View Full Version : How about some Chinese Vice Grips at tool truck prices?
chad s
06-17-2008, 04:06 PM
http://image.snapon.com/international/pdf/blp404_bsglp404.pdf
The BP Vice grips used to be standard Irwin USA made vice grips in a BP pouch. I guess Snap On decided to find a cheaper route.
DavidtheDuke
06-17-2008, 04:27 PM
http://image.snapon.com/international/pdf/blp404_bsglp404.pdf
The BP Vice grips used to be standard Irwin USA made vice grips in a BP pouch. I guess Snap On decided to find a cheaper route.
Didn't Irwin move over from the USA? SO might have been forced to switch to Irwin's move over as well.
Moose-LandTran
06-17-2008, 04:31 PM
Moose gives Chinese vice-grips two thumbs down.
OctaneMotorsports
06-17-2008, 04:33 PM
Moose gives Chinese vice-grips two thumbs down.
So does Octane...Chinese locking pliers have ALWAYS sucked, and the new Irwins suck too. :( Buy old-stock USA-made ones while you can, there are still some available.
Moose-LandTran
06-17-2008, 04:35 PM
( Buy old-stock USA-made ones while you can, there are still some available.
Where can one find such a thing? I need a few sets and i don't want the crap ones where the jaws crack and ping when you need to grip something nice and tight.
I have some of those BP Locking Pliers and they aren't bad. Tolerences seem good and I didn't get the bird flu.
I tried to compair them to good ol' Made in the USA Vice Grips so I checked my dad's tool box.
All I found in there was a butter knife and one side of a pair of rusty old needle nose pliers.
I stood there wondering how I ever got into the tool business...
What is this thread about again?
PowderKeg
06-17-2008, 04:52 PM
http://image.snapon.com/international/pdf/blp404_bsglp404.pdf
The BP Vice grips used to be standard Irwin USA made vice grips in a BP pouch. I guess Snap On decided to find a cheaper route.
Man that sucks bigtime. I heard Irwin was going Crap-ese, but the ones I've casually noticed at Lowe's and such still looked to be USA made. Gotta head there tonight, maybe I'll check on the current origin status.
Been a long time since I've stepped on a truck or gotten a catalog - it's a really sad day when even Snap-on is upping the Crap-ese content in their offerings.
OctaneMotorsports
06-17-2008, 04:54 PM
Where can one find such a thing? I need a few sets and i don't want the crap ones where the jaws crack and ping when you need to grip something nice and tight.
I have found sets at Canadian Tire, and smaller hardware stores like Home Hardware. If you like, I can go see what they have left USA made and send them over you...just cost of the pliers + shipping, shoot me a PM and let me know what you need.
wilbilt
06-17-2008, 04:59 PM
http://image.snapon.com/international/pdf/blp404_bsglp404.pdf
The BP Vice grips used to be standard Irwin USA made vice grips in a BP pouch. I guess Snap On decided to find a cheaper route.
Wow...they skipped the Taiwan foreplay and went straight for the China.
Bad form, Snap-On...bad form.:headshake
chad s
06-17-2008, 05:19 PM
I have some of those BP Locking Pliers and they aren't bad. Tolerences seem good and I didn't get the bird flu.
?
The ones I just posted the link to were just released a few days ago.
The ones you have may be made in Spain by Grip On, which happen to be very nice. They make Snap On's line of non-asian locking pliers.
Sunrise
06-17-2008, 05:33 PM
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=all&item_ID=77811&group_ID=20219&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog
is this the one made in Spain by grip on??
chad s
06-17-2008, 05:59 PM
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=all&item_ID=77811&group_ID=20219&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog
is this the one made in Spain by grip on??
Yes, I have that set, they are very nice. I prefer the release lever on them to Vice Grip. It makes more sence, the lever makes them much easier to release.
The ones I just posted the link to were just released a few days ago.
The ones you have may be made in Spain by Grip On, which happen to be very nice. They make Snap On's line of non-asian locking pliers.
I have the Williams branded locking pliers. Check out the new Williams stuff vs. the new BP stuff. I'm sure you'll see the resemblance.
http://www.jhwilliamstoolgroup.com/DSN/wwwjhwilliamstoolgroupcom/Commerce/ProductImages/lg1_000475.jpg
Merkava_4
06-17-2008, 06:48 PM
I prefer the release lever on them to Vice Grip. It makes more sense, the lever makes them much easier to release.
That's the way Crescent used to have their locking pliers set up, but they've since gone out of production for some strange unknown reason.
eschoendorff
06-17-2008, 06:53 PM
Didn't Irwin move over from the USA? SO might have been forced to switch to Irwin's move over as well.
I'd bet that is the issue. It must be hard for Snap On to find made in USA vendors anymore. :(
Uncle Buck
06-17-2008, 07:08 PM
I'd bet that is the issue. It must be hard for Snap On to find made in USA vendors anymore. :(
I would have to agree since SO never did make a SO branded locking plier and always sold VG brand.
Can you imagine being the SO truck driver actually having to stand there and tell some poor schmoe to grease up before slipping him the mao mart pliers at the SO price! Oh man you know that has to hurt, even worse than buying offshore VG brand to begin with now the added insult of that SO price! :wtf:
Wow...they skipped the Taiwan foreplay and went straight for the China.
Bad form, Snap-On...bad form.:headshake
Whats' happening .... to the ole Made in USA stuff? Is it really becomming that expensive to manufacture quality goods in US Soil that its all slowly being farmed out?
I'll check my local market and grab whatever US Made Vise Grips I find in order to complete my kit ... even if I have to pay a higher price.
I was supposed to order online the VG 10 Piece Kit but decided not to do so. $ 86 for the whole lot. Its too cheap and I think I know why.
vBulletin® v3.8.1, Copyright ©2000-2010, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.