Can we talk about using a regular pipe wrench on boiler flanges

I know most guys say you need a special flange wrench for the job... but last week on a job in Toledo, I was stuck without one. I tried a 24-inch pipe wrench with a cheater bar and it worked fine, no damage to the flange. It saved me a two-hour trip back to the shop. Has anyone else made a different tool work when they were in a bind?

3 comments

3 Comments

stone.daniel17d ago

That's a risky move on a boiler flange. I've seen the cast iron crack from the uneven pressure of a pipe wrench jaw.

cole_murphy17d ago

Come on, @stone.daniel, how often does that actually happen?

phoenixk6417d ago

Honestly, that whole situation reminds me of the time we had to use a big crescent wrench on some old steam line unions. It was a total hack job but it held long enough to get the real gear out there. Sometimes you just gotta make it work until you can do it right.