My grandfather worked on the Golden Gate bridge. The story he handed down about the name was there was a guy on the ground with a rivet forge. Two guys on top would be lining up the beams with the spud wrench and the one guy with heavy gloves would yell "HOT POTATO" and the guy on the forge would throw a red hot rivet up to the guys up top. Mr. Heavy gloves would catch it and jam it in the hole and the other guy had the rivet hammer and they would set the rivets.
Ironworkers Local 3 right here. So, Essential Craftsman. You have spud wrenches and wear Sears Die Hard boots. Are you sure you're not a closet ironworker? 😊
Funny this video came up today in my recommended...my buddy gave me a spud wrench a week ago and I threw it in the back of my truck. 2 days later I was working on the front end of a mustang and was having trouble lining up the lower control arm bolts and I remembered the wrench in my truck. Saved my ass. You rock!
Proto makes spud wrenches all the way down to sizes about the length of your hand for smaller nuts and bolts, not just structural steel sizes like us ironworkers use, Klein spuds are about the lowest quality there is although they're the most common ones used by ironheads, if you ever see one that's stamped AB right at the base of the jaw grab it, AB stands for American Bridge, although they still exist they're a shell compared to when they were the ironworking division of US Steel (circa 1915 to 1980), they were so big they made their own spud wrenches in AB's fab shop in Ambridge Pa (Ambridge is short for American Bridge and is the town outside of Pittsburgh that their fab shop was in), they're highly prized by retired ironworkers who worked for AB back in their glory days, and if you find one in decent shape you can get a few hundred dollars from one of those guys who wants one for a keepsake, Bethlehem Steel also made their own for their ironworkers but I've never heard of someone paying $$$ for one although that's not to say they won't.
Use mine every day! Usually if its a face connection, we put the spud in, bolt the opposite side, then walk out and cut the crane loose. Knife connections, however, spud in, then you're good to cut the crane loose. The most important thing in ironworking is cost. That crane is the most expensive machine on site. It has to constantly be moving for it to be worth running and operating. Swing the crane! In the time it takes to swing, you can secure the beam with bolts, remove your spud and get to the next connection.
I have a spud ratchet, but when we do ironwork I like to use a bull pin which accomplishes the same thing as a spud but it can be driven in with a sledge or hand sledge.
I was a bridge carpenter years ago... I bought a Crescent adjustable spud wrench when I was a 1st period apprentice, then bought a Snap-on spud ratchet just before I made journeyman. The ratchet cost $109.99 ten years ago, and purchased the extra set of guts for it. Everyone else talked about how more it cost than the Klein one, until I was able to get 3 clicks out of it in a tight spot... The Klein didn't even get one click.
Watching the Iron workers connecting the columns and beams on the new UBER building in San Francisco was Eye opening. The " connectors" would dance on the beams, receive a beam the from the crane use a SLEVER bar to line up the holes put two bolts in ,Tighten with the spud wrench and move on. The speed and agility and no fear is really impressive. Not to mention the guy's at the bottom in the " Iron pile" hooking the beams up to the crane.
A old ironworker told me the reason they call them spud wrenches is the spike part was also used to hold their potatoes over a fire during lunch to cook their spuds. No joke. Don't know how true that is.
@@smash507 Exactly, a spud is originally a pointed tool used to poke a hole in the dirt to plant a seed, most early ironworkers were Irish immigrants or 1st generation descendants of them so it's not hard to put together how they got their name. Local 489 Scranton, always boomin' out, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Detroit etc etc...
If you are hanging a livestock gate, and your using pins for hinges - once started you take a cresent wrench end hole and put the leg through and turn/screw the pin all the way into the post or beam for the gate. Dad taught me that.
A short story about my first experience with a spud wrench. 1977 and I had bluffed my way on a job and was hanging ninety feet up on the side of a grain bin. The guy beside me asked where my spud wrench was, I thought it was one of those muffler bearing or sky hook things, so I said, I got a spud wrench right here in my pants, you wanta grab it for me ! Damed near got me fired the first day on the job ! 😣 Thanks for sharing and take care.
I have a 1 5/8" spud wrench. Not only is the spud end useful the wrench end can be used to tweak twisted 2 by material when framing. It even fits over treated lumber which is usually 1 9/16" thick until it dries out.
Something useful on the regular crescent: When throwing out sheet goods (Metal roof and concrete decking, in my case), you'll find the old timers often grind down the end into a thin wedge for separating the layers of deck from the bundle. And ironworkers call it a bull pin instead of a Marlinspike, just a semantics thing.
Grinding your spud is actually a bad thing. I was taught never to put heat to your wrench, connecting bar, or any tool for that matter. It weakens the iron and could cause the tool to fail. This is important because occasionally, you may need to stand on a wrench or bar to work the iron. I know what you're talking about in reference to the wedge tip. You get that same result by simply hitting the end with your beater to form the tip. A bullpin is tapered from the tip to the end where you hit. A marlinspike is tapered at the tip, similar to a pencil. The full taper is important for getting your pin out of the hole. A bullpin is meant to stop at some point and comes out the same way it went in. A drift pin or barrel pin is meant to go all the way through the hole. Typically, to drive it fully, you're going to need a B&O, which is like punch with a handle. And if you decide to have a great day, then you'll break out the "hell dog" if the B&O isn't enough. While using any type of pin, it's a good idea to slap some wax on it before sending it.
Yup... ive used the end hole for many things that are tricky to get a grip on! You can torque the handle of another tool or a bar over the handle of another tool, etc. Or thread in a hooked lag bolt
Hello, Sir. Love your content, currently my favorite page. Thought I'd comment to let you know Amazon has a pretty sharp bead on you. Meaning, I'd put on my wish list White Ox work gloves, and wouldn't you know, a few days later I received a standard "you may be interested in" email from Amazon, and on the list: Stiletto titanium framing hammer, skillsaw wormdrive circular saw, large (monster) prybar, Spencer logger's tape! They've got an algorithm with your name all over it. (Hope you're compensated!)
My grandfather had a bunch of spud wrenches from when he was a tug boat mechanic. I remember one summer we used some as tent spikes to hold down the guide ropes for the gazebo at a family gathering. He also used them for removing knockouts on electricians boxes, this brought back some good memories, guess I need to go buy myself a few :) Thank you
Never knew what a spud wrench was for! Thanks! One great use for a standard crescent wrench end is to thread bolt hooks in and out of posts when hanging a farm gate. Put the hole on the end of the wrench over the "hook" and you have great leverage in turning the bolt.
Last time I used one of those, I was doing helicopter iron work at Kahua Ranch Wind Farm of the Big Island of Hawaii. We'd be up on a hundred thirty foot tower and a helicopter would bring over a sixty watt alternator, gearbox and triple fourteen foot bladed turbine unit. There would be a couple ropes hanging down off of it and we'd pull the helicopter and stub down to the top of the tower. Spud wrenches in the bolt holes, climb up, unhook from the helicopter and start bolting up the legs. Best darn job I ever had. Work at six thousand feet and sleep on the beach.
I don't rightly know. This was in very late 1985 and I got the suggestion for the job while staying for one night at the Captain Cook Hotel from a guy who turned me on to some really nice weed. LOL
I work as a dairy technician/installer, building milking parlours, stalling and gates. You are right my DeWalt spud was 3x more then a standard wrench but it's always at my side.
Outstanding. For two years of my undergrad work (BS Biology) I worked as an iron worker, in welding, fabrication and erection. The Spud Wrench was one of our most valuable tools for erection....along with a ComeAlong. ;) Lot of tension build into a lot of those buildlings. We fabricated and erected anything up to 3 stories. My favorite job, next to running a soda fountain in high school and working in the Cabinet Shop at Grand Rapids Chair Company during a couple other years of college.
As a plumber, I love my spud wrench. Most plumbers I work around have no clue what it's for, but they think it's dangerous. I used to do a lot of mechanical flange work, and found it essential.
Grew up on a small erecting crew, family business, our logo is a spud wrench and an i beam lol, and those guys are invaluable. Pro tip, carrying one alows you to line up and hold one hole, carrying two alows you to wrack the connection anywhere you want it. I work in a fab shop as a welder making medium sized steel beams now, and a pair of spuds are still one of my favorite tools.
Old tower climber here. Used to carry one of those plus an adjustable along with a bull pin and a mini sledge. Oh and a bottle of gator aid. You will get strong building towers carrying all that weight every day. Best job I ever had, got to see most of the US and several places outside the country. Met some really good guys and worked with one of the best crews ever. Only downside to building towers or any kind of high steel is your body doesnt last as long. Your joints will start to go, especially your lower back, then your knee's and shoulder's.
I love my adjustable spud wrenches. I got an imported one for $9 at Tractor Supply. It has a little hammer face, and you can reverse the jaw to make it like a pipe wrench. Then I got a Klein adjustable spud wrench at an antique shop. This tool is a must have!
I’m a concrete man out of NY and a spud/crescent is on my belt every day sometime even a spud ratchet. One of the most versatile tools I’ve ever Hd the pleasure of learning to use
I’m a Concrete form setter and use both a crescent wrench and a spud crescent wrench. I use the eye of the nail hanger to bend pencil rods as soon as I activate the cat’s head. I also use it to break off snap ties.
They also lend to being used in conjunction with almost any diameter pipe to use as a “cheater bar” to break off those tight connection which need more leverage.
I got my 1st spud wrench back in the mid 60's when I went to work for an Elevator co. and still have it to this day. and would not part with it for anything. even though its not an adjustable, I keep it around for the Spud part of lining things up as you mentioned. . Everything old again is new again. what goes around comes around. doesn't it. Thanks for the reminder/tip
Building towers for years, that wrench was in my tool belt every day. Retired, not much use for one , but there were many a time , I sure which I had mine back. Great tool. Thanks for asking.
I love mine, my brother gave it to me . I never appreciated it until I used it once and now I couldn’t live without it. Motor mounts, front end work on suspension, keeping a wheel aligned while you stab the axel on a motorcycle plus the crescent wrench applications . Man I tell you it’s like a third hand that knows how to get the job done right. Thanks for the videos love to see great craftsmanship.
Been plumbing all my life, we always refer to a smooth mouth pipe wrench as a “spud wrench” in reference to “spuds” like the fixture connection fittings for flushometers, where you can’t foul the finish but need a lot of torque .
During my Navy days (ret'd in'92), we used to make quite a few of the marlinspike/crescent wrench tools for the boatswainmates aboard ship. The most common size were the type they could put in a sheath on their belts. A "spud wrench" was a tool we used (aboard ship again) to remove/install the threaded fitting in urinals/toilets. Thanks for the memories, EC. :)
Learned of this tool from a mechanic, sorta learned it's use in the ironworker's hands from a video made by "Smarter Every Day" (I think) about building grain bins. Couldn't tell you how many times I've used it, in all manner of likely "incorrect" methods, to put stuff in the perfect spot. Also, it works very well as a short prybar to shuffle heavy stuff a small distance and cheater tubes work extremely well with the spud end.
Have a spud wrench with 1/2 and 3/4 drive rachets on the end. It was 8 dollars at tractor supply. I use the spike ends to align bolt holes on plastic granulators, and It is much lighter than my other 3/4 drive which is nice for working overhead inside extrusion molding machines
I made one of these with an 8 inch long Crescent wrench because you can't buy a short one anywhere. Shortest one you can buy is like 10-11 inches and so I made a 8-9 inch one that fits in my pocket perfect. I recommend grinding down the end into a flat head and it makes it way more useful. I'm not an Ironworker and I mainly work on stuff below 1" bolts so it's perfect size.
The hole on the end of a crescent is great for going over the short end of an Allen key in line with its rotation and using it to add torque and leverage . Especially when you've got the long end down somewhere you can't reach and the fastener is more then hand tight. It adds much needed leverage in those situations to break the bolt loose. Something you cannot do with a spud. Although spuds are useful for many other things. Especially lining up flanges in pipe work or a bolted door plate. Etc.
Years ago a pipe burst in my back yard and as I'm digging around my water meter to find the main shut off valve the water company pulled up and shut it off for me, they used a real nice tool meant just for this, the guy told me if I was ever put in this situation again to grab the biggest crescent wrench I have and get it as tight as I can on the valve and stand it straight up and put a screwdriver through the hole and turn. ;-) It works.
Iron-worker local 11 here. Use my spud everyday. Do not apply heat to your spud wrenches or connecting bar. It will harden the steel and can break on you when you least expect it. Such as don’t use a grinder on it. Great tip, you can file down the tip of the spud wrench with a manual filer to a flat tip. Great doe getting it into tight spots or opening metal boxes. Also another great tool is a connecting bar. It’s like a pry bar but in the right hands. It’s a pry bar and the whole 9 yards.
spud wrench and a 3 lb engineer hammer head made up a tool i used in a pipe foundry for setting the rollers on the casting machines. you used the hammer portion to slam loose the big wing nuts, then the wrench end to adjust the rollers. then the hammer again to slam the wing nut tight again.
I occasionally do steel work but I do pre cast all the times and I use my spud maily as a wedge to hold my joints, to turn braces and of course use the crescent end ... best tool i own
As a millwright... I use this all the time. One of the most useful tools I have. If all the precision tools I have are the "fine adjustment knob"... my spud wrenches (I have several) are my "coarse adjustment knob".
I'm a crane operator and a rigger and we call it a "spud" too. Invaluable tool for a rigger trying to lineup bolt holes with the bolts. If I'm erecting anything with my crane I carry spud wrench, Burke bar, and a bull pin.
I discovered these a couple years ago when I was at our local structural steel place to pick up some scraps for blacksmithing. At the same time I discovered that Klein makes drift/bull pins, which turn out to work perfectly well for drifting holes in hot steel.
I used spud wrenches and shop-made drift pins to line up pipe flanges on large steam, condensate, and water line repairs and maintenance, working as a Stationary Engineer. most trades have unique tools to simplify life. Flange spreader is another interesting and really helpful tool most folk would not figure out till it was seen in practice.
The spud wrench I am familiar with is made by Ridgid, it's a plumbers tool. That eye in the end of an adjustable wrench is good for attaching a lanyard so when you are working high up or over sensitive equipment should you drop the wrench it will won't fall to the ground, the lanyard attached to your belt will stop it's fall.
I first learned about spud wrenches in the oil patch. Oh that little opening on the end of a crescent is excellent for opening needle valves extremely useful.
I love my spud wrench!! I use one at work all the time. We have camlock brass fittings for hoses and the locking handles get corroded over time. The spud wrench is perfect for leverage in getting those handles undone. Also, I use it as a crude hammer whenever I need to do some light(emphasis) hammering. I'm also a industrial/marine electrician so I can use the crescent end to tighten up ground bolts.
I use the adjustable crescent wrench to turn the main water valve (curb side) on and off. I place the wrench verticle to the valve and put a screwdriver through the hole on the end of the handle to gain leverage. It certainly beats carrying a valve key, and I've never had a problem doing so.
Hey! I moved to a new city in the dead of winter last year and got on a framing crew, worst winter in 20-30 years around here. Never did production wood framing and stumbled across your channel and learned a few things so I could get up to speed before my first day, (been in the trades my whole life mostly doing remodel work and electrical in CA prior). Just wanted to say thank you for what you do. Stuck it out through the winter framing and realized it wasn't for me. The few things i could retain from you through an overnight tutoring session got me an hourly rate higher than anyone on that crew and more importantly helped me get established out here so I could find something more my speed and provide for my family and love what I do. I erect pre-fab metal buildings now and run a crew of 4-6 guys. Guys like you, guys like my dad, my uncle, yall are a dying breed. I hope I have this much volume and quality to pass on to the people that come after me some day to keep this dream alive. Thank you sir.
We used to take the adjustable spanner type of spud wrench and weld the striking side of a hammer head to the none adjustable side of the wrench. Now we had an alignment spike, wrench, and a hammer to move pieces into position all in one tool.
Thanks for this. After my father died I inherited one on these and always wondered what it was for as it always looked a little dangerous. Keep up the good content.
Welder, here. Spud wrenches are some of the most useful tools within the steel trades. Get some decent ones, and you’ll have excellent tools that will come in handy time and time again for years.
2:00 Electrician here, we use the end of crescent wrenches quite often for various tasks. Torquing allen keys and straightening out kinked wire are the most common.
zipde doda That's actually where they got there name from, according to what folklore I've heard on site. Irish immigrants apparently used a similar implement to dig up potatoes back in the home country; when they came to America (specifically New York by way of Ellis Island) and entered into the trades, Iron was in big business. One of us Micks got the idea of welding a wrench head on the end of a "spud digger", hence "spud wrench".
yes, i know what they are call and have used them also nice to have around i have both of them nothing works like a spud wrench everybody should one. thamk you for the video.
Have an 8 Inch one and Love it. Next one I am going to get A 1/2 -3/8 ratchetwrench spud. I like the fact that you do not have to lug a big piece of pipe for a cheater. By the way, my heart skipped a beat and got dizzy when you brought out the Marlinspike thought you going to use it.! Thumbs up!.
My Pop was a Millwright by trade, used one quite a lot. As a child I found it to be much better of a lawn dart than the screwdrivers were. These days I find all sorts of uses from auto fab to leatherwork, and everything in between. Probably my favorite tool in the shop.
I have a Crescent Spud, I use it to hook up implemnts aka attachments to my tractor. Use the Marlin Spike on one end and the Crecent to tighten bolts, what else??? I keep Alignment spikes and Marlin spikes around, they are some of the handiest tools and I amost NEVER see anyone using them but ME. Great to line up the hole in a power take off that has just broken the Shear pin. My daddy taught me, he was in the NAVY in WWII, they use them all the time makes up "rigging" and Chokers, and splicing Wire rope and fiber rope. But that is exactly wht they are far, they are handy working on smaller fixtues etc. The wrenches with the OPEN END or Box in, are actually BETTER than the Crescent if you can stick to one size. But around here for day to day stuff, the Crescent is very good. BB
Proto makes about the best spuds you can buy in this day and age, the best ever made were made by American Bridge back when they were US Steel's Ironworking division, they forged them from 1" rivets in their shop in Ambridge Pa, if you ever see one that's marked AB at the base of the jaw snatch it up, they're worth $$$ on the collector market for one in good shape.
I'm holding one on my lap right now and was wondering what it was used for, hence how I ended up on this video. The beefiness of these wrenches is unbelievable! I've never seen and probably won't ever see a broken one as I can't see how you would be able to do so. Thanks for the awesome and informative video as always!
Wait. You are holding one in your lap and wondering what it is used for? So you randomly procured one not knowing what it was and found a video on it while holding it in your lap? How did you know it was called a spud wrench to type that in, and why would you buy and hold a tool not knowing what purpose it served?
There a couple ways to do it depending on how much slack you can get from the tie. If you can jam the open end completely under the tie then rotate the wrench about 180 degrees hook the tie rotate the wrench back the other direction to snap the tie.
Tractor supply threw some do it wrenches on clearance, this one is a 1/2 * 3/8 ratchet. Tell you what, it is cool and I'm happy I got it. Just a sparky but it's come in handy
It pays to become proficient with those or with what I've always called a Bull Pin (similar to your Marlin spike,only a little heavier duty) especially on a tower stacking job. The first man has it made when the tower drops you 2-3 20' sections the second man has it pretty good and the man on the 3rd leg life can suck occasionally. But that is where Bull Pins become substantially more valuable than a spud wrench, due to being able to use a 2 1/2.lb hammer to assist you with lining up the hole's. lot's of fun no matter which leg you ultimately end up on... oh yeah, they are also very handy for when the crane is flying a new section to you, you can drop a Bull Pin/Spud wrench in a flange hole and guide it into position. Gives a lot more leverage and keeps your fingers out of the danger zone...
My grandfather worked on the Golden Gate bridge. The story he handed down about the name was there was a guy on the ground with a rivet forge. Two guys on top would be lining up the beams with the spud wrench and the one guy with heavy gloves would yell "HOT POTATO" and the guy on the forge would throw a red hot rivet up to the guys up top. Mr. Heavy gloves would catch it and jam it in the hole and the other guy had the rivet hammer and they would set the rivets.
Thats funny
Props to your grandfather, he built a helluva bridge for the ages. Those old school craftsmen are were amazing.
I wish we still built em like that
Ironworkers Local 3 right here.
So, Essential Craftsman. You have spud wrenches and wear Sears Die Hard boots. Are you sure you're not a closet ironworker?
😊
Funny this video came up today in my recommended...my buddy gave me a spud wrench a week ago and I threw it in the back of my truck. 2 days later I was working on the front end of a mustang and was having trouble lining up the lower control arm bolts and I remembered the wrench in my truck. Saved my ass. You rock!
Proto makes spud wrenches all the way down to sizes about the length of your hand for smaller nuts and bolts, not just structural steel sizes like us ironworkers use, Klein spuds are about the lowest quality there is although they're the most common ones used by ironheads, if you ever see one that's stamped AB right at the base of the jaw grab it, AB stands for American Bridge, although they still exist they're a shell compared to when they were the ironworking division of US Steel (circa 1915 to 1980), they were so big they made their own spud wrenches in AB's fab shop in Ambridge Pa (Ambridge is short for American Bridge and is the town outside of Pittsburgh that their fab shop was in), they're highly prized by retired ironworkers who worked for AB back in their glory days, and if you find one in decent shape you can get a few hundred dollars from one of those guys who wants one for a keepsake, Bethlehem Steel also made their own for their ironworkers but I've never heard of someone paying $$$ for one although that's not to say they won't.
That's just what I was thinking it would be good for, or the suspension bushes on a multi-link set up can be a pain in the ass, I feel this would help
Use mine every day!
Usually if its a face connection, we put the spud in, bolt the opposite side, then walk out and cut the crane loose. Knife connections, however, spud in, then you're good to cut the crane loose.
The most important thing in ironworking is cost. That crane is the most expensive machine on site. It has to constantly be moving for it to be worth running and operating. Swing the crane! In the time it takes to swing, you can secure the beam with bolts, remove your spud and get to the next connection.
makattak88 well put. 17 yrs in local 396 St. Louis, Mo
makattak88 well said. 17 yrs in local 396 St. Louis, Mo
Local 759 Thunder Bay. Thanks Brother!
I have a spud ratchet, but when we do ironwork I like to use a bull pin which accomplishes the same thing as a spud but it can be driven in with a sledge or hand sledge.
I sure do like this guy! Practical advice and a friendly attitude. Knowing it all with out being a "know-it-all!"
I was a bridge carpenter years ago... I bought a Crescent adjustable spud wrench when I was a 1st period apprentice, then bought a Snap-on spud ratchet just before I made journeyman. The ratchet cost $109.99 ten years ago, and purchased the extra set of guts for it. Everyone else talked about how more it cost than the Klein one, until I was able to get 3 clicks out of it in a tight spot... The Klein didn't even get one click.
Watching the Iron workers connecting the columns and beams on the new UBER building in San Francisco was Eye opening. The " connectors" would dance on the beams, receive a beam the from the crane use a SLEVER bar to line up the holes put two bolts in ,Tighten with the spud wrench and move on. The speed and agility and no fear is really impressive. Not to mention the guy's at the bottom in the " Iron pile" hooking the beams up to the crane.
A old ironworker told me the reason they call them spud wrenches is the spike part was also used to hold their potatoes over a fire during lunch to cook their spuds. No joke. Don't know how true that is.
Wildman of the Wynooch
I think another name for a pry bar is a spud bar. I assumed spudding something was moving it in small increments
True
as an old i/w someone was pulling your leg,
@@smash507
Exactly, a spud is originally a pointed tool used to poke a hole in the dirt to plant a seed, most early ironworkers were Irish immigrants or 1st generation descendants of them so it's not hard to put together how they got their name.
Local 489 Scranton, always boomin' out, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Detroit etc etc...
In fact, “spud” as slang for “potato” came from the tool used to plant potatoes, not the other way around. The tool name preceded the vegetable name.
If you are hanging a livestock gate, and your using pins for hinges - once started you take a cresent wrench end hole and put the leg through and turn/screw the pin all the way into the post or beam for the gate. Dad taught me that.
I don't get it. Not well explained.
I use that hole in a cresent to tighten large screwhooks also grabs the end of a combination wrench for extra leverage, nice to hang up also.
The hole is also good to put a bend in large wire (ie electric service entrance).
A short story about my first experience with a spud wrench.
1977 and I had bluffed my way on a job and was hanging ninety feet up on the side of a grain bin. The guy beside me asked where my spud wrench was, I thought it was one of those muffler bearing or sky hook things, so I said, I got a spud wrench right here in my pants, you wanta grab it for me !
Damed near got me fired the first day on the job ! 😣
Thanks for sharing and take care.
I have a 1 5/8" spud wrench. Not only is the spud end useful the wrench end can be used to tweak twisted 2 by material when framing. It even fits over treated lumber which is usually 1 9/16" thick until it dries out.
On the back pocket of carhartt bib overalls there is a “micro hammer loop” just for the spud wrench
Something useful on the regular crescent: When throwing out sheet goods (Metal roof and concrete decking, in my case), you'll find the old timers often grind down the end into a thin wedge for separating the layers of deck from the bundle.
And ironworkers call it a bull pin instead of a Marlinspike, just a semantics thing.
Marlinspikes were commonly used for splicing wire rope.
Grinding your spud is actually a bad thing. I was taught never to put heat to your wrench, connecting bar, or any tool for that matter. It weakens the iron and could cause the tool to fail. This is important because occasionally, you may need to stand on a wrench or bar to work the iron. I know what you're talking about in reference to the wedge tip. You get that same result by simply hitting the end with your beater to form the tip.
A bullpin is tapered from the tip to the end where you hit. A marlinspike is tapered at the tip, similar to a pencil. The full taper is important for getting your pin out of the hole. A bullpin is meant to stop at some point and comes out the same way it went in. A drift pin or barrel pin is meant to go all the way through the hole. Typically, to drive it fully, you're going to need a B&O, which is like punch with a handle. And if you decide to have a great day, then you'll break out the "hell dog" if the B&O isn't enough. While using any type of pin, it's a good idea to slap some wax on it before sending it.
The hole on the end of a crescent wrench is great for bending offsets on threaded rod
& good for screwing gate hinges into a gate post..........
Yup... ive used the end hole for many things that are tricky to get a grip on! You can torque the handle of another tool or a bar over the handle of another tool, etc. Or thread in a hooked lag bolt
Hello, Sir. Love your content, currently my favorite page. Thought I'd comment to let you know Amazon has a pretty sharp bead on you. Meaning, I'd put on my wish list White Ox work gloves, and wouldn't you know, a few days later I received a standard "you may be interested in" email from Amazon, and on the list: Stiletto titanium framing hammer, skillsaw wormdrive circular saw, large (monster) prybar, Spencer logger's tape! They've got an algorithm with your name all over it. (Hope you're compensated!)
My grandfather had a bunch of spud wrenches from when he was a tug boat mechanic. I remember one summer we used some as tent spikes to hold down the guide ropes for the gazebo at a family gathering. He also used them for removing knockouts on electricians boxes, this brought back some good memories, guess I need to go buy myself a few :) Thank you
Never knew what a spud wrench was for! Thanks! One great use for a standard crescent wrench end is to thread bolt hooks in and out of posts when hanging a farm gate. Put the hole on the end of the wrench over the "hook" and you have great leverage in turning the bolt.
Last time I used one of those, I was doing helicopter iron work at Kahua Ranch Wind Farm of the Big Island of Hawaii. We'd be up on a hundred thirty foot tower and a helicopter would bring over a sixty watt alternator, gearbox and triple fourteen foot bladed turbine unit. There would be a couple ropes hanging down off of it and we'd pull the helicopter and stub down to the top of the tower. Spud wrenches in the bolt holes, climb up, unhook from the helicopter and start bolting up the legs. Best darn job I ever had. Work at six thousand feet and sleep on the beach.
Mickey Xtian To whom do I send my resume?
I don't rightly know. This was in very late 1985 and I got the suggestion for the job while staying for one night at the Captain Cook Hotel from a guy who turned me on to some really nice weed. LOL
Jacob wind energy, based at the time out of Minneapolis MN
I work as a dairy technician/installer, building milking parlours, stalling and gates. You are right my DeWalt spud was 3x more then a standard wrench but it's always at my side.
Outstanding. For two years of my undergrad work (BS Biology) I worked as an iron worker, in welding, fabrication and erection. The Spud Wrench was one of our most valuable tools for erection....along with a ComeAlong. ;) Lot of tension build into a lot of those buildlings. We fabricated and erected anything up to 3 stories. My favorite job, next to running a soda fountain in high school and working in the Cabinet Shop at Grand Rapids Chair Company during a couple other years of college.
As a plumber, I love my spud wrench. Most plumbers I work around have no clue what it's for, but they think it's dangerous. I used to do a lot of mechanical flange work, and found it essential.
I got a spud wrench. I picked it up at a yard sale for $5. I had no idea what the spike was used for. Thanks. That was very educational.
Grew up on a small erecting crew, family business, our logo is a spud wrench and an i beam lol, and those guys are invaluable. Pro tip, carrying one alows you to line up and hold one hole, carrying two alows you to wrack the connection anywhere you want it. I work in a fab shop as a welder making medium sized steel beams now, and a pair of spuds are still one of my favorite tools.
Old tower climber here. Used to carry one of those plus an adjustable along with a bull pin and a mini sledge. Oh and a bottle of gator aid. You will get strong building towers carrying all that weight every day. Best job I ever had, got to see most of the US and several places outside the country. Met some really good guys and worked with one of the best crews ever. Only downside to building towers or any kind of high steel is your body doesnt last as long. Your joints will start to go, especially your lower back, then your knee's and shoulder's.
I love my adjustable spud wrenches. I got an imported one for $9 at Tractor Supply. It has a little hammer face, and you can reverse the jaw to make it like a pipe wrench. Then I got a Klein adjustable spud wrench at an antique shop. This tool is a must have!
Another thing I have learned from this channel.
I am honestly glad I found your channel sir.
Thank you.
I’m a concrete man out of NY and a spud/crescent is on my belt every day sometime even a spud ratchet. One of the most versatile tools I’ve ever Hd the pleasure of learning to use
I’m a Concrete form setter and use both a crescent wrench and a spud crescent wrench. I use the eye of the nail hanger to bend pencil rods as soon as I activate the cat’s head. I also use it to break off snap ties.
They also lend to being used in conjunction with almost any diameter pipe to use as a “cheater bar” to break off those tight connection which need more leverage.
I have seen some roughened Ironworkers in Austin,Texas and Electricians rocking these. Thank you for uploading, now I know what they are for.
I got my 1st spud wrench back in the mid 60's when I went to work for an Elevator co. and still have it to this day. and would not part with it for anything. even though its not an adjustable, I keep it around for the Spud part of lining things up as you mentioned. . Everything old again is new again. what goes around comes around. doesn't it. Thanks for the reminder/tip
your report has a wonderful way of taking me down from the disreality of the run-of-mill U tube crap
Building towers for years, that wrench was in my tool belt every day. Retired, not much use for one , but there were many a time , I sure which I had mine back. Great tool. Thanks for asking.
I love mine, my brother gave it to me . I never appreciated it until I used it once and now I couldn’t live without it. Motor mounts, front end work on suspension, keeping a wheel aligned while you stab the axel on a motorcycle plus the crescent wrench applications . Man I tell you it’s like a third hand that knows how to get the job done right. Thanks for the videos love to see great craftsmanship.
Been plumbing all my life, we always refer to a smooth mouth pipe wrench as a “spud wrench” in reference to “spuds” like the fixture connection fittings for flushometers, where you can’t foul the finish but need a lot of torque .
During my Navy days (ret'd in'92), we used to make quite a few of the marlinspike/crescent wrench tools for the boatswainmates aboard ship. The most common size were the type they could put in a sheath on their belts. A "spud wrench" was a tool we used (aboard ship again) to remove/install the threaded fitting in urinals/toilets. Thanks for the memories, EC. :)
Learned of this tool from a mechanic, sorta learned it's use in the ironworker's hands from a video made by "Smarter Every Day" (I think) about building grain bins.
Couldn't tell you how many times I've used it, in all manner of likely "incorrect" methods, to put stuff in the perfect spot. Also, it works very well as a short prybar to shuffle heavy stuff a small distance and cheater tubes work extremely well with the spud end.
Have a spud wrench with 1/2 and 3/4 drive rachets on the end. It was 8 dollars at tractor supply. I use the spike ends to align bolt holes on plastic granulators, and It is much lighter than my other 3/4 drive which is nice for working overhead inside extrusion molding machines
I made one of these with an 8 inch long Crescent wrench because you can't buy a short one anywhere. Shortest one you can buy is like 10-11 inches and so I made a 8-9 inch one that fits in my pocket perfect. I recommend grinding down the end into a flat head and it makes it way more useful. I'm not an Ironworker and I mainly work on stuff below 1" bolts so it's perfect size.
The hole on the end of a crescent is great for going over the short end of an Allen key in line with its rotation and using it to add torque and leverage . Especially when you've got the long end down somewhere you can't reach and the fastener is more then hand tight. It adds much needed leverage in those situations to break the bolt loose. Something you cannot do with a spud. Although spuds are useful for many other things. Especially lining up flanges in pipe work or a bolted door plate. Etc.
I was introduced to a spud wrench when I was putting up my steel building. Went and bought one for myself and it's been very handy to have.
Years ago a pipe burst in my back yard and as I'm digging around my water meter to find the main shut off valve the water company pulled up and shut it off for me, they used a real nice tool meant just for this, the guy told me if I was ever put in this situation again to grab the biggest crescent wrench I have and get it as tight as I can on the valve and stand it straight up and put a screwdriver through the hole and turn. ;-) It works.
Iron-worker local 11 here. Use my spud everyday. Do not apply heat to your spud wrenches or connecting bar. It will harden the steel and can break on you when you least expect it. Such as don’t use a grinder on it. Great tip, you can file down the tip of the spud wrench with a manual filer to a flat tip. Great doe getting it into tight spots or opening metal boxes. Also another great tool is a connecting bar. It’s like a pry bar but in the right hands. It’s a pry bar and the whole 9 yards.
spud wrench and a 3 lb engineer hammer head made up a tool i used in a pipe foundry for setting the rollers on the casting machines. you used the hammer portion to slam loose the big wing nuts, then the wrench end to adjust the rollers. then the hammer again to slam the wing nut tight again.
Always handy for pinning your trailer hitch too! Used them setting double wides many years ago.
I occasionally do steel work but I do pre cast all the times and I use my spud maily as a wedge to hold my joints, to turn braces and of course use the crescent end ... best tool i own
As a millwright... I use this all the time. One of the most useful tools I have. If all the precision tools I have are the "fine adjustment knob"... my spud wrenches (I have several) are my "coarse adjustment knob".
I leave mean comments I will put in a good word for you at the Ironworkers apprentice school.
Ironworkers local 736 Hamilton, Ontario, Canada!! Big fan of your channel. Impressed by your choice of boot as well!
A dramatic soliloquy about a mundane item. Brilliant. This reminds me of the old Quaker oats ads.
I'm a crane operator and a rigger and we call it a "spud" too. Invaluable tool for a rigger trying to lineup bolt holes with the bolts. If I'm erecting anything with my crane I carry spud wrench, Burke bar, and a bull pin.
This gentleman is one of those person that you wanna Pay attention when he specks
He got a lot knowledge Great videos
Never knew about Spud wrenches till I started replacing guard rail. Simply an invaluable tool for many jobs.
I love old tools. My Grandad was a mechanic on steam shovels (40,s & early 50,s). He had tools I could not pick up (too heavy). Miss you Grandad !
I discovered these a couple years ago when I was at our local structural steel place to pick up some scraps for blacksmithing. At the same time I discovered that Klein makes drift/bull pins, which turn out to work perfectly well for drifting holes in hot steel.
I used spud wrenches and shop-made drift pins to line up pipe flanges on large steam, condensate, and water line repairs and maintenance, working as a Stationary Engineer. most trades have unique tools to simplify life. Flange spreader is another interesting and really helpful tool most folk would not figure out till it was seen in practice.
I have been seeing these wrenches a lot, lately. I couldn't figure out what they were used for. Awesome video.
The spud wrench I am familiar with is made by Ridgid, it's a plumbers tool. That eye in the end of an adjustable wrench is good for attaching a lanyard so when you are working high up or over sensitive equipment should you drop the wrench it will won't fall to the ground, the lanyard attached to your belt will stop it's fall.
I first learned about spud wrenches in the oil patch. Oh that little opening on the end of a crescent is excellent for opening needle valves extremely useful.
I love my spud wrench!! I use one at work all the time. We have camlock brass fittings for hoses and the locking handles get corroded over time. The spud wrench is perfect for leverage in getting those handles undone. Also, I use it as a crude hammer whenever I need to do some light(emphasis) hammering. I'm also a industrial/marine electrician so I can use the crescent end to tighten up ground bolts.
i built one out of a 15" craftsman cresent wrench and some 1" hex bar in 1981.
looks real good in my tool box!
I got one of these about five years ago and they are most underrated tools but I use them all the time now.
I bought a spud cresent wrench at a garage sale one time. I always wondered why the handle was shaped the way it was. Thank you for the education!
Thanks for this as I found one in my late Fathers tool box and till now wasn't quite sure of it's purpose.
I use the adjustable crescent wrench to turn the main water valve (curb side) on and off.
I place the wrench verticle to the valve and put a screwdriver through the hole on the end of the handle to gain leverage.
It certainly beats carrying a valve key, and I've never had a problem doing so.
Hey! I moved to a new city in the dead of winter last year and got on a framing crew, worst winter in 20-30 years around here. Never did production wood framing and stumbled across your channel and learned a few things so I could get up to speed before my first day, (been in the trades my whole life mostly doing remodel work and electrical in CA prior). Just wanted to say thank you for what you do. Stuck it out through the winter framing and realized it wasn't for me. The few things i could retain from you through an overnight tutoring session got me an hourly rate higher than anyone on that crew and more importantly helped me get established out here so I could find something more my speed and provide for my family and love what I do. I erect pre-fab metal buildings now and run a crew of 4-6 guys. Guys like you, guys like my dad, my uncle, yall are a dying breed. I hope I have this much volume and quality to pass on to the people that come after me some day to keep this dream alive. Thank you sir.
We used to take the adjustable spanner type of spud wrench and weld the striking side of a hammer head to the none adjustable side of the wrench. Now we had an alignment spike, wrench, and a hammer to move pieces into position all in one tool.
My brother-in-law was in local 40 NYC Ironworker, and he showed me how to climb up or down a vertical I beam.I did it once.
In the UK these are called "podgers"
On stage, we use them with ratchet heads for putting together staging, rigging, set, etc.
Thanks for this. After my father died I inherited one on these and always wondered what it was for as it always looked a little dangerous. Keep up the good content.
We call them podgers in Ireland and the UK, with a socket wrench on the end. Invaluable onsite!
Welder, here. Spud wrenches are some of the most useful tools within the steel trades. Get some decent ones, and you’ll have excellent tools that will come in handy time and time again for years.
2:00 Electrician here, we use the end of crescent wrenches quite often for various tasks. Torquing allen keys and straightening out kinked wire are the most common.
Damn,and I been usein the dam thing to dig up my taters.
zipde doda Silly boy...it's for tightening your taters.
I thought it was for tightening curly fries!
Not to be confused with a spud wench. She dunks the fries...
zipde doda That's actually where they got there name from, according to what folklore I've heard on site.
Irish immigrants apparently used a similar implement to dig up potatoes back in the home country; when they came to America (specifically New York by way of Ellis Island) and entered into the trades, Iron was in big business. One of us Micks got the idea of welding a wrench head on the end of a "spud digger", hence "spud wrench".
zipde doda I
First I've heard of one too. Actually, I've used the loop on crescent wrench for fastening lag screw eye bolts and hooks in lumber.
Spud wrench is one of those great inventions. C resent wrenches used to have a box end wrench of some size in the hole we now use to hang them up.
Definitely came in handy when i was putting up steel buildings
Spud wrench, like it. We call them podgers here in the U.K.
I cant repeat what my dad called them
We plumbers also have a wrench called a Spud Wrench. Usually 12" long and resembles a pipe wrench with smooth jaws
i have a spud ball pein hammer that i inherited from my great grandpa. I use it alot and it's a great tool.
We used to call it a Podger when I was an apprentice in the 50's
Tony Thomason still
Call them a podger. Although they have a ratchet on one end and a spike on the other
I just started my Ironworker apprenticeship, I'd love to see more videos related to rebar work and structural ironwork!!!
I use mine all the time for lining up elect gear shipping sections or bussing ties. Great wrenches and I like the feel of one in my hand
I like the hole in the wrench. I use them to put pressure with my socket wrench. Very handy .
yes, i know what they are call and have used them also nice to have around i have both of them nothing works like a spud wrench everybody should one. thamk you for the video.
I use one as a narrow drift for blacksmithing. It's easier than forging my own and seems to handle the heat and force just fine.
Have an 8 Inch one and Love it. Next one I am going to get A 1/2 -3/8 ratchetwrench spud. I like the fact that you do not have to lug a big piece of pipe for a cheater.
By the way, my heart skipped a beat and got dizzy when you brought out the Marlinspike
thought you going to use it.! Thumbs up!.
Ive actually used the hole on the crescent wrench to hook onto the end of a ratchet handle as a breaker bar when i had no pipes laying around
I built communication towers for a living from 1986-1993. A spud wrench and a hammer was one of my my main tools.
My Pop was a Millwright by trade, used one quite a lot. As a child I found it to be much better of a lawn dart than the screwdrivers were. These days I find all sorts of uses from auto fab to leatherwork, and everything in between. Probably my favorite tool in the shop.
I have a Crescent Spud, I use it to hook up implemnts aka attachments to my tractor. Use the Marlin Spike on one end and the Crecent to tighten bolts, what else??? I keep Alignment spikes and Marlin spikes around, they are some of the handiest tools and I amost NEVER see anyone using them but ME. Great to line up the hole in a power take off that has just broken the Shear pin. My daddy taught me, he was in the NAVY in WWII, they use them all the time makes up "rigging" and Chokers, and splicing Wire rope and fiber rope. But that is exactly wht they are far, they are handy working on smaller fixtues etc. The wrenches with the OPEN END or Box in, are actually BETTER than the Crescent if you can stick to one size. But around here for day to day stuff, the Crescent is very good. BB
Proto makes about the best spuds you can buy in this day and age, the best ever made were made by American Bridge back when they were US Steel's Ironworking division, they forged them from 1" rivets in their shop in Ambridge Pa, if you ever see one that's marked AB at the base of the jaw snatch it up, they're worth $$$ on the collector market for one in good shape.
I'm holding one on my lap right now and was wondering what it was used for, hence how I ended up on this video. The beefiness of these wrenches is unbelievable! I've never seen and probably won't ever see a broken one as I can't see how you would be able to do so. Thanks for the awesome and informative video as always!
Wait. You are holding one in your lap and wondering what it is used for? So you randomly procured one not knowing what it was and found a video on it while holding it in your lap? How did you know it was called a spud wrench to type that in, and why would you buy and hold a tool not knowing what purpose it served?
@@seanrobinson6407 I found this video and then grabbed the one I had, hence it being in my lap while watching this video.
Oh. I get it. I was a few beers in when I wrote the other text and its tone seems rather obnoxious. My apologies.
Never did learn how to break tie with crescent wrench.
There a couple ways to do it depending on how much slack you can get from the tie. If you can jam the open end completely under the tie then rotate the wrench about 180 degrees hook the tie rotate the wrench back the other direction to snap the tie.
Other side of the pond we call it a Podger usually with a ratchet head used a lot by overhead line teams.
Tractor supply threw some do it wrenches on clearance, this one is a 1/2 * 3/8 ratchet.
Tell you what, it is cool and I'm happy I got it. Just a sparky but it's come in handy
I use a pegboard to put my crescent wrenches, regular wrenches, screwdrivers, everything, its so great.
It pays to become proficient with those or with what I've always called a Bull Pin (similar to your Marlin spike,only a little heavier duty) especially on a tower stacking job. The first man has it made when the tower drops you 2-3 20' sections the second man has it pretty good and the man on the 3rd leg life can suck occasionally. But that is where Bull Pins become substantially more valuable than a spud wrench, due to being able to use a 2 1/2.lb hammer to assist you with lining up the hole's. lot's of fun no matter which leg you ultimately end up on...
oh yeah, they are also very handy for when the crane is flying a new section to you, you can drop a Bull Pin/Spud wrench in a flange hole and guide it into position. Gives a lot more leverage and keeps your fingers out of the danger zone...
Oh that's funny. I have two of these. I never knew exactly what they were for, but this is exactly how I've used them when I worked on semi trailers.
“Desperation becomes the mother of invention” I love it
As an engineer in the Merchant Marine I've used a spud wrench many times. Especially on steam ships.