right name

[rb]

I'm trying to find out what the proper name is for what we call "monkey wrenches".

Can't recall, right now.......

[Tony Hwang]

Hi, Crescent?

[RLM]

Stillson Wrench

[Napoleon Blownapart]

Pipe wrench.

[G. Morgan]

Pipe wrench.

[Eric in North TX]

Form what I can determine Monkey wrench is the proper term, if you are referring to a smooth jawed pipe wrench.

[Steve Barker DLT]

Well , if it's a monkey wrench, then that's the proper name. BUT, if it's a pipe wrench, then it's a pipe wrench. Adjustable wrenches, such as those made by CRESCENT can also sometimes be called monkey wrenches by some.

s

[willshak]

Here's a site that disagrees with the wiki site about the name.

[Oren]

Once you've been sent to get a "left handed monkey wrench"; you'll never forget what they look like.

That pic is ONE.

[Oren]

Once you've been sent to get a "left handed monkey wrench"; you'll never forget what they look like.

That pic is ONE.

[Oren]

Once you've been sent to get a "left handed monkey wrench"; you'll never forget what they look like.

That pic is ONE.

[Ralph Mowery]

It is a mispelling of Moncky. This is an old style adjustable wrench of sorts. There seems to be many stories of the origin of the monkey wrench name.

Sometimes a pipe wrench or Stillson wrench is called a Monkey wrench. This is not really correct as the pipe wrench has harden teeth and is for round pipe and the Monkey wrench is for the square nuts.

Someone mentioned Cresent wrench. This is a name brand of adjustable wrench that came later. Many call this type of wrench a Cresent instead of adjustable.

[HeyBub]

For the time being, "Monkey Wrench" is the proper name for a type of adjustable wrench with flat jaws.

The PC crowd is fast approaching, though...

[Oren]

Grand Dad (b. 1900), said it was called a monkey wrench because you had to "monkey" with it to adjust it.

Eat red meat...

[Nate Nagel]

heh... a little OT but following the link to Stillson you find a pic of my favorite pipe wrench. Apparently it's an antique, but it still gets the job done. I'm guessing it was left in the house by the plumbers that built it and rarely used after that; the jaws still look new.

nate

[Nate Nagel]

That seems to still be common usage, although I don't know any fitters that still call a pipe wrench a Stillson. Ridgid seems to be the brand name most commonly used these days.

I'm trying to think of anything else that is commonly known by brand name... only ones that come readily to mind are Channellocks for water pump pliers, and Kleins for linesman's pliers.

nate

(which reminds me, I need to buy some new Vice-Grips...)

[Big_Jake]

My old plumber explained that a "Stillson" wrench was a pipe wrench that had a different type of adjustment than what we see on other brands of pipe wrench. If you Google it, you can see the difference.

JK

[Stormin Mormon]

is what comes to mind when you say monkey wrench. I'd also call it a pipe wrench.

However.....

Crescent wrench is a whole different animal. Monkey wrench is used for turning pipe and fittings. Crescent is used to turn four or six sided nuts or bolts.

[Stormin Mormon]

Bzzzttt..... wrong!

[Stormin Mormon]

The term "monkey wrench" is also used colloquially (and inaccurately) to refer to the pipe wrench.

So, I'm the one who is wrong!