chrism1791
Member
Couldnt find any at my local store to purchase. Really wanting to compare them to my bahco for fun.
Has anyone bought and put them through the paces yet??
Has anyone bought and put them through the paces yet??
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Harbor freight swedish pipe wrench
- Thread starter chrism1791
- Start date
wkndwarrior29
Well-known member
I've had the knipex version in my shopping cart for a while but just haven't ordered, looks like I will wait and try this for 1/3rd the price! They weren't in my store the other day either. Hopefully they expand the line up with more sizes.
OP
chrism1791
Member
I was gonna buy one next week just to try when i bought the 3 in 1 soldering iron they have. I went with a milwaukee soldering iron instead so sadly dont know when ill be back.
I can guarantee the knipex are badass ive never been let down by my other knipex stuff
I can guarantee the knipex are badass ive never been let down by my other knipex stuff
sparky 1971
Well-known member
I have two. Not impressed at all, but they were cheap.
Kscardsfan
Well-known member
typical HF QC issues or something in particular?I have two. Not impressed at all, but they were cheap.
sparky 1971
Well-known member
I used them one time. I was using it to hold the piston on the shocks of my pickup trying to get the 21 year old, 157,000 mile nut off. It did the job, but it would have worked better with a regular pipe wrench. Since I had just bought the Swedish versions along with the 1/2" drive right angle impact specifically for this job, I refused to give in. I did use the other wrench for the other side just to see if the first pair was defective, nope. Both the same.typical HF QC issues or something in particular?
Kscardsfan
Well-known member
one more tool to scratch off the list there.I used them one time. I was using it to hold the piston on the shocks of my pickup trying to get the 21 year old, 157,000 mile nut off. It did the job, but it would have worked better with a regular pipe wrench. Since I had just bought the Swedish versions along with the 1/2" drive right angle impact specifically for this job, I refused to give in. I did use the other wrench for the other side just to see if the first pair was defective, nope. Both the same.
Why? Was it unable to clamp hard enough, or were the teeth too soft/dull? Are these pistons typically hard? Have you used others Swedish pipe wrenches (Snap-on, Bahco, Knipex, ...)?It did the job, but it would have worked better with a regular pipe wrench.
sparky 1971
Well-known member
It would grab and hold the piston, but I had to squeeze the handles so hard my hand hurt. If I didn't, the piston would spin. Maybe the piston material is too hard for the teeth to get a bite? I don't have the answer to what was wrong. I have used the Snap On version (not mine) to run black iron pipe for an air line. Those are nice, effortless to use wrenches, but I wouldn't use them enough to justify the expense.Why? Was it unable to clamp hard enough, or were the teeth too soft/dull? Are these pistons typically hard? Have you used others Swedish pipe wrenches (Snap-on, Bahco, Knipex, ...)?
I picked up two of them when they were on sale for ~$9 in May. Wish I could offer better advice, but I honestly haven't used them on any projects yet, and I've never used the Swedish style before. They seem fine to me for the price, but I didn't buy them expecting my life to change fantastically.
I will note that:
(1) They're painted orange, and they painted the teeth too for whatever reason (rust prevention perhaps). That paint could feasibly affect the bite and cause slippage until it wears off. Probably a smart idea to file the paint off and sharpen the teeth at the same time.
(2) From what I can ascertain from exhaustive research in the form of a 5 second google search, shock piston rods are often hard-chromed to around 70 Rockwell C for wear and corrosion resistance. I'm not a metallurgist, and it's just a plating/coating, but that can be a pretty hard surface to bite into -- unlike black iron pipe or whatever else you'd be using these wrenches on.
I still have my standard pipe wrenches if they ****, but for the cost (what are they up to, $11 now?), I don't see the harm in giving them a try. It's not like you're investing your life savings into something super expensive like a sheet of OSB.
Just my $0.02, worth price charged.
I will note that:
(1) They're painted orange, and they painted the teeth too for whatever reason (rust prevention perhaps). That paint could feasibly affect the bite and cause slippage until it wears off. Probably a smart idea to file the paint off and sharpen the teeth at the same time.
(2) From what I can ascertain from exhaustive research in the form of a 5 second google search, shock piston rods are often hard-chromed to around 70 Rockwell C for wear and corrosion resistance. I'm not a metallurgist, and it's just a plating/coating, but that can be a pretty hard surface to bite into -- unlike black iron pipe or whatever else you'd be using these wrenches on.
I still have my standard pipe wrenches if they ****, but for the cost (what are they up to, $11 now?), I don't see the harm in giving them a try. It's not like you're investing your life savings into something super expensive like a sheet of OSB.
Just my $0.02, worth price charged.
OP
chrism1791
Member
Replaced some outer tie rods the other day and they worked as well as my bahco but it wasnt too demanding of a job. I think these will end up in the junkyard bag