lbgradwell
Well-known member
New Britain of some flavour...
Show your pipe wrenches
- Thread starter jeffmoss26
- Start date
New Britain of some flavour...
sberry
Banned
OP
jeffmoss26
Well-known member
sberry, that is neat!
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
Model NS-40. Lots of mfgrs supplied tools to the ORD, though, and the RAPD figures - which were supposed to be illustrative of the tool, not the mfgr - can be misleading that way. Collectors also have Plomb, Husky, None Better, Duro-Indestro and Craftsman (H circle) in their wartime GMTK's.
one of my finds, 18'' 'little giant, made in Greenfield, Ma, dated 1913. what's neat is that the jaw is removable and can be set into any direction, as shown:
The little giant is cool but why the jaws on the bottom? If the handle is straight wouldn't you get the same set up as you do already with the top jaws?
BD1
Well-known member
''The little giant is cool but why the jaws on the bottom? If the handle is straight wouldn't you get the same set up as you do already with the top jaws?''
Yes, when the one side wears out you got another.
Yes, when the one side wears out you got another.
lbgradwell
Well-known member
It's simply to extend the service life of the wrench as the teeth are not replaceable; when one side wears out, just flip it over!
Some ads.
1913:
And 3 from 1924:
littletoes
Well-known member
Just spent eight hours on these today....
Might try and get some pics of a couple of 48's and a couple of 60" chain tongs.....have to see what I have time for.
yep...you guessed it, florescent orange is my color of choice! When your working around a bunch of guys, and you don't want your wrenches to disappear.....
Might try and get some pics of a couple of 48's and a couple of 60" chain tongs.....have to see what I have time for.
yep...you guessed it, florescent orange is my color of choice! When your working around a bunch of guys, and you don't want your wrenches to disappear.....
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bigcaddy
Well-known member
Just spent eight hours on these today....
Might try and get some pics of a couple of 48's and a couple of 60" chain tongs.....have to see what I have time for.
yep...you guessed it, florescent orange is my color of choice! When your working around a bunch of guys, and you don't want your wrenches to disappear.....
Are you a plumber or sprinkler pipe fitter? Pipe wrenches have many uses but anybody that pulls a wrench all day has to be one of the above mentioned, especially if hes using chain tongs or 60"ers
littletoes
Well-known member
Your close, I'm a UA Steamfitter. One of the last Local's that still use the Term Steamfitter instead of Pipefitter, and yep, I was working on a Steam system there.
Used the big stuff on some 6" and 8" screwed galvanized I've ran before, one job was spec'ed screwed galvy for a Medical Vacuum System in a large Hospital.
Fun threading that stuff by hand!
BigDaddy, I notice you have a Compound-Leverage pipe wrench, you should post a pic of that bad boy all buy itself to see how many folks have ever seen one! hehehe
Used the big stuff on some 6" and 8" screwed galvanized I've ran before, one job was spec'ed screwed galvy for a Medical Vacuum System in a large Hospital.
Fun threading that stuff by hand!
BigDaddy, I notice you have a Compound-Leverage pipe wrench, you should post a pic of that bad boy all buy itself to see how many folks have ever seen one! hehehe
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bigcaddy
Well-known member
Have one?
More like we have 20! I'll drag one out sometime and take a picture for everyone here to see. The tools in those pictures are the inventory of a 60+ year old fire sprinkler pipe company started by my grandfather. Most of the larger wrenches are no longer used since the advent of Sch.10 pipe and Vic couplings but we still have the occasional repair that brings the big tools out.
OP
jeffmoss26
Well-known member
That Little Giant ad is really cool!!
littletoes
Well-known member
Check this sign out guys, I used an old 36 that was laying around the shop.
The body of the wrench was worn out, jaws sloppy as all get out, yet I couldn't get the boss to toss the thing, and I sure didn't want it on MY truck, so I came up with a use for it.
We didn't have much head room in the shop outside our door, otherwise I would have used the very-old 48 that's been leaning on a wall in my garage.
Crossed 36's would have been cool too...
The body of the wrench was worn out, jaws sloppy as all get out, yet I couldn't get the boss to toss the thing, and I sure didn't want it on MY truck, so I came up with a use for it.
We didn't have much head room in the shop outside our door, otherwise I would have used the very-old 48 that's been leaning on a wall in my garage.
Crossed 36's would have been cool too...
Outlawmws
Well-known member
That sign is cool!
metaldad
Well-known member
Thanks for the Little Giant ads, IB
Nice sign hanger, toes.
Nice sign hanger, toes.
littletoes
Well-known member
Thanks guys!
Maybe I should have put a steam trap on one corner, with a control valve on the other...?
Maybe I should have put a steam trap on one corner, with a control valve on the other...?
metaldad
Well-known member
bucket trap, vacuum breaker, steam valve n/o with a 3 to 8# spring range, with a manual by pass.
littletoes
Well-known member
Good One! And I guess it ain't on a heat exchanger neither! HaHaHa!
Hey metaldad, you've done a bit of piping yourself, eh?
HaHaHa! Hey metaldad, you've done a bit of piping yourself, eh?
Titanium Steel
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- Apr 21, 2012
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I am going to be honest, I didn't think pipe wrenches came in the 8" size. I must admit, seeing that size, well that was pure awesome. I wonder where you can get a well built pipe wrench that size though.
Cool wrenches guys!
Cool wrenches guys!
OP
jeffmoss26
Well-known member
That sign is really cool.
Titanium, Ridgid makes pipe wrenches from 6" to 60"
Titanium, Ridgid makes pipe wrenches from 6" to 60"
72Anthony
Well-known member
Great job with the sign!
metaldad
Well-known member
Good One! And I guess it ain't on a heat exchanger neither!
Hey metaldad, you've done a bit of piping yourself, eh?
Local 597.
littletoes
Well-known member
LU 44 here!
PS-Bet not many would know what you mean about the "spring range"! Just spent several hours working on a 60 year old Johnson Control valve, 3".
This one was a Mixing valve, and boy did we get lucky finding a rebuild kit....bet there ain't too many of them kits around anymore....that spring, although large, was only an 8 lb.
PS-Bet not many would know what you mean about the "spring range"! Just spent several hours working on a 60 year old Johnson Control valve, 3".
This one was a Mixing valve, and boy did we get lucky finding a rebuild kit....bet there ain't too many of them kits around anymore....that spring, although large, was only an 8 lb.
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metaldad
Well-known member
You must of had that rebuild kit in stock. Good thing, because parts are getting scarce, and the new line of valves are different, face to face.
How's about a 1/3 - 2/3 steam operation, with overlapping spring ranges?
How's about a 1/3 - 2/3 steam operation, with overlapping spring ranges?
littletoes
Well-known member
Oh yea, I've worked on literally hundreds! 2 to 6, 8 to 15, 15 to 25, but now, as you say, everything is going DDC, or has been for the past 20 years or so.
Our biggest program at this time is Automated Logic, but we still have a few Invensys programs out there, with a couple of old Robertshaw 3500 models. Its crazy. Honeywell has a new program that they just developed too.
Work on any of the new boilers that heat from a "mantle"? Cleaver-Brooks and Thermal Solutions? I think the largest percentage of burners I've been dealing with are Weishaupt, don't count on the spelling of those!
Quite a few old steam systems out there, folks would be surprised....I've even been balancing old one pipe steam...you know-with the air vents, but they boosted the pressures so they could add on to the systems, witch caused the old style of air vents to lock up. Weren't rated for the pressure, so we just updated the system to a two pipe. Easier to control, too.
Got lucky on another building. It was a low vacuum system that we converted to two pipe steam, and the pipes WERE big enough to support a low pressure steam system. You don't usually see that with a vacuum conversion. Pipes are usually at least one size too small.
Ya know, it was hard to convince the salesmen at the wholesale houses that there were indeed angle-globe valves that were steam rated that could replace the old Johnson valves.
The problem is finding the right CV range....sheesh...having to determine the old BTU rating of some of these old univents at "said" steam pressures can be tough. But the new DDC controls have a more infinite range of motion.
'Ya know, the multiple spring ranges were used on make-up air too....its all in how you adjust them, with low limits and existing stats.
You must have some control experience too, I'm guessing. Quite the world we work in, eh?
I have quite a bit of hydronic experience too, I guess...Must mean I'm getting old.
Our biggest program at this time is Automated Logic, but we still have a few Invensys programs out there, with a couple of old Robertshaw 3500 models. Its crazy. Honeywell has a new program that they just developed too.
Work on any of the new boilers that heat from a "mantle"? Cleaver-Brooks and Thermal Solutions? I think the largest percentage of burners I've been dealing with are Weishaupt, don't count on the spelling of those!
Quite a few old steam systems out there, folks would be surprised....I've even been balancing old one pipe steam...you know-with the air vents, but they boosted the pressures so they could add on to the systems, witch caused the old style of air vents to lock up. Weren't rated for the pressure, so we just updated the system to a two pipe. Easier to control, too.
Got lucky on another building. It was a low vacuum system that we converted to two pipe steam, and the pipes WERE big enough to support a low pressure steam system. You don't usually see that with a vacuum conversion. Pipes are usually at least one size too small.
Ya know, it was hard to convince the salesmen at the wholesale houses that there were indeed angle-globe valves that were steam rated that could replace the old Johnson valves.
The problem is finding the right CV range....sheesh...having to determine the old BTU rating of some of these old univents at "said" steam pressures can be tough. But the new DDC controls have a more infinite range of motion.
'Ya know, the multiple spring ranges were used on make-up air too....its all in how you adjust them, with low limits and existing stats.
You must have some control experience too, I'm guessing. Quite the world we work in, eh?
I have quite a bit of hydronic experience too, I guess...Must mean I'm getting old.
metaldad
Well-known member
I'm lucky, I guess, to be getting old. If I could only remember.
I generally do service, with alot of pneumatics. I personally hate DDC. It's a product the customer has no ownership of............. **** doesn't last, **** can't be reasonably updated, **** that requires the latest software upload driver reboot download B.S., **** that requires the manufacturer's techie to play with, who doesn't know - or care - about the building requirements. Cost is omg when the device dies, and they do (frequently). You get the idea.
I generally do service, with alot of pneumatics. I personally hate DDC. It's a product the customer has no ownership of............. **** doesn't last, **** can't be reasonably updated, **** that requires the latest software upload driver reboot download B.S., **** that requires the manufacturer's techie to play with, who doesn't know - or care - about the building requirements. Cost is omg when the device dies, and they do (frequently). You get the idea.
littletoes
Well-known member
BOY do I get the idea! But we figured out a way to compete, we send our tech's to the company and get them trained. We've even dedicated one shop to it, and all there have training in the top 5 programs in the US.
The valves, although they "look" good are no-where are rebuild-able as any of the old Johnson or Honeywell valves. Sad....we've even taken a few apart that were not supposed to be taken apart, and figured a way to rebuild them. Belimo valves for instance. Directional valves that "will" work, even if installed improperly.....sheesh....try telling a tech that a mixing or diverting valve cannot be interchanged, they don't get it. HA.
When I started, we had hundreds of compressors we worked with, now I don't think we have 20 systems in our local. Use to rebuild compressors too....not just the valves, stats, master/sub-master stats.....if folks even knew.
Now, one lightening strike, and everything goes down. Now THAT'S funny.
The valves, although they "look" good are no-where are rebuild-able as any of the old Johnson or Honeywell valves. Sad....we've even taken a few apart that were not supposed to be taken apart, and figured a way to rebuild them. Belimo valves for instance. Directional valves that "will" work, even if installed improperly.....sheesh....try telling a tech that a mixing or diverting valve cannot be interchanged, they don't get it. HA.
When I started, we had hundreds of compressors we worked with, now I don't think we have 20 systems in our local. Use to rebuild compressors too....not just the valves, stats, master/sub-master stats.....if folks even knew.
Now, one lightening strike, and everything goes down. Now THAT'S funny.
Recoil Rob
Well-known member
Took a few minutes to get my stuff together. Some of it came out of a shop that I worked in many years ago for my father. They sold Rigid and when they closed up I was able to take what I wanted. The company was owned in France so there was a bit of this VIRAX/ROTAX stuff there, good quality tools. The largest wrench on the left is a VIRAX as is the pipe threading kit at top, the two adjustable threaders at the bottom center and the small blue vise, bottom left. The Virax wrench is probably a 50cm wrench as it's a little bigger than the 2 Rigid 18in.'s. The wrench in the middle is a Rotax 10" Vanagriff.
The adjustable threaders came with extra jaws for different sized pipe. Really just paperweights now but may have a use for them some day.
The smallest wrench on the right is a 6" Rigid offset, next to it is an 8" wrench just marked SPAIN.
The ROTAX cutter will cut up to 2" pipe.
The adjustable threaders came with extra jaws for different sized pipe. Really just paperweights now but may have a use for them some day.
The smallest wrench on the right is a 6" Rigid offset, next to it is an 8" wrench just marked SPAIN.
The ROTAX cutter will cut up to 2" pipe.
metaldad
Well-known member
Hey! is that a little giant on the left?
Titanium Steel
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So I told a friend of mine who uses pipe wrenches quite often (plumbing usually) but was really excited to hear that there are pipe wrenches that are 6" inches. However, my friend wanted to know if there is any companies that still make 6" pipe wrenches in USA anymore and if they do what brands are they and where you buy them.
Called Grainger, Fastenal and even MSC industries, but no luck at all. Any help would be exceptionally awesome and I knowing I am asking a great deal, but anyone has any pictures of a pipe wrench that 6" that would be helpful as well. Thanks.
Called Grainger, Fastenal and even MSC industries, but no luck at all. Any help would be exceptionally awesome and I knowing I am asking a great deal, but anyone has any pictures of a pipe wrench that 6" that would be helpful as well. Thanks.
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jeffmoss26
Well-known member
I answered your question further up in this thread. Again, Ridgid makes 6" pipe wrenches in a few styles.
Any plumbing supply should be able to get one. There are pictures in this thread as well.
Any plumbing supply should be able to get one. There are pictures in this thread as well.
lbgradwell
Well-known member
Both Ridgid & Reed definitely still make a domestically-produced 6" pipe wrench.
littletoes
Well-known member
Yea, just like JeffMoss and Ibgradwell say, I see them in one of the local wholesale houses everytime I go in to pick up supplies. 6" pipe wrenches hanging on the wall.
Michael Bryce Winnick
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Best pipe wrench I ever owned is my ACE made in the USA wrench.
ihredo4
Well-known member
Sure looks like one of them. More of them out there than I thought. I bought one last fall and haven't had time to get it all cleaned up.
Recoil Rob
Well-known member
If you're speaking of the leftmost wrench in my post, it's not a Little Giant, it's a VIRAX from France.
Titanium Steel
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Thank you for that information. As well as others who provided me help as well.
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
I just ran across this 1953 advertisement and I thought you RIDGID aficianados might like it...
Talk about tool ****!
Talk about tool ****!
afazz
Well-known member
Are the new Ridgid pipe wrenches made in USA?
OP
jeffmoss26
Well-known member
As far as I know, they are still made in Elyria, Ohio USA!