O.T bent pipe wrench handle

plow hand · Jul 5, 2017

Good afternoon,
I have a Ridgid 48" cast iron pipe wrench and I bent the handle what would be the best way to straighten it?..heat or no heat thank you

kcm.MN · Jul 5, 2017

I could be very wrong here, but in my opinion, you're out of luck. Even though cast iron is malleable, I would think you'd have some stress fractures inside there and that now the handle is weaker than before. I certainly wouldn't toss it, but might want to relegate it to lighter-duty use and replace it.

I guess also, a lot depends on just "how much" the handle bent.

Janicholson · Jul 5, 2017

heat to the point that it will bend. Put it in a vice or holder on the wrench end, put a pipe that fits on the unbent handle end, pull on it as you heat the full length of the bend and a bit beyond. Dull read will work. Jim

flying belgian · Jul 5, 2017

Do what all the plumbers do when their pipe wrenches ware out--take a hammer and brake the jaw off and return for warranty.

Greg_Ky · Jul 5, 2017

It's cast steel not cast iron, heat and vise or cold in a press no big deal

dhermesc · Jul 5, 2017

Won't Rigid warranty the bent handle?

markct · Jul 5, 2017

Yes they will, says right on it if housing ever breaks or distorts

plow hand · Jul 5, 2017

Ridgid 's warranty is a joke..I've researched it and every retailer said the same thing including Home Depot..send it into Ridgid and they will determine if they can fix..or replace it.. keep in mind I have to pay shipping both ways regardless of outcome..

tomtinker · Jul 5, 2017

They always told me the pipe went in the jaws not the handle. Lol.

gab · Jul 5, 2017

You must be a heck of a guy to bend something like that, we had a 4 footer at work that I could barely lift.

RBMI · Jul 5, 2017

I loaned a guy a 48" iron Ridgid wrench to loosen some anchor bolts. When I walked over to where he was working, they were pulling on my wrench with a 580 Case backhoe. It was bent and I never tried to straighten it. I have seen a 24" Ridgid wrench break as it was being straightened cold. I have also seen a 24" Ridgid wrench fall about 70' and the handle broke when it hit the frozen ground. Close inspection revealed an arced spot on the handle. I hate using a wrench that is bent. Ron

dr sportster · Jul 5, 2017

Like Greg said it is steel not iron .Just bend it back.

dhermesc · Jul 5, 2017

IF you could even think of hooking a 580 to a pipe wrench that sounds like one *&^% of a wrench.

Mike(NEOhio) · Jul 5, 2017

Rigids are forged, not cast. I would heat it. It was forged hot.

WGM · Jul 5, 2017

I doubt that an honest plumber would do that. If they are trying to cheat and get worn out tools replaced under warranty they would also think nothing of cheating their customers.

WGM · Jul 5, 2017

Ridgid's warranty states they will repair or replace defective tools. The warranty also states miss-used tools are not covered. I believe bent handles would fall under the definition of miss-used. How is that a joke? Unless we are trying to get something for nothing.

jon f mn · Jul 5, 2017

My best and favorite pipe wrench is a rigid that I bent the handle on and tried to straighten, it broke when I bent it back. It's half length now, and mostly used with a cheater. But sonetimes I need a short one and now I have a shorty.

Andy Martin · Jul 5, 2017

Well if it breaks you weld it. Hoe pulling on a wrench is not uncommon in the oilfield. Neither are welded pipe wrenches.

Stephen Newell · Jul 5, 2017

Unless it's bent really bad I would leave it alone. It's not going to like being bent back and liable to break off.

I can't picture bending one that size. I don't know how many times I've slipped a pipe over a little pipe wrench and never damaged it.

ohiojim · Jul 6, 2017

just curious,...how long a cheater does it take to bend a 4 footer

dhermesc · Jul 6, 2017

I was wondering how heavy the cheater had to be.

jddrawbar · Jul 6, 2017

We went to all aluminum pipe wrenches at work, and they held up very well. Sure makes
handling the 48" easier.

rrc300 u · Jul 7, 2017

Sorry but they are made with a cast process and then heat treated. FIL is head of maintenance at a foundry here in Erie PA. They are owned by Ridgid and make all the cast parts that are Ridgid tools. Once they areade into the rough shape and have had some grinding done to them the parts arrive down in Elyria OH for finish work and assembly.

O.T bent pipe wrench handle

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