Malco Eagle Grip vs Gedore Locking Pliers

[F-22]

But if you need to hold a rusty nut, and if it slips you'll make it round, so you have one chance, then Malco is the tool to have.

I think I'd just always use the big Cobra pliers for that, would not even consider vise grips.

Sorry, I feel a bit silly for arguing in this way. I would definitely buy the Eagle grips if they stocked them on any EU amazon site, but the postage from the US is too much. But I do not think I would have a ton of use for them.

 

[M635_Guy]

The larger screw at the back, with more aggressive knurling and the ability to use a hex key, was a significant improvement. There were a couple other changes (noted in the image below.)

They're down to $30 bucks a pair now, which should be incentive enough. But if you're in Europe and dealing with VAT stuff and shipping costs, it may not be a viable option.

I did note beefier jaws and the solid collar, but you put a better point on it.

I love the knurling very much. When I did my little shoot-out video, I was a little more complete in descriptions. I'm not sure I'll ever crank on one of these to tighten, though I liked the one 1/4" square drive better than the 1/4" hex the Malco has - I'm a lot more likely to have a 1/4" ratchet handy...

 

[M635_Guy]

Sorry, I feel a bit silly for arguing in this way.

FWIW - this feels like an exchange of viewpoints all around, which I really value.

 

[Steve_P]

I think I'd just always use the big Cobra pliers for that, would not even consider vise grips.

Sorry, I feel a bit silly for arguing in this way. I would definitely buy the Eagle grips if they stocked them on any EU amazon site, but the postage from the US is too much. But I do not think I would have a ton of use for them.

Yeah, I understand the difficulty of trying to get a niche US product in Europe. We have this here to a certain extent on some of the European and Japanese brands; but it is getting better.

You are not going to get the gripping power from a Cobra vs a locking plier; the locking plier has a much greater mechanical advantage that's built into the mechanism. But I also can't remember the last time I used "vise grips" to hold something like a rusted or rounded fastener- because I don't see a lot of rust where I live. However, since I'm in the US, and the Malcos are going away, I picked up a few of them as a just in case. Because this is GJ and all of that...

 

[four.cycle]

But if you watch the Project Farm test, they blew the Knipex away in most categories, and totally dominated the testing as far as stopping things from rotating- the main purpose of a locking plier.

^ it was THAT test that Project Farm did in the video that impelled me to place the first order @ $52 a pair - ordered 4, gave 2 to a buddy. He LOVES them. (He used to sell Petersen with me back in the day.)

I'm not sure I'll ever crank on one of these to tighten,

I have - with an old pair Petersens. I put a smaller pair of Vise-Grips onto that thumbwheel at the tail end so I could hog down on it to hold something. Don't even recall what it was.
When that feature was pointed out in their early marketing material, I immediately saw the value of the more aggressive knurling on the thumbwheel, and a provision for inserting a hex key to put some serious torque on it.

 

[Etchase]

These work very well for removing many bolts. They can’t be completely round though.



To me, the project farm method of increasing the clamping force by tightening the adjustment screw isn’t how I use vise grips. Some instruction sheet I had matched with my method of adjusting and them clamping. I’m pretty sure it was a Peterson instruction sheet even, but I can’t find it. Tightening the adjustment screw to an arbitrary torque seems artificial. I never had the adjustment screw threads spread or fail while clamping in what I will call the traditional method. I sink the teeth into pretty hard steel with non—Malco locking pliers. Buying American sure feels good, but I felt very bad about the workers being let go at Christmas. I guess Malco will keep other Americans employed by the inventory liquidation.

 

[Kaffeetanne]

The larger screw at the back, with more aggressive knurling and the ability to use a hex key, was a significant improvement.

This is one of the features i love the most on the Malco's! You can really yank on them!

They're down to $30 bucks a pair now, which should be incentive enough. But if you're in Europe and dealing with VAT stuff and shipping costs, it may not be a viable option.

When i ordered mine a half year ago on Amazon they were around 45$. With shipping and tax i ended up with 60$ a piece.
Was it an expensive buy? Yes, definitely! Will they last the rest of my life? I'm sure they will!
So i don't mind the extra money i payed on them. On the long run they will be worth it.

 

[ord.avg.guy]

I agree that the Malco probably aren't needed by most people- who typically use locking pliers to clamp stuff for welding or drilling.

Why wouldn't you want a good locking plier for welding or drilling? Good locking pliers will survive a brutal welder.

 

[M635_Guy]

I have - with an old pair Petersens. I put a smaller pair of Vise-Grips onto that thumbwheel at the tail end so I could hog down on it to hold something. Don't even recall what it was.

So you had vice grips for your vice grips so you could vice grip while you vice grip?

(excuse the very old meme joke)

 

[Kaffeetanne]

So you had vice grips for your vice grips so you could vice grip while you vice grip?

Yo Dawg i heard you like vice grips...

 

[M635_Guy]

Yo Dawg i heard you like vice grips...

Indeed

 

[four.cycle]

eh?

Hey, I waffled on them at first until somebody posted that video, and then I couldn't resist.
If you're on the other side of the Atlantic, by all means you should be looking at other options.
My old ones were kind of beat up. I bought some others - Tektons, and a couple older Proto units - not the same.
So.. why not? I don't understand why there's a debate about it - they were good enough for Snap-on - I would think that in itself would say something (other than their being a bit on the spendy side.)

 

[F-22]

the project farm method of increasing the clamping force by tightening the adjustment screw isn’t how I use vise grips

This makes me think, his method also depends a lot on the friction between the threads and the pitch used on the threads. Very likely at least the US made pliers use SAE threads, while many european and imported ones use metric threads. That makes it very hard to compare this stuff evenly. Blued screw is more greasy and will probably give more force on the pliers at the same torque, for example, compared to a zinc plated or chromed screw. A finer thread pitch will make a big difference on the force for sure.

An interesting test would be to actually adjust them all to the same clamping force (not torque), then unclamp them and measure the force required to clamp them - would tell the difference in leverage they offer.

 

[Etchase]

Snap on making these in Tennessee.

 

[M635_Guy]

Snap on making these in Tennessee.

I'm not so sure...

They had these for SO until they switched production to pairs made in Spain. I could see them buying the patents (though I personally doubt there's much there), but I'm having a hard time thinking they'll move production again. Hope I'm wrong!

 

[four.cycle]

IOW: buy now from Epstein for $30 bucks a pair, or wait 6 months and pay the guy on the big white truck $100, at which point in time the Snap-on fanboys will be insisting this one is the "best locking pliers in the galaxy".

Too funny!!!

 

[Ratchet.]

I had no idea Malco had ceased production, shame.

Been intending to get some for ages after reading about them on here, as my current go to are the old US made Vise grips, as they seemed to be made from harder metal than the Irwin branded ones.. even when those were still made in the US, but obviously those havent been made in a long time.

Alas malco never stocked outside of the US to my knowledge so were going to cost a fair bit more for me to get some and always had something else that took precedent, may pick soem up if i find them at a decent price.

 

[CHI_Tool&Die]

I will say this about my Gedore locking pliers, there is absolutely no play in any part of the plier. The things are absolutely tanks and are definitely not rebrands of the ubiquitous Bollmanns that all the other German brands use. But the jaws of the Gedore pliers are very different from the Malco’s jaws. My Gedore have a similar profile to the universal jaw you see on most other brands. I don’t even know if they have a straight or curved jaw like the Malco pliers. The price for the Gedore pliers are much higher than the Malco too. That being said, I’m very happy with my Gedore pliers and I personally will keep purchasing those.

 

[finn]

I agree that the Malco probably aren't needed by most people- who typically use locking pliers to clamp stuff for welding or drilling. But if you watch the Project Farm test, they blew the Knipex away in most categories, and totally dominated the testing as far as stopping things from rotating- the main purpose of a locking plier. Whether this is worth it to a purchaser is up to them, and how they intend to use them. I don't think anyone would buy the Malco to use them to clamp something to weld, because a $8 import will work just as well for that. But if you need to hold a rusty nut, and if it slips you'll make it round, so you have one chance, then Malco is the tool to have.

You can always weld the rusted and rounded bolt to your disposable $8 import, and you’re done.

That solution let’s you keep that $50 Malco looking pretty in the drawer.

 

[troy8805]

After Malco announced the shutdown prices hiked, but only for a short time. Got mine a few months ago for something around 40 bucks.
Sad they will be gone forever once the remaining stock is sold. Guess theres just no market for quality gripping pliers.

I was lucky enough to do some Tooling and some Die work for Malco. Most of the employees new me since my dad was a 38 year employee and Toolroom Supervisor at Petersen. I was able to get a full set minus the 5 inch that was only made for Snap-on. I think I got all 6 they made for $160 thru a employee.

 

[tarbellb]

I was lucky enough to do some Tooling and some Die work for Malco. Most of the employees new me since my dad was a 38 year employee and Toolroom Supervisor at Petersen. I was able to get a full set minus the 5 inch that was only made for Snap-on. I think I got all 6 they made for $160 thru a employee.

Whoa whoa wait a minute

you worked there.... so what's the story!
(sweet deal BTW)

 

[Farmall450]

You're not going to get any data driven answer unless Gedore was in the Project Farm test. If I wanted the best today, I'd just order some Malco before they're gone. Because they were so far ahead of everything else that was tested it's doubtful Gedore is better.

Or buy a pair of each and do your own testing.

 

[Farmall450]

Whoa whoa wait a minute

you worked there.... so what's the story!
(sweet deal BTW)

Sounds like he contracted but knew some people there

 

[Farmall450]

The mindset over here is pretty different and more like "if you break it, you used it the wrong way, so it's your own fault".

America will be there soon with the viral tiktoks of people going through garage sales, etc and making HD warranty perfectly functional tools.

Even some of my friends are of this mindset that any possible way you break a tool is warranty (vs defects, failures in its normal operation).

 

[troy8805]

Whoa whoa wait a minute

you worked there.... so what's the story!
(sweet deal BTW)

Never worked for Malco. I am a Toolmaker and work I'm a machine shop. I used to go there and do work, we would work on there forging Die Blocks, and other tooling for them. I used to drop off and pick up alot of there stuff and get it modified for them. I did it because my company knew I, I knew everyone down at the plant. I grew up in Dewitt.
Problem was bad Marketing. Only place you could get them was thru Amazon for the longest time. Most people didn't even know they were being produced. John Deere dealers and snap on carried them latency the game, but by then it was over for Malco.

 

[troy8805]

Whoa whoa wait a minute

you worked there.... so what's the story!
(sweet deal BTW)

 

[troy8805]

I knew the Petersen families personally, and spent alot of time around Ralph and Chris, 2 sons of William. They were great people, knew every employee and there family by names.

 

[troy8805]

O have sowhere in the mount of 600 Vise-Grips, from the first year 1924, and on up to when they closed.
I have also prototype.my.dadndid that he never shared, and are 1 offs.
He and 3 freinds are the ones whos.name is on the Toolbox, or another name for it Multi-tool.

 

[tarbellb]

Very cool Troy
I'm sure a bunch of us here would like to hear any stories you have about your Peterson and Malco experiences

oh and pics of anything related

 

[troy8805]

I will get you guys some pics of some of my stuff.
I got some.fond memories and stories

 

[troy8805]

My Malco Eagle Grips, spot in the middle for the 5 inch I'm trying to find.
Case I made with 2 1924 and 2 1926, first lever release.
Plaque was signed by Harriet Fort, Daughter of William. Williams original black Smith shop in background.

 

[ike]

Pay attention to how the release lever is configured as shown by the red arrow.

There are two different configurations commonly used.

View attachment 1982539

I really don't use locking pliers all that often, but I went into a Lowes around 15 years ago and they had all of their Crescent USA stuff on clearance. I bought several adjustables, and I grabbed one of each that I could of the locking pliers. Mine are still in great shape, as I really don't use them much, but I do really like this style with the upward release.

 

[Wamsutta]

I really don't use locking pliers all that often, but I went into a Lowes around 15 years ago and they had all of their Crescent USA stuff on clearance. I bought several adjustables, and I grabbed one of each that I could of the locking pliers. Mine are still in great shape, as I really don't use them much, but I do really like this style with the upward release.

Oh you really **** big time. I can't tell you how jealous I am of you.

 

[bcradio]

I splurged on some Eagle Grips (thanks to you all) for myself and I will say they are definitely the best locking pliers I have seen. In all aspects they are nicer, but almost to nice to use for the jobs I use a locking plier on. I definitely do not have any need for locking pliers this nice though. They will likely mostly be tool drawer ornaments for me and I will stick to abusing my cheaper (Bremen/Milwaukee/Cman Pros) locking pliers.

They are beautiful!

 

[Monte]

 

[908Jim]

I have Malco's, US made Peterson, US made Irwin, and Import Irwin. In my non-scientific opinion, the Malco pliers are as good, if not better than, the original US made Peterson/Irwin's but it is difficult to compare the bite of new pliers to those of 20 year old pliers. Fit and finish wise, they are certainly nicer and the jaws seem to wear very well.

As somebody else has said, I use the import Irwin's quite often because I can do really sketchy things and not think twice about ruining them. They have seen the hammer more times than I'd like to admit.