Milwaukee locking pliers Vs Snap On Locking pliers
- Thread starter MTNSleder
- Start date
I really like the way knob to tighten the Milwaukee has a hole to stick a screwdriver shaft through to crank on it. I always pinch the fat of my hands releasing locking pliers but with the Milwaukee I can just back the screw off and release it that way.
2ndGearRubber
Well-known member
Snap on/Grip on/Proto style has a reversed release lever. No more moronic location that forces you to snap your fingers in the handle when releasing. Just push down on the release and they slip open.
Stooge
Well-known member
I was pretty sold on the grip-ons/ snap on ones, but started hearing quite a bit of less than stellar reviews for them so I passed as I don't have much regular use for the locking pliers, but Im really like the looks of those locking welding c clamps! a lot of mine are pretty well beat, might have to swing by home depot some afternoon and grab a few pairs.
The 2 PC set at home depot for $30 CAD is a steal!
https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.2-pc-7-inch--10-inch-maxbite-set.1001002320.html
davethorik
Well-known member
I haven't used Snap-on but have used Milwaukee a bit, mostly the needle nose. I think they are on par with the Petersen, slightly better than Chinese Irwins as far as build quality and clamping force (I've always disliked the vise grip style release lever, but I make do).
I like the knob also...you can even snug it with another pair of vise grips or an adjustable wrench.
I like the knob also...you can even snug it with another pair of vise grips or an adjustable wrench.
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evercl92
Well-known member
Sorry I can't comment on the snap on's, but the hole in the handle proved invaluable for me. Stubborn sway bar end link nuts - without the extra torque with a screwdriver through the handle, I would have had to recip saw that bolt off.
Brownsfan
Well-known member
I really like the Milwaukee. More than dare I say my old Peterson USA made ones. They are great for the price
My Proto versions weren't that expensive and they work well. Search a couple tool sites then wait for a coupon. Less than $50 from Zoro if I remember correctly.
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Wamsutta
Well-known member
I can tell by looking at the posted picture that the Milwaukee pliers are dead in the water right off the bat. They have the same release lever design as vise-grips. By comparison, the Snap-on branded pliers would be a breeze to work with.
d.mcfarland
Well-known member
I have used Milwaukee and Irwin Vise Grips side-by-side and they are, for argument sake, the same. The only real difference being the adjustment "knob".
The Grip-On (Snap-on) do not have the same teeth design and if you really need to grip on to something rusty or FUBAR'ed then you need the Milwaukee/Irwin teeth.
The Grip-On's are marginally less loose meaning the tolerances are better fitting. You can tell they are quality made items, but once locked down, no different than others.
The Grip-On (Snap-on) do not have the same teeth design and if you really need to grip on to something rusty or FUBAR'ed then you need the Milwaukee/Irwin teeth.
The Grip-On's are marginally less loose meaning the tolerances are better fitting. You can tell they are quality made items, but once locked down, no different than others.
Stooge
Well-known member
which ones? the vise grip/curved jaw style locking pliers, or the c clamp style ones? my discount through MSC puts most of the proto brand curved jaw/vise grip style ones in the mid to high teens, but the c clamp locking pliers i'm more interested in start at $18 for the 6.5" J265XL ones and go up from there. maybe i'll just go proto since the price between them and Milwaukee is pretty negligible.
Whats the COO of the Milwaukee ones? the proto/ grip on/ snap ons look to be Spain
Taiwan
For this reason I bought the Stanley Fatmax version, they have the same handy loop on the screw as the Milwaukee but with the same style locking release as the Grip-on.
DerekV
Well-known member
NOT! EVEN! CLOSE! The Irwins are sloppier and made from junk Chinese pot metal. The teeth are a gigantic JOKE. The Milwaukees are tighter (and stay that way) and stronger everywhere. Made in Taiwan too. I replaced 100% of my Irwins with the style-equivalent Milwaukees and I do not regret it at all. Same price + way better = win-win.
Bruce Wayne
Well-known member
I have a few of the Milwaukee pliers & I am happy with them.
I've seen those, I didn't buy them because I haven't heard anything about them.
d.mcfarland
Well-known member
Just judging by your posting history you are biased towards Milwaukee products. You liking or disliking a brand doesn't make the tools any better or worse.
So far they seem good , used on a few welding jobs and at least the jaws don't go sideways under pressure like some of the really cheap types. I have no real benchmark to compare to though as my others are an ancient pair of Petersens I inherited from my Dad that still work well. I have an even more ancient pair of Newport Mole grips that won't hold now but I think it is just a spring issue so when I get time I must try to fix up. The sudden spring of the Petersens release bugs me though and I do much prefer the Stanley release. I also have pair of Channellock branded Grip-on on the way so that should be a good benchmark to compare.
DerekV
Well-known member
Haha. If you dug just a little bit deeper rather than scratching the surface and making assumptions, you'd see that I've been pretty critical of Milwaukee for the past several months now. You'd also see that I've posted numerous times about these pliers/clamps and give specific reasons as to why they're good (and superior in every way to Irwin), while making it a point (when it matters, i.e. in the Milwaukee thread) to say that it has nothing to do with a brand name. They could be ANY brand and I'd still buy them. Nice try though?
What you said about the Irwins vs. Milwaukees was just not factual, so I pointed it out. Plain and simple. No investigative journalism required
I've never had good luck with Chinese Irwins, they never seemed to grip very well.
WittHay
Well-known member
Same with me, I don't notice the difference between the Petersens and the Irwins. Most of the Petersens we had got worn and ended up being used as welding clamps
I would never buy the Milwaukee's for real use. The adjustment knob is gimmicky. We use vise grips instead of pipe wrench for some things and you have to put a cheater pipe on the vise-grip handle where the knob is or hammer on the end of the handles. The Milwaukee's wouldn't allow a pipe to fit over or the knob would break off
IIRC the knobs are plastic....I don't know how much you can tighten up on those before they would break.
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I've fit cheater bars over my Milwaukee vise grip handles at work and never had an issue. On looking at them now to make sure, the knob isn't bent, and for what its worth, appears to be made of some pretty strong steel.
Before these came along, we would have to weld an O Ring to normal vise grips, but I found these Milwaukee's are better then self welding, because now you can fit pipe's over them. So in my opinion, gimmicky, these are not.
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Stooge
Well-known member
inspired by this thread,i just ordered the Proto flavor Locking Sheet Metal Clamp pliers from MSC, should have them tomorrow so I can play with them over the weekend. I always find I have a need for them, but the 1 or 2 no name pairs I have are pretty junky, so maybe these will be what im looking for. if I like these, i'll probably order some more of the grip on/ proto series of locking pliers.
Thinking about it, I probably should have ordered the bright orange, easy to find Grip On ones instead of the all black Proto ones
http://www.protoindustrial.com/en/i...60XL_Proto®-Locking-Sheet-Metal-Tool-8-1|16"/
Thinking about it, I probably should have ordered the bright orange, easy to find Grip On ones instead of the all black Proto ones
http://www.protoindustrial.com/en/i...60XL_Proto®-Locking-Sheet-Metal-Tool-8-1|16"/
Parrothead
Well-known member
I've seen a couple photos of those and they look nice. I am considering them as an alternative to what's out there now.
I have a few of the Milwaukee ones which are great to work with but recently picked up a few of Harbor Freight's new Bremen brand of locking pliers and was surprised at the quality. They seem to be either on par or really close to the quality of the Milwaukees and are also made in Taiwan. The larger ones also offer the option of using a 1/4" drive ratchet to tighten down the screw.
DFB
Well-known member
Got to see and try out the Milwaukee locking pliers today, my buddy had bought a set of 4 for his motorcycle shop. I do like them better than my Vise Grips. Some of ones I have are pretty much wore down in the teeth so I think I will replace them with the Milwaukee
The Taiwan made locking pliers are probably all made in the same 1-2 large factors to the same specs, i doubt you'll find much of a difference.
The Chinese made Irwins probably suffer from some production inconsistencies, so a few pairs can be great, a few okay and a few terrible, although that could apply to any tool really.
The real issue i have with the grip-ons its the teeth just don't seem to be as sharp or as aggressive as the other brands, so the aren't as good at gripping anything rusted. The actual locking mechanism is nice enough, and i would prefer a larger knob (hah!) to adjust them.
The Chinese made Irwins probably suffer from some production inconsistencies, so a few pairs can be great, a few okay and a few terrible, although that could apply to any tool really.
The real issue i have with the grip-ons its the teeth just don't seem to be as sharp or as aggressive as the other brands, so the aren't as good at gripping anything rusted. The actual locking mechanism is nice enough, and i would prefer a larger knob (hah!) to adjust them.
Bollmann GmbH are a large manufacturer of locking pliers. They supply Knipex and most of the German tool companies and others.
http://www.bollmann-selzer.de/
Dollex in France http://www.dolex.fr/en/ and Grip On in Spain likewise.
There is no need to buy Chinesium...
http://www.bollmann-selzer.de/
Dollex in France http://www.dolex.fr/en/ and Grip On in Spain likewise.
There is no need to buy Chinesium...
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Stooge
Well-known member
Just got my sheet metal pliers delivered, really impressed with the feel of them and the quick release lever seems like it will be a really nice feature. based on how they feel, i'll probably end up getting a few pairs of the C Clamp locking pliers from Proto/ grip on. they are stamped as being Made in Spain.
20180330_095249 by Dan Haas, on Flickr
20180330_095249 by Dan Haas, on FlickrDerekV
Well-known member
Just got my sheet metal pliers delivered, really impressed with the feel of them and the quick release lever seems like it will be a really nice feature. based on how they feel, i'll probably end up getting a few pairs of the C Clamp locking pliers from Proto/ grip on. they are stamped as being Made in Spain.
Those look very nice, although I'm not loving the black paint job. Rivets look huge which is awesome. The hex section on the tightening rod is a nice touch too. How much were they?
DerekV
Well-known member
The HFT Bremen locking pliers are actually pretty nice. The 1/4" drive recess is a great idea and doesn't add any bulk. They are definitely a step down in terms of overall finish quality compared to the Milwaukees...something about them just seems a little "cheap" - hard to describe. However, they're like half the price...and they're definitely not half the quality. They still seem pretty tight overall. And the effortless return policy. I don't know...they seem like an excellent value. I plan on giving the 18" one a shot.