From Original Basin Wrench to Monument Grip+
Monument Grip+ Overview
Monument has always been an innovative manufacturer and has now designed and manufactured a range of Monument Grip+ tools to fit the head of the the original adjustable basin wrench. Originally designed and manufactured by Monument, this was developed in the 1950s for the very difficult job of getting at nuts underneath basins. What is now the Professional Adjustable Basin Wrench (345V) with three sizes of jaw is considered to be the best tool for the job due to its small head size; there is not much point in trying to deal with the loosening and tightening of back nuts if the tool being used isn’t properly up to the job. The Professional Adjustable Basin Wrench represents innovative progressive design from the original Shetack Basin Wrench (327R) from 1929.
The original jaws to fit the basin wrench are now renamed as Grip+ jaws which fit ½in. (350L-T5) and ¾in. (351O-T4) tap back nuts. The largest Grip+ jaw (352R) fits nuts up to 2in. 50mm across flats.
It seemed logical, therefore, that armed with this wrench there could be lots of other jobs that could be done by attaching different tools using the same head. So the Monument design engineers looked at all sorts of tasks and have come up with numerous attachments forming the Monument Grip+ range; these all fit on to the existing head of the Professional Adjustable Basin Wrench.
All Monument Grip+ tools are made in the Monument factory in the UK and designs can be changed, altered or added to very quickly. The tools are all nickel plated and all have the Monument Grip+ logo etched into them during the manufacturing process. Note that the Monument Grip+ tools do not fit the old style basin wrenches 327R or 413, 347B (circa. 1992)
Monument Grip+ Kits
Monument Grip+ GRIP4625 Tap Back Nut & Sink Kit
The Sink and Tap Back Nut Kit (GRIP4625) includes 8-13mm monobloc (3240U) and 27x32mm box spanners (319U) for most kitchen and bathroom taps. Also included is the Shorty Handle Basin Wrench (4357G) and of course the Grip+ fittings which connect the head of the Basin Wrench to the box spanners. This allows for extended reach, access and leverage for the box spanners.
The kit also contains a 3 prong tool for holding a sink rose/ strainer whilst fitting the waste nut with a 50mm box spanner. Amazingly when we showed this product to the Monument Masters they found a better way of using the product: the product can be used from below the sink! Connect the 3-prong Sink Rose / Strainer Grip+ Tool (4527C) and slide the basin wrench through the 50mm box spanner. The sink rose / strainer can then be held in place whilst the box spanner tightens the waste nut.
Monument Grip+ GRIP4600 Radiator Kit
The Radiator Kit (GRIP4600) contains the Shorty Handle Basin Wrench (4357G) and a number of tools for radiators. These include Grip+ tools for drain cocks, radiator valves & bleed valves, radiator balancing tools, as well as a TRV tail driver.
The GRIP4600 and GRIP4625 kits are supplied in a telescopic opaque tube with euroslot. The products are available through the merchant network as well as at Plumbing Exhibitions [link]. The Grip+ themselves, within the tube, are packed in a mesh to prevent them from bouncing around in transit. The GRIP 4650 is supplied in a blister with a Euroslot.
Monument Grip+ GRIP4650
The Hex Socket & Hex Key Driver Kit (GRIP4650) includes 8mm socket x 12mm Hex Key (4510G), 9mmx13mm (4511J), 10×14 (4512M), 11×15 (4513P), 12×16 (4514S), 13×17 (4515V) and a 1/4in. x 10mm (4522Q). Ideal for professional heating and gas engineers for those hard to reach nuts and bolts. Each Socket/Hex Key is hollow and approx. 63mm 2½in. long.
Tap Back Nut Fitting Tools
Monument Grip+ 4534X 27mm x 32mm x 13mm socket
4562P 8-13mm Monobloc Tap Fitting Tools
The Grip+ Tap Back Nut Fitting Tools are available as individual items or as part of a kit. The 4534X-T1 27x32mm Grip+ tool fits 27x32mm box spanners and is a great addition to the toolbox allowing for extended reach, access and leverage when fitting basin and bath taps. It also fits some tap cartridges as it has an 18mm A/F internal socket.
The 4562P-T2 8-10mm and 11-13mm Stepped Hex tools fit 8-13mm monobloc box spanners for nuts typically found under kitchen sinks. There is a 6-step version available as part of a kit in Screwfix. These tools allow for extended reach, access and leverage when fitting kitchen taps. The back nut fitting tools fit the Adjustable Basin Wrenches 341J 345V & 349H as well as the Shorty Basin Wrench 4537G.
The 4539M 22x24mm Grip+ tool fits 22x24mm box spanners, it also has an internal 18mm A/F female socket.
Radiator & Heating System Tools
Monument Grip+ Radiator Tools
Monument Grip+ TRV Tail Driver & Balancing Tools
There are a plethora of radiator valves and cocks on the market and Monument continually try stay up to date and manufacture products to suit. The 4504O is a slotted 12mm A/F Hex to remove slotted radiator valves. The 4501F-R2 is a 10mm 12mm & ½in Hex Slotted tool and the 4516Y is a 16mm & 22mm Slotted Hex tool, both to remove slotted radiator valves. The 4502I Grip+ Tool is designed for 3/8in. Square and ½in. hex radiator valves. There are four Grip+ Drain Cock tools 4519H-R6 7mm Square (also fits ½in. Lockshield valves) , 4518E-R5 8mm Square, 4520K 9mm Square (also fits ¾in. Lockshield valves), 4521N 10mm Square (also fits 1in. Lockshield valves). The 4507X-R1 TRV Tail Driver fits both square and hex TRV tails. The 4505R-R3 and 4506U-R4 are 0-shaped Radiator Balancing Tools.
Monument Grip+ Vent Pin Tools
Grip+ 4527C
The Grip+ Radiator Vent Pin Tools have very slight variation in sizes as vent pins vary in sizes. The 4517B is a Vent Pin only. The 4503L has a vent pin and ½in. hex.
Sink & Waste Tools
The 4527C-T6 Grip+ 3-prong Sink Rose / Strainer tool is designed to hold the sink rose / sink strainer in place whilst the fitter connects the waste nut. Traditionally a two man job (or one for Mr Tickle) the job can be done easily with this tool.
Displays in Plumbers Merchants
Monument Grip+ in Merchants
Monument has a range of Monument Grip+ products available on the 1m and 0.7m Plumbing & Heating Range in Builders and Plumbers Merchants.
The products available are subject to space availability on the Monument toolbar so the full range is not necessarily available in every plumbers or builders merchant.
Typically the Monument Grip+ tools which attach to box spanners sink back nuts are available on the 1m range. The 0.7m extended range typically has the jaws for tap back nuts and a range of radiator Grip+ tools. All can be seen in the Merchandising Solutions Catalogue.
Toilet Seat Fitting Tool
The Grip+ Toilet seat fitting tool (4570N) includes the Shorty Handle Basin Wrench (4357G) and two Grip+ fitting tools; a 13mm A/F female socket which includes a 17mm male hex key (4515V) and a castellated tool designed for wing nuts (4526Z)