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Giant Pipe Wrench For Irrigation
Max Serr, Paul, Idaho: "Here in Idaho we use a lot of 8 and 12-in. dia. underground pipe for irrigation. Eventually, the bottom side of the pipe rusts out. To fix it, you have to cut an entrance hole through the top side of the pipe and then go inside it and weld a steel plate over the rusted-out area. When that's done you have to weld another plate over the entrance hole. Another way is to dig a very big hole under the pipe so that you can get underneath it and weld a plate onto the bottom side of the pipe. Either way, it's a lot of work.
  "I came up with an easier way by building my own giant pipe wrench. I use it to rotate 50-ft. long sections of pipe 180 degrees. Once the pipe has been rotated, I weld a plate on the bottom side of the pipe, and then I rotate the pipe back to its original position.
  "I built the tool out of a 5-ft. long section of 1 1/2-in. (inside diameter) pipe, 4 ft. of no. 100 roller chain, and a 1/2-in. dia., 3-in. long metal hook. One end of the chain is welded to the pipe and loops back over the hook, which is also welded to the pipe.    "I think the same tool could be used on any object with a round surface."


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2003 - Volume #27, Issue #5