How to use a pipe wrench?
Pipe wrenches are used to grip, fasten, loosen, and turn soft or non-plumbing pipes, round fittings, and more with serrated, adjustable jaws. Make sure the pipe diameter measurements and jaw capacity of your pipe wrench can fit the material you are working with. If using a standard, extendable pipe wrench, use the adjustment nut to fit the hook jaw and heel jaw around a pipe or fitting. Once secure, you can push or pull using the handle of the pipe wrench. For grip breaker pipe wrenches, use the quick release mechanism to fit the wrench jaws around pipes and use the lock button component to adjust jaw size before turning your fittings.
What size pipe wrench do I need?
Pipe wrenches are adjustable and can cover a range of pipe diameters. If you are working with pipes that are between 1/8-in to 1/2-in, you can use a pipe wrench sized between 6-in to 14-in. For pipes with a diameter between ½-in to 1-in, wrenches between 10-in to 18-in can be used. Bigger pipes between 1-in and 2-in can work well with 18-in to 36-in pipe wrenches. Some pipe diameters can even get as large as 5-in or more, for which a pipe wrench of 48-in or greater is recommended. Pipe wrench sets provide great value by grouping together different sized pipe wrenches to cover a variety of plumbing and piping projects.
How to fix a pipe wrench?
Pipe wrenches are built to last when maintained and handled properly. Should you run into any issues, assess your wrench to see if anything’s wrong. If you’re having trouble with securing a grip, check the serrated jaws of the wrench as these can collect dust, dirt, grime, and lubricant residue, which can interfere with tightening or loosening. You can use wire brushes to keep these jaws clean and abrasive files to sharpen them. If parts such as the hook jaw, heel jaw, or adjustment nut get damaged or broken, you can contact the manufacturer for information about where to source replacement parts. To fix your wrench once you have replacement parts, simply remove the roll pin using pin punches under the heel jaw on the body, unscrew the adjustment nut, and replace any damaged parts with the new parts.
