Pipe Wrench Suggestions

[D45]

I haven't bought pipe wrenches in well over 20 years

Looking to get a set (3 or 4 piece) for an 18 year old kid, who's starting to work for a generator install business

Suggestions?

 

[The Cobbler]

Aluminum, Ridgid

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

Aluminum

 

[BTJHP]

Ace Hardware rebrand of Ridgid. Ductile Iron. Made in USA. Very affordable.

 

[redwrench60]

Ridgid pipe wrenches are the sure way to permanently prejudice him against all other pipe wrenches.

You almost have to own a crappy chicom pipe wrench to really fully appreciate a Ridgid.

 

[D45]

Aluminum

Crazy expensive as well

 

[RedF]

Anybody who swings pipe wrenches for a living has rigid aluminum wrenches.

 

[Dozerhand]

Or Reeds

 

[humber2]

Or Schick

 

[Rinspeed]

Ridgid only for me.

 

[mike93lx]

For an 18 year old kid, I would buy cheap and either let him upgrade as needed/justified, or you can buy better ones later on after he sticks it out for a while.

You can get an AL set at northern/harbor freight/menards/Amazon for about 80 bucks

 

[lardy1]

Buy him the best you can afford. It will show a whole lot more faith in him than handing him a cheap ***, ****** set of wrenches to fight with. He might think you believe he's actually going to stick it out. It also instills workman's pride in using nice tools and working in that direction rather than sending the message that fighting with ****** tools is part of the workday.

One of the lessons that my father (an industrial tinsmith) passed on to me was to buy the best tools you can afford. Anyone other than the outright tightasses understands the value of that.

That is not to say that monetary numbers dictate quality. But that quality tools make you a better and therefore more valuable craftsman.

 

[D45]

How are the products/brands at Northern Tool?

Klutch?

 

[mike93lx]

How are the products/brands at Northern Tool?

Klutch?

Basically same as harbor freight

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

While I have and like Ridgid, ,14,and 24 aluminums, the gas fitter who installed our new furnace used Milwaukee. He was happy both with the price and quality. I used a Super Ego 18 for 20 years.

 

[TalonFE]

Put the lad on the road to success with Ridgid.......he'll thank you later with a vintage Ridgid calendar.

 

[redwrench60]

I’d rather have a well worn Ridgid pipe wrench than a brand new Harbor Freight.

We HAD a 24” HF pipe wrench at work that slipped when you needed it to hold the most. Sloppy piece of useless, let you down at the worst moment, ****. I say HAD because I replaced it with a Ridgid and ran the HF through the chopsaw, thus ending its reign of tyranny.

 

[D45]

While I do like some HF tools, I wouldn't get him a set from HF to start out with

 

[Rkcubed]

Rothenberger, RIDGID, or one of the German brands.
Another brand Reed, they are made in Spain.
Personally I’ve had good luck with RIDGID,Rothenberger, Gedore, Bahco, And Reed

 

[Steve_P]

Ridgid for sure, but you certainly don't need aluminum in small sizes. If you're going to buy him a 24", okay, maybe go AL on that one, but he's young and can lift 5 lbs otherwise...

 

[toolmiser]

I know it might be an insult, but try to find some used ones. They are very cheap around here and you can be picky about what you purchase. I would rather have some used Rigid than new Harbor Freight.

 

[D45]

Ace Hardware rebrand of Ridgid. Ductile Iron. Made in USA. Very affordable.

Good to know, affordable as well

 

[D45]

I went to Ace and picked up three different pipe wrench sizes

All marked Made In USA, execept for the 14" that's Mexico

With a loyalty rewards coupon they were around $60

 

[d.mcfarland]

Interesting that it's Mexico. That may be an indication that production has moved.

 

[D45]

The are identical to the Ridgid ones I looked at, but with a much lower purchase price

 

[BTJHP]

If you look on Ebay you can get a 14" Ace made in USA for $18 shipped. Currently one left.

 

[D45]

Ace Hardware also has a lifetime warranty on ACE branded tools.

"Ace Brand hand tools are guaranteed for life. Our full lifetime warranty states that if any Ace Brand hand tool, used for its intended purpose, fails to fulfill your expectations, return it to any Ace store location for a free replacement of the same or similar item. This warranty provides you with the ultimate quality assurance."

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

My fellow millwright lent me his aluminum pipe wrench just once. I was sold. I was using for 15 years a 14" Super Ego cast iron. As soon as I had money I bought an aluminum Rdigid 14", the next one was a 18" Super Ego, Spanish made pipe wrenches.

 

[Wrench97]

Ridgid - Aluminum

 

[ecotec]

I have been an electrician for 27 years. Cast iron is for kids. It has been reiterated over and over, but you should buy aluminum. If you buy cast iron, you will be buying aluminum later. There is a lot of experience on GJ... this is a time to listen to it.

As far as brand goes, I like Ridgid and Reed. As far as sizes go, you need a 14” and a 24”

 

[Rinspeed]

Ridgid - Aluminum

I always liked the steel ones better because I don't hit the gym enough as it is. Also sometimes you need a hammer and one is not always close. Best way to fully seat a union is smacking one pipe wrench with another that is closed all the way.

 

[Ohmthis]

I know the OP has made his purchase, but I wanted to add for future seekers. Rigid Aluminum is the only pipe wrenches I use. Spendy, yes, but as a career electrician/hvac tech, they are worth the investment. I bought my fist one in 1998 as a second year apprentice and added a second one the following year. They are in excellent shape and I believe my grandkids will be using them if they choose. I do “cheap out” on some tool purchases, but career tools (by god this is how you make your livelihood!!!!! You can’t make money if you can’t work) are an investment and I buy tools I know I can count on.

 

[D45]

I went to Ace and picked up three different pipe wrench sizes

All marked Made In USA, execept for the 14" that's Mexico

With a loyalty rewards coupon they were around $60

I went to two other local Ace stores

All are USA made except for the 14" pipe wrenches

 

[walrus]

Is he installing the propane lines to the gennies? I'd buy Knipex Cobras.

 

[BreeStephany]

I definitely agree with others who have suggested Ridgid. They are the industry standard for pipe wrenches. They will put up with decades of abuse, even when cheaters are used, and can be easily rebuilt as long ad you don't break the handle with a 6ft cheater pipe.

I have a set of steel pipe wrenches and a set of aluminum and my aluminum wrenches are definitely my go to and have put up with 15+ years of abuse so far and are still going strong!

They are a bit expensive but definitely worth it for someone who uses them every day!

Just my two cents!

 

[BreeStephany]

I have been an electrician for 27 years. Cast iron is for kids. It has been reiterated over and over, but you should buy aluminum. If you buy cast iron, you will be buying aluminum later. There is a lot of experience on GJ... this is a time to listen to it.

As far as brand goes, I like Ridgid and Reed. As far as sizes go, you need a 14” and a 24”

Electrician here as well and the Ridgid aluminum wrenches are my go to when doing rigid pipe and especially when building explosion proof conduits! I can use them 14~18 hours a day and can still lift my arms at the end of the day!

Hauling around my old Ridgid 100 power head, tristands and threading dies on the jobsite is enough of a workout for me!

 

[cannuck]

When I first got into the downstream side of oil at a local refinery, I bought a mobile processing plant in partnership with the owner. Since I would be climbing a lot for mostly 2" fittings I told him I needed a set of Rigid aluminums in 14, 18, 24. He turned around a grabbed a pair of 36" irons stating "no partner of mine is going to embarrass me with sissy wrenches". 30 odd years later, I am still climbing structures for mostly 2" and my tool set for on the road is indeed all Rigid.....ALUMINUM.

As others have said: don't get him started with junk tools. I think the OP made a great compromise, though.

 

[KnurledNut]

Can anyone provide actual proof the Ace are made by Ridgid?

 

[Firebrick43]

I always liked the steel ones better because I don't hit the gym enough as it is. Also sometimes you need a hammer and one is not always close. Best way to fully seat a union is smacking one pipe wrench with another that is closed all the way.

You smack the flat of the nut with an engineers hammer of some sort. Hit it on the flat but as close to the corner of the hex as you can on the side your trying to do. The big 3-4" and rusty pipe at work they were putting pipes on 36" pipe wrenches to break them loose. I would walk up with a 24" aluminum and a 1 1/2 ball pein and have it of without much effort. When tightening, just put the wrench on and tap in the same way on the nut as you apply pressure to the nut. It will tighten right up.

 

[senlow]

Buy him the best you can afford. It will show a whole lot more faith in him than handing him a cheap ***, ****** set of wrenches to fight with. He might think you believe he's actually going to stick it out. It also instills workman's pride in using nice tools and working in that direction rather than sending the message that fighting with ****** tools is part of the workday.

One of the lessons that my father (an industrial tinsmith) passed on to me was to buy the best tools you can afford. Anyone other than the outright tightasses understands the value of that.

That is not to say that monetary numbers dictate quality. But that quality tools make you a better and therefore more valuable craftsman.

I couldn't have said it better. These are words of wisdom.