Any difference in vise grips?

[OmegaDPW]

Hey All,

Wanting to throw a couple of Vise Grips in car toolboxes. Is there much difference in the different brands for occasional use? Some are a lot cheaper than others.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Beerhippie]

yes. Look for Petersen or Eagle brand at yard sales. Usually can be had for a few bucks--the Petersens, anyway--and are vastly better than 99% of new ones.

 

[i84x]

I like my Malco LP7WC grips, can 100% feel a difference in quality vs my cheap ones, how the jaws line up, play in the jaws and legs, clamp strength etc. Would depend on what you want them for though, I use my cheap ones for welding for example because I don't mind as much getting burns or splatter on them etc.

 

[General Geoff]

Malco Eagle Grips are the best

Get em while you can, the plant in DeWitt, Nebraska closed down over a year ago now so when all the stock is sold, that's it.

 

[finn]

I have everything from genuine Petersons to Craftsman, to Irwin, to unknown cheap generic inports to Stanley to a couple levels of Harbor Freight.

For throwing in the trunk of the car, I would go with the cheapest Harbor Freight has to offer. They sit on the bottom shelf, under the racks of the more “premium” , and better finished versions. I picked up a couple of their price leaders to use as emergency clamps for a project. They served the purpose and are now my go-to locking pliers when I’m welding.

People here go bananas over their $50 Malcos or genuine Petersons, but for 99% of what they’re used for in a non professional environment, the cheap Harbor Freight or garage sale late sixties Craftsman will do the job. I think mine cost around $4.00, or maybe less.

I doubt if the tool addicts will agree, but I was just thinking about it a week or so ago.

The cheap Harbor Freight pliers are actually better than the blue over molded locking pliers that go on the holiday displays at Lowe’s before Christmas.

If you were using them five days a week in a professional environment, I might have a different opinion..

Stay away from anything with laminated jaws.

 

[Beerhippie]

I have everything from genuine Petersons to Craftsman, to Irwin, to unknown cheap generic inports to Stanley to a couple levels of Harbor Freight.

For throwing in the trunk of the car, I would go with the cheapest Harbor Freight has to offer. They sit on the bottom shelf, under the racks of the more “premium” , and better finished versions. I picked up a couple of their price leaders to use as emergency clamps for a project. They served the purpose and are now my go-to locking pliers when I’m welding.

People here go bananas over their $50 Malcos or genuine Petersons, but for 99% of what they’re used for in a non professional environment, the cheap Harbor Freight or garage sale late sixties Craftsman will do the job. I think mine cost around $4.00, or maybe less.

I doubt if the tool addicts will agree, but I was just thinking about it a week or so ago.

The cheap Harbor Freight pliers are actually better than the blue over molded locking pliers that go on the holiday displays at Lowe’s before Christmas.

If you were using them five days a week in a professional environment, I might have a different opinion..

Stay away from anything with laminated jaws.

I doubt I paid more than $5 for any of my Petersens....

99% of people selling grandad's old tools don't know the difference between vise-grips. Sears Robogrips might be higher priced as they look nice--from never being used.

 

[cody1325]

While I have loads of Petersen, there is literally nothing wrong with Milwaukee or Bremen by Harbor Freight--with Crescent not being far behind. The only ones I can say I disliked were Irwin Made in China. Flimsy and poor tolerances.

 

[OmegaDPW]

I have everything from genuine Petersons to Craftsman, to Irwin, to unknown cheap generic inports to Stanley to a couple levels of Harbor Freight.

For throwing in the trunk of the car, I would go with the cheapest Harbor Freight has to offer.

Yeah, that's what I was hoping for. I have a Peterson in the house and a no name name brand from Taiwan that was in my Dad's toolbox. They both work the same. I've not tried the HF brand but can't see much of a difference between the two I have.

 

[finn]

I doubt I paid more than $5 for any of my Petersens....

99% of people selling grandad's old tools don't know the difference between vise-grips. Sears Robogrips might be higher priced as they look nice--from never being used.

You also spent hundreds of hours driving from garage sale to garage sale sorting through moldy and ill smelling junk pulled from grandma’s musty basement.

Some people find that enjoyable, or even a sport.

Personally I would slot that just below prepping for a colonoscopy on the fun to do scale, and just above going to a pawn shop sorting through stolen merchandise pawned by meth heads.

 

[Beerhippie]

You also spent hundreds of hours driving from garage sale to garage sale sorting through moldy and ill smelling junk pulled from grandma’s musty basement.

Some people find that enjoyable, or even a sport.

Personally I would slot that just below prepping for a colonoscopy on the fun to do scale, and just above going to a pawn shop sorting through stolen merchandise pawned by meth heads.

I rarely drive more than five miles. It's big county but a small town. It keeps me out of the bars. For a while anyway.

 

[Fixr]

You also spent hundreds of hours driving from garage sale to garage sale sorting through moldy and ill smelling junk pulled from grandma’s musty basement.

Some people find that enjoyable, or even a sport.

Personally I would slot that just below prepping for a colonoscopy on the fun to do scale, and just above going to a pawn shop sorting through stolen merchandise pawned by meth heads.

There was a time when there were lots of garage sales with lots of usable vise grips, and it didn't take much time and effort to get some decent cheap tools. I think that has been fading away for quite a while, but a bunch of us geezers didn't have to make much effort or spend much money to collect cheap grubby rusty tools that still work fine without making a hobby of it.

Edit: but nowadays I would just drop by HF.

 

[Beerhippie]

There was a time when there were lots of garage sales with lots of usable vise grips, and it didn't take much time and effort to get some decent cheap tools. I think that has been fading away for quite a while, but a bunch of us geezers didn't have to make much effort or spend much money to collect cheap grubby rusty tools that still work fine without making a hobby of it.

Edit: but nowadays I would just drop by HF.

That time will be back as soon as some of us geezers start kicking off....

 

[Fixr]

That time will be back as soon as some of us geezers start kicking off....

What do you mean "as soon as"?

 

[Beerhippie]

What do you mean "as soon as"?

Hey--yard sales are getting kinda dry hereabouts!

Beside, the kids need all that air you're hogging!

 

[finn]

I rarely drive more than five miles. It's big county but a small town. It keeps me out of the bars. For a while anyway.

Just pulling your leg!

Seriously, I like to attend an auction every year or two myself, although I usually think “that was a waste of a morning” on my drive home.

Enjoy.

 

[Beerhippie]

Just pulling your leg!

Seriously, I like to attend an auction every year or two myself, although I usually think “that was a waste of a morning” on my drive home.

Enjoy.

I rarely hit auctions. Biding fever drives me nuts and the prices up. I rarely hit estate sales--I'm more into the target-of-opportunity yard, garage or barn sales.

I used to get up at 4 AM to try to be first in line at estate sales... now I get my beauty sleep--which I badly need.

 

[The Cobbler]

the only locking pliers that I own that aren't "Vice Grip" are welding clamping pliers. I bought 2 sets because they were cheap, and I am pleased with the quality, but to use them for "vice grips ? . I don't think so

 

[Shiftless]

You also spent hundreds of hours driving from garage sale to garage sale sorting through moldy and ill smelling junk pulled from grandma’s musty basement.

Some people find that enjoyable, or even a sport.

Personally I would slot that just below prepping for a colonoscopy on the fun to do scale, and just above going to a pawn shop sorting through stolen merchandise pawned by meth heads.

Classic response. And true in many respects.

I have found many valuable tools including vintage bench vise at garage sales and estate sales but I confess to have spent hundreds of hours doing it. It’s enjoyable to me (most of the time) so I consider it a hobby, I have found things that I have resold with profits of hundreds of dollars but I don’t keep track of how much time and how much gas I have “invested” in this process. I doubt that if I could recreate time and expenses, I would have made anything close to minimum wage.

 

[Fixr]

now I get my beauty sleep--which I badly need.

Huh. Me? I can't wait to look in the mirror, 'cause I get better looking each day.

 

[Beerhippie]

Classic response. And true in many respects.

I have found many valuable tools including vintage bench vise at garage sales and estate sales but I confess to have spent hundreds of hours doing it. It’s enjoyable to me (most of the time) so I consider it a hobby, I have found things that I have resold with profits of hundreds of dollars but I don’t keep track of how much time and how much gas I have “invested” in this process. I doubt that if I could recreate time and expenses, I would have made anything close to minimum wage.

Not to mention the hours "wasted" BSing with the sale proprietors....

 

[Shiftless]

Not to mention the hours "wasted" BSing with the sale proprietors....

Me too.
I asked AI about our tendency to waste time chatting with sellers of old tools. Here is what I got.

The idea that "life is a bunch of stories" suggests that we make sense of our experiences and relationships by weaving them into narratives, both internally and externally. These stories help us understand ourselves and the world, even if they are imperfect or incomplete.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

I have definitely noticed a difference in some brands. Malco/Snap-on are the best modern ones but also Bremen and Milwaukee aren’t bad either. None of those will let you down. I’d avoid no name ones they are usually pretty bad and and the jaws smash and round out. And can’t go wrong with the old Peterson/Irwin USA ones. I find them used a lot but people often want hefty prices around here for them like $10+ a pair.

 

[Mr_B]

I more than happy to pay 10 bucks a pair for almost new condition peterson usa .
The jaws/steel/construction are really good and it cheap money for a tool that works properly ...

 

[kaymccampbell]

Now that Petersen vise grips have gone through the roof around here, I buy the Bremen. They have not let me down.

 

[FigN⋅m]

Sets for car toolboxes? I don't think you need to go that nice - especially if they run the risk of getting lost/stolen.
I've found my most useful ones are a cheapo set of 4" long nose, followed by an 11" Bremen C Clamp.

 

[rooster59]

If you go to Harbor Fright, the Bremen are pretty good, better than the Pittsburg. Unless you know the tweakers are going to steal them pretty quick.

 

[L.Cheapo]

There are basically two kinds of locking pliers: Eagle Grips...and everything else.

If you don't want to spend $30+ each, buy whatever is convenient; they all work pretty much the same.

 

[Steve_P]

The answer is to watch the two Project Farm tests on vise grips and decide for yourself.

 

[Shiftless]

I just remembered something else named Bremen. I wonder if there is a separate department at Harbor Freight in charge of coming up with the tool line names? Inspired by Grimms Fairy Tales?

 

[d42jeep]

Petersen Vice Grips are very common at the sales I check out and usually priced at a dollar or two. The problem I have is that I can’t leave them behind. These pics are from 2021 and I probably have twice as many by now.
-Don

 

[lund]

Old Peterson USA vice-grips are MUCH better if you can find pairs that have been treated ok and not rusted etc. Look in yard sales and if you see good ones for low prices, grab them. I have used a lot. Even the more expensive German brands are junk in comparison. The designs of all of the vice grip type pliers are relatively simple. I think the reason older Petersons are so much better is they used better materials (stronger jaws and lock) and had better tolerances in the jaws and joints. If you find a good pair, don't use them for garbage jobs (like light welding clamps) where they will get beat up and splatter munged and save them for stuff you really need them like grabbing broken bolts with some bite. What I find particularly valuable are the needle nose Peterson's. These are VERY useful, but put a lot of stress on the jaws and locking mechanism. The Peterson's are WAY better than any other needle nose vice grip type pliers that I have found.

There was a brief revival of the Peterson factory selling under the brand Malco. They finished the product a bit better than original Petersons and had the same high quality fit and materials. But they were high cost and now the factory is closed and will not reopen. The failure of this effort was depressing since it showed consumers are not willing to pay more for a better product ... which shows what USA manufacturers are up against after so many years of cheap imports. Limited stocks may still be available a while from the last production runs. When these are gone, yard sales are the only path.

Of all the knockoff brands I have tried, the only one I was somewhat happy with was Harbor Freight Bremen. They are very good value for the $ and reasonably tough (though much less so than Peterson originals but better than most others costing a few times more) and are available in at least a limited range of sizes and jaw sizes.

 

[rust in the eye]

Just dropped off a dozen or so various ones from an estate at Re-Store. The only Peterson in the bunch was broken so disposed.
I'd love to find a few original Petersons in good shape but I ain't payin' fifty bucks 'em.

 

[KnurledNut]

Malco Eagle Grips are the best

Get em while you can, the plant in DeWitt, Nebraska closed down over a year ago now so when all the stock is sold, that's it.

I have to wonder how many they made before closing.
They first showed up on Amazon around four years ago and are still available for purchase today. Amazon alone sold over 400 pairs of just the 10” curved jaw in the last month. Malco must have warehoused thousands of these pliers!

 

[finn]

I have to wonder how many they made before closing.
They first showed up on Amazon around four years ago and are still available for purchase today. Amazon alone sold over 400 pairs of just the 10” curved jaw in the last month. Malco must have warehoused thousands of these pliers!

Which is probably an indicator of why the plant closed.

They simply didn’t offer enough value in the consumer’s eyes to justify the massive price increase over similar, albeit not a robust, competitive brands.

There’s a delicate balance between price and utility, with price often having the higher weight.

The $4.95 Pittsburgh handles the job for most of the time, so there’s no market share left for the $50 Eagle Grip.

 

[Beerhippie]

I have to wonder how many they made before closing.
They first showed up on Amazon around four years ago and are still available for purchase today. Amazon alone sold over 400 pairs of just the 10” curved jaw in the last month. Malco must have warehoused thousands of these pliers!

The story is that they inherited thousands of unassembled and unfinished parts when they bought the plant.

 

[Benito]

The milwaukee ones are good i find

 

[WWheeler]

While I have loads of Petersen, there is literally nothing wrong with Milwaukee or Bremen by Harbor Freight--with Crescent not being far behind. The only ones I can say I disliked were Irwin Made in China. Flimsy and poor tolerances.

I see this a lot here on GJ, but that hasn't been my experience with Irwin Vise Grips. They've been pretty solid for me at least. I also have more than a few of the old Peterson Dewitt USA made ones, and some old USA Craftsmans that I'm not sure who made, and I've a set or two of the Crescents. For my uses I don't see a lot of difference between any of them.

FWIW the Irwin Vise Grips fared pretty well in ProjectFarm's testing compared to some others that many here on GJ like to say are better. The Malcos did come out on top, faring a little better than the Irwins, but at about 4x the cost.

 

[bwringer]

The Bremen at HF and Milwaukee brand at Home Despot are both made in Taiwan and pretty dang good for the money.

None of these things are what you'd call precision tools. Get something that works and think about something more important, like the status of your bellybutton lint.

Several of the folks above are why these don't pop up at garage and estate sales any more. I don't have that kind of time anyway.

 

[finn]

I see this a lot here on GJ, but that hasn't been my experience with Irwin Vise Grips. They've been pretty solid for me at least. I also have more than a few of the old Peterson Dewitt USA made ones, and some old USA Craftsmans that I'm not sure who made, and I've a set or two of the Crescents. For my uses I don't see a lot of difference between any of them.

FWIW the Irwin Vise Grips fared pretty well in ProjectFarm's testing compared to some others that many here on GJ like to say are better. The Malcos did come out on top, faring a little better than the Irwins, but at about 4x the cost.

There’s a certain cadre here that more or less has a hard on for anything sourced from SBD, for no credible reason. That’s despite evidence that many of their products represent pretty good value.

After watching this negatively for a while, the best reasoning I can come up with is that they resent the fact that SBD scooped up a number of floundering legacy tool names and consolidated them under the SBD masthead, and ultimately restructured the businesses, which included a lot of offshoring of manufacturing.

Many are PO’d at SBD for failing in their attempts to build a new factory in Texas, but when the same thing happened to Malco’s failed attempt to revive the bankrupt locking plier factory in DeWit, they (Malco) get a pass.

The SBD sourced Craftsman screwdriver did quite well against SnapOn and the Boutique German and Japanese screwdrivers in a test / review by PF, a week or so ago, which ironically came out maybe two weeks after a bitchfest deriding the Craftsman screwdrivers that popped up in a post here.

 

[TigerDude]

Of course there's a difference, but for a tool you use once every 2 years, Harbor Freight will suffice.