G_P
Well-known member
What exactly is breaking on the aluminum wrenches? As others said, switching to regular iron wrenches may solve your issues. The heavier iron ones will also make a better hammer!
Rigid or Snap on pipe wrenches ??
- Thread starter overkill 19
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OP
overkill 19
Well-known member
There is NO 300 ft tower . . . . that's made up by OP. It's excuse for his "maintenance" guys not having the right tool for the job.
He's told us several times this is in PLANT environment. No reason that whole slew of proper hammers and prybars can't be in toolboxes around the PLANT. Obviously the company can afford it. I've never heard of Porsche factory handing out 10" aluminum pipe wrenches so "techs" can beat something into submission !!
Likely there IS reason they are using aluminum . . . . so the abuse ruins the tool instead of equipment they are beating on.
I've worked at large plastic injection plant that became certified in QS9000 and we always managed to find right tool for job (even with production demands) and not beat the wrong tool into submission.
Why not just get proper brass or rubber-faced hammers ?? Pry bars are cheap. This is really as simple as getting proper tools for the job!!
Not sure why you call me a liar, but I can see all you want is a internet fight....some just have too much time ....sad really!
Please find another thread to bash! I have zero interest in any of your pick a fight Childish ****! It's sad, weak and spineless!
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OP
overkill 19
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OP
overkill 19
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Lotek
Well-known member
Always use the proper tool for the job.. Sometimes the tool at hand is the proper tool.
OP
overkill 19
Well-known member
Thanks!
Sry we call it the tower! It's not a separation tower. I think actually it's 298ft to be exact if memory serves me right.
nh_yota
Well-known member
Switch to the regular ductile iron Ridgid wrenches. I don't think the weight savings of the aluminum wrench is that big of a deal in the smaller 10" size. I have one and it weighs less than 2 lbs.
Strouty
Well-known member
If you have guys working at 300 feet that don't have a belt with pouches or tool holders, I would sure as hell not want to be anywhere underneath them. I work at heights and I carry the tools that are for the job, along with extra gloves, water, a snack, camera, and a lot of times hardware too. Are they climbing stairs, taking an elevator, or ladder?
It appears the majority of posters are more worried about the Pipe Wrenches well being than the OP is. Maybe We need to start some type of oversight committee so people can formally file there complaints. I hope you guys don't come look at my aluminum pipe wrenches, 24" and down look like boomerangs.
OP
overkill 19
Well-known member
Stairs and ladders
Some wear belts ..some don't
That's why we stick with 10 alum it fits perfect in the side leg pocket of our coveralls.
Never had one fall out, but I've probably seen more close calls with guys tools in their belts catching on the cage than anything.
Hence why we never follow anyone up a ladder. Usually it's only one guy per unit anyway.
Strouty
Well-known member
Or get some lanyards and keep them attached to something. I have some that are stretchy, so they go from like 12" to 24", work really well.
Al Borland
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Don't follow, stay clear. Common problem with falling tools is what we call the "Baby bird" syndrome. Yell "Look Out!" and EVERYONE looks up with their mouths open.
Ring cages are hell on tool belts. Usually we run tools up in a bucket on a rope after we are up.
OP
overkill 19
Well-known member
TigerDude
Well-known member
like I said, a management issue. You should have the tools you needs when you need them. Frankly, things shouldn't just break anyway and continued failures is another management issue.
ssdave
Banned
Amazing insight on the part of many of the posters here. You're getting tens of thousands of dollars worth of management analysis, for free from the internet! I hope you're printing it out and taking it to the managememt; think how big your Christmas bonus will be this year.
I always learn a bit from the more helpful comments on these threads, as well as being amused by the internet expert ones. There were a couple of tools suggested that I hadn't seen before. Hopefully they will be of some assistance to you.
Knowing the background of some of the posters, helps with interpreting their comments. Strouty is a tower climber. Climbers work in very small teams, or sometimes even alone if they're independents. They work a lot more deliberately than plant maintenance workers. The climbing training that is industry standard emphasizes preparation and proper rigging, and particularly securing loose items. His replies and advice show that training. I have that exact training myself, but often work around maintenance and cleaning/painting trades that work quite differently. It's hard to analyze their work in light of tower climbing training.
Lots of different perspectives, and each industry develops their own way of doing things, neither right nor wrong, just different.
I always learn a bit from the more helpful comments on these threads, as well as being amused by the internet expert ones. There were a couple of tools suggested that I hadn't seen before. Hopefully they will be of some assistance to you.
Knowing the background of some of the posters, helps with interpreting their comments. Strouty is a tower climber. Climbers work in very small teams, or sometimes even alone if they're independents. They work a lot more deliberately than plant maintenance workers. The climbing training that is industry standard emphasizes preparation and proper rigging, and particularly securing loose items. His replies and advice show that training. I have that exact training myself, but often work around maintenance and cleaning/painting trades that work quite differently. It's hard to analyze their work in light of tower climbing training.
Lots of different perspectives, and each industry develops their own way of doing things, neither right nor wrong, just different.
WhiskeyRanger
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Fixed
Well-known member
[emoji15]
Stuff breaks... Everywhere. From hotdog stands to the international space station.
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^ ^ ^ This. "Plant" could never pass QS9000 as never getting to the Root Cause of the problem. Can't cure problem if proper changes in equipment and tools are never pursued by management. Just keep giving "techs" a 10" aluminum pipe wrench to beat "issue" into submission !!
OP
overkill 19
Well-known member
Who said continued failures ???
I really can't/won't get into our process. But when transferring solids at the rates we do, we cycle lines, valves equipment ....ALOT !
So if you have any idea what happens in a plant that cycles this way.....stuff breaks! PERIOD !
Trust me our company has plants all over the world so we have had more then couple people look at equipment break downs. So saying we have poor management is short sighted statement. When you don't even know who or what your talking about.
md21722
Well-known member
Don't concern yourself with the perfectionist crowd. I know guys who work in pulp and paper mills. They are union workers and when its iffy they make a team call on will and will not be done. Of course they try to keep the plant running but when its a safety risk with a huge motor or huge piece of switchgear, ... it may just need to wait. I also work with guys who can make a mistake and trip a power plant unit offline. Human error is understood & life goes on. Just don't make mistakes frequently. There's a difference between the hobby guys who want a perfect garage to work on their cars on the weekend & take them to the show and the production guys who work production/factory and need to keep the plant running...
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OP
overkill 19
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fatfillup
Well-known member
With this crowd, you never just get an answer. I find it amazing how quickly some can get to attack mode.
Been reading this thread and would have to agree, good grief, all you were wondering about is a pipe wrench. Then you got treated like a pyosiopath that gets his thrills out of killing inoccent pipe wrenches. I myself have a drawer dedicated to cut up , welded on and bent wrenches that purposely got made into the right tool when needed. They are tools not children.
Rileysan
Well-known member
The issue is that many of us work in similar environments and don't have these kinds of problems.
I work in a steel mill on 50+ acres, 21 buildings, dozens of 100' + tall silos, bucket elevators, dust collectors, and so on.
Without exception, anything with a permanent ladder attached, has a rope tied to the railing on top of the piece of equipment. That rope is used to lift tool bags, buckets, and parts.
Our millwrights are trained to take everything they need with them to complete the job. Tool bags are required to have an array of combo wrenches, adjustable wrenches, pliers & cutters, screwdrivers, pry bars, hex wrenches, and a hammer. If the job requires 10 new bolts, you take 15 with you - anything to reduce down time.
Any machine that has a permanent catwalk or is above 10' with a permanently attached ladder has a 5lb sledge hammer and 3' pry bar in place. This amount to hundreds of hammers, but it is well worth it when compared to loss of production.
Other than the hammers, our company only provides specialty tools and consumables (drill bits, grinder discs, etc). I can't speak for all companies, but I know of very few companies that provide tools for their mechanics.
If I understand correctly, you are handing your mechanics expensive pipe wrenches and letting them do with as they please. Therein lies your problem. No brand of tool will withstand the abuse heaped on it by employees who don't own and care for their tools.
My opinion is that you don't need to find a better brand of pipe wrench, you need a change in company policy.
Brian
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OP
overkill 19
Well-known member
Your saying a steel mill is the same/similar process as a poly plant?????? I've toured a steel mill buy make zero claim to their process but what I saw it is nothing like poly!
Nope
We don't have mechanics. You guys just don't get it! EVERY process is different. Steel mill, gas, oil, poly, glycol and yes Porsche !
I find it crazy funny hypocritical that you guys care about your tools sooooo much but you want me to hang them out side so they will be rusted and not safe to use in no time!
Snow rain sun wind it very hard on tools ! Well at least I haven't seen too many Porsche mechanics leaving tool boxes out in the weather!!!! Ummmm!
My SnapOn box has a climate controlled house to live in!
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Rileysan
Well-known member
You are, unfortunately, wrong. Although products, processes, and equipment from various industries differ, millwrights/industrial mechanics do not. You can move a journeyman from one industry to another with a very short learning curve.
No one has suggested leaving pipe wrenches in the rain - you're being melodramatic. You are being chastised by experienced mechanics who know something is very wrong if you're having to replace pipe wrenches by the dozen.
I'm not sure I understand your job and/or title. Perhaps you're merely a purchasing agent? Because you sure as hell don't understand preventative maintenance ...
Brian
OP
overkill 19
Well-known member
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BrokewrenchLS1
Well-known member
If the primary cause of pipe wrench failure is from cracking from being used as a hammer, it's a pretty easy fix. You say you don't know what exact tools you'll need to fix something - fine. But you know you'll regularly need a hammer to hit something with, as using pipe wrenches as hammers is what's causing them to fail.
Why not buy a few brass-face hammers to carry with the pipe wrenches? They can fit in a pocket, they're not particularly heavy, and you know you're regularly going to need a hammer.
Why not buy a few brass-face hammers to carry with the pipe wrenches? They can fit in a pocket, they're not particularly heavy, and you know you're regularly going to need a hammer.
Moose-LandTran
Well-known member
The "heavy duty" ones are ductile iron, they won't crack if used as a hammer.
I think the Ridgid Raprench is the perfect solution. Same 10" size as they're using, ductile iron so won't crack and has a built-in hammer.
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OP
overkill 19
Well-known member
1/2 the order came in today!
Snap on has changed supplier. The older snap on was exactly the same as the Rigid but now they are some differences.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Snap on has changed supplier. The older snap on was exactly the same as the Rigid but now they are some differences.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
gonmad54
Well-known member
I like those! I think you should post a picture of a destroyed one just to make some guys squirm! Haha.
#54
#54
OP
overkill 19
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WhiffySpark
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I thought snapon one as identical and a waste of money ????
outdoorspace
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Don't worry, it's probably still a waste. The casting changed but the hook jaw looks identical to what comes on current Ridgid aluminum wrenches.
Strouty
Well-known member
We yell "HEADACHE" when something falls, if you are throwing it to the ground and know where it is going it is "AIRMAIL".
OP
overkill 19
Well-known member
Actually they are cheaper... When you buy 20
Catalog says $74 I paid $47 and change
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Sorry, super late on this but I came across this and had to reply. Snap on and Rigid pipe wrenches are identical. They are both made at the
The Ridge Tool Co in Elyria Ohio.
Father assembled a many of these over the years while employed by this local staple.
The Ridge Tool Co in Elyria Ohio.
Father assembled a many of these over the years while employed by this local staple.
jeeper46
Well-known member
Maybe you need the iron wrenches instead of the aluminum?
sberry
Banned
I( am with overkill on this. A bunch of fussy buts worried about someone elses tools. I should be working there, I am really good at that sort of thing and make MaGyver look like an amateur. 1000's a minute flying by and they want to be tool polishers.
It is funny how many people have an opinion but have never worked in industry. BMW has its US plant in my home town and many of my friends work in the supply chain for it. It is $25000 a minute if you shut down their production line. $100,000 multi axis robots are consumables, a $50 wrench is not worth the time that the forum has expended on it. If it keeps the process flowing you keep throwing wrenches at it. An engineering change to fix the process, could easily cost millions of dollars and may not be possible until a planned maintenance window. That pays for lots of wrenches.
One of my friends who is a PE does design tools for production lines on the side. He works in the BMW supply chain most of the time. I'm sure he could design you the "right" tool for he job. Generally you do this when you are tooling up a new line. However sometime something gets overlooked and you need a new tool later. His work starts at around $10k and that is just the analysis and design. It doesn't even get you a tool. He is the cheap guy in town.
Or you could throw 200 $50 wrenchs at it. That's what I would do.
One of my friends who is a PE does design tools for production lines on the side. He works in the BMW supply chain most of the time. I'm sure he could design you the "right" tool for he job. Generally you do this when you are tooling up a new line. However sometime something gets overlooked and you need a new tool later. His work starts at around $10k and that is just the analysis and design. It doesn't even get you a tool. He is the cheap guy in town.
Or you could throw 200 $50 wrenchs at it. That's what I would do.
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