grandpa's pipewrench

[sellersrodshop]

i've had this laying around the shop for years, it even survived the fire. after going thru the fire it looked really bad, lots of rust & crud, so decided last week to tear it apart for a "redo". i like to keep a few small things around for when i have extra clearcoat etc mixed up from doing the bike tins( i hate wasting leftovers). i'm not sure how old it is & if anyone knows, i would appreciate the info. after bead blasting the metal i found that it was stamped "girard wrench mfg co, girard pa usa". i think it turned out pretty good, wish i had thought to take a before pic...

 

[sscustom]

i like the wood grain handle

 

[George in Rancho Cordova]

With smooth parallel jaws, it probably isn't a pipe wrench.
More like an adjustable open-end wrench.

 

[stingry]

With smooth parallel jaws, it probably isn't a pipe wrench.
More like an adjustable open-end wrench.

Exactly! It is known as a "monkey" wrench.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkey_wrench

 

[Zeke]

The offset top jaw is also a hammer, but I guess that's pretty obvious.

 

[Gary S]

Exactly! It is known as a "monkey" wrench.

Monkey wrench is what we always called them. I have a similar one, but mine has all its antique value yet because it has never been "restored". Unrestored, it would be worth at least 50 cents, and I'm not going to devalue it to 49 cents by restoring it.

OK, all joking aside. Mine still gets used when I need a monkey wrench, so I don't care about antique value or what it looks like.

 

[70redbee]

What does someone use a Monkey Wrench for these days? I have never used one in my life and I am 60 years old. Just never had the need for one.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

I never use a Monkey wrench, but do use 11 and 15 inch "Ford" wrenches at work all the time. Formerly made by Diamond, now made by Crescent, these are technically called "Auto" wrenches.

Here is a Monkey wrench my Grandfather had.

Here is a thread on Monkey wrenches.

Charles

 

[Torque1st]

I don't have a 'Monkey' wrench but I do have an old 'Ford' wrench that gets used about once per year for a jam nut in some tight space. A 'Ford' wrench is much slimmer than a 'Crescent' wrench.

 

[jamesemery728]

Managed to accumulate a few of these over the years. Not something that you use everyday but handy to have when you need them. Since I don't work on too much "huge" equipment, I find them more useful for plumbing applications. From top to bottom: 18" Auto, 14" Auto, 15" Trimo, and 2-5/8" Ridgid Spud wrench.