Rounded off drain plug

[radios1]

I have a 20 ton hydraulic wire crimper that will do the job.. it has hex dies, but at 20 tons of force, it would do the job..

 

[4570Man]

How are you going to do it with a wire crimper?

 

[tjkubota93]

Clamp it down with the pump, then turn the crimper body.

 

[09112]

Nope. They come in graduated 'opening' sizes. Just like Vise-Grips come in different sizes.

The jaw (I guess you'd call it) is spring loaded... you can slide it onto what you want to turn or hold it open with your thumb, then release. To remove, you just lift it up/down/off. Really simple. (I like simple :laughing

Edit: I found a promotional video... Yes, It's a commercial and you'll have to interpret the Aussie accent:

Renovator Better Grip - YouTube

I'm convinced!! Off to the tool house tomorrow!

 

[fried1765]

Oh, so you have a set of these particular "Better Grip" wrenches with which to make such a assessment and, outright, dismiss their usefulness in this situation?

I do have a set of them and am confident, through experience with them, that the appropriate sized one (perhaps with a cheater bar) would work.

Yup!
Rigid pipe wrench!
Do they sell Rigid pipe wrenches down under?

 

[fried1765]

No, all mine were made in 60's or earlier. I dont have one that small. You just convinced me I need that.

Hopefully they aren't riding on their name.

I have a 24", 14" given to me by a friend that inherited from wifes great uncle and 10" inherited from my great grandfather. I took them apart, stripped, painted grey and replaced the heel jaw on them.

I ordered 6" and 8". Thinking about buying a 12". According to all the reviews ridgid pipe wrenches are the same now as they were.

My dad worked as a petroleum engineer for Exxon after leaving the navy. He had a collection of ridgid calanders bought from the ridgid tool man in the oil fields of south Texas. Oh man, those girls made bikinis look good! I could see how an industrial drain snake wasn't very appealing, but put those girls next to it, sheesh!

If you buy new Rigid wrenches I suggest buying their forged aluminum body wrenches with the hardened steel jaws.
Much lighter to carry around, and every bit as strong.
I have the 12", 18" & 24".
Today's cost 12"=$40, 18"=$56, 24"= $90

 

[Jstpssng]

^^^^
If they're more expensive that must mean that they're better, right?
I've looked at those and they look like nice tools. I don't see myself buying pipe wrenches any time soon though, as there is a plethora of various sizes up to 4 feet on the family homestead.

 

[radios1]

Clamp it down with the pump, then turn the crimper body.

yes, exactly..

 

[PILOON]

If they're more expensive that must mean that they're better, right?
Not always,
AND
I generally steer away from any tool labelled 'professional quality', (often wonder what profession they refer to), I prefer to rely on my experience around tools.
Big problem now days is just about every brand is owned by Stanley/Black & Decker/DeWalt.
I think Makita and Hitachi are still independent and both do make great dependable reliable tooling.

Sears brand (Craftsman) was taken over by DeWalt (probably in lieu of outstanding debt) and is now the 'brand du jour' and showing up in many box stores.
Does not suggest a better tool but more like cashing in on an old standby reputation.
Either way Craftsman was always De Walt/B&D made anyway. Just different brand name.

 

[Diggin It]

Sears brand (Craftsman) was taken over by DeWalt (probably in lieu of outstanding debt) and is now the 'brand du jour' and showing up in many box stores.
Does not suggest a better tool but more like cashing in on an old standby reputation.
Either way Craftsman was always De Walt/B&D made anyway. Just different brand name.

Craftsman is a line of tools, lawn and garden equipment, and work wear. Originally owned by Sears, the brand is now controlled by Stanley Black & Decker.

Craftsman tools were first sold in 1927. They were not manufactured by Sears, but by various other companies under contract. The tools were sold in Sears, sister retailer Kmart, and several other retailers.

In March 2017, Stanley Black & Decker acquired the Craftsman brand from Sears Holdings. Sears maintains the right to manufacture and sell tools using existing supply channels under the Craftsman name for 15 years after the deal closed.

Craftsman (tools) - Wikipedia

 

[4570Man]

No, all mine were made in 60's or earlier. I dont have one that small. You just convinced me I need that.

Hopefully they aren't riding on their name.

!

That’s what I’m afraid of with the low price. Maybe not. I’ll probably end up buying one to see for myself.

 

[Xfaxman]

I agree. That's why I brought it up... and, I suppose, why TBN is such a great site so that we can share innovations.

I can attest ath: that these "Better Grip"s work as advertised and would work on the OP's rounded off drain plug.

Of course, the question is, "Are they available in North America?

Craftsman has a version of the "Better Grip":

 

[Wagtail]

Yup!
Rigid pipe wrench!
Do they sell Rigid pipe wrenches down under?

I Googled 'Rigid pipe wrench'. It looks like their "Ridgid 'RapidGrip'" type is one that uses a similar principal as the "Better Grip" that is available here in Aus.

 

[sixdogs]

SK tools are still around in lots of places. Good quality and I think better than lots of the combines big box store brands. There's also, gasp, Harbor Freight hand tools, many of which are excellent quality and priced reasonable. I think they are becoming a dominant player.

 

[fried1765]

^^^^
If they're more expensive that must mean that they're better, right?
I've looked at those and they look like nice tools. I don't see myself buying pipe wrenches any time soon though, as there is a plethora of various sizes up to 4 feet on the family homestead.

Expensive or not, in my opinion, Rigid aluminum pipe wrenches are the Mercedes of pipe wrenches.

 

[Big Barn]

Expensive or not, in my opinion, Rigid aluminum pipe wrenches are the Mercedes of pipe wrenches.

I agree. I have a couple of old Made in England Records also.



I grab and make do with the aluminum Ridgid 90 percent of the time.

 

[radios1]

Either way Craftsman was always De Walt/B&D made anyway. Just different brand name.

they don't make their own tools either, it's all made in China, there's one big tool manufacturer there that most American companies source their tools from, THAT is why many tools from many manufacturers look very similar except for branding which of course, changes, brand, color options are what change.. Craftsman tractors and mowers are made by MTD.. smaller outdoor equipment like chain saws are branded by Poulan, who has them made in China..

 

[tjkubota93]

That’s what I’m afraid of with the low price. Maybe not. I’ll probably end up buying one to see for myself.

The $15 is 6". While useful, its tiny. They go up in price almost exponentially. The more common sizes will use up the better part of a 50 $ bill and leave just enough for some beer. The larger sizes are real high.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Custom grind the bottom jaw to fit. Clamp on with as much might as you can. Strike handle with large hammer. I'm sure it will budge, and them break loose.
The Original Locking Wrenches - Tools - IRWIN TOOLS

Thats a great tool but it wont work here. Its meant for hex and will outperform an open end wrench or a tube fitting wrench on hex. It grips round fine too but slips rather soon under torque. Kando has neither at this point -- and he started with a square wrenching shape. A large tap wrench would have been his best bet at that point. - - Now its kinda round and conical. :confused3:

 

[Katahdin]

To make the plug square again, I'd file the edges down with a Harbor Freight air file. Of course, you'd also need an air compressor large enough to support air tools.