Years ago when I first stared out in the aviation mechanic trades, I was given a
list of recommended tools o acquire for my aviation tool box. One was called a
"Ford wrench". It looked much like a pipe wrench but was made so the jaws were
smooth  and always parallel. The parts were more precision made than those of a
pipe wrench, and there fore the adjustments were smooth.

John Rodgers
"88GL Driver

Rico Sapolich wrote:

> In a message dated 1/27/00 11:10:48 PM, revtek@GREENNET.NET writes:
>
> << big old plumbing type wrench (when you don't have
> the right big socket and the axle has to come off and you have a six
> foot pipe, it comes off with minimal damage to the nut (a few teeth
> marks >>
>
> An ideal tool for this circumstance is one that is often overlooked because
> it seems to be an anachronism: the monkey wrench.  For those not versed in
> mechanical antiquities, a monkey wrench is like an adjustable Stillson pipe
> wrench with jaws which are parallel and smooth.  It was designed when men
> were men and nuts were big and square.
>
> I once found an 18" one at a yard sale for 2 bucks.  It was branded Armstrong
> so I bought it as sort of a curiosity not knowing exactly for what I would
> use it.  When I had a loose axle nut and had to wait for one of those
> slugging wrenches, I tried the monkey wrench.  It worked great.  One thing,
> before I used it I took the time to remove the evidence of some of the sins
> this fine tool had suffered.  This amounted to straightening the shank
> (cheater bars have been around since the first threaded connection) and
> truing the jaw surfaces.  These tools are bulky but, I would not hesitate to
> use one anywhere it fits.  There is a subtlety in the design of the one I
> have that causes the jaws to grip tighter with increasing torque.  A Crescent
> wrench does not even come close to performing as well.
>
> So, think again when you see a box of grimy tools at the flea market.  The
> shame of it is that a lot of excellent tools are lining the dens of tool
> collectors instead of living a life of honor in a toolbox.
>
> Rich