Plumber wrench

Johan Petter Johansson with his wrench

A plumber wrench (or plumber's wrench) is a pipe wrench used to rotate plumbing pipes. It is adjusted to different pipe diameters by rotating the key ring (silver in the picture). Its advantage is that it grips with significant force without needing to engage a nut. However, if used carelessly, it can dent or break the pipe. It can also be used on nuts and other flat engagement points.

Being relatively large and unwieldy, it is used only when ordinary wrenches aren't suitable. It is effective on pipes that resist movement and for tightening pipes very securely.[1]

The plumber wrench was invented in the year 1888 by Swedish inventor Johan Petter Johansson. His wrench shares some principles with both the Stillson-pattern pipe wrench and the rigid pipe wrench. Nevertheless, it is a decidedly different and improved tool. It allows plumbers to use the wrench rather than a pair of tongs to separate or join pipes.[2] It isn't widely known in North America. It is common in Europe, where it may be called a "pipe wrench", "Swedish wrench", or "Swedish pattern wrench".[3]

Johansson also improved the adjustable spanner, patenting in 1891..

References

  1. ↑ "Plumber Wrench". Mr. Rooter. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
  2. ↑ "The History Of Plumber Wrenches And Their Uses". Plumbers 911. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
  3. ↑ "Wrenches and accessories". Atesina S.p.A. Retrieved 2015-03-08.

See also

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Friday, October 09, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.