Buy the RIDGID 342 for 1 to 2 in. closet spuds, strainers and nipples. For a broken 1/2 in. nipple, get the RectorSeal GoldenGrip on a ratchet. For 3/8 to 3/4 in., get Prime-Line’s set.
Top pick: RIDGID 342$89.82 at AmazonPrice as of Oct 24, 2026, 5:30 AM EDT · low stock then
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
How the three compare on our spec score
Five checks from each maker’s own pages and sheets, equal weight. The rules and every input are in the method section near the end.
PlumbingPicks spec score out of 10, from RIDGID’s, RectorSeal’s and Prime-Line’s product pages and sheets, read Oct 22, 2026. It is not a customer rating or a lab test of our own.
All three grip the inside of a pipe or fitting so you can turn it when there’s nothing to hold on the outside. They differ in how they grip, what turns them and which pipe sizes they fit.
The RIDGID covers four sizes, 1 to 2 in., with one tool. The RectorSeal covers one size but runs on a 3/8 or 1/2 in. ratchet. The Prime-Line set covers the three small sizes and turns with any wrench you already carry.
Each pick, in detail
What each maker publishes, what it means on a plumbing job, and where each one lost points on our checks.
1 to 2 in.25 to 50 mm4 1/2 in. tool1 5/8 lbCat. 31405Lifetime warranty
Buy it if
You set or pull closet spuds, sink and tub strainers, or 1 to 2 in. Schedule 40 nipples.
Skip it if
Your broken nipple is 1/2 or 3/4 in. Get the RectorSeal or the Prime-Line set.
The RIDGID 342 is the internal wrench I’d carry first, and I’ve used it. RIDGID says it grips 1 to 2 in. pipe where you can’t reach the outside, holds closet spuds and bath, basin and sink strainers through 2 in., and installs or extracts Schedule 40 nipples.
That range covers four nominal sizes, 1, 1-1/4, 1-1/2 and 2 in., so it scored a 10 on size range. The jaws expand by eccentric action, which means they ride off-center and wedge outward as you turn.
RIDGID says the jaws are reversible for various sizes. Its instruction sheet shows three parts: the handle and body, the jaw set and a retainer spring ring.
To flip the jaws, you spread them with your thumb at the split in the ring, slide them out about half a jaw length, turn them 180° and push them back against the hex shoulder of the body. No tools, and the ring stays on.
Because RIDGID says it installs as well as extracts nipples, it took a 10 on that check.
It turns with its own sliding T-handle bar. That’s simple and always with the tool, but it isn’t a ratchet drive, so the drive check scored an 8.
RIDGID backs it with a full lifetime warranty, a 10, and publishes an ordering table, an instruction sheet and a parts list, another 10. The table lists catalog 31405, a 4-1/2 in. (113 mm) tool and 1 5/8 lb.
The limit is small pipe. Its capacity starts at 1 in., so a broken 1/2 in. nipple in a tee needs one of the other two picks.
My call: if you only buy one internal wrench for drain and fixture work, make it this one.
1/2 in. pipeSchedule 403/8 or 1/2 in. driveHeat tempered steelCode 972503 yr warranty
Buy it if
You pull or set 1/2 in. nipples, often in tight spots, and you’d rather use a ratchet or extension.
Skip it if
You need more than one size in the bag. Prime-Line’s set covers 3/8 to 3/4 in.
The RectorSeal GoldenGrip 97250 is the tool for a 1/2 in. nipple broken off in a fitting, and I’ve used it. RectorSeal’s data sheet calls it a self-locking, reversible internal wrench you can use with ratchets, extensions and impact wrenches.
That drive is its edge. The data sheet says it fits standard 3/8 and 1/2 in. ratchets, so you can reach a nipple behind a wall or under a cabinet with an extension. It’s the only pick that scored a 10 on drive.
RectorSeal lists its recommended use as chrome and brass pipe and says it can also extract corroded pipe. Its benefits list includes no thread damage and working in tight spaces. The data sheet adds heat tempered steel and use with Schedule 40 pipe.
Its weak check is size range. The 97250 is the single-grip 1/2 in. tool, one size, so it scored a 2.5. RectorSeal makes a 3/4 in. single (97251), two double-grip tools for 1 to 1-1/4 in. (97252) and 1-1/2 to 2 in. (97253), and a four-tool set (97256). We didn’t find those on Amazon on Oct 22, 2026.
The warranty check scored an 8. RectorSeal’s site states a minimum three-year limited warranty on its products, with no registration.
It took 10s on the last two checks: RectorSeal sells it for installing or extracting nipples, and its product page and data sheet give the sizes, drive and steel.
The listing was sold by a third-party plumbing store with 7 left. Its title says 6-Piece, but its item details say one item, and RectorSeal packs the 97250 six to a case. Check the quantity line before you buy.
My call: it’s the fastest way I know to back out a 1/2 in. stub where a pipe wrench can’t reach.
3/8 in.1/2 in.3/4 in.SteelKnurled cam1 yr warranty
Buy it if
You pull broken 3/8 to 3/4 in. nipples from tees, valves and stub outs and want one kit for all three.
Skip it if
You work on 1 to 2 in. pipe or need to set closet spuds. The RIDGID 342 covers that.
The Prime-Line RP77360 is a three-tool kit for small nipples, and I’ve used it. Prime-Line says it removes or reinstalls broken and frozen pipe nipples, with an expanding knurled design that locks into place inside the pipe.
It covers 3/8, 1/2 and 3/4 in., three of the four sizes on our scale, so it scored a 7.5 on size range. Those are the sizes it’s sold for, with no 1 in. tool in the set.
Prime-Line says each tool works with a standard, adjustable or pipe wrench, with no specialty tools needed, and the photos show a long hex body. That scored an 8 on drive. Prime-Line doesn’t say it’s rated for a ratchet or impact wrench, so I wouldn’t put an impact on it.
Prime-Line’s description says it grips without damaging the outer pipe surface, and that each tool is marked with its size. In a bag of loose tools, the marked size saves you guessing which one fits.
Prime-Line sells it as a single pack of three tools in heavy-duty steel, and says the set suits tight spaces and damaged pipe ends. The Amazon listing’s brand line reads Rapid Repair, but its title and photo match Prime-Line’s RP77360, and Amazon.com was the seller on Oct 22, 2026.
Two checks pulled it down. Prime-Line’s warranty is one year against manufacturing defects, a 6. And Prime-Line publishes a description and feature list but no spec table, sizes in millimeters or instructions, so maker documents scored a 5.
Prime-Line says the set removes or reinstalls nipples, so it took a 10 on that check.
My call: it’s the set I’d keep for the 1/2 and 3/4 in. nipple that snaps off at the fitting when you try to take a valve off.
The three side by side
Sizes, drive and warranty from each maker’s own pages.
From RIDGID’s Internal Wrench page and No. 342 instruction sheet, RectorSeal’s 97250 page and GoldenGrip data sheet, and Prime-Line’s RP77360 page, read Oct 22, 2026.
Which tool fits your pipe size
Internal wrenches are sized by nominal pipe size. Here’s each size from 3/8 to 2 in. with its Schedule 40 inside diameter and the pick that fits it.
Nominal size
Outside diameter
Average inside diameter
RIDGID 342
RectorSeal GoldenGrip
Prime-Line set
3/8 in.
0.675 in.
0.473 in. (12.0 mm)
No
No
Yes
1/2 in.
0.840 in.
0.602 in. (15.3 mm)
No
Yes, 97250
Yes
3/4 in.
1.050 in.
0.804 in. (20.4 mm)
No
97251, not on Amazon
Yes
1 in.
1.315 in.
1.029 in. (26.1 mm)
Yes
97252, not on Amazon
No
1-1/4 in.
1.660 in.
1.360 in. (34.5 mm)
Yes
97252, not on Amazon
No
1-1/2 in.
1.900 in.
1.590 in. (40.4 mm)
Yes
97253, not on Amazon
No
2 in.
2.375 in.
2.047 in. (52.0 mm)
Yes
97253, not on Amazon
No
Diameters: Spears “Dimensions & Pressure Ratings,” Schedule 40 table (millimeters are our arithmetic). Sizes per tool: RIDGID’s ordering table, RectorSeal’s GoldenGrip data sheet and Prime-Line’s RP77360 page.
Go by the nominal size stamped on the fitting or the pipe, not a tape measure. A 1/2 in. nipple is about 0.6 in. inside and 0.84 in. outside, and neither number reads as “1/2.”
The two small-pipe picks overlap at 1/2 in. only. From 1 in. up, the RIDGID is the one in stock on Amazon. My call: a service plumber covers almost every case with the RIDGID 342 plus either small-pipe pick.
Which tool for which plumbing job
The jobs these wrenches exist for, with the pick each maker’s documents point to.
Job
Pick
Why
Set or pull a toilet closet spud
RIDGID 342
RIDGID lists closet spuds through 2 in.
Hold a sink, basin or tub strainer while you tighten the nut
RIDGID 342
RIDGID lists bath, basin and sink strainers through 2 in.
Back out a 1 to 2 in. Schedule 40 nipple
RIDGID 342
RIDGID: installs or extracts Schedule 40 nipples
Broken 1/2 in. nipple in a tee or valve
RectorSeal GoldenGrip or Prime-Line
RectorSeal: extracts nipples and corroded pipe. Prime-Line: broken and frozen nipples
Broken 3/8 or 3/4 in. nipple
Prime-Line set
The only pick in stock with those sizes
Chrome or brass nipple you want to keep
RectorSeal GoldenGrip
RectorSeal names chrome and brass pipe and no thread damage
Nipple deep in a wall or cabinet
RectorSeal GoldenGrip
Runs on a ratchet with an extension
Thread in a new short nipple
Any of the three
All three are sold to install as well as remove
A closet spud is the threaded outlet on a flush valve toilet or urinal that the flush valve connects to. The RIDGID’s jaws go inside it so you can turn it without a spud wrench on the outside.
For strainers, the internal wrench holds the strainer still from inside the drain while you turn the locknut underneath. My call: that’s the job I use the 342 for most. For the tub shoe itself, see our tub drain removal tool guide.
The three kinds of internal pipe wrench
“Internal pipe wrench” covers three different designs. Here’s how each one grips, from the makers’ own descriptions.
Design
How it grips
What turns it
Our pick
Eccentric jaw
Off-center jaws wedge outward against the pipe wall as you turn; the jaws flip 180° for different sizes
A sliding T-handle bar
RIDGID 342
Self-locking
Locks itself against the inside of the pipe; RectorSeal calls it reversible
A 3/8 or 1/2 in. ratchet, extension or impact wrench
RectorSeal GoldenGrip
Knurled cam
An expanding knurled end locks into the pipe’s inside wall
A standard, adjustable or pipe wrench on the hex body
Prime-Line RP77360
RIDGID sells its eccentric jaw design for 1 to 2 in. pipe, spuds and strainers. The two small-pipe designs come one tool per pipe size, which is why RectorSeal and Prime-Line both sell them as sets.
Materials: RectorSeal says heat tempered steel, Prime-Line says steel. RIDGID’s page doesn’t list the material, and we don’t guess it.
How to use an internal pipe wrench
Steps from the makers’ sheets, with my own calls marked. Most stuck nipples come out on the first try when the size is right.
Step
What to do
Source
1. Size it
Match the tool to the nominal pipe size on the fitting
Each maker’s size list
2. Clean the bore
Clear loose rust and old dope from inside the broken end
My call
3. Set the jaws
RIDGID: flip the jaws 180° when the size calls for it. RectorSeal: self-locking and reversible as sold
RIDGID page and instruction sheet; RectorSeal
4. Seat it
Push the tool in until the grip is fully inside the pipe
My call
5. Turn
Counterclockwise to remove a standard right-hand thread; steady pressure, no jerks
My call
6. Re-dope and reinstall
Clean the female threads and seal the new nipple
My call; see our tape vs dope guide
RIDGID says the 342’s jaws are reversible for various sizes, and its sheet is specific about flipping them: spread the jaws at the split in the spring ring, slide them about half a jaw length away from the handle, turn them 180° keeping them against the body, and push them back to the hex shoulder. The ring stays on.
How you turn the tool decides where you can use it. Here’s what each maker says fits.
Pick
Turns with
Impact wrench?
Best place to use it
RIDGID 342
Its own sliding T-handle
Not stated
Open drains, spuds, strainers
RectorSeal GoldenGrip
Standard 3/8 and 1/2 in. ratchets, extensions
Yes, per RectorSeal
Deep in walls and cabinets
Prime-Line RP77360
Standard, adjustable or pipe wrench
Not stated
Stub outs and fittings you can reach
Only RectorSeal names impact wrenches. My call: don’t put an impact on a tool whose maker doesn’t list it, and go easy on a corroded nipple whatever the tool. A cracked fitting means cutting it out and replacing it.
If you already carry a ratcheting wrench set, the Prime-Line’s hex body takes an open-end wrench too.
When an internal wrench isn’t the right tool
These wrenches need a round bore to grip. Here’s what I reach for when that’s missing, labeled as my calls.
The last row is the one people skip. My call: if the broken end is split, an expanding tool can spread it instead of gripping it, so cut the fitting out and replace it.
Internal wrenches we checked and left out
These came up in Amazon searches on Oct 22, 2026. Here’s what kept each off the list.
Tool
What we found
Why it’s out
General Tools 139/4 four-piece set
3/8 to 1 in., steel, per its listing
Temporarily out of stock
Proto J140SET four-piece set
Listed with a two to three week lead time
Not in stock
Pasco 4511 and 4512
1/2 and 3/4 in. internal nipple wrenches, 7 left each
No maker product page to check
Titan 11498 three-piece set
3/8 to 3/4 in., sold by Amazon.com
No maker product page to check
HAUTMEC and ABN sets
Small-brand knurled cam sets
Listing text only
“31405 compatible” wrenches
Look-alikes sold under the RIDGID model number
Not the genuine RIDGID tool
The look-alikes deserve a warning. Two listings we saw put “31405” and “Model 342” in their titles but aren’t made by RIDGID. Check that the brand line says RIDGID before you buy.
How to choose in four questions
Question
If yes
If no
Is the pipe 1 in. or bigger, or is it a spud or strainer?
RIDGID 342
Keep going
Is it 3/8 or 3/4 in.?
Prime-Line set
Keep going
Is it 1/2 in. and hard to reach?
RectorSeal GoldenGrip on a ratchet
Either small-pipe pick
Do you want a lifetime warranty?
RIDGID 342
Any of the three
My call for most plumbers: the RIDGID 342 plus the Prime-Line set covers every size from 3/8 to 2 in. Add the RectorSeal if you pull a lot of 1/2 in. stubs in tight spots.
The RIDGID 342, on our spec score of 9.6. It grips 1 to 2 in. pipe, holds closet spuds and strainers through 2 in., and carries RIDGID’s full lifetime warranty. For smaller pipe, see the RectorSeal GoldenGrip or Prime-Line’s set.
What is an internal pipe wrench used for?
Turning a pipe or fitting from the inside when you can’t grip the outside: backing out a nipple broken off in a fitting, setting or pulling closet spuds, and holding sink, basin and tub strainers while you tighten the nut.
How do you use an internal pipe wrench?
Pick the tool that matches the nominal pipe size, push it fully into the pipe, and turn it counterclockwise to remove a right-hand thread. On the RIDGID 342, the jaws flip 180° for different sizes, per RIDGID’s page and instruction sheet.
What are the different sizes of internal pipe wrenches?
They’re sized by nominal pipe size. The RIDGID 342 covers 1 to 2 in.; RectorSeal’s GoldenGrip line has 1/2 and 3/4 in. singles and doubles for 1 to 1-1/4 and 1-1/2 to 2 in.; Prime-Line’s set has 3/8, 1/2 and 3/4 in.
What are the different types of internal pipe wrenches?
Three designs: eccentric jaws that wedge outward (RIDGID 342), self-locking tools that run on a ratchet (RectorSeal GoldenGrip), and knurled cam tools turned with a wrench on a hex body (Prime-Line).
What materials are internal pipe wrenches made of?
RectorSeal says its GoldenGrip is heat tempered steel, and Prime-Line says its set is steel. RIDGID’s page for the 342 doesn’t list the material.
What size internal wrench for a 1/2 inch nipple?
A 1/2 in. tool, sized by nominal pipe size. The RectorSeal GoldenGrip 97250 and the 1/2 in. tool in Prime-Line’s set both fit. The RIDGID 342 starts at 1 in.
Can an internal pipe wrench remove a closet spud?
The RIDGID 342 can. RIDGID says it holds closet spuds and bath, basin and sink strainers through 2 in.
Can I use an impact wrench on an internal pipe wrench?
Only where the maker says so. RectorSeal says the GoldenGrip works with ratchets, extensions and impact wrenches. RIDGID and Prime-Line don’t list impact use for their tools.
Will an internal pipe wrench damage the threads?
RectorSeal lists no thread damage as a GoldenGrip benefit, and Prime-Line says its set grips without damaging the outer pipe surface. The grip is inside the pipe, away from the outside threads.
Can an internal pipe wrench install a nipple too?
Yes. RIDGID says the 342 installs or extracts Schedule 40 nipples, RectorSeal sells the GoldenGrip for installation or extraction, and Prime-Line says its set removes or reinstalls nipples.
What if the internal wrench slips?
My call: check the size first, because a tool one size small won’t grip. If the broken end is split or crushed, stop and replace the fitting rather than forcing it.
How we picked these
Why trust me
I’m Isaac Daniels, a licensed journeyman plumber in Georgia (license #JP507711), and I’ve used all three picks. Every spec here comes from RIDGID’s, RectorSeal’s and Prime-Line’s own pages and sheets, read Oct 22, 2026, and pipe sizes from Spears. Where I add advice of my own, it’s labeled as my call.
How I pick
Only internal pipe wrenches from well-documented brands, new and in stock on Amazon, checked through Amazon’s product data the same day.
Facts from each maker’s product page or sheet first. Where only the brand-written listing says something, the page says so.
Each card’s spec score comes from the five checks below. All three score 7.0 or higher.
CPSC recall search for RIDGID internal wrench, RectorSeal and Prime-Line wrenches: no recalls found.
The spec score, check by check
Each check scores 0 to 10 and counts one fifth. Anything the maker doesn’t publish scores a neutral 5. It’s our score from maker documents, not a customer rating or a lab test of our own.
Check (weight)
How it’s scored
Size range (⅕)
Nominal sizes covered from 3/8 to 2 in. ÷ 4 × 10, up to 10
Drive (⅕)
10 when the maker says ratchets and impact wrenches fit; 8 when it turns with its own handle or a standard wrench
Warranty (⅕)
10 for lifetime; 8 for three years; 6 for one year; 5 when none is stated
Removes and installs (⅕)
10 when the maker says it both removes and installs; 5 when not stated
Maker documents (⅕)
10 for a spec table or data sheet plus sizes or instructions; 5 for a description only
Total
Average of the checks, to one decimal
Pick
Size range
Drive
Warranty
Removes and installs
Maker documents
Score
RIDGID 342
10 (4 sizes)
8 (T-handle)
10 (lifetime)
10 (install or extract)
10 (table, sheet, parts list)
9.6
RectorSeal GoldenGrip 97250
2.5 (1 size)
10 (ratchet, impact)
8 (3 yr)
10 (install or extract)
10 (page, data sheet)
8.1
Prime-Line RP77360
7.5 (3 sizes)
8 (any wrench)
6 (1 yr)
10 (remove or reinstall)
5 (description)
7.3
Sources
RIDGID, Internal Wrench product page with ordering table (catalog 31405, Model 342) and warranty: read Oct 22, 2026.
RIDGID, No. 342 Internal Wrench Instruction Sheet, 999-998-250.10 Rev. A.
RectorSeal, GoldenGrip 1/2 in. single grip internal pipe wrench (97250) and GoldenGrip set (97256) product pages, and warranty statement: read Oct 22, 2026.
RectorSeal, GoldenGrip Internal Pipe Wrench data sheet P-K-13.
Prime-Line, RP77360 internal pipe wrench set product page, specifications and warranty: read Oct 22, 2026.
