Ridgid pipe wrenches

[ohiobuckeyefan]

i have a set of steel pipe wrenches (10-24") that i have had 10+ years. i always wanted the same set just in aluminum. i was told the jaws opened just as wide and the handles were just as strong as the steel ones they simply weigh half as much. but the aluminum wrenches cost twice as much as the bulkier steel ones.
well fast forward to 2010 and my tool acount is at zero, and i dont need any tools so i decide im gonna get those aluminum ridgids. im shocked that the steel wrenches cost more than the aluminum ones!!! what happened? are they not as good? should i not bother with the new ones? any opinions or experiences please.

[chilliwilly]

You will be sorry.

The alli ones aren't as strong as the steel ones. I've used them on some most defiant threads and couplings other than pipes, and managed to unwind them but. You know when you have to put a peice of pipe on them to extend them to gain that extra leverage, they don't like it and end up breaking.

Stick with your guns and stay with steel. You wouldn't use an alli hammer would you.

[HeyBob]

I have a whole bunch of aluminum Ridgid pipe wrenches and am darn glad I do.

Never bent one, never broke one, I do have a 48" steel one that has a real nice arc in the handle.

[coolwhip]

I dont have any aluminum ones....I think I might go out tonight and get a couple. Who knows, I may get an extra mile per gallon if I take those heavy pipe wrenches out of the van.

[gasoilair]

They sell probably 10 times the number of aluminum one's than they do the steel. That would affect the price of the steel one's as small production runs always cost more. I have alum's in pairs from 10" to 48" and I have a couple pairs of alum angle heads in 18" and 24" that are marked "Ridcal" which were made by Ridgid before they changed their name. (Same address on wrench) The only steel one's I have are a couple 36" and 48" compound leverage Ridgid's for the really tight stuff.

Don't worry about breaking them. If you need a cheater bar, then you need a bigger wrench.

Alum is the way to go. Work smarter, not harder.

[DaveCR]

The company I work for has literally hundreds of Ridgid aluminum pipe wrenches. They hold up and it's very seldom one will break. Also, stick with Ridgid, none of the other brands come close.

[qwerty hvac]

I have a 24" and 36" alum. wrenches. Worth every penny.

[sprintmj19]

I bought Ridgid aluminum pipe wrenches 15 years ago. I don't even know the size of the smallest one, I keep in a tool bag. I keep all of them on the truck, including the 48".

Best tool money I ever spent. I use them every day.

I would buy them from a tool supply, though. The one's at Home Despot seem different.

McMaster Carr always has the best Ridgid prices.

[dandyme]

real pipefitters do it with steel




wuuuuuzzzzzzzzzzzziiiieeeeeeeessssssssssssss

[amickracing]

I use what ever is handy, which generally is aluminum, but there's some steel one's hanging around too.

If you do have to use a cheater pipe on the aluminum one, make sure it's big enough to slide clear up the handle, don't just put it barely on the handle, that's what generally breaks the handles.

Generally if you need a cheater, you need a bigger wrench, but every once and a while when you've got that 6' pipe on a 4' wrench and your bouncing on it, it's just time for the gas ax.

[ohiobuckeyefan]

dont get me wrong fellas, i LOVE my ridgids and would NEVER ever buy anything else. i was just surprised that aluminum was cheaper than the steel wrenches!

[Twigga]

aluminum is great because they are lighter. Especially if you are wrenching above your head. I find the aluminum gets damaged alot easier when you use a an extension or as a hammer. That is when I like to use the steel ones. You can beat the **** out of them and they keep on going strong.

I've never used Lenox before but they look pretty sturdy. My local wholesaler doesn't carry Ridgid anymore because they don't warranty alot of stuff anymore. Apparently Ridgid use to have a lifetime warranty on wrenches, including wear and tear.

[JF254]

I do Like my ridgid wrenches but, one of the guys at work recently bought a couple of the lenox and they're actually pretty nice. Now to see how they last.