Good strap wrenches

[lattimer17]

Can anyone recommend some good strap wrenches?

I'm a weekend warrior and more into construction and woodworking than wrenching, so I'd like to avoid the tool truck brands for cost reasons.

Thanks.

 

[BeachBoy]

Chain??

http://gripon.es/portfolio-posts/181-locking-chain-clamp/

 

[zkling]

Size? Ridgid makes a nice, metal frame with cloth strap, but it can be a bit big and marring for small work. I've used (and broken) the older craftsman ones to excess. Unfortunately the new ones are China COO and different in design.

The company out of England? that used to make the Crafsman wrenches still produces them under their own brand Boa Constrictor IIRC.

 

[kctyphoon]

just go on the HD site and search.. they have alot to pick from. from husky to klien..

 

[edwinh]

Let us know what you end up at.. I have the HF set and the rubber just disintegrates after a couple years. bah.

 

[TEXACMAN]

I had a really nice set from KLEIN TOOLS at an old job, they were heavy duty, got them from a electrical supply house.

 

[Kirbot]

I have an old Reed that's pretty nice.

I don't know if the new ones are as good, but they have them on Amazon.

 

[Farmall450]

Klein.

 

[skruft]

There are at least two sizes of Ridgid that I have used.

 

[48RON54]

I have a craftsman one for the big jobs. Works ok. Slips sometimes and is big enough that it can be a PITA to use. Thankfully I don't have to use it very often. It really only comes out when I have to remove a really large filter from a diesel engine at work.

I use the metal ring style (?) filter wrenches for automotive work. They are just easier to use in the limited amount of available room under the hood IMO.

 

[Scott P]

I've had a couple Craftsman ones for about a decade or so and they are still fine.

 

[Kevin54]

Lattimer.....are you wanting rubber or chain?

 

[metaldad]

i have.............
ridgid chain wrench, 24'' handle, with extra chain
ridgid strap wrench. (11)
craftsman chain (about 10'')
diamond chain (about 10'')
if they count- the oil filter band type (wrench?)
just looked at ridgid's site. 8 versions of strap wrench.

 

[stokefire7]

Depends on what your'e doing with it. My Ridgid has a nylon strap and the klein's have a rubber(?) coated strap.

 

[OutsideMachinist]

I never liked the rubber ones really. I use the klein and ridgid ones with nylon straps.

 

[Rarified27]

I have never used the smaller plastic handled rubber strap wrenches before, but I see them with broken straps at garage sales all the time so they seem pretty worthless. They might work okay for light duty only.

The HF versions of these are good for the occasional small container (PVC cement, etc).

I use Ridgid number 2, and number 5 strap wrenches myself. They have a smaller number 1 wrench, but I have never had a need for one that small. All mine have the standard cloth straps, not the optional coated strap (used for better grip on PVC etc.)

I have the same two models and they work really well. Sometimes the straps are a little wide for what I'm working on, but I make it work. The leverage from the No 2 is impressive.

Anything that won't budge when hit with a strap wrench gets a Ridgid C-12, C-14, or C-18 chain wrench wrapped around it instead. It is hard to not leave marks when using chain wrenches, but they will always get things turning.

I have an older USA Vise Grip 20R for things the straps slide on, but I agree that not marring the piece is difficult.