This is how you use a Pipe Wrench:
> Center the jaws on the pipe
> Tighten the upper jaw down with the gear mechanism
> Secure the Heel Jaw/Hook Jaw and let it bite
> Test the grip
> Tighten or loosen to remove or fit the pipe
To learn more about these best practices, keep reading!
How to Properly Use A Pipe Wrench?
Known for being the best plumber tool available, the pipe wrench is undoubtedly the best for fitting, loosening, and tightening steel or metal or iron pipes. The Pipe Wrench in some aspects can also be like an adjustable wrench and be one of your best tools, because it can also loosen and tighten screws, nuts, and bolts.
The pipe wrench is also handy not only in a plumbing system, but can also be used in machinery, automotive work, and DIY home repair.
Regarding working on pipes, screws, nuts, and bolts, we will show you how to properly use the best pipe wrench they have in the most effective way possible.
Learning these crucial steps will help you get an accurate fit with the pipe wrench as well as not damage the material you’re working with.
Center the Upper and Lower Jaw on the Pipe
The Lower Jaw will be the guide of your pipe wrench, while the upper jaw is an adjustable jaw that has a gear mechanism that can tighten or loosen the grip
Centering the upper jaw and lower jaw on the pipe is done carefully and is best if you hook the pipe at the lower first while finding the proper flat point to center it down.
Note that you should be careful not to let the back end of the jaws touch the pipe to preserve the pipe material and not scratch it later on to ensure a the pipe durability.
Tighten the upper jaw down with the gear mechanism
The gear mechanism of the pipe wrench has a nut that is adjustable by your thumb, or in bigger pipe wrenches the nut is adjusted with your hands, and you turn it in a left or right motion to tighten the upper jaw or loosen them.
This gear mechanism will tighten the grip of the upper jaw to the pipe, making your pipe wrench the ideal fastener.
Secure the Heel Jaw/Hook Jaw and let it bite
You tighten the gear mechanism by turning the nut while keeping the center of the jaws on the pipe to secure it in place and let it bite the teeth of the upper and lower jaws.
Test the Grip
Try to wiggle and wobble the pipe wrench and if it is relatively secure then the fastener and grip of the pipe wrench is properly secured in place.
Testing the grip is important so that you will not scratch or damage the pipes.
Tighten or loosen to remove or fit the pipe
Now that you’ve done the above steps, you can now safely push or pull, depending on the direction of loosening or tightening that you need with the pipe wrench while leveraging the torque possible.
Repeat the easy steps from 1-5 until you have removed or fitted the pipes properly.
And that’s how you properly use a pipe wrench!
How to Use a Pipe Wrench Video
Below is a quick video teaching how to use a pipe wrench:
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Weldon is a Single Dad who loves teaching others about the workaround in the house. He loves to write about DIY and Home Improvement Hacks and just recently had his first child. You’ll have some fun read with his write-ups and more of his works in his own home!
