If fixed the biggest flaw with vise grips

[Big Bad Jon]

Vise grips are incredibly versatile. I use them all the time. Need to stick two pieces of metal together to weld? Vise grips. Need to loosen a rounded bolt? Vise grips. Need a third hand? Vise grips.


The problem: The knurled nut on the end, slippery, too small, always greasy. They’ve tried to improve on the design by putting a hex hole on the end for extra leverage… impossible to hit with gloves on. Can’t find the Allen wrench when you need it the most. And don’t get me started on the Milwaukee plastic end. They break if you breathe on them wrong. Plastic treads strip out with the slightest amount of torque. They’re very frustrating in the heat of the moment.

My solution: Weld a lifting eye or large fender washer on the end. You can grip them with gloves on, it doesn’t matter if they’re greasy. It’s perfect. It’s what they should have designed to begin with.


Here’s a sample of what I’ve made. They’re not pretty, nor perfect. But they just plain work.

 

[The Cobbler]

I can see that being useful sometimes, but sometimes a bit awkward & bulky

 

[Big Bad Jon]

I can see that being useful sometimes, but sometimes a bit awkward & bulky

I do have a couple of normal ones just in case, I rarely use them.

 

[larry_g]

In my many years of using vise grips I have never had a problem that would dictate what you have done. I bring the vise grip up to zero clearance on what I am gripping, open the jaws and give the adjuster a half to three quarters of a turn and snap them shut. What are you doing that requires you to have to apply such excessive torque to the adjusting screw?

lg
no neat sig line

 

[KnurledNut]

When I was working at the coal mines, this was common practice so it could be tethered to work belts. Vise grips and an adjustable wrench were carried by many.

 

[Big Bad Jon]

In my many years of using vise grips I have never had a problem that would dictate what you have done. I bring the vise grip up to zero clearance on what I am gripping, open the jaws and give the adjuster a half to three quarters of a turn and snap them shut. What are you doing that requires you to have to apply such excessive torque to the adjusting screw?

lg
no neat sig line

Fabricating, repairing broken things, and using them when other tools are 1/4 mile away in the shop in my box.

It isn’t necessarily about applying torque, as much as it is about being able to use them with gloves on or when your hands are completely covered in grease.

 

[Big Bad Jon]

When I was working at the coal mines, this was common practice so it could be tethered to work belts. Vise grips and an adjustable wrench were carried by many.

You can fix a lot of problems with a pair of vise grips and an adjustable wrench.

 

[rooster59]

Ok, I vote you win today’s garage journal

use with welding gloves, this mo better
lanyard so I don’t lose it in the middle of the pasture, excellent

 

[woody 73]

Call me very confused, what is this plastic end you talk about on the Milwaukee vise grips; I was under the impression it was red in color and made out of metal am I wrong?

 

[woody 73]

https://www.homedepot.com/pep/Milwaukee-7-in-Straight-Jaw-Locking-Pliers-with-Grip-48-22-3807/207194976?mtc=SHOPPING-BF-CDP-BNG-D25H-025_001_HAND_TOOLS-NA-NA-NA-PLALIA-NA-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NA-HandTools_2023&cm_mmc=SHOPPING-BF-CDP-BNG-D25H-025_001_HAND_TOOLS-NA-NA-NA-PLALIA-NA-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NA-HandTools_2023-21048926574-159747788576-2443818295576&gclid=4b621d4e8b951cd3f5cc74bd75e0701d&gclsrc=3p.ds&msclkid=4b621d4e8b951cd3f5cc74bd75e0701d

Is that made out of plastic?

 

[Big Bad Jon]

Call me very confused, what is this plastic end you talk about on the Milwaukee vise grips; I was under the impression it was red in color and made out of metal am I wrong?

I don’t own any of the Milwaukee but one of my co-workers does and it looked plastic to me. Regardless, the end is too small to use with welding gloves or work gloves on. Good thought, poor execution.

 

[woody 73]

Not plastic.

 

[Big Bad Jon]

Not plastic.

Regardless, the end “loop” is too small to be useful.

 

[Old tool guy]

You need to modify the fender washer to be more like these.
.

 

[bwringer]

Regardless, the end “loop” is too small to be useful.

On the Milwaukees, the loop is metal painted red, and it's made to stick a screwdriver in if you need to crank down on it for some reason.

But yeah, if you want to turn it by gloved greasy hand, then the welded washers or loops are just the ticket.

 

[Big Bad Jon]

You need to modify the fender washer to be more like these.
.

Those are awesome!

 

[nadogail]

I have a pair that has a forged eye tig welded to the adjustment screw. i found them where an HVAC Tech told me where he had lost them.. That man had moved on to another employer, if i ever see him again i will return them.

O have used them many times as an attachment point when i needed to lift something.

 

[KnurledNut]

I've found an eye bolt works too. Add a nut and you can lock the adjuster if needed.

You need to modify the fender washer to be more like these.
.

My Grip-on can opener uses a wing that works on the same principle.

 

[FigN⋅m]

I can see that being useful sometimes, but sometimes a bit awkward & bulky

Like my last Tinder date

 

[Shitbox]

Learned that trick when I was an apprentice. Needed to do some rough pulls with the monkey on a stick and my mentor showed me a set with a ring welded on the adjustment screw. Made some that day.

 

[WillyBoy]

Neat idea. I may try it myself.
Also a handy way to hang them up so they're easy to find.

 

[bongkar_YES_pasang_NO]

I've found an eye bolt works too. Add a nut and you can lock the adjuster if needed.


do you mind to explain how I can follow this?

 

[LeeG]

I use my welpers to tighten the Milwaukee vise grips.

 

[KnurledNut]

@bongkar_YES_pasang_NO
Just get an eyebolt or lifting eye the same size and thread pitch as the screw in your locking pliers. Its been years ago I did mine, but IIRC, I had to cut the length.
The nut isn't necessary, but it can be advantageous for certain repetitive applications where locking the adjustment is desired. It also acts as a safety locknut when being tethered to prevent creep.

 

[Big Bad Jon]

@bongkar_YES_pasang_NO
Just get an eyebolt or lifting eye the same size and thread pitch as the screw in your locking pliers. Its been years ago I did mine, but IIRC, I had to cut the length.
The nut isn't necessary, but it can be advantageous for certain repetitive applications where locking the adjustment is desired. It also acts as a safety locknut when being tethered to prevent creep.

That’s a really good idea.

 

[In The Doghouse]

I just use another Vise Grip to clamp onto the screw to use when wearing gloves, but to get that one right I have to use another smaller vise grip on it. I finally ran out of vise grips.

 

[iagsxr]

Vise grips are incredibly versatile. I use them all the time. Need to stick two pieces of metal together to weld? Vise grips. Need to loosen a rounded bolt? Vise grips. Need a third hand? Vise grips.


The problem: The knurled nut on the end, slippery, too small, always greasy. They’ve tried to improve on the design by putting a hex hole on the end for extra leverage… impossible to hit with gloves on. Can’t find the Allen wrench when you need it the most. And don’t get me started on the Milwaukee plastic end. They break if you breathe on them wrong. Plastic treads strip out with the slightest amount of torque. They’re very frustrating in the heat of the moment.

My solution: Weld a lifting eye or large fender washer on the end. You can grip them with gloves on, it doesn’t matter if they’re greasy. It’s perfect. It’s what they should have designed to begin with.


Here’s a sample of what I’ve made. They’re not pretty, nor perfect. But they just plain work.

A lot of my Vise Grips need replaced. Somewhere I've seen new ones that have a little forged eye on the adjuster. Looks like it would be perfect to stick a little punch, or (in reality) screwdriver through.

What you did there is awesome.

 

[MichaelP]

A short T-handle through or over the screw head would be less bulky. It needs to be just a bit longer than the screw head diameter to provide a good grip.

 

[whateg01]

What is going to slow the process of tightening it loosening them down a lot over a knurled screw that can be spun easily with one hand. I've never had problems operating them with or without gloves on. But you do you. I commend you for solving a problem you have.

 

[DaveAndStuff]

I just keep the screw oiled

 

[d.mcfarland]

I've gather random objects to weld to the end of locking pliers and we will see how they are in use.

Stay tuned for updates.

 

[1Bad55Chevy]

Who wears gloves in the first place?

 

[mikedodge]

I've only had the problem of not being able to turn the nut when it's greasy and a quick wipe with a rag solves that. I can see how it could be handy to have wings or a bigger surface if you're using them with gloves on. I usually don't because gloves make it clumsier to use vice grips in general.

 

[DaveAndStuff]

Who wears gloves in the first place?

I always tell my boy to use his man hands.

 

[Big Bad Jon]

I always tell my boy to use his man hands.

I suppose I could weld without gloves on.

 

[toolenthusiast]

@bongkar_YES_pasang_NO
Just get an eyebolt or lifting eye the same size and thread pitch as the screw in your locking pliers. Its been years ago I did mine, but IIRC, I had to cut the length.
The nut isn't necessary, but it can be advantageous for certain repetitive applications where locking the adjustment is desired. It also acts as a safety locknut when being tethered to prevent creep.

Objectively: this is the simple and correct way to achieve OP’s goal

Subjectively: I like welding stuff because it makes me feel like Magneto

 

[DaveAndStuff]

I suppose I could weld without gloves on.

And close your eyes so you don't need a helmet.

The man hands thing was a joke, sorry.

Spatter on the screws is a much bigger problem the grease on the knurled nut,

 

[garilla]

Until recently I never knew of this method of tightening the screw after the vice grips were locked closed by the use of a hex allen wrench or screw driver through a Milwaukee loop. I get the modification for grease or gloves, well done. But all other times why doesn't everyone just set the screw so you when you close the locking mechanism you get the desired crush? For those times you need a no slip the two handed crush on usually does it for me.

 

[MichaelP]

Until recently I never knew of this method of tightening the screw after the vice grips were locked closed by the use of a hex allen wrench or screw driver through a Milwaukee loop.

I've never seen anybody doing it either. IMO, it would nullify all the design advantages.

 

[liliysdad]

Until recently I never knew of this method of tightening the screw after the vice grips were locked closed by the use of a hex allen wrench or screw driver through a Milwaukee loop. I get the modification for grease or gloves, well done. But all other times why doesn't everyone just set the screw so you when you close the locking mechanism you get the desired crush? For those times you need a no slip the two handed crush on usually does it for me.

I've never seen anybody doing it either. IMO, it would nullify all the design advantages.

There are a lot of times that I need to tighten a pair of vise-grips tighter than I can squeeze them. This is especially true while welding.

Another scenario where this comes in handy is in scenarios where you need to ensure there is minimal movement between the pieces being clamped. The nature of the over-center clamping action of the locking pliers can be violent at times, causing things to shift slightly. It’s is preferable to lightly clamp the material, then tight the screw once everything where you want it.

I like the big washer thumb screw setup.