The classic use of a basin wrench is to reach behind a sink to connect or disconnect the water supply hoses to a faucet. Ridgid has come out with a new style of basin wrench (model no. 46753) that should make this and similar tasks even easier.
Rigid started with standard basin wrench features, such as a pivoting head and spring-action jaws, and added several other useful features, such as an LED light, a telescoping handle, a pivoting T-handle attachment, and a 3/8″ drive socket at the end of the straight handle.
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The water-resistant LED is aimed at the business end of the wrench, so you can see the nut you’re trying to tighten or loosen. Neither Ridgid nor the retailers state it explicitly, but one user review says the LED has both a low and high mode. It’ll automatically shut off after 5 minutes of inactivity so that you don’t drain the batteries if (when) you forget to turn it off.
Speaking of batteries, the LEDs are powered by two coin cells that Ridgid doesn’t specify. (If I had to guess which coin cells by looking at the picture, I’d say they were CR2032.) You can access the cells by removing two small screws.
The basin wrench extends from a compact 10″ to long-reach at 17″. The telescoping action is controlled by a ball detent mechanism, with four detents in the body of the wrench corresponding to the four length settings. Jaw capacity is 1/2″ – 1-1/4″.
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Ridgid also says the jaw has been upgraded with a heavy-duty, rust-resistant spring and travel limiter to provide a tighter grip and longer lifetime.
The T-handle pivots 180°, which lets you squeeze the wrench into tight places. It also detaches to reveal a 3/8″ drive socket. This allows you connect a breaker bar or larger T-handle for more leverage, or a ratchet for when you don’t have much room to spin the wrench. And, unlike the cold, bare metal body of most other basin wrenches, the body of the Ridgid basin wrench is covered with a softer and more comfortable contoured overmold.
Wouldn’t you know it, the one Big Orange Retailer you think of when you think of Ridgid tools doesn’t have any in stock online, and stores are showing mixed or uncertainty inventory. If you want one from there, you’ll probably have to visit your local store. Online, ToolBarn seems to have a couple in stock. There it’ll cost you $50 with $9 for the cheapest shipping option. Amazon is also listing the basin wrench, but with a long shipping estimate.
Buy Now (LED telescoping basin wrench via Tool Barn)
Buy Now (via Home Depot – not immediately available)
Buy Now (via Amazon, 1-3 month shipping estimate)
First Thoughts
Unless you are a plumber, a basin wrench probably isn’t a tool you use every day or even every other month, but when you need one, no other tool will do.
When fred mentioned the Ridgid LED telescoping basin wrench in the recent Milwaukee Pipe Wrenches & Pluming Tools post, I remembered the few times I’ve had to use a basin wrench. Each time I was lying on my back reaching up behind a sink while trying to aim a flashlight with my mouth.
$50 might seem a little expensive for a basin wrench, but the last time I had to use one, I was so frustrated that if somebody would have handed me a tool that would have gotten me out from under the sink faster, I probably would have handed them $50 on the spot. I don’t know that Ridgid’s LED telescoping basin is that tool, but it sure looks better than my basin wrench.
While we normally consider LED-lighted hand tools to be somewhat gimmicky, Ridgid’s LED telescoping basin wrench is one tool where a built-in light really makes sense.
fred
We got a email from Ridgid and my old compatriots bought a pair of these at a local HD in early July (don’t know about more stock). I can confirm that the batteries are CR2032. They like the Universal joint T-Handle – which might be a handy tool just by itself. The tool fits a lot of fittings but doesn’t replace the older Ridgid 1019 (31180) which has a span up to 3 inches.
Tony Genova
Have you seen the Magic Basin Wrench, just recently released by some old timer plumber. google it
PhilnTX
I’ve still got the old standard RIDGID 1017 regular basin wrench I’ve had for twenty years or so.
Besides working under sinks with the thing, it also is my go to wrench for my water meter valve. It is in an awkward place for regular wrenches in that fire-ant filled curbside box. It works great for that.
SteveR
Phil–Absolutely; good use of an existing tool for reaching DOWN into something instead of just UP. I use mine to work on our irrigation system to remove a sprinkler and nipple from the “T” fitting when there’s a problem. Saves a lot of time and effort if I don’t have to dig a wide hole to reach the parts giving me grief. I also recently used a basin wrench to grip an old-style metal sprinkler head to remove it, then re-attach it. You’re supposed to use a special tool to do that, but I didn’t need it with this.
That new T-handle with a U-joint on it is nice. I’m sure I shared this before, but the wrench head on a basin wrench is sometimes too large to grab the nut and turn it under a sink. I’ve used a ratchet, a foot-long extension and a crowsfoot wrench in the past to remove one that the basin wrench couldn’t grip and turn (not enough room). Putting a long extension on this T-handle and the correct crowsfoot wrench can get you out of that jam.
I like my old Ridgid 1017, but this new version is a nice upgrade. The rubberized (?) grip is a welcome improvement, too. As for availability, has anyone tried MSC or Grainger?
fred
In the business – you run into situations that seem to make some installations seem almost unserviceable. There are specialty basin wrenches that get the job done in some situation where the Ridgid 1017 and 1019 would not work.
Superior Tool made a 3/8 inch drive head (part # 03820) and Wal_Rich makes a tool set called the Basin Buddy (Part # 1890002) that sometimes got pulled out. As Steve R says – sometime a ratchet or T-Handle plus and extension and a crowfoot or crowring were the tools of choice. We had a few of both styles from Williams to fit popular fitting sizes. And speaking of using automotive tools for plumbing – we also liked ratcheting flare-nut wrenches from Proto for less confined spaces.
fred
I forgot to mention that sometimes a faucet nut is so frozen that more extreme measures are needed. If so – a Pasco 7000 nut cracker might help.
http://www.amazon.com/Pasco-7000-Quick-Nutcracker-Remover/dp/B004M3GP50
paul
Stuart… I would have raised the bid to $75 to get my a** out of that hellhole of a sink in a steamy, humid, putrid mens locker room… ok, $75.50???
paul
okay I ASSumed the post was from the omnipresent Stuart, sorry Benjamin, but the feelings remain, under a sink contorted like origami, I’d pay top dollar for the right tool and then curse myself for not having said tool. Saavy?
Benjamen
No problem, call me what ever you want as long as it isn’t shill, that’s about the only thing that’ll upset me.
You know the distrusting area underneath a sink just seems to be a meme. It really doesn’t have to be. After my last episode, we tiled the floor of the sink cabinet with vinyl squares and painted the inside of the cabinet. We keep the sink in good working order and now the area underneath that sink is as clean as the rest of the bathroom.
Under our kitchen sink, now that’s a whole another disaster area that I’m sure I’ll have to address soon.
fred
Sink enclosures are not the only spots that sometimes are allowed to get disgusting, nauseating or even hazardous. We had crew members who would often quip about the need for hazardous-duty pay and/or why we could not charge for both exterminator services (think rodents as well as insects) plus plumbing on some jobs.
Benjamen
When I was a kid, my “childcare” was my dad taking me with him on jobs in the summer or after school. Since I was small I, usually got the “hey Ben, come over here and see if you can fit into there.”
I know all too well about ugly spaces…
Nathan
nice I don’t own a basin wrench and never used/needed one.
however I’m in that – used a flare nut/crow ring/whatever else I have in the garage arsenal camp.
this looks like a nice device – and I may purchase – i have a few facet nuts I can’t seem to get tight enough.
John
A basin wrench is a perfect example of a tool you may only need to use once or twice ever and, as such, it is a perfect example of a tool to borrow, not buy. If your community is fortunate enough to have a TOOL LENDING LIBRARY (as mine does, in Berkeley, CA; Oakland has one, too), you can very likely find a basin wrench there. And it’s free (3 days loan period)!
I borrowed a basin wrench twice last year, and it was awesome. If you need one for a sink installation, no other tool (that I know of) will do the trick. I probably won’t need to use it again for years and years, if ever.
(I’ve written in a couple of times to suggest “tool lending libraries” as a worthwhile discussion topic/post, but so far, no bites!)
Benjamen
I’ve had discussions about lending libraries a few times, and while the idea sounds great, very few of them seem to exist. There’s plenty of reasons: societal mindset economics, location, etc..
Let’s look at the basin wrench example, given the area I’m in (northern suburbs), the library probably would be in Minneapolis or a southern suburb, I’d have to drive at least 20 minutes both ways (on a really good day), try to find someplace to park, etc. Then when I wanted to return it I’d have to do the same thing. Why not just go grab a cheap one at the local hardware store for $20?
So they only really make sense if they are close to where you live. So in my area you’d have to have one every other burb, so there’d have to be something like 20 of them.
Closely related is the topic of hacker spaces. I’ve looked into joining the local one here in Minneapolis, but for the few tools I’d use there that I don’t have I could save the membership costs for half a year and buy them myself. I know there are other benefits like having more knowledgeable people to teach you, but right now what they have to offer isn’t attractive to me.
John
Benjamen,
Thank you for the reply.
By “discussions”, do you mean with friends, or discussions here on ToolGuyd?
FYI, here’s a link to the Berkeley tool library, housed in a (brand new) annex to one the branch libraries in our system. It’s really awesome — I believe it was the first of its kind in the country. In addition to tool lending, they’re also really good at giving good suggestions on tool use/handling, and even on how to attack particular projects).
To give you (and your readers) a sense of the scale of the place, here’s a PDF of the tools available:
https://www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org/sites/default/files/files/inline/201328_bpl_tool_broch3_rev2.pdf
As to your main points, I really don’t know what you mean by “societal mindset economics” (and I have degrees in both economics and psychology!) I hope you might be able to clue me into your thinking about this.
Berkeley really isn’t very large in population or geography — I really have no idea how it compares to a typical suburb, or the suburb you’re in. But I don’t see why a decent sized community couldn’t afford one, or wouldn’t want one.
Now that I’ve engaged you, perhaps you might consider presenting this topic in its own post, so that ToolGuyd readers can spot it and weigh in…
Thanks again,
Benjamen
I’ve had discussions with friends…
Social mindset, economics. Sorry missed the comma.
Social mindset: We live in a disposable culture for better or worse, we drive everywhere instead of having public transportation, we live in suburbs instead of high density cities.
Economics: cost of tools, liability insurance, staffing, rent, etc…
Looking at your pdf, it looks like it’s more of a subsidized tool rental than a library. I don’t think a independent entity could offer the same thing without either a high membership fee or higher prices. I’m impressed with some of the programs libraries offer, they are doing a lot more in the community to say relevant. We have a few with 3D printers and workshops for kids on how to design.
It is an interesting topic and it would interesting to hear different perspectives. You’ve definitely got me thinking about it. I won’t promise anything though.
Nathan
It’d be a great topic as I’m sure there are plenty
but you know what it will come down to.
the reason there aren’t more local tool libraries – Harbor Freight, Northern Tool, and other knockoff cheap chinese stores that are prolific in most major cities.
why borrow something even if free – when I can buy one for 3 dollars.
I would love it if someone like our local tool central or such rented tools with 100% deposit back or such. Autozone, O’reilly, and advance auto do with automotive tools.
to some degree I see Home Depots – rental location adding some specialty hand tools to their list in the same vein. I’m OK with all of this and I would agree that I’d rather rent a quality tool than buy a cheap POS from HF.
John
Well, I guess I’m going to continue the conversation in this thread, since this may be my last chance on ToolGuyd. I must say I love this site (visit it at every single day, in fact), but just don’t get where you’re coming from.
“Subsidized tool rental”?? Why not just call every library a “subsidized book rental”? C’mon, now.
The country is, in fact, becoming *more* urban. No, “we” don’t drive everywhere, and no, we do have public transportation. (And, I’m not even in a big urban center!)
Why would a community library system want to do this? Because the “system” is already in place, for one. That is, you don’t have to start from scratch (with all the attendant costs and challenges). Member accounts, electronic sign-out system, online record keeping of checked out items, website operations, administrative management… All this and more already exist and can just be piggybacked on the existing library system.
But that’s not really the answer to “why” — it’s more “how”. The *reason* is that a community chooses to provide services that its residents/constituents value. And that includes residents who cannot afford to buy every tool (or book) they might need. Frankly, I’m rather put off by the suggestion that everyone is able to afford an “inexpensive” tool when the need comes up. (I checked the Ace Hardware website and found a $15 basin wrench.) Can everyone you know afford to part with $15 for a tool they may likely never use again? (If so, you’re living in a rather well-off community). It frankly boggles my mind that this website would hesitate to engage with this topic. (I’m not jumping to conclusions here as I’ve twice sent emails in the past year or two suggesting this as a future topic, and never received a reply.)
Frankly, I have no idea how common tool libraries are. But I’m curious to know and I’d certainly like to spread the word. I bet a lot of people have never even thought about this idea, and how much value it would provide them. But to dismiss the idea even in part because we live in a “disposable culture” is so infuriating to hear. That’s not a reason not to engage with the topic!. That’s one of the best reasons I can think of why this idea needs to spread, or at least to be discussed.
Benjamen
Can’t reply any deeper, so I’m responding to John’s questioning of “subsidized tool rental”
I’m not being derogatory, I’m calling it what it is. You posted the link to the Berkeley site. After every tool there is a dollar amount that implies that is what you pay to take the tool home. That is not lending. Maybe your experience is different, but I can only go by the information you give me.
Also I’m not throwing subsidized out there like I’m a Tea Party member complaining about government spending. The library is a government entity. They are providing a fee based service that a private organization could not provide at the same price. If I want to put something down you’ll know it.
They loan out books for free, but I’ve seen them experiment with allowing you to rent new releases for $1 a day. They even call that renting not loaning.
You talk of being more urban. What definition of urban are you using. I looked at the numbers: https://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/2010_census/cb12-50.html and yes we are becoming more urban, but they include suburban in those numbers. Every big city I’ve been to in the US has suburbs that are expanding further an further out into the countryside. People are flocking out of the inner cities and the rural areas into the suburbs. I don’t have numbers on that. Maybe the actual urban areas are becoming denser too, I can’t find the numbers on that one.
The real question I’m getting at is: What is the population density in an area and is it dense enough to support a tool library?
I also think we are looking at the problem from two different biases. I’m looking at it from a less dense suburb of a larger city and you’re looking at it from a single urban center.
So you want to discuss the topic but not address the elephant in the room whether real or perceived. I’m going to give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you actually want to talk about the topic and ask you questions.
How are you going to overcome the problem that for many of your patrons it is going to be a cheaper (total cost including transit time, money, and opportunity cost) to buy a $15 basin wrench at Ace than to travel twice to a tool lending library? No classical economics either, you also have to assume that the consumer isn’t rational and is acting with bad data.
How are you as a business going to afford the liability insurance for when somebody hurts themselves with a tool?
Who is going to subsidize the tool library?
I’m not trying to be difficult I would like to see tool lending libraries, as well. But, if you want this to go past the discussion around a table in the backyard stage, you need to answer these questions and others like it with solid answers and not throw your hands up in the air.
Jason
I just clicked on the link to buy it at Home Depot my local store has two of them in stock, so you might also have luck getting if locally if your lucky. I don’t know why but for a small HD they get new tools in really fast for some reason. This is the same store that is getting a huge Milwaukee display.
Joe
I bought a basin wrench (different brand) to install/replace faucets as a maintenance guy, I only used the thing once or twice. It is somewhere in a tool box practically brand new. What I ended up using was a small wide jaw adjustable wrench. Those fittings don’t require a lot of torque to tighten…heck, if you have a firm manly grip, you can just tighten them by hands alone. I have been a maintenance guy for 6 years 🙂 (in the US though).
Joe
For reach I would prefer a crowfoot ( snap on even sells these http://toolmonger.com/2006/09/07/finds-snap-ons-adjustable-crowfoot-wrench/ ), extension, and a small ratchet. Though you will spend more money for separates, it would make the repetitive work easier IMO.
fred
An alternative to the Snap-On adjustable crowfoot (I think made in Spain) is this one (COO unspecified):
http://www.amazon.com/Sealey-Wrench-Adjustable-Square-AK5987/dp/B009ZRYXMK
Michael
My biggest problem with basin wrenches is keeping the darn things from slipping. Mos
Michael
Most of the time it is because the spring is not strong enough. But it looks like the whole design could use some revamping.
Jerry
I’m not a plumber by trade, but for me my ”basin buddy” is my tool of choice for the task.
Sal
Are they different sizes of this tool? Where can I go yo buy it.
Thx
Benjamen
There is just the one size of this particular telescoping model. You can buy other basin wrenches that can nut sizes sizes other than 1/2″ – 1-1/4″. For instance this is another basin wrench that can handle 1″ to 2″ nuts.
http://www.amazon.com/General-Tools-Instruments-140XL-16-Inch/dp/B001PNOEX0
If you want to buy the telescoping basin wrench in this post, click on the Amazon or Tool Barn “Buy Now” links. If you want to buy it locally, you can see if your nearest Home Depot will order it for you.
I’ve never seen it in my local Home Depots and I don’t think it’s something many of them stock in store.
PLUMBMAN
This new ridgid model 2017 Is a great basin wrench with the handy built in light, In my old Ridgid wrench i at to replace then spring 3 time with around 12 years because of it rushing and snapping, No worries with the new model wrench 2017 ( non rusting spring ) You know that you have a real basin wrench in your hand with this model!