The pipe wrench, or gas wrench as it is sometimes called, is perhaps the most common tool for plumbers. Its difference from all other types of keys is that it is able to hold round objects, without edges. This becomes possible due to the features of the structure. The key itself works in two stages: first, it is brought to the desired size, and then it is clamped and set in motion to unscrew or twist the pipe.
The pipe wrench remained in almost the same configuration for a long time, differing only in size. Today in hardware stores you can find several varieties of this tool. The differences are in the way of gripping, the very design of the working part and the handle. The jaws can be located at different angles - depending on the purpose of the key and the convenience of its use in a particular area.
How does a pipe wrench hold a smooth pipe? There are slots on the jaws of the grip, due to which small notches are created on the metal or plastic when the handles are compressed, which subsequently prevents the key from slipping. The design also depends on the application and purpose.tool. For example, a key with a locking position of the handles is suitable for fixing or holding a workpiece. In this case, it does not have to be made of heavy high-strength steel. At the same time, in order to unscrew the rusted pipe, great efforts must be made. In this case, a powerful pipe wrench with long handles and a secure grip is simply indispensable.
Pipe wrench (popularly "butt key") is in the arsenal of almost any master. Despite its original application to tubular products, for which it got its name, this tool is used in repair and construction, in car workshops. Thanks to reliable fixation and withstanding heavy loads, with such a wrench it is possible to unscrew even a nut with torn edges, when it is no longer possible to do this with a conventional wrench. This simple and reliable tool will help out at a time when it seems that there is no way out.
Pipe wrenches also differ in the shape of the jaws, for example, they are S-shaped or L-shaped. The difference is that the S-shaped grip is carried out at three points, while in the L-shaped it is only two.
The marking of keys of this type depends on the country of origin. Domestic tools are assigned a serial number from 0 to 5, depending on the diameter of the pipe that it is able to capture. Each number corresponds to the diameter in millimeters. Imported samples have their own nomenclature, in which each numbercorresponds to the clamped pipe diameter in inches.
In addition to the above, there are also strap and chain wrenches. They are designed to work with large diameter workpieces, but are limited in tightening force. A striking example of such a tool is a special wrench for unscrewing the oil filter of a car.
When choosing a key, special attention should be paid to the quality of the product, it should not have cracks or defects that could lead to tool breakage. The jaws of the wrench must be strictly parallel, even a slight offset can cause weak fixation and, as a result, key slippage.
