What are good vice grips?

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

^ I ordered a pair of those a few years back. Cheap. Not impressed at all. Sent them to @BlakeTheCarGuy a year or two back in a "Secret Santa" package. Not sure what he thought of them.


^ Absolute garbage. I had some and put those in "Secret Santa" packages as well because I knew Blake was flipping stuff and doing "tradesies" with co-workers.

Both are hot garbage lol. But to be fair the Tekton was the old style Tekton. I’ve had much better luck out of the newer ones. I still have both because I couldn’t give them away to people on trade or sale lol.

 

[Maui]

You have to spend countless hours and fuel going to every flea mkt and garage sale within 50 miles in the hopes of finding a genuine vintage Peterson made Vice Grip.

Nothing else will do!

Or just buy a pair on eBay...

 

[four.cycle]

I still have both because I couldn’t give them away to people on trade or sale lol.

oooo that's bad. sorry.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

oooo that's bad. sorry.

No worries lol. They are now in the “borrow” box in case they don’t get brought back. But I do appreciate them as a gift though.

 

[four.cycle]

^ well... you had said at one time people were borrowing your tools... that's why I hunted high and low for that set of made-in-India open-ends ... so you'd have some loaners!

 

[AJHD]

I'm one of those rare people who rarely if ever use locking pliers.
I don't currently own any to be honest, but I've been thinking about having a pair or two (or three) around.

For the price, the Bremen look like a good option.
They are somewhere around 1/2 the price of the current Irwin, Milwaukee and Klein offerings.

https://www.harborfreight.com/hand-tools/pliers/locking-pliers.html?brand=BREMEN

 

[Steel_Rain]

Id love to suggest Malco, but god damnit, they are just to nice to use!

 

[Ohio Andy]

Id love to suggest Malco, but god damnit, they are just to nice to use!

I don't know man they use really good....

You could say they are the gooderest

 

[shoggoth80]

I tend to use them hard, and for **** jobs. Treat them bad. Lol. I'd invest in Malco, cause man they look nice and get reviews... There's a reason I've only got cheap grips Maybe I'll grab a Bremen next time I'm at HF.

 

[Andres26tnt]

The hate on some brands is ridiculous, most work just fine. The thing about locking pliers to me is that I abuse them, and only really pull them out for that reason. Stuff like needing to pull out studs or beat this thing with a hammer.

I've used about 4 or 5 different brands. The Milwaukee and Stanley fat max are equal in my mind. Irwin are also great. My knxp were the worst ones, not sure what they are made from, but they flex too much.

 

[john.k]

Used genuine Vise Grips on the steering box of the Caterpillar 12 grader ,one of the labourers steered the grader from the front axle so we could get it home after the long steering shaft broke.....make a good u tube that would ...real world solutions for real world problems.

 

[Steel_Rain]

Maybe I'll grab a Bremen next time I'm at HF.

I hear about these all the time. I have some beater sets (Tekton), but I need to replace a few. There sooo many opinions on vice pliers, but should I give the Bremen's a try? They are cheap enough to try, but does anyone actually own and use these often?

 

[AJHD]

Unfortunately, I don't get an employee discount these days, but I picked up these pliers from CAT yesterday to try out.
They feel solid and they're made in Spain. Not sure of the OEM.

https://parts.cat.com/en/empire/316-0703

They also have a 5-piece set I may pick up later.

https://parts.cat.com/en/empire/316-0707

 

[M635_Guy]

Haven't used that style of Milwaukee w the odd over mold and auto lock
I was referring to the traditional style, which are a solid buy but not much better then the Bremen

I've always hated the over mold /plastic grips on any locking pliers, Irwin has done it in the past

Auto Lock just ***** unless you are gripping the same thickness every time, and even then the spread on the handle is huge

Definitely not a fan of the overmold either, and I have to assume the twist when they're engaged is due to the autolock mechanism (and probably the slop too). I'm generally a fan of Milwaukee, and had hopes for these since I find this type of pliers kinda fiddly, but they were disappointing.

The standard-design 7" is $16 or $12 (depending on what style you choose), which seemed a big premium vs. the Bremen. They do look a little beefier though.

I'm strange - there's a threshold under which I'm going to scrutinize and compare a lot. In that realm of "pretty good" anything like the Milwaukee is going to have to work to justify its 25%-50% premium over something like the Bremen. Then you hit the Malco, and while it's crazy money compared to the "pretty-good" offerings that work fine, it's just so clearly the best friggin' thing you're ever going to hold that I wound up with several (and I'm sure a lot of people here consider me the HF guy). When it is a smaller step (e.g. Icon wrenches vs. the trucks), I struggle to justify it.

 

[David99]

Can't say much on the locking pliers but looking at the 6V-6194: Needle Nose Pliers Set-

https://parts.cat.com/en/empire/6V-6194

Looks like a Snap-on "S"

 

[AJHD]

Can't say much on the locking pliers but looking at the 6V-6194: Needle Nose Pliers Set-

https://parts.cat.com/en/empire/6V-6194

Looks like a Snap-on "S"

The pliers are Snap On (at least those 3 are). But I believe that's an older picture because Snap On don't make that style of slip joint anymore. Someone posted recently in the "new tools thread" a CAT pliers set, but I will have to find the post.

 

[four.cycle]

The hate on some brands is ridiculous, most work just fine.

True.
However, you only need to experience one complete failure of a pair of locking pliers that results in gasoline leaking out all over your garage floor or suffering physical injury.
At that point you realize "Hey, maybe I should have paid more than $2.99 for a tool I was hoping to be able to depend on."
It's not "hate". It's that basic human instinct for self-preservation.

Ergo: shelling out $50 or $60 bucks for the Malcos (when they were at their high) seemed quite reasonable, to be honest.
Now that Harry Epstein has dropped the price down to $30, it's a no-brainer at the current time. I just have to figure out which of their Murphy knives I should add on to the order for combined shipping.

YMMV

 

[iron block]

HJE was selling German-made BollmannGrip locking pliers a while back. The glowing write-up convinced me to try a pair of the long-nose locking pliers. Turned out to have only so-so build quality and performance. Disappointing.

 

[tarbellb]

HJE was selling German-made BollmannGrip locking pliers a while back. The glowing write-up convinced me to try a pair of the long-nose locking pliers. Turned out to have only so-so build quality and performance. Disappointing.

Knipex/Bollmann locking pliers arent anything special

Everyone wants them to be, due to the Knipex+German heritage. In truth they are basic locking pliers w/ mid tier quality.

I wouldnt spend more money on these vs similar competition like Milwaukee, Grip-on, or even Bremens?

 

[Andres26tnt]

True.
However, you only need to experience one complete failure of a pair of locking pliers that results in gasoline leaking out all over your garage floor or suffering physical injury.
At that point you realize "Hey, maybe I should have paid more than $2.99 for a tool I was hoping to be able to depend on."
It's not "hate". It's that basic human instinct for self-preservation.

Ergo: shelling out $50 or $60 bucks for the Malcos (when they were at their high) seemed quite reasonable, to be honest.
Now that Harry Epstein has dropped the price down to $30, it's a no-brainer at the current time. I just have to figure out which of their Murphy knives I should add on to the order for combined shipping.

YMMV

Absolutely agree, but some performe great and just get hated on for the COO. I will always return defective tools, did that with the kxnp I mentioned.

 

[Andres26tnt]

Knipex/Bollmann locking pliers arent anything special

Everyone wants them to be, due to the Knipex+German heritage. In truth they are basic locking pliers w/ mid tier quality.

I wouldnt spend more money on these vs similar competition like Milwaukee, Grip-on, or even Bremens?

I agree they where low to mid quality. Mine flexed so much ended never using and return them.

 

[Ohio Andy]

I agree they where low to mid quality. Mine flexed so much ended never using and return them.

I was very disappointed in my knipex. That's what I paid. I'll keep them but totally unimpressed.

So far, however, I am very impressed with these armor tool locking pliers that I just received. Haven't used them enough to be confident in them but the fitness seems really nice. Everything lines up, and they're made in the USA.

ARMOR TOOL Locking Pliers - 7" Needle Nose Pliers with Auto Adjust Design & Comfortable Grips - A09300G

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PHLQNZN?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[jrsavoie]

Watch the Project Farm video on YouTube and decide.

Got a link?

project farm lockibg pliers - Google Search

 

[nadogail]

IMHO, if they are not marked Petersen Manufacturing, Dewitt Nebraska, they are "Knock Offs".

 

[jrsavoie]

Agreed. Milwaukee (Home Depot) and Bremen (HF) are on the shelf in almost any town with traffic lights, and great quality for the money.

The Chinese imitations now peddled as "Vise-Grip" will indeed pinch things, but the main difference I've seen is that the teeth are not properly hardened, and general quality and alignment are generally much worse. For the same or less money, you might as well get the better Taiwanese Mikwaukee or Bremen pliers.

That said, sometimes Chinese shite is just the ticket, like if you're using them as welding clamps, grinding, or modifying. In that case, pay the proper Chinese prices for the super-cheap stuff on the bottom shelf at Harbor Freight.

I never knew vice grips went chineseum. Kind of breaks my heart.

 

[AJHD]

I never knew vice grips went chineseum. Kind of breaks my heart.

The Vise Grip brand went to China almost 20 years ago when the factory in Nebraska was closed.

 

[jrsavoie]

The Vise Grip brand went to China almost 20 years ago when the factory in Nebraska was closed.

I guess most of mine are well over 20 years old.
Others I have bought at auctions and such.

 

[KnurledNut]

Unfortunately, I don't get an employee discount these days, but I picked up these pliers from CAT yesterday to try out.
They feel solid and they're made in Spain. Not sure of the OEM.

https://parts.cat.com/en/empire/316-0703

They also have a 5-piece set I may pick up later.

https://parts.cat.com/en/empire/316-0707

Grip-on

 

[four.cycle]

@AJHD - probably made by this outfit. They get positive comments:

Grip-on / Grip-on Tools S.A., Eitua Industrialdea, 27 48240, Berriz, Spain/ https://www.grip-on.com/es/ / pliers, locking pliers /

That's pretty much all they do - one would think they'd have figured out how to do it correctly.

 

[Monte]

, and they're made in the USA.

unlikely

 

[four.cycle]

unlikely

The Amazon page linked to above shows "Country of Origin" as being U.S.A.

The woman who answered the telephone a few minutes ago at Armor, after placing me on hold for a couple minutes, came back to the phone and told me "The locking pliers are made in China." *

Armor / Armor Tool LLC, 1161 Rankin Dr., Troy, MI 48083 / https://armor-tool.com/ / est. (?) / part of Bora Tool, Troy, MI, part of Affinity Tool Group / see also Bora Tool (US), see also Ox Tool (AU) /

Bora / Bora Tool, 1161 Rankin Dr., Troy, MI 48083 / https://boratool.com/ / est. 2006 / see also Armor Tool, Troy, MI / part of OX Group /

Ox / OX Tools AU, PO Box 498, Ermington, New South Wales 2115, Australia / https://www.oxtools.com.au/ / est. 2010 / merged with Bora Tool (US) 2023 / see also Armor Tool LLC (US), see also Bora Tool (US) /

(may be some errata in the contact info there I'm kind of in a hurry to get out of here - have a shopping list from Mom.)

(* pers. comm/phone/Armor/102424 BK)

 

[Wrench97]

Unfortunately, I don't get an employee discount these days, but I picked up these pliers from CAT yesterday to try out.
They feel solid and they're made in Spain. Not sure of the OEM.

https://parts.cat.com/en/empire/316-0703

They also have a 5-piece set I may pick up later.

https://parts.cat.com/en/empire/316-0707

Cat sure has a strange name for them......

Makes you wonder if the picture is wrong, the title or the price...........

 

[mslim]

Unfortunately, I don't get an employee discount these days, but I picked up these pliers from CAT yesterday to try out.
They feel solid and they're made in Spain. Not sure of the OEM.

DELETED. Superfluous.

 

[AJHD]

Cat sure has a strange name for them......

Makes you wonder if the picture is wrong, the title or the price...........

Yeah, their website is stupid. This is a screenshot from the catalog. Everything matches, including part number, except the title of course.
But what's funny, if you scroll down on the website, it gives a proper description and also matches the catalog.

As for price, my assumption is it's also accurate, however it does/can change based on location and availability.
The link is set to my local dealer/former employer. You can change the location at the top and see if it changes for you.

https://parts.cat.com/en/empire/316-0707

 

[Etchase]

Are there any Irwin Vice-grips made in China currently? Amazon COO is very unreliable.

 

[AJHD]

Are there any Irwin Vice-grips made in China currently? Amazon COO is very unreliable.

Yes. I think that's all that Irwin offers and all they have offered for years.

 

[Etchase]

Here are some from this month. Copyrighted in 2018. Pendleton moved manufacturing to China I believe, but currently I think most are made in Taiwan. Stanley made some in England, but I’m not sure they do anymore, but I think not. I find the recent production to be very good.

 

[cody1325]

True.
However, you only need to experience one complete failure of a pair of locking pliers that results in gasoline leaking out all over your garage floor or suffering physical injury.
At that point you realize "Hey, maybe I should have paid more than $2.99 for a tool I was hoping to be able to depend on."
It's not "hate". It's that basic human instinct for self-preservation.

Ergo: shelling out $50 or $60 bucks for the Malcos (when they were at their high) seemed quite reasonable, to be honest.
Now that Harry Epstein has dropped the price down to $30, it's a no-brainer at the current time. I just have to figure out which of their Murphy knives I should add on to the order for combined shipping.

YMMV

Yachtsman! Ten bucks is even cheaper than I paid for mine directly from R. Murphy.

I've had one for years (around the time they merged with Dexter-Russell)), and it's a solid little POCKET rigging knife (not like the big monsters you have to have a sheath for). The marlinspike locks using the shackle. It's more than adequate for paracord, shoe/boot laces, and most cordage I use on a regular basis.

I think the OEM in England was Captain Currey, or whoever made knives for them. It's basically a simpler Bosun's Mate.

 

[four.cycle]

^ Pretty sure all the Irwin locking pliers have been made in China (PRC) for years, Etchase.

oops... we're cross-posting here.... Taiwan, eh? I stand corrected, sir.

I'll have to look at packages next time I'm up at ACE.

 

[Etchase]

I went to my locking plier pile and all three Irwin’s I bought in the last year have been Taiwan. Here are the other two. You can’t tell when they were made. Stock can stick around for years. I need to check the hardware store too, but that invariably leads to discovering some variant I haven’t seen before and can’t do without. In terms of tooth hardness, my Eagle grips bite into the bolts, just like my Vise-grips do. Both seem hard enough and the teeth don’t seem to wear out quickly, but I don’t use any individual pair that much. Of course removing rounded bolts isn’t the only thing these are used for, and the worst locking pliers work for many applications.