Nice video... A monkey wrench is actually a different tool though... Looks like a pipe wrench, functions like a crescent wrench. Was primarily intended for square nuts and bolts.
Yep, this is what my plumber uncle taught me. A monkey wrench DOES have parallel jaws. Looks like a pipe wrench, yet doesn't clamp down when tightened. See @RobertWalsh reference above. Also Crescent wrench is referenced to a manufacturer of adjustable wrenches.
I've always been told (and Richard Trethewy has also said on TV) that in order to avoid pulling a pipe out of round, the wrench needs to make contact with the pipe at three points: the faces of the jaws and the throat (back) of the jaws.
I actually owned a pipe wrench before I knew how to use it. Months later saw a RUclips video on how it works and was blown away by the ingenuity of it. Absolutely fantastic tool, and soo clever, like Adam said.., the design hasn’t changed in 100 years because it just works!
That's why a pipe wrench has a loose fitting upper jaw, so that it can move enough to bite in when rotated in one direction and still be able to let go in the other direction. Where as a Crescent wrench wants to be as tight as possible in it's jaws so that it doesn't open up and round off the bolt/nut head.
Yeah, this is... This is astonishing, frankly. I never knew this. Stuff we never learned about common everyday tools... Frankly, I can't think of many people better to dispense these hot details.
Yes, the "three-corner bite". You want what you're turning to be in contact with all three surfaces of the wrench because it prevents that circle from deforming and jamming itself
With enough use of the tool on tight enough things you figure out that it’s the most secure grip without being taught. As an auto mechanic I’ve only used these to hold a shaft to turn a bolt (like a sway bar link) after something has broken or stripped. You gotta get that as all the way down on what your grabbing and if you do, it won’t let go. You’ll strip the item you’re holding before the wrench slips (usually).
Everyone else probably know this stuff, but this video was great for me. My husband passed away and left me with a garage full of wrenches. When I need a wrench I just grab the largest of what looks like it might fit, and a hammer. Thanks so much for discussing the teeth and that I don't have to unscrew it every time. I so appreciate your videos. Thank you.
This type of pipe wrench isn't actually called a monkey wrench. A monkey wrench is a totally different design of adjustable wrench. The wrench Adam is demonstrating is more properly called a Stillson wrench.
Nah. I googled monkey wrench and this came out. And some other wrenches as well. Even google is confused. Lets just agree that this wrench does exude a bit of a "hehe monkey" vibe.
@@leiladekwatro3147 well google searches are determined by people. So if millions fuck it up in their searches that will alter the algorithm. We could make google believe Danny Devito is Bruce Lee if we wanted to
When I bought my home, my uncle gave me an old pipe wrench. I absolutely love that tool. The first time I picked it up, it felt good in the hand; sturdy, rugged, and capable. There's a beauty to things like that, things that are simple and effective.
Great video! I personally use a pipe wrench all the time as a service plumber, but a Monkey Wrench is like a pipe wrench with out the teeth, used for fixtures of brass as to not damage it
I’ve been using pipe wrenches all my life and didn’t *need* to watch this video, but I love the way Adam views the minutiae in almost everything. Makes me feel less crazy.
@@zacharypeterson5252 Usually good for one job. Autocorrect suggested "uselessly" which also applies; "Uselessly" good for one job. 🤔 Doesn't sound as good, but in this case I'll let it slide. 😂
It's a thumb detecting nut fucker. In all seriousness, most rounded nuts are the result of operator error. Unless you can spin the crescent wrench a full 360°, you must re-clamp the jaw for every reset. They might be slow, but if you don't want to carry a full set of metric and SAE wrenches for some reason, they're a perfect candidate for the patient man.
I use pipe wrenches quite often but i did get a pair of "pipe pliers" from Snap-On Tools that i find myself grabbing more often. Tool number PZW2QA. I have found the 17" model most universal however i also have a tiny pair that comes in handy for tight spaces. Tool number PWZ0A. I am not brand loyal by any means as i have been in the mechanic industry for almost 10 years and in that 10 years i have been shown an incredible amount of gimmicky one use tools and also many extremely versatile tools. I love the show and am always looking forward to every new video you come out with. Thank you Adam for everything you do showing techniques, tools, equipment and most of all your incredible knowledge.
Adam thank you for featuring my favorite wrench. The pipe wrench is the most perfect tool design ever. Sorry so late, I'm new to the channel. I grew up working in my fathers industrial tool store and started threading pipe at the age of 12. The coil and flat spring are the hidden secret to the function of a pipe wrench, and there are so many styles that have specific purposes, they are amazing. We sold Ridgid wrenches, they had a broken handle replacement policy, and I have a good story about a 60" pipe wrench with a broken handle.
I used a pipe wrench while doing some plumbing work this past weekend. I actually remember making the comment to my dad that those wrenches aren’t good for much, but there is nothing better than them for plumbing!
I do not get why these are so popular in the US. Everyone in Germany hates crescent wrenches. But on the other hand it is not uncommon seeing someone using a 'Wasserpumpenzange' (water pump pliers) on a nut which is even worse.
'Crescent' is a brand name of 'adjustable wrench', just like 'Channel Lock' is a brand name for 'tongue-and-groove pliers' and 'Allen' was a guy who made 'hex wrenches'.
"It looks primitive because it is!" One of my favourite tools is a plain old stick. Damned useful thing to have, whether you just need a bit of leverage, something thin to poke at something, or just as a prop. Sticks also haven't changed much over the years :D
I have always considered a wrench to be a tool that grips something, and key bing a thing fits inside some other thing, Allen wrench just sounds wrong, it is an Allen key, but this may be a British view.
I was about to say that we here in sweden also follow that logic by calling it an Allen key, but then i remembered that we're actually not but we're going the opposite direction. We call wrenches keys. Adjustable wrench? skiftnyckel (shift key). Non-adjustable wrench? Blocknyckel (block key). Yep, Now i'm disappointed. But i also don't know what other word we could use.
My favourite pipe wrench (stilsons) is a 24" Elora I found about to be chucked out at work. It was rusted pretty much solid. Took it home, cleaned it up, applied liberal amounts of rust, convertor, re-sharpened the jaws with a needle file. 5+ years later, it's still one of the best I have, for a cost of ~£10 in materials.
You always want the pipe all the way in so you have 3 points of contact, this prevents the clamping action from crushing the pipe out of round. Never use as shown with only 2 points of contact, ajust it property for 3 points of contact.
May want to let this university know. For the record, I've been doing some research to see if there is a "truth" and thus far, I haven't found a definitive answer. I suspect that perhaps it comes down to the actual material the pipe is made from. The softer the metal the more contact points? That seems reasonable. ruclips.net/video/nHAqjrt0MIs/видео.html
@@RPMiller Interesting. I've used pipe wrenches for DIY, but never heard the 3-point contact rule. Googling around I found the same results as you, it seems there's no definitive answer. Over the years I've seen trades people often have religious wars on arcane topics like this, each claiming the other is wrong. Sounds like a job for one of the most boring episodes of Mythbusters ever!
@@stevesether LOL. If you look above, I did find a lot more results that all say the 2 points of contact is correct. Both the manufacturer and a trade school university said 2 point, as well as several other sources. It sounds like 3 points can actually lead to failures, and based on what I saw on the OSHA site, it is a very real thing. People have actually died from improper wrench use, which was shocking to me.
@@RPMiller Thanks for trying to find authoritative sources. We need more people in the world like you that do honest research, and try to find answers from trusted authorities. (And obviously experiment is the real source of knowledge here)
I love Adam with his joyful attention to little details from everything and noting how important is those details are. I also geek out with tools and machinery of all sorts and even commenting to friends and family those details and most of the time they always say or see it as “just a wrench” but we all, who are in to these things, know it’s important and most of the time crucial for a successful result and just to be that guy that says “oh I got just the tool for it” so satisfying when it fits and does it’s work efficiently
A plumber wrench (Swedish pattern wrench) seems to be the same thing in essence, but with an extra bit of functionality given by second handle. It allows for more control on how much grip you apply to the pipe. And you can even apply soft material between jaws and the piece when you need to :)
Knipex cobras are like the pipe wrench of channel locks 👌 my favorite tool by far, I work with pipe and use my knipex over a real pipe wrench as often as I can.
The only thing is a pipe wrench is bigger and stronger I’ve got some pretty big pipe wrenches the biggest one I have is 36 inches I’ve got another one that is coming that I ordered it’s 48 inches.
Was watching in the parking lot of Menard’s. Bought my first monkey wrench and it allowed me to break the rust off the tie rod for my jeep. Awesome tool!
What i learn was most time have 3 points so u always want it to touch the back of it not try to do from front but the back also no small pipe wrench those are amazing
Aww Adam, that's an Allen Key, An adjustable spanner, and a stillson wrench. And if you use any other than a Bacho adjustable Spanner you will destroy the nut, and you had the stillson too far off it should always be 3 point.
Yeah, calling it a crescent wrench rather than an adjustable wrench annoyed me too. Adam consistently proves in these videos that he doesn't realllyyyy know what he's talking about, he often makes minor mistakes and half asses most things. I find him far less inspirational because of this.
Oi it's a spanner innit m8 ring me up on Chewsday and I'll tell you all about it Have you really not realized that things are called by different names across the world? It doesn't change the fact that he's a much more experienced craftsman than you are. Just because you were a plumber's apprentice for 6 weeks 20 years ago doesn't give you any authority
They are very very underrated. I didn’t gain an appreciation for them until we used one to turn a deep well socket with a broken off square drive jammed in one end while the other was bashed onto a stripped wheel lug.
This is a great and informative video, love the excitement for what seems like the little things. I believe the play in the hook jaw has a huge part in the release when you are resetting. This is a design that may seem like a mistake or inaccuracy because it is "loose", but is really intensional. Much like the end of a tape measure
I was taught to only use crescent wrenches in an emergency by an old mechanic when i was very young... I still use them as does adam but I'm glad he mentioned their wonderful corner rounding abilities!
You never know how much you need a pipe wrench until you've tried every damn tool in the box! It's like an infomercial where you're screaming "there has to be a better way!"
It's actually pretty funny, but I was actually researching this earlier, and what you have is a pipe wrench, which is different from a monkey wrench. Monkey wrenches were actually what predated the pipe wrench. They had parallel jaws and we're he really much bigger, so the pipe wrench was made to fix both of those. Just kinda a fun history fact.
Hey Adam, big fan. Just a quick tip I learned from an old school steamfitter. With a pipe wrench the optimum spot of adjustment is actually when the pipe is touching the two serrated jaws aswell as the throat. In that configuration under heavy heavy load the wrench will never slip. Tested this at a few plant outages I will not disclose the names of. 😂
That...is a pipe wrench. Monkey wrenches have a square, toothless (or at the least ridged) jaw, that runs on a fixed track along the main body of the wrench. Just a little pedantic.
Sometimes, it's good to be pedantic. Be kind about it (many people make this mistake -- indeed, I didn't realize the difference before seeing comments in this video), but make the correction. (Hey Tested staff, can you edit the video title?)
After being under my house for 8 hours, covered from head to toe in mud, I can concur with Adam, the Husky Pipe wrench does an excellent job. Oh, reciprocating saws work too, just don't expect to use that section of pipe again.
I carried 2. 1/2 inch open ended box wrenches for connecting water lines on fridges. I hated that adjustable wrench crescent wrench. He is absolutely correct with having more then 1 pipe wrench! Need 2 when you connect gas pipes or brass fittings.
I've been a licensed plumber for 15 years and you absolutely want the pipe to touch the back of the jaws. Having 3 points of contact will stop you from crushing the pipe. Granted this may only be necessary on really old sized up plumbing, but a good trick none the less!
A _monkey wrench,_ which I have handy right now, is flat-jawed, once adjusted both jaws are stationary, and is used on fasteners. A _pipe wrench,_ on the other hand, has a pivoting jaw that self-clamps to help grip, um, pipe. I love Adam, but he's mis-named several items in his videos, and thus has "taught" millions of viewers the wrong name.
4 года назад
It's mis-named in the title, but he actually calls it pipe wrench through most of the video... But I didn't know that anyway, cool.
The thing is, pipe wrenches are often called monkey wrenches. Search for "monkey wrench" on Harbor Freight, all the top results are pipe wrenches. So while not technically correct, is it really that harmful when "monkey wrench" is going to get viewers to the tool he's talking about all the same?
4 года назад+1
@@vshazam Yeah, the more I think about it feels like a sub-class of a monkey wrench. It's still the same basic operation and mechanism. Just more tailored for working with pipes, as opposed to nuts with a flat jaw.
76 years old and just found out the difference between a pipe wrench and a monkey wrench. I Googled it. I have seen what we called monkey wrenches with out groves on the jaws but I never thought about it being different. Never to old to learn.
When I was a kid I called a pipe wrench a "monkey wrench," then I learned from an old timer what a real monkey wrench was. I now own many monkey wrenches along with my pipe wrenches. They are both well suited for particular jobs.
I have a 48 inch pipe wrench that belonged to my grandfather. He was a pipe fitter for a natural gas company right after WW1. It's steel and heavy, but nothing works better on 2 and 4 inch pipe!!
Absolutely. Otherwise you risk deforming the pipe (flattening it where the jaws crush it). You definitely need to bottom out the wrench and make sure the wrench has 3 points of contact to keep the pipe round.
This variety of wrenches is also known as the Stillson wrench, named for its inventor who was a mechanic in Cambridge Massachusetts. The prototype was made out of wood and was still very effective. They took out the patent in 1869. There have been many variations, but I've traded in my old pipe wrenches for modern Stillsons, because they are still the best.
And we that use them every day need to send him a set of Ridgids so he can know there is really a difference in brands, I call those he has killers, never fail to hurt myself when I use the off brands...
Jamie H also has a video where he talks about the brilliance of the pipe wrench as a tool. As the surfaces are rounded so it doesn't catch on stuff. It's specifically engineered so that everything fits in a sloppy way but it still works. And the opening is sideways on the end, so even if you can't get the end of the wrench directly to the pipe you're grabbing, you can still sometimes hook it over and move it.
Thank you, Adam. This is arguably the best, simplest pipe wrench teaching moment on RUclips! After 50 Yrs, I needed this. You are simply amazing ;thanks for keeping me company during my Covid Isolation!,
Oh look a video about a pipe-wrench. How can Adam make it nice? Well. I was now properly amused by Adam demonstrating a pipe wrench! Adam, you should present everything!
I think the term dates back to the early automotive days, when auto mechanics were commonly referred to as ''grease monkeys''. Back before the Crescent company designed the modern-day Crescent wrench.
20 years ago me and my brother operated a small gas powered diamond drill(Winkie Drill) with an EW core barrel.Teeth were worn smooth in no time on a rigid wrench breaking apart the core barrel(Aluminum/magnesium drill rods were easier to get purchase on).My father suggested a Stillson wrench.(Luckily we had one rusting out under our house).That rusty wrench was a life saver for grabbing that core barrel ever time.Father knows best......
That doesn't make it wrong though. What do you call a tissue you use to blow your nose? Probably a Kleenex if you're from North America. It's simply a trademark name that has become genericized to refer to the item itself.
Fun fact, in Australia wrenches are spanners, except for allen wrenches, which are allen keys and pipe wrenches that can either still be a pipe wrench, or a stillson. Wrenching on a spanner is still wrenching, not spannering.
I’m going to add another angle with the pipe wrench/ monkey wrench discussion, but for the “Crescent Wrench”. Crescent is a brand of adjustable open end wrench. It’s like using “Kleenex” ubiquitously for facial tissue. Also, those are pipe wrenches not monkey wrenches.
Tool tip here from a licensed gas fitter. When buying a pipe wrench get aluminum wrenches not steal, they are a lot lighter and just as strong. Rigid brand is the best but a bit expensive for the average Joe, the home depot brand is probably just fine. Also you should have atleast 2 of them so you can back wrench your work piece while loosening or tightening it.
When I think of my favorite tools, pipe wrench always comes to mind. So useful. Essentially the manly version of those rubber pads your grandma uses to open stubborn jars and bottles
I recall an old article that Jamie Hyneman wrote for a magazine where he used the pipe wrench as an example of a useful tool because of its low tolerances.
When I was wee lad, my grandfather called his big pipe wrench a boy wrench. If I was acting up he would threaten to take me apart with it. His eyes, however, always conveyed his love for me so I never actually felt threatened. He passed away more than 30 years ago and I still miss him deeply. I still have his boy wrench. It is still used for its intended purpose . . . and for the occasional threat delivered with a twinkle in my eye.
I keep one of these on my tractor at all times... they are great for adjusting the three point hitch on the back for different implements. Or smacking something into place... also makes a great attitude adjuster.
One thing to add with any piping that needs to be water or air tight, (not gas,) the pros will use thread tape, applied clockwise when looking into the pipe, then add pipe "dope", aka the pipe thread sealant. Now the seal actually comes the taper of the thread, the reason we would want multiple "sealants" is they actually end up being a lubricant, which aids in reaching a tight enough seal of the actual metal, as well as making it possible to undo the pipe without destroying it.
In regards to crescent wrenches, if to apply the same principles that pipe wrenches operate on (ie the turn direction required to tighten/loosen...) you will be far less likely to round off the corners of nuts and bolts because the major stresses will get applied to the solid jaw rather than the adjustable, flexible one.
Pipe wrenches are really useful if you are changing a leaky gaslift on an office chair... a new gaslift and a pipe wrench to help remove the old one come in around $20-30... new chair $150... and you need a pipe wrench as gaslifts while push fit when assembling are not usually intended to come out and pushed in really really tight with years of people sitting on the chair.
As a guy working with those and mor kinds of plumbing- I have a lot more differences between the two AND a few reasons why the monkey wrench is not "better" but simply meant for other tasks. The crescent wrench is smooth, parallel jawed for using on hexagonal pipe fittings- teeth will ruin the sides as well as corners and you should fit it well enough to not round them. Monkey wrench is non parallel, toothed jawed specifically for NON polygon shapes as a round pipe length or lip. Fun fact: in Hebrew, monkey wrench is called English pipe wrench and the crescent is called Swedish wrench. Prob because of their origin countries...
The Stanley locking adjustable wrench is a game changer. A crescent wrench with a vice grip mechanism? Brilliant. I wish they made a small version though.
As someone who has strung countless strings of 2 3/8 together in the oil field, I recommend about 3/4 back instead of 1/2 way into the jaws. You can still slip quite often at 1/2. Lessons learned the hard way haha
The funny thing is that the galvanised pipe and fittings that a Stilson Wrench is designed for hasn't been used for water piping for over three decades, so it's really only ever going to be used on furniture, handrails, or possibly undoing a threaded inspection plug on PVC DWV piping (but, most tradespeople use a shifter [crecent wrench] anyway because of the rarity)
Nice video... A monkey wrench is actually a different tool though... Looks like a pipe wrench, functions like a crescent wrench. Was primarily intended for square nuts and bolts.
This needs to be higher up. Monkey wrenches and pipe wrenches are very different things, operate in different ways, for very different uses.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkey_wrench
Exactly, monkey wrenches are the grandfather of the modern crescent design.
I was going to say the same. Though I have generally called pipe wrenches Stilson wrenches.
Yep, this is what my plumber uncle taught me. A monkey wrench DOES have parallel jaws. Looks like a pipe wrench, yet doesn't clamp down when tightened. See @RobertWalsh reference above. Also Crescent wrench is referenced to a manufacturer of adjustable wrenches.
I've always been told (and Richard Trethewy has also said on TV) that in order to avoid pulling a pipe out of round, the wrench needs to make contact with the pipe at three points: the faces of the jaws and the throat (back) of the jaws.
Straight pattern pipe wrenches cause less ovaling of the pipe than angle pattern pipe wrenches.
What Rich Trethewey always says was the first thing that popped into my mind also!
@@MyDIYAdventures I'm not saying Adam is wrong, but he uses pipes for structure, not to contain water or gas. Still a huge fan of Adam.
That's right. Adam's instructions were completely wrong.
every tool is adam's favorite tool...
Yes, or he wouldn’t own it.
Adam's favorite tool is a hammer...
But every tool's a hammer!
Every tool is your favorite tool when you realize you need it
@@brandonlink6568 the best tool is whatever one gets the job done... isn't that some sort of saying?
Then this is going to be a very long series.
I actually owned a pipe wrench before I knew how to use it. Months later saw a RUclips video on how it works and was blown away by the ingenuity of it. Absolutely fantastic tool, and soo clever, like Adam said.., the design hasn’t changed in 100 years because it just works!
That ain't a monkey wrench. Monkey wrenches have no teeth, and are used on fasteners.
Exactly what I was going to say, there is a big difference between a pipe wrench and a monkey wrench.
Came here to say that.
A good example of a monkey wrench, specifically antique ones is the wrench the engineer uses in team fortress 2
I never realized or thought about how the rotation works on a Pipe Wrench. Neat
Same! I never thought to apply the verbal concept of "ratcheting" to pipe wrenches but, like, duh 🤦 that's exactly what's going on. 😂
That's why a pipe wrench has a loose fitting upper jaw, so that it can move enough to bite in when rotated in one direction and still be able to let go in the other direction. Where as a Crescent wrench wants to be as tight as possible in it's jaws so that it doesn't open up and round off the bolt/nut head.
Yup. Next time you use one you’ll immediately see how important it is to use it correctly.
now we can use an adjustable wrench the right way also
Yeah, this is... This is astonishing, frankly. I never knew this.
Stuff we never learned about common everyday tools... Frankly, I can't think of many people better to dispense these hot details.
I was always taught the pipe should rest all the way against the back to prevent the pipe from changing shape
obviously when you mounting lasers to them
Yes, the "three-corner bite". You want what you're turning to be in contact with all three surfaces of the wrench because it prevents that circle from deforming and jamming itself
That is the correct way to use them.
With enough use of the tool on tight enough things you figure out that it’s the most secure grip without being taught. As an auto mechanic I’ve only used these to hold a shaft to turn a bolt (like a sway bar link) after something has broken or stripped. You gotta get that as all the way down on what your grabbing and if you do, it won’t let go. You’ll strip the item you’re holding before the wrench slips (usually).
@@Sheridantank indeed.
Everyone else probably know this stuff, but this video was great for me. My husband passed away and left me with a garage full of wrenches. When I need a wrench I just grab the largest of what looks like it might fit, and a hammer. Thanks so much for discussing the teeth and that I don't have to unscrew it every time. I so appreciate your videos. Thank you.
This type of pipe wrench isn't actually called a monkey wrench. A monkey wrench is a totally different design of adjustable wrench. The wrench Adam is demonstrating is more properly called a Stillson wrench.
Nah. I googled monkey wrench and this came out. And some other wrenches as well. Even google is confused. Lets just agree that this wrench does exude a bit of a "hehe monkey" vibe.
toolpowers.com/monkey-wrench-vs-pipe-wrench/
Is that who dev'ed the wrench or a Brand like Crescent/Irwin?
Wikipedia says Stillson was the owner of the patent.
@@leiladekwatro3147 well google searches are determined by people. So if millions fuck it up in their searches that will alter the algorithm. We could make google believe Danny Devito is Bruce Lee if we wanted to
When I bought my home, my uncle gave me an old pipe wrench. I absolutely love that tool. The first time I picked it up, it felt good in the hand; sturdy, rugged, and capable. There's a beauty to things like that, things that are simple and effective.
Great video! I personally use a pipe wrench all the time as a service plumber, but a Monkey Wrench is like a pipe wrench with out the teeth, used for fixtures of brass as to not damage it
I’ve been using pipe wrenches all my life and didn’t *need* to watch this video, but I love the way Adam views the minutiae in almost everything. Makes me feel less crazy.
That "Pittsburgh!" pipe wrench is Harbor Freight and costs $7
Yea and its crap
Their cast products I wouldn't trust.
@@shadowopsairman1583 I don't trust any of their products. Only c-clamps I've ever broken were from Harbor Freight.
There cheap F clams work really good for wood working other them that
@@zacharypeterson5252 Usually good for one job.
Autocorrect suggested "uselessly" which also applies;
"Uselessly" good for one job. 🤔
Doesn't sound as good, but in this case I'll let it slide. 😂
I have been using this tool wrong for so many years now. Thank you for the simple slap in the brain you just gave me!
If you follow his direction, you will still be using the tool wrong.
Crescent Wrench or "Nut Lathe" Great video as usual!
It's a thumb detecting nut fucker. In all seriousness, most rounded nuts are the result of operator error. Unless you can spin the crescent wrench a full 360°, you must re-clamp the jaw for every reset.
They might be slow, but if you don't want to carry a full set of metric and SAE wrenches for some reason, they're a perfect candidate for the patient man.
I don't quite understand, but the image of putting my nuts in a lathe absolutely terrifys me.
To me, the lathe is the scariest tool in the shop.
professional nut rounder had me lmfao for real
It takes some "magic" to be able to have so many of us watch you talk about a pipe-wrench and hold our attention like you do; amazing.
While also being slightly wrong about everything, truly inspiring.
As others have commented, that's not a "Monkey Wrench". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkey_wrench
I bought a bunch of those a for like $2 each a couple years ago. Didn’t know they were Monkey wrenches. I just called them old spanners
Correct, this is a Monkey Wrench
genius.com/Foo-fighters-monkey-wrench-lyrics
I use pipe wrenches quite often but i did get a pair of "pipe pliers" from Snap-On Tools that i find myself grabbing more often. Tool number PZW2QA. I have found the 17" model most universal however i also have a tiny pair that comes in handy for tight spaces. Tool number PWZ0A. I am not brand loyal by any means as i have been in the mechanic industry for almost 10 years and in that 10 years i have been shown an incredible amount of gimmicky one use tools and also many extremely versatile tools. I love the show and am always looking forward to every new video you come out with. Thank you Adam for everything you do showing techniques, tools, equipment and most of all your incredible knowledge.
I can listen to this man 24/7. So much joy and passion.
Adam thank you for featuring my favorite wrench. The pipe wrench is the most perfect tool design ever. Sorry so late, I'm new to the channel. I grew up working in my fathers industrial tool store and started threading pipe at the age of 12. The coil and flat spring are the hidden secret to the function of a pipe wrench, and there are so many styles that have specific purposes, they are amazing. We sold Ridgid wrenches, they had a broken handle replacement policy, and I have a good story about a 60" pipe wrench with a broken handle.
This video sponsored by Foo Fighters 😎🤘
I'll never be your monkey wrench!
don’t wanna be a monkey wrench
No....
First thing that came to my mind too
Exactly what I thought!😂
I used a pipe wrench while doing some plumbing work this past weekend. I actually remember making the comment to my dad that those wrenches aren’t good for much, but there is nothing better than them for plumbing!
2:35 "Effectively professional corner rounders". 100% agree with you, Adam
Ah yes the n u t r o u n d e r
I friggin love every sound a pipe wrench makes its so unique to itself.
I love the sound of pipe wrenches in the morning....
I vote to change the name “crescent wrench” to “nut rounders”
High speed nut rounders...
I've always referred to them as the "nut-f***er 3000".
I do not get why these are so popular in the US. Everyone in Germany hates crescent wrenches. But on the other hand it is not uncommon seeing someone using a 'Wasserpumpenzange' (water pump pliers) on a nut which is even worse.
I've always used that name for vise grips/ channel lock pliers
'Crescent' is a brand name of 'adjustable wrench', just like 'Channel Lock' is a brand name for 'tongue-and-groove pliers' and 'Allen' was a guy who made 'hex wrenches'.
"It looks primitive because it is!"
One of my favourite tools is a plain old stick. Damned useful thing to have, whether you just need a bit of leverage, something thin to poke at something, or just as a prop. Sticks also haven't changed much over the years :D
I have always considered a wrench to be a tool that grips something, and key bing a thing fits inside some other thing, Allen wrench just sounds wrong, it is an Allen key, but this may be a British view.
I’ve heard it both ways here in the states, but what you’re saying definitely makes sense!
I was about to say that we here in sweden also follow that logic by calling it an Allen key, but then i remembered that we're actually not but we're going the opposite direction.
We call wrenches keys. Adjustable wrench? skiftnyckel (shift key). Non-adjustable wrench? Blocknyckel (block key).
Yep, Now i'm disappointed. But i also don't know what other word we could use.
"Allen spanner" :-P
My favourite pipe wrench (stilsons) is a 24" Elora I found about to be chucked out at work. It was rusted pretty much solid. Took it home, cleaned it up, applied liberal amounts of rust, convertor, re-sharpened the jaws with a needle file. 5+ years later, it's still one of the best I have, for a cost of ~£10 in materials.
You always want the pipe all the way in so you have 3 points of contact, this prevents the clamping action from crushing the pipe out of round. Never use as shown with only 2 points of contact, ajust it property for 3 points of contact.
May want to let this university know. For the record, I've been doing some research to see if there is a "truth" and thus far, I haven't found a definitive answer. I suspect that perhaps it comes down to the actual material the pipe is made from. The softer the metal the more contact points? That seems reasonable. ruclips.net/video/nHAqjrt0MIs/видео.html
I've crushed 3/4" schedule 40 black iron pipe with a 2 point grip before I was educated by a journeyman plumber
@@RPMiller Interesting. I've used pipe wrenches for DIY, but never heard the 3-point contact rule. Googling around I found the same results as you, it seems there's no definitive answer. Over the years I've seen trades people often have religious wars on arcane topics like this, each claiming the other is wrong. Sounds like a job for one of the most boring episodes of Mythbusters ever!
@@stevesether LOL. If you look above, I did find a lot more results that all say the 2 points of contact is correct. Both the manufacturer and a trade school university said 2 point, as well as several other sources. It sounds like 3 points can actually lead to failures, and based on what I saw on the OSHA site, it is a very real thing. People have actually died from improper wrench use, which was shocking to me.
@@RPMiller Thanks for trying to find authoritative sources. We need more people in the world like you that do honest research, and try to find answers from trusted authorities. (And obviously experiment is the real source of knowledge here)
One of the first tools I ever got. It was my grandfathers and I still got it. One tool that can stand the test of time.
"and don't un-screw plumbing pipes without turning the water off"
thanks... I'll keep that in mind.
you'd be surprised (and/or disappointed) how many people have failed to consider that...
Old gas piping too!
I love Adam with his joyful attention to little details from everything and noting how important is those details are. I also geek out with tools and machinery of all sorts and even commenting to friends and family those details and most of the time they always say or see it as “just a wrench” but we all, who are in to these things, know it’s important and most of the time crucial for a successful result and just to be that guy that says “oh I got just the tool for it” so satisfying when it fits and does it’s work efficiently
3:48 I was always taught to maintain 3 points of contact with these wrenches (bottom them out) so that you avoid marring or squishing the pipe.
ruclips.net/video/3RaUSUOvSlI/видео.html
A plumber wrench (Swedish pattern wrench) seems to be the same thing in essence, but with an extra bit of functionality given by second handle. It allows for more control on how much grip you apply to the pipe. And you can even apply soft material between jaws and the piece when you need to :)
Knipex cobras are like the pipe wrench of channel locks 👌 my favorite tool by far, I work with pipe and use my knipex over a real pipe wrench as often as I can.
The only thing is a pipe wrench is bigger and stronger I’ve got some pretty big pipe wrenches the biggest one I have is 36 inches I’ve got another one that is coming that I ordered it’s 48 inches.
I’m a sprinkler fitter and we use these pipe wrenches all the time! Such a great tool
There's your problem, what you got there is a Stilsons wrench.
He's American, give him a break 🤣
Ridgid wrenches all the way
The inventor of the *Stillson wrench* was American.
And you hardly ever hear that name
Yes or a pipe wrench. This is a monkey wrench en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkey_wrench
The people that* appreciate the genius of a pipe wrench, are the type of people I enjoy.
My whole life I never knew you could turn them without needing to loosen and retighten.
MY WHOLE FREAKEN LIFE!
Was watching in the parking lot of Menard’s. Bought my first monkey wrench and it allowed me to break the rust off the tie rod for my jeep. Awesome tool!
What i learn was most time have 3 points so u always want it to touch the back of it not try to do from front but the back also no small pipe wrench those are amazing
As a millwrite I absolutely love!!! My RIDGID pipe wrenches…. Just make life sooo much easier and they work soooo good!!!
Aww Adam, that's an Allen Key, An adjustable spanner, and a stillson wrench. And if you use any other than a Bacho adjustable Spanner you will destroy the nut, and you had the stillson too far off it should always be 3 point.
Yeah, calling it a crescent wrench rather than an adjustable wrench annoyed me too.
Adam consistently proves in these videos that he doesn't realllyyyy know what he's talking about, he often makes minor mistakes and half asses most things. I find him far less inspirational because of this.
@@djsomeguy indeed.
Oi it's a spanner innit m8 ring me up on Chewsday and I'll tell you all about it
Have you really not realized that things are called by different names across the world? It doesn't change the fact that he's a much more experienced craftsman than you are.
Just because you were a plumber's apprentice for 6 weeks 20 years ago doesn't give you any authority
They are very very underrated. I didn’t gain an appreciation for them until we used one to turn a deep well socket with a broken off square drive jammed in one end while the other was bashed onto a stripped wheel lug.
I love his reaction when you find out it's Pittsburgh brand
Definitely an under-rated tool. I've used my grandfathers old monkey wrenches in all manner of things, not always plumbing and they are fantastic.
This is a great and informative video, love the excitement for what seems like the little things.
I believe the play in the hook jaw has a huge part in the release when you are resetting. This is a design that may seem like a mistake or inaccuracy because it is "loose", but is really intensional. Much like the end of a tape measure
I was taught to only use crescent wrenches in an emergency by an old mechanic when i was very young... I still use them as does adam but I'm glad he mentioned their wonderful corner rounding abilities!
You never know how much you need a pipe wrench until you've tried every damn tool in the box! It's like an infomercial where you're screaming "there has to be a better way!"
I have part of a hobby project at the moment that I've been stumped on and yes, I am now realizing that a pipe wrench is *exactly* what I need
AND when you get totally fed up with a project and just need to hit it a few times, the pipe wrench is STILL great for that!
It's actually pretty funny, but I was actually researching this earlier, and what you have is a pipe wrench, which is different from a monkey wrench. Monkey wrenches were actually what predated the pipe wrench. They had parallel jaws and we're he really much bigger, so the pipe wrench was made to fix both of those. Just kinda a fun history fact.
I love my 42" pipe wrench.
that's a hell of a wrench...
It's an old size but super handy. Has a magnesium handle, too. It's got nothing on the old 72" chain wrenches though, those are beastly.
Hey Adam, big fan. Just a quick tip I learned from an old school steamfitter. With a pipe wrench the optimum spot of adjustment is actually when the pipe is touching the two serrated jaws aswell as the throat. In that configuration under heavy heavy load the wrench will never slip. Tested this at a few plant outages I will not disclose the names of. 😂
That...is a pipe wrench. Monkey wrenches have a square, toothless (or at the least ridged) jaw, that runs on a fixed track along the main body of the wrench. Just a little pedantic.
Or a ford wrench...
Sometimes, it's good to be pedantic. Be kind about it (many people make this mistake -- indeed, I didn't realize the difference before seeing comments in this video), but make the correction.
(Hey Tested staff, can you edit the video title?)
After being under my house for 8 hours, covered from head to toe in mud, I can concur with Adam, the Husky Pipe wrench does an excellent job. Oh, reciprocating saws work too, just don't expect to use that section of pipe again.
"Or sharks, because they haven't changed much in the intervening years we have been using them"
What sort of job in the shop does a shark help with 😅
That is classified, need to know, information.
Have you heard of soft jaws? Adam uses shark jaws for extra grip! 😬😂🤣😂
Or my personal favourite use when the apprentices get on your nerves
limb removal
Sanding. Shark skin has been used as sandpaper for ages.
I carried 2. 1/2 inch open ended box wrenches for connecting water lines on fridges. I hated that adjustable wrench crescent wrench. He is absolutely correct with having more then 1 pipe wrench! Need 2 when you connect gas pipes or brass fittings.
Awesome video!
A Monkey/pipe wrench also makes a decent, emergency melee weapon in Fallout '76..
And an it'll do weapon IRL. If in doubt, swing the big heavy steel stick shaped thing at the head of the subject. Will do damage for you
Big Jim in Fo4
36" aluminum.Easy to carry,steel jaws way out on the end,swings nice
I've been a licensed plumber for 15 years and you absolutely want the pipe to touch the back of the jaws. Having 3 points of contact will stop you from crushing the pipe. Granted this may only be necessary on really old sized up plumbing, but a good trick none the less!
A _monkey wrench,_ which I have handy right now, is flat-jawed, once adjusted both jaws are stationary, and is used on fasteners. A _pipe wrench,_ on the other hand, has a pivoting jaw that self-clamps to help grip, um, pipe. I love Adam, but he's mis-named several items in his videos, and thus has "taught" millions of viewers the wrong name.
It's mis-named in the title, but he actually calls it pipe wrench through most of the video... But I didn't know that anyway, cool.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkey_wrench#/media/File:Monkey_and_Stillson_wrenches.png
Correct. Thanks for saving me the trouble of responding to this misnomer.
The thing is, pipe wrenches are often called monkey wrenches. Search for "monkey wrench" on Harbor Freight, all the top results are pipe wrenches. So while not technically correct, is it really that harmful when "monkey wrench" is going to get viewers to the tool he's talking about all the same?
@@vshazam Yeah, the more I think about it feels like a sub-class of a monkey wrench. It's still the same basic operation and mechanism. Just more tailored for working with pipes, as opposed to nuts with a flat jaw.
76 years old and just found out the difference between a pipe wrench and a monkey wrench. I Googled it. I have seen what we called monkey wrenches with out groves on the jaws but I never thought about it being different. Never to old to learn.
When I was a kid I called a pipe wrench a "monkey wrench," then I learned from an old timer what a real monkey wrench was.
I now own many monkey wrenches along with my pipe wrenches.
They are both well suited for particular jobs.
I have a 48 inch pipe wrench that belonged to my grandfather. He was a pipe fitter for a natural gas company right after WW1. It's steel and heavy, but nothing works better on 2 and 4 inch pipe!!
Dude, what happened to the “three corner bite?” You always adjust the wrench to bottom out on pipes. It’s part of the design.
Absolutely. Otherwise you risk deforming the pipe (flattening it where the jaws crush it). You definitely need to bottom out the wrench and make sure the wrench has 3 points of contact to keep the pipe round.
This variety of wrenches is also known as the Stillson wrench, named for its inventor who was a mechanic in Cambridge Massachusetts. The prototype was made out of wood and was still very effective. They took out the patent in 1869. There have been many variations, but I've traded in my old pipe wrenches for modern Stillsons, because they are still the best.
As a plumber.... Calling these Monkey Wrenches is slightly boiling my piss 😅😅
And we that use them every day need to send him a set of Ridgids so he can know there is really a difference in brands, I call those he has killers, never fail to hurt myself when I use the off brands...
Jamie H also has a video where he talks about the brilliance of the pipe wrench as a tool. As the surfaces are rounded so it doesn't catch on stuff. It's specifically engineered so that everything fits in a sloppy way but it still works. And the opening is sideways on the end, so even if you can't get the end of the wrench directly to the pipe you're grabbing, you can still sometimes hook it over and move it.
As a sign of my youth, I knew what a monkey wrench was thanks to playing Half-Life Opposing Force 😅
I scrolled too long to find this.
Thank you, Adam. This is arguably the best, simplest pipe wrench teaching moment on RUclips! After 50 Yrs, I needed this. You are simply amazing ;thanks for keeping me company during my Covid Isolation!,
Adam, I love ya man, but you did it wrong. It has to have a three side contact or you risk making the pipe oval.
Two words. Pipe. Dope.
What kinda weak ass pipe are you working with?
I'm glad to see that plenty of other people have also pointed out that this is not a monkey wrench.
I'm glad I'm not the only one who only wears a hat to tame my hair
Oh look a video about a pipe-wrench.
How can Adam make it nice?
Well. I was now properly amused by Adam demonstrating a pipe wrench!
Adam, you should present everything!
Never heard them called monkey wrenche
Because it isn't one 😉
I think the term dates back to the early automotive days, when auto mechanics were commonly referred to as ''grease monkeys''. Back before the Crescent company designed the modern-day Crescent wrench.
The clanking and the clinking of the monkey wrench when they are being handled just might be the best sound one can hear in a tool shed.
I always thought this was a pipe wrench
He did say pipe wrench
20 years ago me and my brother operated a small gas powered diamond drill(Winkie Drill) with an EW core barrel.Teeth were worn smooth in no time on a rigid wrench breaking apart the core barrel(Aluminum/magnesium drill rods were easier to get purchase on).My father suggested a Stillson wrench.(Luckily we had one rusting out under our house).That rusty wrench was a life saver for grabbing that core barrel ever time.Father knows best......
There is a difference between a monkey wrench and a pipe wrench.
In my shop, we call the crescent wrench, the “nut lathe”. Full disclosure, we use the nut lathe frequently.
Huh, Dave Grohl changed
I kinda like how this series has morphed from 'tools I like that you might not know about' to just plain 'tools that are useful and how they're used'.
Crescent is a brand name. "Adjustable open-end wrench" or "spanner" are correct.
And Allen wrench is a brand name. " Hex wrench" or "hex key".
That doesn't make it wrong though. What do you call a tissue you use to blow your nose? Probably a Kleenex if you're from North America. It's simply a trademark name that has become genericized to refer to the item itself.
Fun fact, in Australia wrenches are spanners, except for allen wrenches, which are allen keys and pipe wrenches that can either still be a pipe wrench, or a stillson. Wrenching on a spanner is still wrenching, not spannering.
I’m going to add another angle with the pipe wrench/ monkey wrench discussion, but for the “Crescent Wrench”. Crescent is a brand of adjustable open end wrench. It’s like using “Kleenex” ubiquitously for facial tissue.
Also, those are pipe wrenches not monkey wrenches.
Have two on my work truck, I have definitely used them way more then I had ever thought I would. They make good vices in a pinch
Pipe wrenches are also great for adjusting tie rods & it works way better than the tools made specifically for that task.
Tool tip here from a licensed gas fitter. When buying a pipe wrench get aluminum wrenches not steal, they are a lot lighter and just as strong. Rigid brand is the best but a bit expensive for the average Joe, the home depot brand is probably just fine. Also you should have atleast 2 of them so you can back wrench your work piece while loosening or tightening it.
When I think of my favorite tools, pipe wrench always comes to mind. So useful. Essentially the manly version of those rubber pads your grandma uses to open stubborn jars and bottles
I recall an old article that Jamie Hyneman wrote for a magazine where he used the pipe wrench as an example of a useful tool because of its low tolerances.
When I was wee lad, my grandfather called his big pipe wrench a boy wrench. If I was acting up he would threaten to take me apart with it. His eyes, however, always conveyed his love for me so I never actually felt threatened. He passed away more than 30 years ago and I still miss him deeply. I still have his boy wrench. It is still used for its intended purpose . . . and for the occasional threat delivered with a twinkle in my eye.
I keep one of these on my tractor at all times... they are great for adjusting the three point hitch on the back for different implements. Or smacking something into place... also makes a great attitude adjuster.
One thing to add with any piping that needs to be water or air tight, (not gas,) the pros will use thread tape, applied clockwise when looking into the pipe, then add pipe "dope", aka the pipe thread sealant. Now the seal actually comes the taper of the thread, the reason we would want multiple "sealants" is they actually end up being a lubricant, which aids in reaching a tight enough seal of the actual metal, as well as making it possible to undo the pipe without destroying it.
In regards to crescent wrenches, if to apply the same principles that pipe wrenches operate on (ie the turn direction required to tighten/loosen...) you will be far less likely to round off the corners of nuts and bolts because the major stresses will get applied to the solid jaw rather than the adjustable, flexible one.
Pipe wrenches are really useful if you are changing a leaky gaslift on an office chair... a new gaslift and a pipe wrench to help remove the old one come in around $20-30... new chair $150... and you need a pipe wrench as gaslifts while push fit when assembling are not usually intended to come out and pushed in really really tight with years of people sitting on the chair.
I have a large red pipe wrench I hardly ever use. It's one of my favorite tools. I restored it. There's probably some sentimental value.
As a guy working with those and mor kinds of plumbing- I have a lot more differences between the two AND a few reasons why the monkey wrench is not "better" but simply meant for other tasks.
The crescent wrench is smooth, parallel jawed for using on hexagonal pipe fittings- teeth will ruin the sides as well as corners and you should fit it well enough to not round them. Monkey wrench is non parallel, toothed jawed specifically for NON polygon shapes as a round pipe length or lip.
Fun fact: in Hebrew, monkey wrench is called English pipe wrench and the crescent is called Swedish wrench. Prob because of their origin countries...
Incorrect, a monkey wrench doesn't have toothed jaws.
The Stanley locking adjustable wrench is a game changer. A crescent wrench with a vice grip mechanism? Brilliant. I wish they made a small version though.
I have quite a few pipe wrenches I have a 36 inch pipe wrench and just ordered a 48 inch pipe wrench to add to my collection.
As someone who has strung countless strings of 2 3/8 together in the oil field, I recommend about 3/4 back instead of 1/2 way into the jaws. You can still slip quite often at 1/2. Lessons learned the hard way haha
The funny thing is that the galvanised pipe and fittings that a Stilson Wrench is designed for hasn't been used for water piping for over three decades, so it's really only ever going to be used on furniture, handrails, or possibly undoing a threaded inspection plug on PVC DWV piping (but, most tradespeople use a shifter [crecent wrench] anyway because of the rarity)
Fascinating...not a single one of these US tools ...has the same in the UK.