# Experiences with "Plumber's Wrench"?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experiences-with-plumbers-wrench/607824>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [December 30, 2011, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experiences-with-plumbers-wrench/607824 "2011-12-30T12:57:09Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\
**Post date:** [December 30, 2011, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experiences-with-plumbers-wrench/607824/1 "2011-12-30T12:57:09Z")

</div>

If you have used [this](http://www.homedepot.com/buy/plumbing-plumbing-tools/brasscraft-3-way-steel-plumbers-wrench-122918.html) product, has it proven useless? I have found only bad reviews online, but I can’t imagine why it isn’t ideal for those thin nuts sometimes called spuds. The jaws of regular wrenches are just too thick, IMHO, to grip the sides of these thin hex nuts. (Why do plumbers do this to us? There are so many other needs for plumbers that’d protect their trade than monopolizing simple home repairs!)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\
**Post date:** [December 30, 2011, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experiences-with-plumbers-wrench/607824/2 "2011-12-30T14:13:22Z")

</div>

I believe the purpose is to fit in confined spaces under the sink to remove the drain.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\
**Post date:** [December 30, 2011, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experiences-with-plumbers-wrench/607824/3 "2011-12-30T14:55:19Z")

</div>

> [@Jinx](#):
>
> If you have used [this](http://www.homedepot.com/buy/plumbing-plumbing-tools/brasscraft-3-way-steel-plumbers-wrench-122918.html) product, has it proven useless? I have found only bad reviews online, but I can’t imagine why it isn’t ideal for those thin nuts sometimes called spuds.

I would say because that tool requires a lot of space around the nut to fit it in place and turn it. In my experience, most plumbing set-ups are seriously lacking in said space.

> [@](#):
>
> Why do plumbers do this to us? There are so many other needs for plumbers that’d protect their trade than monopolizing simple home repairs!

Do what to us? It seems you’re referring to hard-to-work-with designs. Plumbers don’t design sinks any more than auto mechanics design engines. I must be missing something here, as your complaint doesn’t quite make sense to me.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\
**Post date:** [December 30, 2011, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experiences-with-plumbers-wrench/607824/4 "2011-12-30T17:46:22Z")

</div>

There’s nothing keeping you from being allowed or able to buy a [spud wrench](http://www.zorotools.com/g/00064000/k-G1204707?utm_source=google_shopping&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Google_Shopping_Feed&kw=%7Bkeyword%7D&gclid=CKDCyOGsqq0CFUTc4Aodvz0FlQ) of your own.