A strap wrench consists of a plastic or wooden handle with a flexible rubber strap that often has small ridges that help it grip round, slick-surfaced, or odd-shaped objects. The tool is used to tighten, loosen, or twist objects such as shower heads, polished, glass, or PVC piping, water and oil filters, and even jar lids. Its main advantages are its flexibility and its ability to grip tightly without scratching or marring the object’s surface.
The 12″ handle Klein strap wrench above provides “cam-action design” that allows “uniform, high-torque application.” Weighing in at 0.8 lbs, the Klein 12″ has a diameter range of 1.5 to 5″, as does the 6″ version. The 18″ strap wrench adjusts between 1 1/8″ to 8″, but is usually quite a bit more expensive, running closer to $70 compared to about $12 and $20 for the 6″ and the 12″, respectively.
My question is: What other unique applications have Toolmongers devised for strap wrenches? It seems they’d be as good around the house as in the shop, and I suspect people have some great ideas that would save the rest of us a lot of time, pain, and grunting noises. Let us know your ideas for uses in comments!
Klein Grip-It Strap Wrenches [Manufacturer's Site]
Street Pricing for Klein Strap Wrenches [Google Products]
12″ Klein Strap Wrench Via Amazon [What’s This?]