Who makes the best locking pliers in the world today?

adrian44 · Nov 24, 2009

Please tell me which brand of curved jaw locking pliers are the best and strongest. Price is not a problem. I have tried several Asian, American, and European brands and have not been impressed with their durability or general quality.

Regards.

cashishift · Nov 24, 2009

Knipex?

Old school DeWitt,NE made Vise Grips?

Monte · Nov 24, 2009

Then there is nothing left if you already tried american,asian and european brands...

superautobacs · Nov 24, 2009

Better look in the South American, African, or the Southern Pacific region then.

alex71 · Nov 24, 2009

you need pliers of extra-terrestrial origin

superautobacs · Nov 24, 2009

Negative....

"Hello"

"We only collect genuine Snap-on"

"You like to see?"

Flash21 · Nov 24, 2009

Those are awesome superautobacs, where did you get those?

Monte · Nov 24, 2009

haha lol

@adrian44: what brands exactly did you try ? Already tried these from Aigo/Japan ? Outillage Roux/France ? or Wezag/Germany ?

superautobacs · Nov 24, 2009

I can't remember where I got them from; it's been sitting in my computer for some time...just waiting for that perfect time to use it.

Another good time to put this image to use, too!

Apparently Aigo had a "third-hand" in the design of these:

Danglerb · Nov 24, 2009

How are the existing pliers failing for you?

Monte · Nov 24, 2009

superautobacs said:
Apparently Aigo had a "third-hand" in the design of these:

... and a look at the Grip-On website....

superautobacs · Nov 24, 2009

That has been in my "want" list. Gray Tools was offering a package deal of two Ominium grip pliers with two of those plier holders for a good price. ...never got it though.

[EDIT]
Since you actually have it...
How well does the holder do its job in securing the pliers itself?

The Rusty Gear · Nov 24, 2009

superautobacs said:
That has been in my "want" list. Gray Tools was offering a package deal of two Ominium grip pliers with two of those plier holders for a good price. ...never got it though.

[EDIT]
Since you actually have it...
How well does the holder do its job in securing the pliers itself?

That package is back on sale in the latest flyer!

Monte · Nov 24, 2009

superautobacs said:
That has been in my "want" list. Gray Tools was offering a package deal of two Ominium grip pliers with two of those plier holders for a good price. ...never got it though.

[EDIT]
Since you actually have it...
How well does the holder do its job in securing the pliers itself?

If you use the holder with Grip-On pliers they hold up nice, other brands might have a light wobble (different design of the "Body" of the pliers)

superautobacs · Nov 24, 2009

Thanks, Monte and The Rusty Gear.

chad s · Nov 24, 2009

Grip on, I love them.

adrian44 · Nov 25, 2009

Danglerb said:
How are the existing pliers failing for you?

I use them to grip pipes and unscrew them, most of the time the pipes are fused together by rust. The most common failure I have in locking pliers is at the bolt attaching the lower jaw to the lower handle. Somehow this bolt digs into the handle and the round holes it fits in become sorta oval.

Some of the brands I used were "Pullmann Grip" from Germany, ViseGrip from the US, Saiwa from Japan, and several generic Chinese ones.

I see many suggestions and no clear front runner. Isn't there a brand that most agree is the very best? Again, price is not an issue.

Best

Monte · Nov 25, 2009

I don`t know who is the best so here is just a list of who makes them in Europe:
www.scangrip.dk www.grip-on.com www.bollmanngrip.de www.wezag.de www.urbo-werkzeuge.de www.facom.com www.knipex.de www.outillage-roux.com

american lockpicker · Nov 25, 2009

I heard the Knipex ones are pretty low quality can anyone confirm this?

Monte · Nov 25, 2009

Here is a thread discussing different pliers click

ooops i forgot to mention Gedore as manufacturer www.gedore.com
(German/Austria made)

Vinko · Nov 26, 2009

adrian44 said:
I use them to grip pipes and unscrew them, most of the time the pipes are fused together by rust. The most common failure I have in locking pliers is at the bolt attaching the lower jaw to the lower handle. Somehow this bolt digs into the handle and the round holes it fits in become sorta oval.

I'm not following. I read this three times and don't see how a tool could fail like this from griping a pipe. The adjustment screw digs into the handle? :headscrat

airdale · Nov 26, 2009

adrian44 said:
I use them to grip pipes and unscrew them, most of the time the pipes are fused together by rust. The most common failure I have in locking pliers is at the bolt attaching the lower jaw to the lower handle. Somehow this bolt digs into the handle and the round holes it fits in become sorta oval.

Some of the brands I used were "Pullmann Grip" from Germany, ViseGrip from the US, Saiwa from Japan, and several generic Chinese ones.

I see many suggestions and no clear front runner. Isn't there a brand that most agree is the very best? Again, price is not an issue.

Best

I don't understand, why not use a pipe wrench? In large sizes, aluminum handles are nice unless you plan on using a cheater bar - then stick with all steel. http://www.ridgid.com/Tools/Aluminum-Handle-Straight-Pipe-Wrench

Monte · Nov 26, 2009

just buy some with a lifetime warranty...

Moose-LandTran · Nov 26, 2009

cashishift said:
Knipex?

Old school DeWitt,NE made Vise Grips?

I have a pair of Knipex ones. They're pretty good.

Danglerb · Nov 26, 2009

The ones I saw at Sears the other day actually looked very nice, part of the door buster type things. Very husky looking packaged with a small channel lock "type" plier. I can't find them on the Sears web site, big surprise, but they look almost cast, not sheet metal.

Sounds like you might like to try one of these. Excellent for the turning of pipes.

Monte · Nov 26, 2009

just reread your post. So i also would vote for a pipe wrench or pliers wrench

kidatari · Nov 26, 2009

Grip-on are my absolute favorite. Great quality, smart design ideas. They are the OE for Snap-On Locking Pliers.

MD11 · Nov 27, 2009

I've had good experience with Knipex for just about anything Pliers... Crescent is also good for a less expensive USA made brand. But as someone said, get anything with a true life time warranty.

Monte · Nov 27, 2009

Lockjaw_Self-Adjusting_Locking_Plier_-_2_Pack5avDetail.jpg

Skyline · Nov 27, 2009

I am not a fan of the Grip-on type. I have a set of the Snap-on pliers made by them, and perhaps it is years of using Vice Grips...but I tend to have to be really careful to avoid getting my fingers pinched.

I'd shop eBay for used, USA made Vice Grips. You might even find some NOS stuff in some Mom & Pop type hardware store. I got some of the LockJaw ones that Monte just posted in a tool collection, and they seemed pretty cool...but I sold them on eBay without really trying them out. I think that would be my next choice when the supply of USA Vice Grips runs dry.

superautobacs · Nov 27, 2009

Monte said:

I've never seen this one. Looks sorta gimmicky; perfect for those late-night infomercials.

The Lockjaws on the other hand are not too bad for light/medium-duty work. They work like a charm.

american lockpicker · Nov 27, 2009

Monte said:

I played around with those the other day and they seemed to work.

Monte · Nov 27, 2009

yes i like the Lockjaws too, have a set rebadged as Hazet. The functionality is pretty nice, the handles could be a little bit closer together when opened though imho (Depends on your hand size)

Grip-On vs. Gedore

american lockpicker · Nov 27, 2009

I want 2 lawjaws but I can't get past the fact they are made in China. Does anyone else make something comparable in Europe or North America?

adrian44 · Nov 28, 2009

Monte said:
just reread your post. So i also would vote for a pipe wrench or pliers wrench

Monte, you seem to be very knoledgeable of the German tools. Can you please explain this:

I found pliers that are obviously made by the same maker (identical in everything), except that one is marked Wezag and the other Stahlwille

The website of both makers state that they make all their tools in their own factories. So, who is the actual maker of this pliers?

Adding to the confusion, the pliers with wire cutter style from both makers is different. Stahlwille looks identical to the first style above, but Wezag's looks more generic style

Can you shed some light on who makes what?

Regards

superautobacs · Nov 28, 2009

Monte will correct me if I'm wrong...

Like most tool manufacturers, their tool lineup consists of not only their own, but products from many other specialized tool manufacturers, whether it's domestic or import. It's their way of having a well-rounded, one-stop shopping for their clients' needs and wants.

The first pair, like you've found out, are offered by Stahlwille through Wezag.

The second pair offered by Stahlwille might be a older/newer version of Wezag, but I'm more inclined to say that they're from a different manufacturer as there's a few design aspects that differ from the Wezag. Perhaps there's an on-going contract between Stahlwille and manufacturer "X" ?

FNFS2000 · Nov 28, 2009

those spanish grip ons are actually pretty nice tools.

Monte · Nov 28, 2009

superautobacs already said it. The first one will be supplied by Wezag, the second one i would say older Wezag production maybe they change from the classic style to the newer ?? Or its supplied (the Wezag one) now by another manufacturer and they don`t make them anymore (too many locking pliers manufacturers out there ??) ??
Looks a bit like this Rennsteig/Knipex one:

Unfortunately the Wezag PDF catalog (click)+ site ***** . On the website you can see that the C-clamp also has a new style but i also have this plier which also has the old style:

a closer view

Some ways to differentiate between the manufacturers:

The design of the body. Spotwelded body at the thread or not. Of course the jaws and the knurling of the screw.

The "bars" which connect both body parts and the release levers.

Different release levers

Some are spot welded some are not welded. Note also the coarse knurling

"Rennsteig" in the first pic, 2nd pic: Knipex on top, "Garant" brand below (from Bollmann) (Knipex = Rennsteig) www.knipex.com www.rennsteig.com

Surprisingly the "Orbis" brand pliers look like Bollmanns but Orbis belongs to Knipex like Rennsteig. Orbis

"Urbo" locking pliers. Second pic from their website. Note the coarse knurling and the release lever. www.urbo-werkzeuge.de PDF catalog

Gedore has some pliers stamped Austria and some are from Germany which looks like the Bollmann ones.... www.bollmanngrip.de

Austrian:

Gedore with the blue handle, the other one from Bollmann. On the lower jaw the Gedore one has the part number forged in , the Bollmann one "Chrom Vanadium"

Another mystery: Gedore and Bollmann both offer these pliers. But they have a bright/glossy nickel finish and look at the release lever and the coarse knurling. Look more like Wezag to me but they dont list them...

Some more confusion

All made by Gedore. First one Gedore brand second "Rahsol" (different jaws) third "Carolus" 4th Gedore again . (Carolus same as the Gedore one minus the forged inscriptions)

5 1/2", 7" and 10" from "Garant"/Bollmann

I once called Bollmann and they said that they don`t have their own forge because it`s too expensive to operate it. So similarities between jaw design and body design could be because maybe there is one supplier and the pliers are then just assembled. After a search i found the "Hartkopf" forge in Solingen/Germany with this interesting pic on their website:

I think you can see a pair of locking plier jaws...

www.hartkopf.de

Monte · Nov 30, 2009

found these in the www...
...just like the packaging...

Monte · Nov 30, 2009

Who makes the best locking pliers in the world today?

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