NWS QuattroGripp Get a Better Grip on Things Independent Review by Peter Brett
I have done some end-user and product development work on so-called “plumbers wrenches” in the past, and the thing that all users seem to value is the ability of a wrench to grip many of the oddly-shaped things that plumbers (and other trades) come across in the course of their work. But to define the parameters of the problem:- The plumber’s wrench has to be many things to many people, and of course this is a headache for tool designers. Specially designed jaws may solve specific gripping issues, but the tool may then be useless in other situations. Equally, a more “generalist” approach may result in a wrench that doesn’t work well in any situation.
Add to the mix the problem that these wrenches often need to be used in confined spaces at many strange angles, and that the jaws may need to grip things from a small 6mm nut to a fat 50mm diameter pipe, and be easily and quickly adjustable to fit each size, and all sizes in between. You can see that the solution is not necessarily a simple one.
And just for good measure, these wrenches are often real “donkey- work” tools, so the best ones are forged from top quality steel simply to stand a chance of having a long working life.
So the point to understand from all the above is that, although wrenches have been around for years, there will always be room for designers to create new designs and find new solutions for the ”simple” plumber’s wrench.
NWS is a company that is always looking to improve its products, and the new range of QuattroGripp wrenches is an up-to-date take on the problem.
I was sent three sizes of the QuattroGripp to try out, plus an interesting variation called the S-Pipe wrench, and that is a real crocodile-jawed beast. One of the first things that always strikes me when I pick up any NWS product is that it is very well made and finished. There are no rough edges to catch an unwary finger and they work “just so”. The fit between the joints is tight, and yet the two jaws work smoothly and accurately. All these wrenches, despite close examination through a magnifier, showed that NWS is still committed to fine quality.
The handles on the QuattroGripp series are a bright red, textured vinyl that gives a good grip, even with oily hands. The tools feel ergonomically comfortable to use, as the handle forgings are well rounded where the user’s fingers apply most pressure. Even on the 400mm long model at full jaw opening, my small hands were able to apply a realistically hard grip on the handles. The curve of the ratchet mechanism means that the handles will stay close enough to each other to allow a hand to grip whatever size the jaw opening. The other side of this is that the handles are never close enough to pinch an unwary finger, whatever size jaws are chosen. The jaws of the QuattroGripp is where perhaps most of the thought and design has been done. When the jaws are fully closed, it is possible to see that there is a sort of “toothed parallelogram” of finely milled teeth. Clearly, this takes care of gripping things like hex-headed nuts and bolts very effectively. My own experience of using the small wrench to change my calor gas tanks proved to me that the design is as perfect as it could be. There was no slippage once the handles were tightly gripped, and it was very easy to change the angle of the wrench when I needed. On the 250mm and the 320mm long wrenches there is a wire and nailholder on the very front of the jaws, while the dual-toothed jaws are contoured to grip pipes, taps or just about anything else for that matter. The jaw cogs themselves are induction hardened, so that they will maintain their gripping edges without making the jaws so brittle that they could break.
Adjusting the jaw sizes is very easy and secure. With a press of the red button at the fulcrum, the lower jaws are released to slide up and down a closed ratchet arrangement. The jaw size, once chosen, will not slip out unexpectedly in use. The size is fixed until you choose to change it via the red button, so there will be no surprises with sudden jaw-size changes.
Without trying to bore you to death with statistics, the 250mm wrench has a front of jaw opening of 50mm, the 320mm wrench, an opening of 67mm and the jaw of the 400mm wrench is a massive 96mm.(with handles fully closed) When the wrenches are used in the normal way, with handles a bit open, the jaw measurements are even bigger, making it quite possible for the 400mm wrench to handle 100mm diameter pipe. This means that the spanner sizes are a full 40% over the DIN ISO requirements, making these wrenches more flexible than others. The S-Pipe wrench is a more “redneck” version of the QuattroGripp in more ways than one. First of all it is finished in high-visibility red paint and secondly it only comes in one large 400mm size. The handles lack the vinyl covering, but the forged finger spaces ensure a comfortable grip. Again, the handles are designed to ensure that fingers are never pinched and stay well-spaced enough for easy handgripping.
Jaw adjustment uses the same button system as the QuattroGripp, and it is one of the smoothest systems I have used.
The hardened jaws have a very different design from the QuattroGripps. The teeth are designed to hold against the rotation of the wrench in use, so the top jaw teeth face backwards and the bottom jaw teeth face forwards. I was hugely impressed with the amount of gripping pressure I was able to exert on a selection of steel pipes, and the teeth ensured that there was minimal slippage in the gripping. So what sets these NWS wrenches apart and why should you consider buying some? Firstly, they are the expected high quality NWS product – well-made and finished, but with no unnecessary frills. Secondly, the jaws have been well designed for maximum grippage and minimal slippage. Thirdly, the safety of the user’s fingers is ensured – the handles will never nip you. And finally, you will probably not find a wrench with a larger jaw opening, size for size, on the market. Seems good to me!
Repl y No. 210 8 ToolBUSINESS+HIRE
www.toolbusiness.co.uk
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