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Irwin Vice Grip Automatic Groove lock Pliers

H

Heaty

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 15, 2012
Messages
86
Automatic Groove lock Pliers

Does anyone have a set of Irwin Vice Grip Groove lock pliers? I'm thinking of replacing my old school channellock pliers because they don't have the quick self adjusting design and are rusted old. I'm debating if I should get the Irwin Vice grip, Knipex, or the pricier Mac Tools Cobra. This is for daily use in the auto industry field. The Irwins have A+ reviews all around from mostly home hobbyist. In my opinion the pliers seem bulky itself for tight confined areas. Does anyone on here on the forum have any input on them? Irwin is a lot cheaper, roughly 40 dollars can buy you a set of 3. Or should I just shell out more money and buy the knipex? I noticed the knipex doesn't have the automatic slide up unless a button is pressed. Much appreciated.

Irwin = made in china
knipex = made in germany
mac tools = made in usa
snap on = made in usa
<--- cool irwin video

https://www.mactools.com/shoponline/product/tabid/120/p-320121-3-pc-cobra-pliers-set.aspx Ridiculous price

UPDATE, Didn't know this but snap on designed their own groove lock pliers.
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/tool...7&group_name=Pliers+Wrench&store=snapon-store
 

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D

DHCrocks

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May 2, 2008
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1,349
Location
Hawaii
Ive got those irwin pliers and they are great. Has good grip, teeth are holding up fine and are easy to adjust. The grips are comfortable and don't hurt your hands and are ease to clean. For the price I think you can't go wrong.
 
W

wafrederick

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Joined
Jul 3, 2010
Messages
6,049
Location
Holton,Mi
I call them the immitation Knipex pliers,I have a couple pairs and don't like them (6 and 8 inch pairs).
 
7

71goldss

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Joined
May 23, 2012
Messages
1,513
Location
Northern Calif
Though I'm a big Knipex fan, I have both Sears rebadged Knipex Cobras and also the Irwin/Visegrips. Bought the Irwins in a 3 pack on Black Friday from Home Depot for $20 after buying the Cobras a few weeks earlier. Too good of a price to pass up! I actually like the Irwins better than the Cobras. They have a better feel to me and are much beefier. I also like how they slide adjust to the size of the fastener without having to continue holding the button in. The Cobras are slimmer and good for tight spaces though, but that's not a big concern for me. I wish I had discovered the Irwins before buying the Cobras.

Edit: The Cobras also seem to have a lot more sloppy side to side movement in the jaws than the Irwins.
 
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7

71goldss

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Joined
May 23, 2012
Messages
1,513
Location
Northern Calif
Heaty said:
Does anyone have a set of Irwin Vice Grip Groove lock pliers? I'm thinking of replacing my old school channellock pliers because they don't have the quick self adjusting design and are rusted old. I'm debating if I should get the Irwin Vice grip, Knipex, or the pricier Mac Tools Cobra. This is for daily use in the auto industry field. The Irwins have A+ reviews all around from mostly home hobbyist. In my opinion the pliers seem bulky itself for tight confined areas. Does anyone on here on the forum have any input on them? Irwin is a lot cheaper, roughly 40 dollars can buy you a set of 3. Or should I just shell out more money and buy the knipex? I noticed the knipex doesn't have the automatic slide up unless a button is pressed. Much appreciated.

Irwin = made in china
knipex = made in germany
mac tools = made in usa

<--- cool irwin video

https://www.mactools.com/shoponline/product/tabid/120/p-320121-3-pc-cobra-pliers-set.aspx Ridiculous price
Click to expand...

Are you sure those Mac's aren't rebadged Knipex?
 
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gmt

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Joined
Oct 14, 2012
Messages
252
Location
SoCal
I have both of them. I'm a DIY, but if I had to use one of them every day I would go with the Knipex. I have read that the Irwin's are good, but don't hold up to daily use as well as the Cobra's. The Lowes deal is the best price that I found for the Cobra's.
 
I

IndyGarage

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Apr 29, 2010
Messages
9,708
Location
Indy
I have many pairs of Cobras and a couple pairs of the Irwins.

I've observed the Knipex have a little better leverage and "grip".

The button on the Irwins is bigger and more ergonomic, and they ratchet shut - which makes them quicker and easier to adjust.

For about 1/3 the cost of the Knipex, the Irwins seem like a good value to me.

And there's no comparison with Channel Lock type Pliers - these are way better.
 
J

jjjrmx5

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Dec 30, 2010
Messages
3,431
Location
Cincinnati, OH
I have those Irwins that I bought last year for $12 for the pair on Black Friday at Sears for the 7" and 10" and aboulutely HATE them.

I use my Knipex almost elclusively or go to the Knipex Alligators or PlierWrench.

The Irwins are far more sloppily made and the grips are unwieldly to me.

The Irwins sit in the bottom dwr of my home service cart and have been used twice since I bought them a year ago.

If you have the money, go with the Craftsman (which are Knipex) or go Knipex unless the MAC's are cheaper (and are the rebranded Knipex.)

Good luck.
 
7

71goldss

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Joined
May 23, 2012
Messages
1,513
Location
Northern Calif
Not to highjack this thread, but the OP stated these pliers are for daily use in the auto industry. This might sound like a dumb question, but I'm just a DIY'er and I'm curious what an auto tech uses groovelock pliers for other than maybe adjusting tie rod ends? Maybe I can learn more uses for mine other than for just plumbing and construction around the house?
 
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OP
H

Heaty

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 15, 2012
Messages
86
Wow I didn't think making a "automatic groove lock pliers thread" would go full blown in such short notice. Never the less thanks everyone for all your input! I was going to purchase the Irwin groove lock pliers but decided from everyone's professional feedback and opinions to just buy once and go for the Knipex ! Can't go wrong, buy once and not twice. Although if i find the Irwin for a bargain it'll be purchased for my home set.

Btw Channellock really needs to step up their game and design some of these plier designs with the automatic adjust settings. I just love those eye popping blue rubber handles on the Channellock pliers.
 
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IndyGarage

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Apr 29, 2010
Messages
9,708
Location
Indy
Monte said:
for professional work -> Knipex
for DIY the Irwins might work....
Click to expand...

I'd disagree on this. Having used both side by side for about 2 years rebuilding cars and industrial equipment, I'd say the Knipex grip a bit better, and the Irwins are easier to adjust.

Actually as far as build quality - I'd give the nod to Irwin - the last pair of cobras I bought were especially sloppy.

And given the 3-4X price differential here in the US, I wouldn't bother with the Knipex.
 
M

Monte

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Joined
Dec 23, 2008
Messages
12,671
Location
Germany
IndyGarage said:
I'd disagree on this. Having used both side by side for about 2 years rebuilding cars and industrial equipment, I'd say the Knipex grip a bit better, and the Irwins are easier to adjust.

Actually as far as build quality - I'd give the nod to Irwin - the last pair of cobras I bought were especially sloppy.

And given the 3-4X price differential here in the US, I wouldn't bother with the Knipex.
Click to expand...


then you might like the NWS pliers, same adjustment like Irwin....

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/9PaI67UTAYI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
OP
H

Heaty

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 15, 2012
Messages
86
Tough to find those nws pliers here in canada.. even ebay doesn't have many of them for sale.
 
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