Ridgid pipe wrench

[Bill Houghton]

Until last weekend's yard sale, I never knew Ridgid made pipe wrenches this small.  This one will accommodate up to 3/8" pipe, but you'd sure have to be strong to get much grunt on it.  As you can see, this one's not the traditional Ridgid color, but is painted gold - I'm wondering if it was some kind of service award.

To my surprise, Ridgid still lists this size in its catalog, where it's listed as "nominal 6 inch" size.  With the jaws all the way open, it is indeed six inches long.  Maybe there are applications for it, but it's hard to imagine there many places it would be useful.

[DM11]

That is a small one.

[Lostmind]

I have one , used it often for stud removel

[lptools]

I use the same size 6" Ridgid for taking other tools apart!!!!!!

[kwoswalt99]

Never seen a gold one before.

[turnnut]

 I always assumed that every tool box had a Rigid pipe wrench.

 yours was patented on Sept. 10, 1929, an updated patent from Rigid tool co..1925 patent.

 patent.  1,727,623

 it is a very useful tool that has a long history.

 The Ridge Tool Company was founded in 1923 in North Ridgeville, Ohio.

 relocated to Elyria, Ohio in 1943   (still there)   but it became a wholly
 owned subsidiary of Emerson Electric in 1966 

[aametalmaster]

I carried a Ridgid 6" pipe wrench at the refinery to break open small valves for 10 years. Perfect pocket size...Bob