Quick basin wrench question

[fr0mastaj]

I am in need of a basin wrench to change out a couple of faucets in the house... figured I'd get a decent one.

Home Depot has the Ridgid telescoping one for $32 - http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

Looks almost identical to Lowes' Superior Tool telescoping one for $22 -
http://www.lowes.com/pd_331887-943-...ch&pl=1&currentURL=/pl__0__s?Ntt=basin+wrench

Both look the same to me and are stamped Made in USA on the bar...are they the same OEM? I usually prefer Ridgid tools... never heard of superior tool; but again, I'm no plumber. but if its the same, no point of paying an extra $10!

 

[AZ_Catskinner]

They are all pretty much the same. I've got an old "Master Plumber" (stamped USA) from True Value that is identical to a Ridgid.

For a tool that you may use half a dozen times in your entire life, it doesn't really make sense to buy the "pro" name.

 

[lbgradwell]

The Superior will be just fine.

 

[Ae86 sr5]

I have the ridgid one works great but I'm sure the lowes one would be fine tho

 

[JimDon]

I have a lot of superior plumbing tools. no problem.
Jim

 

[lbgradwell]

If you wanted to save yourself a few bucks, you could get a Jaw Attachment socket that fits on your 3/8" extensions. Assuming you have a good selection of extensions, you can then use your mechanic's tools...

 

[anodyne33]

Wow. I got one a few months ago for $10 at the plumbing store downtown that did the job just fine.

 

[saturdaymechanic]

I have the Superior one and it worked well the one time I have used it.

I will be using it again soon when I do some bathroom remodeling next month.

 

[HandyManny]

I have a lot of superior plumbing tools. no problem.
Jim

Me too. I have a pretty healthy mix of both Ridgid tool, Superior Tools, and Imperial Tools for plumbing needs around my house. Sadly I've seen quite a bit of Superior Tools stuff being outsourced to China and Taiwan very recently. It's like within a 6 month period about 1/2 of their line was no longer USA made and I've noticed lately too that Lowes is now beginning to slowly replace the Superior Tool brand with their own Asian made Kobalt stuff.

Wilde used to make the right angle smooth-jaw tongue&groove pliers for Superior Tool, but that's no longer the case anymore. Luckily I have an older USA made pair that was produced by Wilde, they are solid and tough.

 

[HandyManny]

For the average home owner who will use this tool but once every great while, just about any brand basin wrench will work as long as it offers the reach you need. Nothing in my home requires a telescoping basin wrench so I use the basic one I bought years ago. If your sinks are such that they require you need more reach, then by all means get a professional grade telescoping tool.

One friendly word of advice about basin wrenches: They operate on the same principal as a pipe wrench - bottom teeth angled forward and top teeth angled rearward. They bite in as you turn the right way. The right way depends on what side of the shaft you flip the jaw-head to. Flippng it to one side will grip when tightening and flipping it to the other side will grip when loosening.

 

[contactme_11]

I have both. You won't be able to tell any difference.

 

[fr0mastaj]

Okay - looks like im going with the Superior one. Thanks for the replies and tips fellas!

 

[diggerrick]

If you wanted to save yourself a few bucks, you could get a Jaw Attachment socket that fits on your 3/8" extensions. Assuming you have a good selection of extensions, you can then use your mechanic's tools...

That's exactly what I've used for years. You can put any length extension on it you need, and in tight spaces I've used a 3/8"-1/4" adapter with a 1/4" ratchet.

Then again, I'm not a plumbing contractor - I just work on our house and our rental homes.

 

[mtnkrake]

I used one of these. It worked really well.

faucet wrench

 

[fr0mastaj]

I used one of these. It worked really well.

faucet wrench

Does that do the job of a basin wrench? Looks like a totally different kind of tool...

 

[Frank The Plumber]

10 bucks for paint and the words RIDGID.

 

[srmofo]

If you wanted to save yourself a few bucks, you could get a Jaw Attachment socket that fits on your 3/8" extensions. Assuming you have a good selection of extensions, you can then use your mechanic's tools...

I bet that thing would work great on inner tie rods that dont have the flats on them like fords. I might have to see if they have that on the shelves because clearance is usually an issue.

To the OP- Ive got a taiwanese basin wrench that I picked up at a grage sale for .50. It worked great the only time I needed it.

 

[HandyManny]

10 bucks for paint and the words RIDGID.

Ridgid still makes pretty good plumbing tools, but personally I could care less about a name. I'd mainly be concerned with how the tool performs in actual use. Too many people get hung up on brand names above all else. It's kind of silly. Although I have yet to use a Ridgid branded tool that didn't work as it was supposed to.

 

[mtnkrake]

Does that do the job of a basin wrench? Looks like a totally different kind of tool...

More Information

 

[ishiboo]

I'm a big believer in cheap hand tools where appropriate... basin wrench is one of those things I've found it's best to buy mid-grade.

It's been my experience that on the cheap wrenches the spring will pop out and immediately disappear at the worst possible opportunity, and unlike a cheap pliers or something you really don't want to use the spring-loaded basin wrench without a functional spring

I don't do much plumbing at all, just my experiences.