True farmer's wrench

[blazemaster83]

I have a friend who owns an organic farm near me. I periodically go over to his place to shoot the **** and have a beer. This time I mentioned tools, and if he had any around that he never uses that are rusty or whatever. He says today's your lucky day, and goes over to a table and picks up this wrench. He said he dug it up in his fields while tilling. I told him he needs to grow more of these. I asked him what he wanted for it, and he told me to just take it. I also asked him to keep me in mind if he finds anything else around, and that I would pay him for it.

Anyone guess what brand it is by the pics?(Yes, I know it's a slug wrench). I haven't cleaned it up, but it looks like it will clean up ok. I am sure someone will stiil probably get it lol. I think it is a 1 3/8". I will update the thread in a day or so once I get it cleaned up. Thanks for looking!

I dunno know why, but it seems way cooler that he found it on his own property to me.

 

[geologist]

*maybe* JH Williams, but unfortunately it will probably be very hard to know for certain without at least a long vinegar bath or perhaps some electrolysis at minimum.

Proto marked most of their sluggs on the beam, in a recessed rectangle. JH Williams marked theirs on the handle. I'm not really familiar with any other brands. However, the Williams sluggs tend to have more of a curve to them as per Alloy Artifacts photo. They also clock in at around 11 inches long, maybe a bit longer.

 

[hydramatic]

Glass bead that, and then polish on a cloth buffer with green compound.

 

[bobcatdan]

To me it looks like a broken slugging wrench

 

[redwrench60]

To me it looks like a broken slugging wrench

bobcatdans right, thats a broken slugging wrench.

Thats why it's in the field, they broke it and got pissed and chucked it as hard as they could!

 

[szyg6h]

Interesting find!

 

[blazemaster83]

Well I managed to find out that it is a 1 5/8" size and the brand is Proto. Also I thought at first it was broken as well, but it has been cut or at least the break was cleaned up nice. I think it should still be functional, and I dont have a 1 5/8" wrench so I will throw it in my drawer once I get it cleaned up 100%.

 

[Brad54]

I have recently become a big convert to the molasses bath. Throw it in there and forget about it for about a month.

-Brad

 

[Bull]

Looks like an electrolysis candidate to me.

Brad, why do you like the molasses so much?

 

[dsch]

Well I managed to find out that it is a 1 5/8" size and the brand is Proto. Also I thought at first it was broken as well, but it has been cut or at least the break was cleaned up nice. I think it should still be functional, and I dont have a 1 5/8" wrench so I will throw it in my drawer once I get it cleaned up 100%.

I have several wrenches that I have cut in a pinch to make line wrenches tha twork well. They tend to spread a bit when cracking fittings loose but nothing major.

 

[Outlawmws]

Looks like an electrolysis candidate to me.

Brad, why do you like the molasses so much?

THIS, but I've done the molasses also. I prefer the Electrolysis for unplaced stuff,

For plated either vinegar or molasses, but the molasses is VERY slow (and works better/faster if somewhat warm)...

 

[Gmonkee]

In Mexico a wide variety of specialty tools are not in most stores. We can get the common sockets and wrenches anywhere but line wrenches or specialty pliers are not everywhere.

The used tool market is full of modded and recut tools just like this one. Someone needed to get a hydraulic line changed NOW and found a way to do it. At the cost of wrecking a nice slugging wrench but that is a secondary problem.

 

[Bull]

In Mexico a wide variety of specialty tools are not in most stores. We can get the common sockets and wrenches anywhere but line wrenches or specialty pliers are not everywhere.

The used tool market is full of modded and recut tools just like this one. Someone needed to get a hydraulic line changed NOW and found a way to do it. At the cost of wrecking a nice slugging wrench but that is a secondary problem.

It figures that it takes a thread about a rusty, damaged, field-dug tool to get you to post over here

 

[Gmonkee]

Everybody has a weakness! I love the hopeless case tool.

This one qualifies.

 

[8paintchips]

Thats neat and all, but throw it on the scrap pile.

 

[Big Gus]

Maybe it has a lifetime warranty...you can get a new one.

 

[joeswamp]

That thing will spread like crazy if you put any torque on it -- the continuous ring is what provides all the strength.