Grip-On locking clamps

[purevl]

I'm considering ordering some Grip-On c-clamps but I wanted to solicit some opinions first. I'm looking at the aluminum jaw versions and I've heard a lot of people rave about them because they resist spatter. I don't do much MIG welding and when I do there isn't much spatter to speak of. I do a LOT of aluminum TIG welding though and frequently have to weld right up to my clamps. A little hear isn't much of a concern with steel clamps, but I'm worried that the aluminum ones are going to conduct significant amounts of heat and possibly lose their stiffness. So, for those of you that have used them, have you had any trouble with the aluminum clamps softening? Lastly, does "Made is Spain" mean MADE in Spain, or assembled in Spain of global components?

 

[TheGrooveking]

Even though Spain is known for some lower cost manufacturing I think their quality is good, as to Spain's requirements for placing "Made in Spain" is more closely looked over than the now relaxed "Made in USA" stands for thanks to our government selling out our national pride as bad as they've handled the value of the US dollar.

TheGrooveking

 

[jeremy v]

I don't have any of the aluminum Grip-On pliers, but I do have some of the various regular steel pliers and they are very well made. In my opinion at least as good as the older Peterson vise-grips. I have not priced the aluminum clamps, but I do know that Cripe Distributing has a couple different types of NAPA rebranded aluminum Grip-On pliers for sale. They have pretty good prices for most of their stuff, so you might want to at least look there before buying.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/m.html?_odk...1313.TR7.TRC0&_nkw=grip-on&_sacat=0&_from=R40