Talk:Pipe wrench

Merge with monkey wrench?
Should this page be merged with monkey wrench? I'm not aware of a difference between them, and neither article makes a clear distinction. dbenbenn | talk 23:10, 17 Jan 2005 (UTC)


 * A monkey wrench is for use only on nuts and bolts with flats, while a pipe wrench has toothed jaws for gripping round pipe. Also, the jaws of a monkey wrench are parallel and ridgid, while pipe wrench jaws usually are not parallel, and one jaw is allowed to pivot. Pipe wrenches, as the name correctly implies are for gripping pipe only, and not nuts or bolts.-WK- — Preceding unsigned comment added by 139.78.96.115 (talk) 23:27, 21 November 2006 (UTC)


 * Probably best to keep them separate for now. 66.191.19.217 (talk) 05:04, 15 February 2009 (UTC)


 * As far as im aware there is a large difference between the two and a merge would be careless 86.145.114.127 (talk) 09:53, 2 February 2010 (UTC)

In popular culture
I'm adding a small mention for how Pipe Wrenches are often used as bludgeoning weapons in popular culture --78.145.14.197 (talk) 02:01, 14 April 2009 (UTC)


 * That would be a good addition. Surv1v4l1st (Talk 00:15, 29 December 2009 (UTC)

Pipe wrench, Monkey, Or stillsons
In countries such as Australia and the United Kingdom, the previously common term "Stillson's" or "set of Stillson's" is being progressively replaced in everyday speech by the colloquial term monkey wrenches. As far as i'm concerned this is incorrect information.

I like in the UK and while the do get colloquially called monkey wrenchs from time to time (they do look similar) they are in the main always Stillson's or 'stillys' for short any where i have ever been or worked as a graduate engineer who knows a fair few plumbers. Occasional they are detailed as a pipe wrench but typically this is uncommon an deemed and Americanisum, although most would know what was ment by it. dhutch (talk) 09:54, 2 February 2010 (UTC)


 * I second this 114.198.0.126 (talk) 05:44, 13 April 2012 (UTC)


 * (Note: whatever you call the wrenches, it's incorrect to use apostrophes to make a plural)TyroSailor (talk) 11:34, 8 March 2018 (UTC)

Old photo of old gentleman
The thing he is holding looks like a Plumber wrench and not a pipe wrench. 92.24.181.36 (talk) 12:14, 12 January 2011 (UTC)


 * That is, in fact, the same picture used on the Plumber wrench page, so one of the two is wrong. 68.112.193.122 (talk) 17:02, 21 June 2011 (UTC)

Monkey wrenches, pipe wrenches, and Stillson wrenches
Pipe wrenches are a category that has been dominated by the Stillson since about 1900. But many other pipe wrenches exist! You're even got a picture of one on the page. The Stillson pattern is by far the best for dealing with common black iron and galvanized round pipe.

Wrenches, including pipe wrenches, come in *patterns*. Wrench collector websites and tool auction houses categorize and catalogue them online, information's not hard to find. The middle one in the picture of "three old wrenches" is a real Walworth Stillson (and they are all stillson pattern).

So, the stillson is a specific pattern of adjustable, self-tightening, pseudo-ratcheting pipe wrench. Not really anything like a monkey wrench at all.

For comparison, a Briggs pattern wrench is an adjustable pipe wrench that is neither self-tightening nor pseudo-ratcheting. There are many others.

Things that are not pipe wrenches include alligator wrenches, monkey wrenches, basin wrenches, crows-foot and box-end wrenches, etc. etc. etc. etc... — Preceding unsigned comment added by 205.153.180.229 (talk) 23:48, 23 September 2013 (UTC)

Footprint wrench, worth a mention?
This design is not currently shown or described in the article. The Footprint wrench has been manufactured since c19. This wrench is not adjusted by a screw, like all other pipe wrenches. This wrench will grip a range of pipe sizes without adjustment, unlike all other designs. This wrench can be effortlessly and instantly removed from the pipe, unlike many designs. This wrench is still widely used in the UK. AnnaComnemna (talk) 18:18, 13 November 2014 (UTC)


 * I have added a link to Footprint Tools. I feel that the statement "These spanners are sometimes called "footprints" in Australia" is incorrect and should be removed. The Footprint wrench operates on a similar principle. Neither can correctly be called a spanner — Preceding unsigned comment added by Julesomega (talk • contribs) 14:06, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

Sizes of pipe wrenches
The article states "Pipe wrenches are classified by the length of the handle. They are generally available in any size from as small as 3 inches (80 mm) up to 48 inches (1,200 mm) or larger."

I have a particular interest in small pipe wrenches. The smallest I have seen are 6" versions, the 6" Stillson style wrenches being considerably smaller than the 6" modern style wrenches. (The 6" Stillson style wrench has a head on it that is the size you would expect on a 4" modern style wrench if such thing were available.) The salient point however is that I am skeptical of the statement that "Pipe wrenches are generally available in any size from as small as 3". The statement is made with no references. Even if such pipe wrenches were made, they are hardly "Generally available" and likely considered obsolete. If anyone can prove me wrong (or even show me a pipe wrench smaller than 6") Id be very happy. (yes, I realize that some '6"' pipe wrenches were really 5-1/2" long) Im going to change the article to say "They are generally available in sizes of 6 inches to 48 inches or larger" — Preceding unsigned comment added by 73.151.161.236 (talk) 00:40, 4 August 2021 (UTC)

Modern P=pipe wrenches vs Stillson wrench
I submit that modern pipe wrenches and Stillson wrenches are two distinct tools, the former having been developed from the latter. Their mechanism of action is very similar but they are different in construction. For example https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stillson%20wrench defines a Stillson wrench as having a pivoting sleeve that encircles the handle and mounts the L shaped upper jaw. A modern pipe wrench does not have this sleeve. Instead the jaw is installed with a loose fit in a hole in the handle of the tool. Furthermore, companies that manufacture modern pipe wrenches typically call them simply "Pipe Wrenches" while companies that make wrenches that conform to the original Stillson design refer to them as "Stillson Wrenches" or "Stillson Pipe Wrenches". https://www.bahco.com/int_en/stillson-pipe-wrenches-pb_361_.html https://www.ridgid.com/us/en/straight-pipe-wrench — Preceding unsigned comment added by 73.151.161.236 (talk) 00:57, 4 August 2021 (UTC)