Are You Using the Right Wrench for Your Plumbing Project?

by DoItYourself Staff

Wrenches Safety Tips

Always pull rather than push a pipe wrench handle.

Maintain a gap between the back of the hook jaw and the pipe. This helps maximize gripping force and centers the pressure on the jaw teeth.

Always wear eye protection.

Do not use a pipe wrench to bend, lift or raise pipe.

Pipe (Stillson) Wrench

Used to grasp pipes and other curved surfaces. Solid housings and hardened steel jaws provide excellent bite and grip.

Has two serrated jaws, one adjustable and the other fixed and slightly offset.

The Straight pattern is standard.

The End-pattern style has jaws slightly offset and is handy for working in restricted spaces or close to walls.

The Offset style has jaws at 90? to the handle and is also handy for tight spots. The jaws will leave marks on the pipe, so itís best to avoid using them on coated pipe, such as galvanized pipe. Some pipe wrenches have aluminum handles for lighter weight

Chain Pipe Wrench

Offers easy handling in close quarters on round, square or irregular shapes without crushing the object.

Consists of a forged-steel handle attached to a length of heavy sprocket chain. The chain wraps around a length of pipe and engages the sprockets in notches on the back of the handle. Sharp teeth on the face of the handle bite into pipe while the chain holds the pipe against the teeth to prevent slipping.

Turns pipe in either direction and can be used like a ratchet wrench. The handle can be loosened, shifted and turned again without removing the chain from around the pipe.

Strap Wrench

Recommended for working with brass, aluminum, lead, soft metal or plastic pipe because it grips pipe without teeth and does not damage the surface.

Consists of a fabric strap, attached to a loop ring that is fastened in the curved head of a straight forged bar or handle. It is then pulled around the pipe, back through the loop and over the head.

When the wrench is pulled tight, the strap grips the pipe

Basin Wrench

Also known as a faucet wrench or a crowfoot faucet wrench.

One type has fixed jaws opening at right angles to the shaft handle. It is primarily used to remove supply nuts and hose coupling nuts on faucet spray attachments under worktables, sinks and lavatories.

The second type has spring tension pipe-gripping jaws that are reversible by flip-over on the end of drive shaft handle. It will grip pipe nipples, odd sized supply nuts and jam nuts in hard-to-reach spots.

Plastic Nut Basin Wrench

Used to reach and turn plastic mounting nuts on faucets, sprayers and ballcocks.

Notched ends self-center on 2-, 3-, 4- and 6-tab nuts

Spud Wrench

A generic name for many types of wrenches that have large, flat-sided jaws.

Good for general purpose plumbing use.

The Adjustable type is an all-purpose model with notched jaws ideal for various sizes of nuts. It is the handiest and most common.

The Fixed type works with large spud nuts under kitchen sinks.

The 4-in-1 is similar to the fixed type and is use for turning locknuts on the toilet tank, basket strainers and spuds.

The Closet type is designed for toilet tanks and bowls.

The Internal type holds the sink strainer basket in place while you tighten the locknut below. It can also remove or install closet spuds, pop-up plugs, and strainers.