Worland Man Inventing New Wrench

Frustrated with having to use several tools instead of one to tighten or loosen a beam clamp, plumber and construction worker Bart Hillman invented a wrench that replaces two to three tools and allows him to use one. Hillman received his patent on the BCW - beam clamp wrench. Without the new wrench, Hillman would still have to use crescent wrenches, which he says he does not like.

Hillman took a 7/16ths 12-point box end wrench with a 9/16ths open-end wrench. On the open-end wrench, he cut a three-eighths square-head notch. He enlisted the aid of friend and welder/artist Cal Fulfer to weld the two wrenches together and reinforce the neck.

"I've been in touch with a lot of manufacturers and I've gotten a few rejections," Hillman said, adding that one manufacturer quoted a price of about $9 per wrench but Hillman would like to offer the wrench at between $5 to $6. He said he would like to sell the license to a tool company such as Craftsman or Rigid.