Just spent $40 on a 'universal' sink drain wrench that stripped my kitchen drain nut. Is it better to buy the right tool or try to make a cheap one work?

3 comments

3 Comments

That universal tool probably has too much slop in the jaws. A dedicated basin wrench costs about the same and actually grabs the nut right. You just learned the $40 lesson about "one size fits all" hardware.

henry_murray11mo ago

Yeah, that's the expensive way to find out universal means "fits nothing well." Kim.zara is right about the basin wrench, it's a tool that actually does the one job. Now you own a fancy metal paperweight.

logan2361mo ago

Been there with a universal wrench slipping off a faucet nut and scratching the finish. Borrowed a neighbor's basin wrench and it was like night and day, the right tool just locks on. Now I keep one in the drawer even though I only need it every couple years. It just saves the headache.