I picked up a neat wrench set from the dump, now I'm wondering how good it is. It's a Parmelee No.1 tubing wrench, with about a dozen interchangable, well, I don't know what you called them. Three-link "straps" that wrap around the tube and tighten via a cam action.
Has anyone used this kind of wrench? I've never seen one before. What jobs are they typically used for?
GTO(John)
I have 2 sets, together mine go from 1/2" to 2" iron or pvc pipe diameter. While too short and delicate to be extremely powerful, they will get loose or install the shortest pipe nipple w/o squashing it where a regular pipe wrench certainly would. They work by a highly levered yet even squeezing action all around the pipe, leaving a round and unmarked nipple or pipe. One handle fits a variety of the pipe grabbers, so there is a bit of preassembly needed. Each grabber is highly specific to its designed diameter, surely 1/16" more or less would defeat it. Not for the pipe fitting, just for a round smooth pipe surface of at least 1/2" length. Well made tool.
Not a replacement for regular pipe wrenches, but good for father's day for that tool-loving dad who has everything.
Tom T
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