Irwin IRW274103 Grip 18" Cast Iron Pipe Wrench 2-5 Days

The Irwin IRW274103 is a Vise-Grip 18 inch cast iron pipe wrench.

The pipe wrench is a tool whose design is worth understanding because it explains how to use it correctly. The jaws are deliberately loose — they float. When the handle is pulled, the geometry causes the jaws to bite harder into the pipe; the harder you pull, the tighter it grips. That is the whole mechanism, and it means a pipe wrench only works when pulled in one direction. Pushed the wrong way it simply slips.

The teeth are designed to dig into round stock, which is what lets the wrench turn something with no flats. It also means a pipe wrench marks whatever it touches — which is fine on pipe that will be buried or insulated, and unacceptable on plated or finished fittings. Those need a strap wrench or a smooth-jaw wrench.

The 18 inch length is a common working size, supplying the leverage that threaded pipe joints demand.

Cast iron is the traditional pipe wrench body material. It is rigid and durable, and it is brittle — a cast iron wrench should never be struck, cheated with a pipe extension, or used as a lever beyond its intent. It fails suddenly.

Applications include plumbing, process piping, and mechanical maintenance.

Brand

Irwin

SKU

IRW274103

Category

Hand Tools

Weight

6.32 lbs

Dimensions

12.00 x 6.00 x 0.12

Price

$50.00

Availability

In stock

Rating

4 / 5.0