New "Groove Lock" pliers from IRWIN/VISEGRIP!

[billymade]

IRWIN/VISEGRIP Groove lock pliers...

Just got this in my emial: http://www.irwin.com/promotions-events/groovelock

Looks like they copied Knipex style pliers now, with the lock button; I wonder if they are USA COO.. what do you guys think of them? I guess we will have to touch and feel them to see how they are; I can't remember the last time I bought a vise grip tool, however.

 

[HandyManny]

I can see Knipex filing a law suit. Though I think their patent expired years ago.

 

[jeffmoss26]

I thought Irwin already had pliers like this.

 

[Regnar]

I bought 2 set last year when Sears had them on sale for 9.99. I think they are worth it and the quality isn't to bad. I do remember though not Made In America.

 

[Monte]

boooo

 

[Coach James]

I bought the two pair set at Lowes over a year ago. Not USA made but very good pliers. I used the larger pair to remove the spring lock from a pommel horse. I clamped the pliers on the hex part of the lock then stood on the handle and bounced a little bit to break it lose. Worked with no problems.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_314851-281-...e+Wrenches_4294778737__s?Ntt=irwin&facetInfo=


Coach

 

[jjjrmx5]

IRWIN/VISEGRIP Groove lock pliers...

Looks like they copied Knipex style pliers now, with the lock button; I wonder if they are USA COO..

They are different interpretations of a similar design using different means of manufacture.

I have not used the Irwins and they seem fine for the $$$, but the Knipex use full cast or forged handles/jaws with a split groove in one handle into which the second handle fits before teh grip portion is installed.

The OLDER Irwin groove-locks do the same and are very similar to the Knipex design, but the new and current Irwins use a second piece of stamped and riveted steel to the back side of one of the handles to encapsulate the other half of the handle instead of the full one-piece handle which means the Irwins are a 3-piece handle instead of two. Could be a price /cost of production change or a infringement of patent change. I do not know.

I saw the Irwins groove-locks at Lowes last week that still have a few of the older design in two-packs that mimick /copy the still current Knipex design, but the single pliers are all the new design. All of the Irwins I saw at Sears are the newer steel plate design 3-piece handle design.

The above all apply to the groove-lock pliers and not other types. They are the ones with the push button lock handles.

Go to any Lowes and pull a set of Knipex and Irwins and compare. I spent the good part of 15 minutes comparing and contrasting last week in a side-by-side store recon mission. LOL

 

[DHCrocks]

I've had the Irwin V-jaw ones for at least 3-4 years now. got them in 6" 8" 12" 24" very good for the price, can't beat em. Have held up very well and are easy to use. I don't even touch my old tongue & groove ones anymore. I didn't even know they have straight jaw or smooth jaw. I'll have to pick those up. I'd recommend them.

I especially like the small 6" one comes in very handy.

 

[Stuey]

How are these different than the older GrooveLocks?

2-pack of Irwin Groovelocks are $12.49 at Sears on Black Friday

 

[jjjrmx5]

How are these different than the older GrooveLocks?

2-pack of Irwin Groovelocks are $12.49 at Sears on Black Friday

Stuey, they are the same--or at least to what the OP is asking I guess.

I saw the "old" design that is identical to Knipex last week at Lowes in the 2-paks, but they has the new design in the individual packs. I went to Sears this afternoon to scope out that Irwin deal and it was the new 3-piece design (two forged or cast handles now with the back-side steel encapsulator plate) in both 2-paks on black friday deal as well as individual . All same plier tho.

Just my 411.

 

[Stuey]

My set is at least 3-5 years old, though. 3-piece with backer plate. The version on Irwin's site ends with an "R". Wonder if that denotes the new/revised ones?

 

[thecanman]

The "R" designation is for the regular jaw pliers. ex GV10R
The "S" designation is for the smooth jaw pliers. ex GV10S
No designation is for the v-jaw pliers. ex GV10

http://www.irwin.com/uploads/products/brochure/438_VISE-GRIP_2010_Broch.pdf

 

[jjjrmx5]

My set is at least 3-5 years old, though. 3-piece with backer plate. The version on Irwin's site ends with an "R". Wonder if that denotes the new/revised ones?

Stuey, I'll get back over to that Lowe's on friday or saturday and confirm what I saw, but swear-to-gawd, they were a two-piece handle design a'la Knipex and I looked damn close.

In fact it was a factor if i should pull the trigger on the Sears Bf $12.99 sale as I normally don't dabble in Irwin tools outside of actual metal triedNtrue Vice grips.

The 3 piece handle design I saw at Sears today turned me off to the deal.

I'll get back with pics and findings.

 

[Stuey]

The "R" designation is for the regular jaw pliers. ex GV10R
The "S" designation is for the smooth jaw pliers. ex GV10S
No designation is for the v-jaw pliers. ex GV10

http://www.irwin.com/uploads/products/brochure/438_VISE-GRIP_2010_Broch.pdf

Thanks for the info!

Stuey, I'll get back over to that Lowe's on friday or saturday and confirm what I saw, but swear-to-gawd, they were a two-piece handle design a'la Knipex and I looked damn close.

In fact it was a factor if i should pull the trigger on the Sears Bf $12.99 sale as I normally don't dabble in Irwin tools outside of actual metal triedNtrue Vice grips.

The 3 piece handle design I saw at Sears today turned me off to the deal.

I'll get back with pics and findings.

My Craftsman-branded Cobras are 2-piece.

My older Irwin Groovelocks are 3-piece - 2 jaws and the back retainer part.

Maybe the new ones are 2-piece? But with the same model numbers?

 

[thecanman]

I just got back from two Lowes and one Home Depot. I think the two piece pliers are the older design. At Home Depot I had to take all of the new 3 piece designs off the hook to get to the older two piece designs in the back. What a pain in the ***, but I gotta love stores that don't rotate their stock. The same thing with the first Lowes I stopped at. The second Lowes is a newer store open less than two years. All they had were the three piece pliers.

 

[jjjrmx5]

I just got back from two Lowes and one Home Depot. I think the two piece pliers are the older design. At Home Depot I had to take all of the new 3 piece designs off the hook to get to the older two piece designs in the back. What a pain in the ***, but I gotta love stores that don't rotate their stock. The same thing with the first Lowes I stopped at. The second Lowes is a newer store open less than two years. All they had were the three piece pliers.

Thank you thecanman for doing my Due Diligence for me.

I thought I was insane but obviously not.

The low turnover Lowe's has the shiz (lol) 2-piece copies and the new are the 3 pieces.

I am often insane Stuey. But fellow GJ'ers keep it from being certifiable I guess.

LOL.

 

[thecanman]

Pics of the new three piece style and the old two piece style.
The jaws are even different.
Same part numbers and bar codes. The package is exactly the same.

 

[jjjrmx5]

Pics of the new three piece style and the old two piece style.
The jaws are even different.
Same part numbers and bar codes. The package is exactly the same.

DAYUM ur are good.

I dug deep but... dayum.

LOL.

I stepped in and smelled what Irwin was doing, but didn't track it in the house.
You located the source.

Thank you.

The extra rivets for the 3 piece tell the story if buying and it's easy to ID but what I noticed.

 

[Stuey]

Shipping estimate for these items: March 7, 2007
Delivery estimate: March 9, 2007 - March 12, 2007

"IRWIN 2078709 2 Pc. GrooveLock Clamshell Set - 8" & 10""
Tools & Hardware; $29.99

Mine look like the one on the left, w/ pin in lower jaw, 2 handles and a 3rd rear retaining piece.

I bought these more than 4-1/2 years ago. And you guys are telling me that's the "new" style and the 2-piece one is the "old" style???

 

[thecanman]

Stuey I do not have hard facts to say for sure It's only my thought on it.

 

[jjjrmx5]

Mine look like the one on the left, w/ pin in lower jaw, 2 handles and a 3rd rear retaining piece.

I bought these more than 4-1/2 years ago. And you guys are telling me that's the "new" style and the 2-piece one is the "old" style???

Stuey, my only point of this thread , as thecanman put to fact with his pics, was that several designs of teh the Iriwn groove-locks exist.
The ones I saw last we in 2-packs matched the Knipex design. The ones I saw in singles were 3-piece.

All sets I saw at Sears today were the 3-piece design.

I'll go on Friday and source and buy a 2-piece set of 2-piece designs to end this if i can at my local Lowes.

 

[american lockpicker]

booooring

Fixed it for you. Or would it be Laaaaaaangweilig.

Irwin should get it together, the only good tool they are putting out is their handsaws.

 

[red92s]

Fixed it for you. Or would it be Laaaaaaangweilig.

Irwin should get it together, the only good tool they are putting out is their handsaws.

. . . because those are still made mostly in Denmark.

 

[Stuey]

Stuey, my only point of this thread , as thecanman put to fact with his pics, was that several designs of teh the Iriwn groove-locks exist.
The ones I saw last we in 2-packs matched the Knipex design. The ones I saw in singles were 3-piece.

All sets I saw at Sears today were the 3-piece design.

I'll go on Friday and source and buy a 2-piece set of 2-piece designs to end this if i can at my local Lowes.

I totally believe you. My point is just that perhaps the 2-piece designs are the newer ones. It's possible that sets sell quicker than singles, which explains why the doubles may be newer stock.

 

[Monte]

Fixed it for you. Or would it be Laaaaaaangweilig.

Irwin should get it together, the only good tool they are putting out is their handsaws.

. . . because those are still made mostly in Denmark.

 

[jjjrmx5]

I totally believe you. My point is just that perhaps the 2-piece designs are the newer ones. It's possible that sets sell quicker than singles, which explains why the doubles may be newer stock.

I'm right there with you on the confusion and what is the most current and better tool design. Amen.

Stuey, I don't have the answer for you of course, and based upon what Knipex does 'design-wise" and the current Irwins, I'm gonna guess the 2 piece handles are likely a better design and possibly the "older" design based upon what I see in stores, but the fact you have the 3-piece Irwins from years ago makes little sense for that argument but adds to the intrigue.

I'd suggest you take the two photos listed and e-mail Irwin with the photos as an attachment and see what they have to say.

I doubt most at Irwin will know, but I personally think the 2-piece handles feel and seem a better design and tool solution.

Guess we gotta get CSI:GJ involved now.
LOL.

 

[DHCrocks]

here's a comparison of the 2pc vs 3 pc. the 2pc is on the bottom.

I believe the 3pc is the original design as these are the first ones I got, the more recent purchase maybe 2 years later is the 2pc. I think I like the design of the 2pc better since the part where the botton is much slimmer and better to get into tight spots. But the finish on the old 3pc ones is much nicer, it has a smooth black oxide finish where as the newer ones the casting is rough (you can see pits) and it is painted black it doesn't look as well made. Both have been holding up well so I don't see an issue with the older versions.

 

[Monte]

btw. what is "stronger" ? Metal injection moulding or drop forging ?

 

[Stuey]

Heads-up

Back online avail. for in-store pickup. Still $12.50.

 

[tomarytor]

Been reading your comments and i got a pair of these Irwin pliers back in about 2006 and they were the 3 piece design, good pliers but the 2 piece new design is better. Looks like they improved a good design to get rid of the "bump" the added plate made. I got a couple of these new ones and they get into tighter places.

The Knipex pliers are great but I'd rather save the money for other things and buy the Irwin's.

 

[Cheap5.0]

I picked up a pair of the 2 pce this year during BF. Got them for $12.50, and i must say they feel nice in the hand. The mechanism works well, and the grips are the right size for my hand.

 

[Stuey]

Although I've had a new set in my possession for over a month, I'm giving it to my BIL, so I put together a quick comparison of my own while I still can.

I detailed the differences in a blog post comparing the two GrooveLock pliers, and there's a quick video if you're interested.

Main differences:

DHCrocks already established that the newer model has a 2-piece construction compared to the old one's 3-piece. In addition to that, the old model has a shorter and poorly grooved front gripping area, while the new model has longer and deeper frontal grip area.

For the same $$, I'd buy the newer ones over the originals, they just feel a bit more robust and I'm a fan of the improved front grip area.

 

[american lockpicker]

If its not made in USA or Denmark I'm not interested.

I bought an Irwin tool today only because it had this

and

If I wanted a tool like those pliers I would buy Knipex.

 

[jjjrmx5]

For the same $$, I'd buy the newer ones over the originals, they just feel a bit more robust and I'm a fan of the improved front grip area.

I agree Stuey.

For the $12.49 price of the old pair on BF, it was water under the bridge, but the 2 piece design seems to be very close to the Knipex Copbra set-up. Thus my vote which I wish they had when I mad my comments back in Dec. .

I need to get ot my local Lowes this week to see what they stock these days. The 3 piece units are clumbsy and loosey goosey to me.

 

[Stuey]

I agree Stuey.

For the $12.49 price of the old pair on BF, it was water under the bridge, but the 2 piece design seems to be very close to the Knipex Copbra set-up. Thus my vote which I wish they had when I mad my comments back in Dec. .

I need to get ot my local Lowes this week to see what they stock these days. The 3 piece units are clumbsy and loosey goosey to me.

The original set I bought in March '07 was $30. At the time I thought the prices were fair.

The set is now regularly priced at $21, which isn't bad. Yes, Knipex are better, but these are definitely good enough for the price.

 

[tonydanzah]

these are not knew, I have had a few sets of these for at least 3 yrs

 

[tbobbo]

I have the 2 piece irwins, they are okay, i use them at work for my beaters to try them out, only lasted 6 months of shop use. For my money the channelocks are WAY better, and last way longer. The teeth are bald on my irwins i have 15 year old channelock pliers that have been used 10 timess harder and show no wear. I will bring the irwins home and use them here and they will work great!