Advice: Locking plier Brand

[sqaurelizard]

have one set of old peterson vice grips and there just so solid and hard wearing all my other grips are gedore and am very happy so far jaws holding up well and very good clamping force , have 2 sets of the facom grips and not impressed at all teeth wore very quick and camping wasnt great unless totally square on piece. blue points are worse that what you get in the cheap rack in the diy store proper junk

 

[str8axle55]

I have about 60 pair of Peterson`s. It`s all I will buy or use.

 

[BK13]

The Stanley that Lowes sell look pretty interesting. The black finish ones. They have a pretty handy locking switch on the handle that I've never seen before. Chineseium, so I like them less than the Milwaukee in that regard. My uses for locking pliers are far less demanding than others here, so I'm not going to give any great proclamations...

 

[Wamsutta]

Can someone please summarize this thread?

See post #38

 

[MDK22]

To summarize:

I was looking for a Good Brand and was pretty much confirmed that old peterson aka usa vise grips would be what would work for me.

Grip-On's aka Snap-On, Proto, etc are ok and probably fair decently well for auto mechanics.

I am not an auto mechanic. I am a diesel mechanic the strength required for our tools is 2-3x that of an auto mechanic. I can flex pliers with grip strength and the Grip-On's flex a hell of a lot more then old peterson vise grips. The teeth also leave a lot to be desired.

The C. H. Hansons also known as the self adjusting style do not grip tight enough for me and thus would slip on the things i use them for.

The handle design is better on the newer style for the release mechanism and I agree with that but, as far as the actual point of the pliers the old petersons wear better, clamp harder, and flex less. they also are what I am used to using as well. So with all of that said and done it is what i bought.

Diesel mechanics are probably one of if not the hardest people on tools because of the size, quality of metals, and the speed we have to move. Heavy equipment might be slightly harder but, they also have a lot more tools normally owned by the shop then us.

 

[Wamsutta]

The handle design is better on the newer style for the release mechanism and I agree with that but,

You see that's the deal breaker for me ... I can't stand the release mechanism on Vise Grips. I used to have to get another pair a pliers to turn the adjusting bolt so they'd get loose enough to release. They're well made and they bite real hard, but they don't like to let go.

 

[winlinmac]

Try out the Grip On. The only aspect I don't favor is the orange paint job, lol.

 

[Ign]

To summarize:

I was looking for a Good Brand and was pretty much confirmed that old peterson aka usa vise grips would be what would work for me.

Grip-On's aka Snap-On, Proto, etc are ok and probably fair decently well for auto mechanics.

I am not an auto mechanic. I am a diesel mechanic the strength required for our tools is 2-3x that of an auto mechanic. I can flex pliers with grip strength and the Grip-On's flex a hell of a lot more then old peterson vise grips. The teeth also leave a lot to be desired.

The C. H. Hansons also known as the self adjusting style do not grip tight enough for me and thus would slip on the things i use them for.

The handle design is better on the newer style for the release mechanism and I agree with that but, as far as the actual point of the pliers the old petersons wear better, clamp harder, and flex less. they also are what I am used to using as well. So with all of that said and done it is what i bought.

Diesel mechanics are probably one of if not the hardest people on tools because of the size, quality of metals, and the speed we have to move. Heavy equipment might be slightly harder but, they also have a lot more tools normally owned by the shop then us.

Did you already report how the Milwaukees fared for you? I'm curious, good info for later

 

[jallyn]

Try out the Grip On. The only aspect I don't favor is the orange paint job, lol.

Grip-On makes chrome finished tools as well... I have none of them but someday will use my tool budget to get a pair. I like the orange because it is different and stands out, making them easier to find and more of a conversation piece. Anybody have both the orange and the chrome Grip-On that could say how well the finishes hold up?

 

[countryroad82]

Oh and to also summarize that I once again offered to double someones money and pay shipping for these mystical $2-$4 Vise Grips and haven't gotten the first bite.

 

[Loscaldazar]

Grip-On makes chrome finished tools as well... I have none of them but someday will use my tool budget to get a pair. I like the orange because it is different and stands out, making them easier to find and more of a conversation piece. Anybody have both the orange and the chrome Grip-On that could say how well the finishes hold up?

Grip-on no longer makes the nickel finish. Those are old stock if they are available. A lot of places also advertise it as nickel plated, but you will be shipped orange epoxy in some cases.

The Orange epoxy is supposed to be more rust resistant and more durable. I have quite a few Grip-Ons, Proto and Snap On Locking pliers (all made by Grip-On) and the epoxy coatings have held up great. No rust. I do have a few nickel plated vise grips (mix of Peterson USA, Irwin USA, and Chinese) and those all have some to a lot of rust on them, but they are also all older than the Grip-Ons (and may use a different nickel plating than Grip-on too), so not necessarily a fair comparison. Time will tell.

 

[MDK22]

You see that's the deal breaker for me ... I can't stand the release mechanism on Vise Grips. I used to have to get another pair a pliers to turn the adjusting bolt so they'd get loose enough to release. They're well made and they bite real hard, but they don't like to let go.

I normally can get it to partially release then i have to hit it with another pair of pliers. Every once in a while i have to use another pair of pliers to get it to release.

Try out the Grip On. The only aspect I don't favor is the orange paint job, lol.

I tried the Snap-On ones they are rebadged Grip-On

Oh and to also summarize that I once again offered to double someones money and pay shipping for these mystical $2-$4 Vise Grips and haven't gotten the first bite.

lol i wish they did.

Did you already report how the Milwaukees fared for you? I'm curious, good info for later

I had a chance to look at them in Home Depot. I tapped them against hard metal and they sounded very very tinee. The same way the new vise grips sound. That is very indicative of cheap metal. From that and the way they want me to spin the handle proves me that they do not know mechanics. I would twist that thing off so quick, it is way too thin. I would shove a spud wrench or lady slipper pointed end in there spin it tight once and sheer it off.

Once again that is probably a fine tool for home use but, when you get the professional level like an auto mechanic i think not and then when you get to the industrial level like where i am it definitively would not.

However I have not actually used them so they may fair better then the new vise grips.


This is a perfect example of purpose made tools. There are those made for home use, professional use, and industrial use. I tend to have to buy Industrial all the time. Everything else just seems to not last. Matco to me is garbage and 3/4 of what i have bought from them I regret. Snap-On is hit or miss. Mac Tools has been a lot bettter lately but, then again my Mac guy is a former Heavy Equipment Mechanic so he can look at a tool and tell if its **** and he won't sell it.

 

[bassbone52]

I sell TOPTUL and they are virtually identical to the original Peterson Vise Grips. They are made from CrMo and CrV steel and not the pig iron Irwin has gone to. I have the normal curved jaw with wire cutter style in stock in 10, 7 and 5 inch. It's amazing how Rubbermaid-Newell could screw up something as good as a Vise-Grip.

I have some of these Toptul pliers and they are excellent. Great price, too.

 

[bwringer]

Where the hell can you buy the Toptul pliers?

I can find Toptul's web site listing their locking pliers, but nary a hint of where to actually, y'know, buy the damn things. Aside from a few odds and ends on Amazon, it seems like there's not really a way to actually buy anything from Toptul.

There's probably some dipshit in a warehouse somewhere looking over hundreds of neatly stacked dusty boxes that haven't moved in years. If you brush the dust aside, a logo appears... "Toptul".

Oh well, at least they're neatly stacked.

 

[timbitca]

Oh and to also summarize that I once again offered to double someones money and pay shipping for these mystical $2-$4 Vise Grips and haven't gotten the first bite.

I just went through my "2015 Garage Sale Thread" posts. Last year I paid 16$ for 8 pairs of Vise Grip pliers(10WR, 10R, 10WR, 9LN, 5WR, 8R, 6LN, 9R C-clamp) . Lowest was .25$ and highest had a price tag of 10$ but I ended up paying about 2$ (per item) after making a bundle with a bunch of other stuff. They are out there, just have to go and find them. I figure the time I spend on Saturday mornings running around sales is my cost of opportunity to ****** up deals, obviously you aren't going to buy stuff at every yard/estate sale but I find it worth it in the long run. Though, I am lucky that 1) I'm not into sleeping late and 2) I don't have young children, i'll admit that.

Maybe no one has taken a bite on your post because we just don't want to sell 'em

 

[65k10]

Where the hell can you buy the Toptul pliers?

I can find Toptul's web site listing their locking pliers, but nary a hint of where to actually, y'know, buy the damn things. Aside from a few odds and ends on Amazon, it seems like there's not really a way to actually buy anything from Toptul.

There's probably some dipshit in a warehouse somewhere looking over hundreds of neatly stacked dusty boxes that haven't moved in years. If you brush the dust aside, a logo appears... "Toptul".

Oh well, at least they're neatly stacked.

No kidding. I was getting on the Grip-On train because I liked that their 10" had bigger jaws than a 10WR, but I'm a bit dismayed to hear about poor teeth wear. If these Toptul pliers are as great as I hear, I would like to get a few pairs to try.

 

[freudianfloyd]

I like the CH Hanson AUTOMATIC locking pliers. set the tension once and it clamps onto any thickness of material automatically.

+1

 

[dacan23]

Recently an experience changed my view point on locking pliers. I had a situation where a flat head bolt through a plate became unwelded and I could not get the nut off. First I tried a HF locking plier I had to hold the top it failed, then a Husky one again failure, broke out these stupid fancy Kobalt ones and could not do it, grab one of my new Milwaukee ones and it held it on first try and successfully got the nut off. The Kobalt ones were these fancy self adjusting ones I now hate and put under the gimmick tools not to buy.

I am never buying cheap pliers ever again.

 

[Ign]

Recently an experience changed my view point on locking pliers. I had a situation where a flat head bolt through a plate became unwelded and I could not get the nut off. First I tried a HF locking plier I had to hold the top it failed, then a Husky one again failure, broke out these stupid fancy Kobalt ones and could not do it, grab one of my new Milwaukee ones and it held it on first try and successfully got the nut off. The Kobalt ones were these fancy self adjusting ones I now hate and put under the gimmick tools not to buy.

I am never buying cheap pliers ever again.

So was this a MaxBite w the approximate hex shape in the jaws, or just a regular locking plier?

 

[lowbucktruck]

Has anyone tried out the EZ Lock pliers? I was looking for replacement springs for my Petersen Vise Grips and saw these:
http://www.harryepstein.com/index.php/6-e-z-lock-professional-locking-pliers-usa.html

 

[GarageGuy89]

I personally have had several over the years until I was turned onto the Milwaukee Max Bite locking pliers. They feel much more robust then my other versions including Irwin and craftsman USA. They'd been clearancing them more recently at HD so you can probably find a good deal on them in store if still available near you

http://m.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-...xqm5tl7FGGny9TPSf8pTAy0TkqHCmaQIkDRoCJ-fw_wcB

If it is still at all relevant I will second this one x100.

I too fell victim to the cheap Chinese vise grips for many years. So much that I stopped using them all together. Until one day I had an application where the only tool that would get the job done was a "nice" set of vice grips. So i splurged and bought the top three most expensive ones out there at the store.

Needless to say this one stayed with me and the other two got returned. Locks up and stays locked, no twisting or coming unlocked with these, very satisfied. Further more, this one is soooo nice it does not get put away. It literally sits out in my shop all day long and gets used all day long.

 

[slow_mow]

Has anyone tried out the EZ Lock pliers? I was looking for replacement springs for my Petersen Vise Grips and saw these:
http://www.harryepstein.com/index.php/6-e-z-lock-professional-locking-pliers-usa.html

Those look really nice, made in the USA, and the price is fair. I'm going to order some and give them a shot. Would love to hear some feedback from other members.

 

[PBCampbell]

Some previous posts got me curious, so I went GJ nutso and did some measuring. All 10 inch frames, I opened the jaws and measured the sheet metal from between the jaws as that seemed the easiest place to get to. No good place for a micrometer, so I used an "I-gage" brand electronic caliper which has proven to be pretty accurate over the 10 or more years I've owned it.
Craftsman (45341), not a vise grip rebrand, release works the opposite way for starters. USA made and 25+ years old. Measured .095 inches
Grip-On (chrome, polished) .111 inches (maybe made to a metric standard)
Irwin Vise Grip .105 inches
Peterson Vise Grip (late production and actually a clamp, not pliers) .105 inches
Petersen Vise Grip (30+ years old) .110 inches

I measured from both sides and worked to have at least 4 consistent measurements. I don't know if these results mean much as I noticed construction between the 3 types was different (fulcrum points?). Nothing to say about tooth hardness or anything else..

 

[MDK22]

Grip-On (chrome, polished) .111 inches (maybe made to a metric standard)
Petersen Vise Grip (30+ years old) .110 inches

When I was comparing I was comparing less then 1 yr old snap-on epoxy coated grip-on rebrand too a 1970s vise grip. As it was all I had for comparison at the time.

They look like overly-complicated locking Robo Grips to me. 6" is also a bit on the small side for many tasks. The jaw teeth look like they would handle light to possibly medium duty work.

Here are some better pictures, pulled from an expired Ebay listing.

Looking at those pictures the teeth appear to be riveted sheets of metal. While I am sure it is better for manufacturing I agree that it is probably only good for medium duty work. I don't get why you wouldn't arc weld them as they stack or weld it after. Guess it would cost too much.

 

[countryroad82]

I just went through my "2015 Garage Sale Thread" posts. Last year I paid 16$ for 8 pairs of Vise Grip pliers(10WR, 10R, 10WR, 9LN, 5WR, 8R, 6LN, 9R C-clamp) . Lowest was .25$ and highest had a price tag of 10$ but I ended up paying about 2$ (per item) after making a bundle with a bunch of other stuff. They are out there, just have to go and find them. I figure the time I spend on Saturday mornings running around sales is my cost of opportunity to ****** up deals, obviously you aren't going to buy stuff at every yard/estate sale but I find it worth it in the long run. Though, I am lucky that 1) I'm not into sleeping late and 2) I don't have young children, i'll admit that.

Maybe no one has taken a bite on your post because we just don't want to sell 'em

While that may be true I just find it hilarious that many guys on here will show something like a brand new truck brand tool box for instance they say they picked up for less than a grand. I know there are deals to be found at times, but seriously? So I like to try to call some people out. Maybe it's the truth, maybe it's bs, I know for a fact it's rarely worth my time to go to yard sales or flea markets anymore in my area, trust me it's bad. If it says Craftsman, people in my parts think it's worth double what it sold new so imagine if its says a truck brand..... I have a business to run, a day job to work, kids to raise, a wife....... Homey ain't got time to waste looking at the yard sales so I make my double offer to see if someone would be interested in my offer.

 

[GarageGuy89]

Homey ain't got time to waste looking at the yard sales...

I'll second that. Barely have enough time to be in my shop in the first place without the wife or kids barging in on me.

 

[rlitman]

The secret is to drag the wife and kids to the yard sales and flea markets. Once they're fed up with you, they won't bother you in the shop.

 

[d.mcfarland]

These were brand new Milwaukee 10 inch locking pliers after one job switching out tie rod ends that were stuck fairly good.

 

[XxToolAholicxX]

Try some eroupean brands..

 

[four.cycle]

Ebay seller just listed several pairs during the last couple days.
Good seller- dealt with him before. "Tom", as I recall.
No idea what you'll think of prices or condition, but I'll toss it out here anyway:
http://www.ebay.com/sch/m.html?_ssn=trouble_florida&_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=petersen&_sop=10