I was installing a water softener filter where I needed to screw a one inch to 3/4" pvc bushing into a big plastic top piece that the filter body screws into. The flats on that plastic reducer were 1 1/2". The only thing I had to use on that 1 1/2" thing was a very large pair of channel locks. I didn't like using them because they were so heavy that I couldn't really judge the amount of torque I was applying to that plastic on plastic stuff since I had to squeeze the handles together while trying to feel the torque.
Anyway, when I got done, the thing leaked a very slow drip. I decided to try the whole thing again since I had another new plastic reducer. But the only thing I had was those very big channel locks. I didn't want to use a BIG pipe wrench either.
Then I remembered seeing an old monkey wrench in an old tool box of my Dad's so I dug it out and cleaned it up and oiled it up and got it working smoothly again. It was a ten inch wrench.
That was just the thing I needed. I could feel how much torque I was putting on that plastic and I got it right because I had no leak after that. Of course I used Teflon tape on the threads.
But thanks to that very old wrench I got the job done. I went on Amazon and saw that Crescent did make a new one for $28. But I like that old one now. Of course they also make a variety or wrenches for very large spans like plumbing.
By the way there were no markings at all on that wrench.
Anyway, when I got done, the thing leaked a very slow drip. I decided to try the whole thing again since I had another new plastic reducer. But the only thing I had was those very big channel locks. I didn't want to use a BIG pipe wrench either.
Then I remembered seeing an old monkey wrench in an old tool box of my Dad's so I dug it out and cleaned it up and oiled it up and got it working smoothly again. It was a ten inch wrench.
That was just the thing I needed. I could feel how much torque I was putting on that plastic and I got it right because I had no leak after that. Of course I used Teflon tape on the threads.
But thanks to that very old wrench I got the job done. I went on Amazon and saw that Crescent did make a new one for $28. But I like that old one now. Of course they also make a variety or wrenches for very large spans like plumbing.
By the way there were no markings at all on that wrench.