i agree on the 2 pipe wrenches, and buying new .

 

[RTM]

If new to using pipe wrenches, beware they will trash the surface you touch. Saw a newish house where someone used one on the shower pipe. Another person used one to loosen a bike seat. Don't use a pipe wrench on anything you value the appearance of.

 

[nmk_61802]

Curious what sizes you guys are encountering that recommend 14" and up wrenches. Average pipe size a homeowner should see is 1/2"-3/4" (and in tight areas usually). I usually don't move up to a 14" wrench unless using 1" pipe.

My most used size in 10"-12" (I only have one of each). I only bought the larger sizes when I ran a new gas service to my garage that was 1".

 

[Rc_Guy]

Rigid Aluminum 18" should be all you ever need.

Curious what sizes you guys are encountering that recommend 14" and up wrenches. Average pipe size a homeowner should see is 1/2"-3/4" (and in tight areas usually). I usually don't move up to a 14" wrench unless using 1" pipe.

My most used size in 10"-12" (I only have one of each). I only bought the larger sizes when I ran a new gas service to my garage that was 1".

I was wondering also, even recommending an 18" wrench, that is huge at home.

 

[speed bump]

Curious what sizes you guys are encountering that recommend 14" and up wrenches. Average pipe size a homeowner should see is 1/2"-3/4" (and in tight areas usually). I usually don't move up to a 14" wrench unless using 1" pipe.

My most used size in 10"-12" (I only have one of each). I only bought the larger sizes when I ran a new gas service to my garage that was 1".

I like the leverage when old stuff has to come apart. I do most of my new pipe work with something between an 8 and 14 but I have broken out my 36 more than a few times pulling apart 40 year old galvanized.

A big pipe wrench makes a workable pipe vise as well.

For most homeowners I would say get an 8 and a 14. An 8 is great for all sorts of rounded bolts and fittings and a 14 is enough wrench for plumbing in 1/2 and 3/4".

 

[mike93lx]

Curious what sizes you guys are encountering that recommend 14" and up wrenches. Average pipe size a homeowner should see is 1/2"-3/4" (and in tight areas usually). I usually don't move up to a 14" wrench unless using 1" pipe.

My most used size in 10"-12" (I only have one of each). I only bought the larger sizes when I ran a new gas service to my garage that was 1".

Shower mixing/diverter valve is what I grabbed a 14" for. Could have been smaller, but I wasn't space constrained, so it worked fine

I also used my 24" (should have bought a 36") to install some treehouse bolts

 

[MongoTA]

A 12-14" 2" wrench and a 24" 4" wrench should cover most everything you need. I happen to have several, typically if you need one, you need two. But for most DIY applications, one will do.

I do use mine regularly, probably every couple of weeks, but in a non-traditional way.

I prefer cast iron over aluminum because I like the heft, and that the weight of the tool will hold itself in place when going hands-free.

As has been mentioned, they are rough tools. The jaws can chew stuff up. You need smooth, look at a monkey wrench. I have some vintage monkey wrenches, they are some of my favorite tools regarding aesthetics and performance.

Of the four you listed, I'd go for the Wilton or the Irwin.

 

[nadogail]

Back in my High School days (mid 50's) the old men I was working with preached "The Longer The Stick, The Better The Fight" . They impressed on me the advantages of longer handles/levers and even "Cheaters" on wrenches.

For Christmas 1959, I gave my Father an Aluminum Schick Pipe wrench, at that time only Schick and Toledo were selling Aluminum Pipe Wrenches, he took it to work and showed it off.

 

[619DioFan]

Mine are all metal ones from HF up to 3 foot. I have put a 6 foot cheater pipe on the 3 foot with no issues. lifetime warranty. no brainer for me.

 

[Rc_Guy]

Mine are all metal ones from HF up to 3 foot. I have put a 6 foot cheater pipe on the 3 foot with no issues. lifetime warranty. no brainer for me.

when I was still hanging fire sprinkler pipe we had me and another guy hanging on a 8' piece of 2" pipe as a cheater on a 48' pipe wrench trying to loosen 6" pipe

 

[PelicanPines]

I'm 62 yrs old. Owned a dozen homes, New and freaking old. I have never used or needed to use a pipe wrench. I have several large slipjoint channel locks.

Pipe wrenches for me is black pipe work...

 

[Dagny]

I use pipe wrenches almost daily . ridgid aluminum you probably don't need them. any cheap one will work for rare use.

 

[foghorn1966]

when I was still hanging fire sprinkler pipe we had me and another guy hanging on a 8' piece of 2" pipe as a cheater on a 48' pipe wrench trying to loosen 6" pipe

Rc, suspect that was a crappy day...

OP look 12" for homeowner stuff. I carry up to 36" in my service truck. In many years only used the 10 & 12 around the house.

 

[B_Bimmer]

I've bent or snapped the handle off almost every harbor fright one over 12" I've had. I've never broken a ridgid. They are all used the same. I've done some ugly things to my pipe wrenches when something absolutely has to move, or be held still. Ridgid's grip better, even when quite worn, than anything else I've used. For the price I will never buy a cheap one again. Interestingly, the only harbor fright one still in service is a 48" aluminum one. It has done some tough work but I recently picked up a ridgid 48" and it's so much thinner in the head and handle it makes the old one look like a bloated blob.

 

[Odd-job]

If you have an Ace nearby their Ace branded ones might be Rigid rebrands. Thanks to this forum for that tip.

 

[ike]

I have a 10" and 14" for around the house. I certainly don't use them a lot, but my house has natural gas and during remodeling I've moved some of the pipes. I used them recently because my fireplace valve started leaking and I replaced it. Mine were USA made and bought at home depot a few years ago. I assume that the Ridgid pipe wrenches are still made in USA. I've used the 10" the most, but the 14" is nice for extra leverage when holding one end. My vote is for Ridgid.

 

[Robinson1]

For actual pipe assembly you generally use pipe wreches in pairs.

I do however find a 12 inch to be a good replacement for an adjustable wrench when dealing with stubborn things. A pipe wrench will bite when nothing else will.

I have 4 pipe wrenches on my work truck. I have a pair of Harbor Freight 18s that get used semi regularly (3 or 4 times a year). A Ridgid 24 that gets used once a year maybe. And a 12 inch cheapo that I think came from a Tractor Supply bargain bin I use fairly often.

 

[Dakotadadv8]

They are relatively inexpensive tools buy 2 of them go to HD. Use them a dozen times over the past 25 years, home gamer. You will be pissed if you need them and not have them. They also may be useful if you hear strange noises during the night.