Advice: Locking plier Brand

[MDK22]

I use to swear by Vise Grips and quite honestly the old USA made stuff is unbeatable. Well the taiwan version has made my life a living hell for the last time. I want a high quality tool. I do not want sheet metal folded **** like the Snap-Ons. I also want to be able to increase the clamping force exponentially like you can on the old vise grips. I am a big rig tech so it needs to be strong and take a beating.

I own a bunch of the taiwan Vise Grips mainly because i bought them before i was aware of the difference. Well i have flattened the teeth out on almost all of them and just recently got injured by a pair because the rivets had play and the tension release handle decided to bend. I pulled it apart and when i did it hit my thumb joint and severely bruised my hand. (I tried snap ring pliers trying to avoid this) Mind you this tool is 1 yr old and rarely used (really small pair) so it should not have this kind of malformation.

 

[AdamRos19]

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

 

[balrog]

I like the Grip On locking plier with the orange handles.

 

[MDK22]

How much real world use have you had with the Maxbite and how much force are you actually exerting to close them and once locked on to rotate them. How hard are the teeth are they hard enough to grab a grade 8 bolt dig in enough so that a 3/8" impact will not spin it.

I have 1 pair of 1970s vise grips that have done that multiple times over with grade 8 bolts/nuts to the point where i will snap the bolt before the locking pliers will loose grip.

 

[anndel]

I have the original Petersen Vise Grips I bought from here on the GJ Classifieds and Ebay as well. I have 3 from 30 years ago when I used to wrench for a living and bought those off the Snap On truck in 1986. Recently I've added more from Ebay purchases. There are tons out there, check Ebay, GJ Classifieds, garage sales, Craigslist, etc. if you want the original Petersen USA-Made Vise Grips.

 

[AdamRos19]

How much real world use have you had with the Maxbite and how much force are you actually exerting to close them and once locked on to rotate them. How hard are the teeth are they hard enough to grab a grade 8 bolt dig in enough so that a 3/8" impact will not spin it.

I have 1 pair of 1970s vise grips that have done that multiple times over with grade 8 bolts/nuts to the point where i will snap the bolt before the locking pliers will loose grip.

Most of my work has been home DIY type projects and new/old automotive primarily rounded and rusted. Have never had them slip on me or open even after tagging them with a 36oz ball peen, but I can not say I have an application that most others could not have handled nor would I say that based on your usage am I in the same realm. I can simply compare material and construction, ease of use, locking and torquing feature, and cost

 

[BK13]

I like the Grip On locking plier with the orange handles.

The OP said he didn't like the Snap Ons, which IIRC are Grip On....


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[gdocktor3]

Grip On work really well though.... - http://gripon.es/

Here's a few good deals.
https://www.toolsource.com/visegrip...nfBUjQEOK23vtMp_C_ppSaD_ohr9EbII_3xoCvo_w_wcB
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001G0MHAO/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Or Armstrong makes decent stuff http://www.armstrongtools.com/pliers

Otherwise I'd say hop on eBay and find some good ol' USA made Irwins.

 

[Know Wosad]

Well I'm thinking his referral to " sheet metal folded ****' may have been missed on the Peterson version......perhaps due to a vision block by seeing the word SPAIN on the Snap-On causing a flag to stick in his eye. (also stamped but heavier gauge)
See ?
Fort the money and abuse scenrio the Milwaukee with the torque twist might be the OP best option. The fact to the matter is "folded ****' is the design of a locking plier.

 

[BK13]

Grip On work really well though.... - http://gripon.es/

Here's a few good deals.
https://www.toolsource.com/visegrip...nfBUjQEOK23vtMp_C_ppSaD_ohr9EbII_3xoCvo_w_wcB
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001G0MHAO/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Or Armstrong makes decent stuff http://www.armstrongtools.com/pliers

Otherwise I'd say hop on eBay and find some good ol' USA made Irwins.

I'm not arguing with you, that is just what the OP wrote.... truth be told, I'm not sure I've ever laid eyes on a Grip On.


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[Davefr]

Why don't you just buy lightly used vintage Petersen made USA vise grips on Ebay?

I agree and there's a ton of original Petersen's out there for pennies on the dollar. Almost every g-sale or flea market will have them for $1-2 and they're almost always in great shape. (a testament to William Petersen)

 

[Ign]

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

The MaxBite's shouldn't be on clearance as they're NEW, just hit shelves in the past month or two. I have one pair and I will say as general purpose locking pliers they ****, they seem specifically engineered to close around a hex and in that respect I like the concept but have yet to use them on a stubborn hex head fastener like that.

I love the Milwaukee locking C-clamps for welding though.

Toolguyd on the MaxBites:
http://toolguyd.com/milwaukee-max-bite-curved-jaw-torque-lock-locking-pliers/

edit: general overview of other options
http://toolguyd.com/milwaukee-locking-pliers/

 

[cbogg]

I like the Milwaukee ones. They've done things I expected them to fail, and have taken way more abuse than 14$ pliers should take showing minimal evidence of the things I've done done to them.

 

[AdamRos19]

The MaxBite's shouldn't be on clearance as they're NEW, just hit shelves in the past month or two. I have one pair and I will say as general purpose locking pliers they ****, they seem specifically engineered to close around a hex and in that respect I like the concept but have yet to use them on a stubborn hex head fastener like that.

I love the Milwaukee locking C-clamps for welding though.

Toolguyd on the MaxBites:
http://toolguyd.com/milwaukee-max-bite-curved-jaw-torque-lock-locking-pliers/

edit: general overview of other options
http://toolguyd.com/milwaukee-locking-pliers/

I mistakingly referenced max bite

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=548864

This is what I referred to, same design smaller jaws my mistake but these would be the clearanced ones I referred to

 

[dnschmidt]

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.

 

[JUNK-MAN]

I suggest you watch garage sales and get the good old USA Peterson's I have a set of blue-points and they are garbage, The jaw's have rounded out and flat spots from just standard use.

 

[John in OH]

Not intending to be a shill for NAPA, but they have a few of their Carlyle version of vise-grips on sale for about $12 each. I bought a pair to try out, but haven't used them enough yet to offer any comments regarding performance (see page 3):

http://realdeals.napaecatalog.com/app.php?RelId=6.2.3.12

 

[Ign]

Not intending to be a shill for NAPA, but they have a few of their Carlyle version of vise-grips on sale for about $12 each. I bought a pair to try out, but haven't used them enough yet to offer any comments regarding performance (see page 3):

http://realdeals.napaecatalog.com/app.php?RelId=6.2.3.12

Ugh, are those "EZ Release" just the stupid Irwins of the same design? I personally can't stand those "lever-less" ones w rubber overmold. But I guess some people like 'em.

Otherwise I agree Carlyle would be a solid bet in general - until I saw them in the link.

 

[John in OH]

Ugh, are those "EZ Release" just the stupid Irwins of the same design? I personally can't stand those "lever-less" ones w rubber overmold. But I guess some people like 'em.

Otherwise I agree Carlyle would be a solid bet in general - until I saw them in the link.

Hmmm .... maybe. I don't have any of the "stupid" Irwins so I can't make a comparison. Here are three closeup pics of the 10" Carlyle so maybe you can make a better comparison.

 

[MDK22]

The sheet steel comment is due to the fact that the newer Grip-Ons aka Snap-On ones are much thinner then the old peterson vise grips. I can feel the sides bow slightly when I clamp soomething hard which means they are not going to last. My last place of work had a body shop in the same building as us anyone with the snap-on ones would be replacing them often.

The old ones on ebay last night at least 3/4 of them were damaged and the nos was approx $36-$50 USD a plier. Looking now to see if there is some new ones which it appears there are.

 

[MDK22]

Just bought two sets of lightly used ones that were not up there yesterday kinda wonder if people from here put them up lol

Got 10R, 10WR, 7WR, 5WR, 6LN. That is enough for now can't break the bank.

Will probably be looking for the 9LN, 10LW, 4LW, 7R in the future.

 

[machine_punk]

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

 

[MDK22]

My problem with them is they did not seem to clamp tight enough at the tightest setting. I tried them out on the tool truck and was not impressed. Though for the life of me I can't remember how I tested them it had been an extremely long, hot, humid, frustrating day.

 

[Loscaldazar]

The sheet steel comment is due to the fact that the newer Grip-Ons aka Snap-On ones are much thinner then the old peterson vise grips. I can feel the sides bow slightly when I clamp soomething hard which means they are not going to last. My last place of work had a body shop in the same building as us anyone with the snap-on ones would be replacing them often.

Odd. My Grip-ons are way better than any Peterson vise grip I've ever had. No lateral movement and way stronger teeth.

 

[Mastermind]

I've ripped the teeth off every brand and style. If you really want to hold something the snap on/bahco Swedish pipe wrench will leave teeth marks. I've been buying grip ins lately for ease of warranty. And I have a few to choose from.

 

[kblee27]

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

I used Irwin until I found CH Hanson self-adjusting locking pliers.

Now I only carry this in my toolbag, mainly to lock failing bonnet struts while I worked on the battery.

 

[PureLeaf]

Facom makes some sets that are french made. Pretty unique to the typical offerings. I'm a big fan of them, they're just pricey at about 50-55 bucks each

 

[Wamsutta]

It's the way the locking pliers release that makes the biggest difference. Crescent used to make some very easy to use locking pliers while they were still owned by Cooper Tools. The closest pliers in function to them now would be the Grip-on and Proto brands.

 

[MDK22]

The Snap-Ons that i flexed were new within the past year. So I dunno maybe they are making them cheaper or maybe my co worker got a bum pair. They weren't beat up much other then light scrapes here and there.

As for those Bahco pipe wrenches i have the Snap-On ones and they are viscous just normally do not have the room to use them because of how far you have to turn before they get a good hard bite.

 

[cludwin]

To follow on to some of the earlier comments in this thread I have a few of the gripon locking pliers and I haven't been super impressed.

I feel like they performed for me right at the same-ish level as recent irwins.

Pros:
They have a lot nicer fit and finish and the release mechanism makes way more sense.

Cons:
When I really needed them to bite I feel like they flexed too much and didn't hold.

 

[countryroad82]

I agree and there's a ton of original Petersen's out there for pennies on the dollar. Almost every g-sale or flea market will have them for $1-2 and they're almost always in great shape. (a testament to William Petersen)

I'll double your money for every $1-$2 Vice Grip and pay shipping to boot. Garage/yard sales in my neck of the woods have beat to **** ones for what new would cost! I'll buy every double, triplicate, whatever! I'm always in need of more!

 

[Ign]

The Snap-Ons that i flexed were new within the past year. So I dunno maybe they are making them cheaper or maybe my co worker got a bum pair. They weren't beat up much other then light scrapes here and there.

As for those Bahco pipe wrenches i have the Snap-On ones and they are viscous just normally do not have the room to use them because of how far you have to turn before they get a good hard bite.

I know what you meant but if they were truly viscous it's really an insult to the tools Did they flex like a 20 weight or a 50 weight?

 

[timbitca]

I buy them whenever I see them in Garage Sales. Though I haven't found a good pair this summer I did buy at least 6-7 last year. The most I've paid for one was 5$ and that was for a 6R C-clamp type. Normally they run anywhere from .50$ to 2$. If it doesn't say Petersen on it I'm not buying.

I'm not usually that snobbish with tools, but the only locking pliers I've ever managed to break were knock offs and I've never managed to break any Petersen ones.

 

[MDK22]

To be clear the ones that flexed I was referring to the grip-on locking pliers and i would say i was putting probably 75lbs of grip force on them. Mainly because i was already pissed and i did not want them to slip like the others were. I have put well over 100 lbs of force on the old peterson style and never had an issue. When i bent the newer taiwan style vise grips i put 35-40lbs of force on it.

The Bahco pipe wrenches start to flex around 65 lbs for the smaller one, 90 lbs for the next one, and about 150 lbs for the one after that. The largest one I have not used yet and I do plan on buying I am guessing it will probably be like 175 -200 for that one.

 

[Wamsutta]

MDK22, can you see how these Proto pliers operate differently from the Petersen Vise Grips?

Look at where the red lever is...

 

[jallyn]

MDK22, can you see how these Proto pliers operate differently from the Petersen Vise Grips?

Look at where the red lever is...

yeah, those are made by Grip-On and rebranded Proto. Grip-On comes in orange epoxy or chrome finish. Looks like Proto goes with black epoxy and red for the release lever.

 

[Wamsutta]

Can you guys see the difference in the operation of the release lever?

One of them is much easier to operate than the other...

 

[T45]

Can someone please summarize this thread?

 

[T45]

These are my notes, but this is not a bread and butter thing for me.

More of a shop/fab and a special situations item.

1) Peterson=unobtainium. NOS vice-grips are simply not available for $2-3 dollars or whatever mularkey people claim in this thread. Epsteins was asking 25-30 a pair and they were gone in week. If I'm gonna wast time for needle in a haystack deals, peterson/vice grips in general seem like a hard one--time is money.

2) Grip-On's seem a passable, reasonable cost and easy to warranty option given relabels from major players (snapon, proto, napa etc) and available amazon. Kind of underwhelming in person, tho. Not revelatory in any way I can tell.

3) Milwaukee reviews (if not tools) seem similar to grip on. Comes in at a slightly lower pricepoint, available HD or big box stores for non-professionals needing easy warranty.

4) Various european thing KNipex, Bollman Geodore etc. Too expensieve to peak my interest at $10-20 over grip-on. Maybe or maybe not any better?

Is there any more to the mystery?

I think $20 is the median pricepoint on thse things new w/warranty. Is that fair or off?

 

[rlitman]

Ugh, are those "EZ Release" just the stupid Irwins of the same design? I personally can't stand those "lever-less" ones w rubber overmold. But I guess some people like 'em...

They're not actually leverless. If you look under the rubber, you'll see a lever, but it's not what you think it is. The little lever inside acts like the big handle on regular vise grips. The outer handle is actually the old "little" release lever, now, with kung-fu grip. This makes it MUCH easier to release a tightly locked pair, without any compromise of clamping force. I think it's a greater innovation than sliced bread. Unfortunately, many of the pliers with this feature seem to be cast out of zinc.

The first generation of Craftsman Professional locking pliers had decent jaws (IMHO, though others here hate them), but that vinyl cover always wanted to slip off. The current ones with the red/black rubber/plastic overmold have much wider jaws that I'm not crazy about. I think I have an Irwin version of this somewhere too, and seem to recall liking it.