Toptul Locking Pliers

[Bolster]

I've been searching for USA Vice Grip pliers at the local flea markets recently, and am surprised at the prices they're fetching. Plain ones for $10, chain style for $20, rusted, welding globs, and with jaws that don't meet up. So I looked at Toptul's locking pliers and see they are going NEW for the prices the vatos are asking USED.

Anybody tried the Toptul locking pliers yet? I'm sorely tempted.

 

[Merkava_4]

They look to be to be based on the same design principle as Vise-Grips; which I deplore. Do yourself a favor and get Knipex.

 

[superautobacs]

....Or Grip-on. I would also try to look for Channellock locking pliers which are rebadged Grip-on. If not, try to see if Napa carries their version of rebadged Grip-on's (in Canada, that's what they are).

 

[Bolster]

Your favorite discount American sources, if you please?

 

[superautobacs]

That's a good question; something that I can't answer off the top of my head, unfortunately. Only thing that came to mind was S-O, but that's hardly a discount outlet and finding Gray tools down there seems to be a long shot.

 

[sk farmer]

bolster, find your local cnh dealer wich would be case-ih or new holland farm equipment. their branded tool lines carry them. the dealers claim they are made by snap-on but i doubt it. more like blue point.

 

[Monte]

if I`m not blind, caterpillar has grip-on too

 

[Mr.Nutcase]

I've been searching for USA Vice Grip pliers at the local flea markets recently, and am surprised at the prices they're fetching. Plain ones for $10, chain style for $20, rusted, welding globs, and with jaws that don't meet up. So I looked at Toptul's locking pliers and see they are going NEW for the prices the vatos are asking USED.

Anybody tried the Toptul locking pliers yet? I'm sorely tempted.

Have you tried to get them cheaper? like telling the seller the must you give for the pliers is 5 bucksm because they are rusty and if not, skip him, and tell him you are not going to buy stuff from him,

 

[Bolster]

Looks like the recommended Grip-on and Knipex are MUCH more expensive. (Unless I'm just not finding low-cost sources.)

For example MSC has a chain clamp type for $44 & $51. That's kinda spendy! Toptul's is $13; the local flea markets want $15 for used and might bargain to $12. Or not. I suspect I get the Gringo Discount (prices go up for me).

I guess I'm back to looking for used US Vice-Grips or possibly Toptul. This is a tool I'd like to not drain my wallet.

 

[Merkava_4]

What kind of locking pliers are you looking for?

Here's a 10" curved jaw Grip-On for $20

Look at the release lever!!

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...group_ID=20219&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

 

[Merkava_4]

Here's some 12" locking clamps. As much as I used to fight with the Vise-Grips version, I would've gladly paid the $30 for these.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...group_ID=13178&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

 

[JeepsAreBuilt]

Have you tried to get them cheaper? like telling the seller the must you give for the pliers is 5 bucksm because they are rusty and if not, skip him, and tell him you are not going to buy stuff from him,

Is this same as 3rd grade lunch trading techniques ?

 

[Bolster]

What kind of locking pliers are you looking for?

Top of the list is chain clamp type. Looking for them at Snap-on. Not finding.

When I search "Locking Pliers" the search engine searches for "Pliers."

 

[fordracing200]

Yeah, you'll have that, snap on's site pisses me off. I still cant find impact reducers...like 1/2- 3/8 and of the sort...not under impact accesories, no results found for reducer...Might as well get a catalog from somewhere to order from and give up on the site.

 

[dede2897234]

Bolster,

Harry Epstein sells different styles of the last American made Irwin Vise-Grip pliers at decent prices. Here is the link: http://www.harryepstein.com/Irwin.html. I have placed many orders from Epstein's and it is a stand up company. If you search this forum, not one member has any complaints about their products or customer service. I just searched Google Shopping to compare prices for the Irwin locking chain pliers (model 20R). The prices range from $25 to $40 without shipping. Your best bet would be eBay. I have purchase from this eBay seller in the past and he is a stand up guy. Here is the link: http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Irwin-20R-9...66:2|39:1|72:1205|240:1318|301:1|293:1|294:50. The price is $31.65 (including shipping). That is a good deal considering I paid about the same for those locking chain pliers recently from a local industrial tool supply store.

Good luck,

Dave

 

[Monte]

10" curved jaw Vise-grip pliers 20.10 $ Link
10" curved jaw Grip-On pliers 20.10 $ Link

same seller.

Why again Irwin/Newell Rubbermaid closed the USA factory ??
click

 

[Merkava_4]

Top of the list is chain clamp type. Looking for them at Snap-on. Not finding.

GRIP-ON #181-12 is the part number for the 12" chain clamps. It seems as though Snap-on doesn't have those in their inventory, but a few places pop up online. It looks as though they're around $50 each. Whether that's worth it is up to you, but me personally, I hate the Vise-Grips design.

 

[Monte]

Snap-on chain clamp pliers click

You have to look under chain wrenches ... (or just search chain)

 

[Merkava_4]

"Chain Wrenches" - who would've thunk it ....

I wonder why they only list the 10"/250mm ....

 

[TruckTech]

I have had nothing but bad experiences with my Snap-on locking pliers. Their release levers have a tendency to bend and not want to release. Ive already had to talk my SO guy into replacing 2 from my set with vise-grips brand ones.

Stay away.

 

[lbgradwell]

I suspect I get the Gringo Discount (prices go up for me).

Bahahahahaha!

 

[speed bump]

"Chain Wrenches" - who would've thunk it ....

I wonder why they only list the 10"/250mm ....

Why do you need multiple sizes of chain wrenches? Heck why do you even need chain wrenches period, I have never met a plumber who can remember needing one when I asked.

If you want to play with pipe and vice grips buy ones like these that work do the job well.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00004SBB1/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Now i'm going to go do some fabricating with my supposedly horrible vice grips.

 

[Merkava_4]

Why do you need multiple sizes of chain wrenches?

I don't need any chain wrenches at all; this is Bolster's thread and I was trying to find some for him.

 

[sk farmer]

"Chain Wrenches" - who would've thunk it ....

I wonder why they only list the 10"/250mm ....

vice grip makes an extension chain to add to the 10 inch to make it 20. i have 2, one 10 and one 20. they are quite handy for holding odd shaped items or molding a patch to repair a round item such as a pipe or auger tube. they are a little hard to find but have been worth it for me. imop vice grips are not perfect but better than any other i have had my hands on. i have at least one of nearly every size and type and multiples of many. one has been beaten nearly to death with a hammer and still works perfectly. not so pretty but it works.

 

[The Muffin Man]

Are the Grip-on locking pliers better in terms of quality compared to the Irwin?

 

[Merkava_4]

one has been beaten nearly to death with a hammer and still works perfectly. not so pretty but it works.

Gee, I wonder why that is........could it be because they wouldn't release and the guy using them got PO'd and started beating on it?

 

[sk farmer]

absolutely not, i used to have a combine that required removing some metal rods from its concave to switch from one crop to another. apppoximately forty rods that were packed with dust and chaff. only way to remove the rods was to beat them out by hitting on the vice grip they were attached to. i have always been able to open them. if someone is to weak to get them open how did they ever clamp them shut? better having to work a little to open than to accidently come open.

 

[Merkava_4]

if someone is to weak to get them open how did they ever clamp them shut?

I'm not too weak to open them, but I figure why work harder than you have to? Ever since I laid hands on the black Crescent brand locking pliers, I've never liked Vise-Grips since. The Crescent's spoiled me.

 

[simonb]

What kind of locking pliers are you looking for?

Here's a 10" curved jaw Grip-On for $20

Look at the release lever!!

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...group_ID=20219&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

i have the set of these and i love em- 4 pc total

very light and thin
strong

i think i paid 50 for all 4 w/student discount
if i recall correctly

 

[bmxr4life87]

my one run in with snap on locking pliers was a horrible one. at my tech school a kid rounded off a brake bleeder. i finished it off when i tried a smaller socket on it so my instructor pulled out a brand new set of 8" snap on locking pliers. we clamped the holy **** out of the bleeder. then with the instructor standing there watching me i stripped the jaws out on this extremely soft bleeder. we ended up drilling and extracting and cleaning up the threads but ever since then i swore off snap on locking pliers. nothing wrong with vice grips you just cant be a limp wrist about using them

 

[superautobacs]

..... i stripped the jaws out on this extremely soft bleeder. ..... ever since then i swore off snap on locking pliers. ....

I don't think you would've rounded off the jaws on the pliers, so there's not a fault with the locking pliers is there Provided that you use the appropriate jaw type (more than two contact points on the valve), wouldn't the outcome be the same no matter what brand of locking pliers you used? If it was seized, and given the inherent softness of some valves, no matter how much clamping force was exerted onto that valve, it would've taken only so much before rounding corners off.

 

[Bolster]

Q: Why do you even need chain wrenches period.

I'm interested in chain wrenches because I am having to twist/extract pipe fence posts from the ground (they are not embedded in concrete) and am finding the poles difficult to grasp tightly enough with my hands, which means I have to dig a lot more to get them out. Seemed a chain wrench would be a good choice. However if there's a better tool than a chain wrench for grasping a fence post, I'm all ears. (PS: I am not able to bring in a hoist of any sort. Working on a steep hill.) THanks.

 

[JeepsAreBuilt]

I'm interested in chain wrenches because I am having to twist/extract pipe fence posts from the ground (they are not embedded in concrete) and am finding the poles difficult to grasp tightly enough with my hands, which means I have to dig a lot more to get them out. Seemed a chain wrench would be a good choice. However if there's a better tool than a chain wrench for grasping a fence post, I'm all ears. (PS: I am not able to bring in a hoist of any sort. Working on a steep hill.) THanks.

I think there is a specialized tool for something like this. I've seen them for the metal post/stakes. Its a leverage tool, and you hook it to the post.. and it has a foot and you push down, then up goes the post.

 

[speed bump]

I'm interested in chain wrenches because I am having to twist/extract pipe fence posts from the ground (they are not embedded in concrete) and am finding the poles difficult to grasp tightly enough with my hands, which means I have to dig a lot more to get them out. Seemed a chain wrench would be a good choice. However if there's a better tool than a chain wrench for grasping a fence post, I'm all ears. (PS: I am not able to bring in a hoist of any sort. Working on a steep hill.) THanks.

Generally I pull fence posts with a hi-lift and a piece of chain or cable. I don't know exactly what size posts your are working with but it you still want a set of Vice grips to do it with the LC style like I posted early will work much better than a chain wrench.

Merk I was over at my buddies last night fabricating a new trans tunnel and he had a set of the grip-on pliers. At one point I needed them to be really tight and those things are F***ing harder to release than any pair of vice grips I own. I do has a set of little Wizard pliers that have that style of release and a roller on the bottom of the lever which allows you to open and close them easily but I somehow doubt I will ever find another set of those.

 

[sk farmer]

bolster, why didn't you tell us what you were doing? speed bumps suggestion works or if you have a loader or bobcat wrap the chain around the post several times and pull them up. using an old rim as a pulley and pulling it with a vehicle also may work.