Petersen Dewitt 5WR Vice Grip replacement

[dpilot83]

Is there any brand of new vice grips that compares? I feel like the Irwin screw doesn’t adjust in and out smoothly and I feel like it doesn’t grip as tightly when you lock it and I feel like they aren’t as easy to release as the originals.

I have a Milwaukee pair that isn’t the worst but the wire cutting part of it has a gap when all the way closed which makes it more difficult to cut wire than it needs to be.

I wouldn’t mind a Knipex pair and bet they would be good but Knipex doesn’t make a small size like the 5WR.

Is there a brand that is as good or better than the original in that 5WR size?

 

[four.cycle]

Nope.
Ebay or Craigslist or some other online venue. Or garage sale.

You can get a 7-inch Malco from Harry Epstein:
7 inch Malco straight jaw #29.95
7 inch Malco curved jaw $29.95

currently $15 bucks and up on ebay... looks like about $20 for anything decent.

* and if you think that's bad, try finding a clean copy of a 6LN

 

[KnurledNut]

https://shop.snapon.com/product/LP-Series/5"-Locking-Pliers-with-Cutter/LP5WC

 

[Steve_P]

There are two? Project Farm tests on vise grips on youtube. Not sure if he tested 5", but that might be the best data you get.

 

[four.cycle]

^ the Malco models are hands-down the superior form of "locking plier". The Snap-on is the Malco - Snap-on took over on those when Malco decided to cut their losses and sell it off.

There are a couple European-made models that get close.

 

[Mr_B]

Nope.
Ebay or Craigslist or some other online venue. Or garage sale.

+1
I always found what I wanted on eBay given bit of time and done well enough from yard sales .
For sure not as easy or cheap as was few years ago but a 5WR model in close to new condition should be easier than some models and not stupidest price .

 

[KnurledNut]

Petersen Vise-Grips are still the king of locking pliers when all is considered.
They produced so many of these for so many years that the amount still in circulation from a widespread distribution is mind-boggling.
Their are pages and pages of these available on eBay is every type of condition. And they are very commonly available at flea markets and yard sales. And that many are still out there even with all the guys that hoard them. I could buy dozens of these every year if I wanted to, but pass on most.
The quality of these built their own highly regarded reputation and became a standard by which all others are compared.
The variety of styles and sizes produced made for a wide array of applications and uses.

The death of Eagle-Grips was a disappointment, but realistically the market is flooded with options that are more cost appealing to the masses. The fact that they went under as long ago as they did, and yet there are still hundreds of these for sale, even with the hype that was generated, speaks volumes of real demand.

 

[tyyost]

I’d suggest Grip on but they don’t do the wire cutting - https://shopgraytools.com/collectio...s/products/grip-on-locking-pliers-curved-jaws

if your looking for good 5” locking pliers they are a good start, but if the wire cutter is a deal breaker you’ll need to keep searching.

 

[Pig_Pen]

I’m not a Harbor Freight fanboy but their Bremen branded locking pliers are one of the hidden gems there. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

https://www.harborfreight.com/hand-tools/pliers/locking-pliers/5-in-curved-jaw-locking-pliers-63867.html

 

[M635_Guy]

https://shop.snapon.com/product/LP-Series/5"-Locking-Pliers-with-Cutter/LP5WC

Oof. I'd get 3 pairs of the Malco from HJE vs. a single from SO...

 

[M635_Guy]

I’m not a Harbor Freight fanboy but their Bremen branded locking pliers are one of the hidden gems there. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

https://www.harborfreight.com/hand-tools/pliers/locking-pliers/5-in-curved-jaw-locking-pliers-63867.html

I did a comparison of Bremen, Malco, Milwaukee and Pittsburgh pairs vs a DeWitt classic pair, and honestly the Bremen was a standout, even before the price was factored in. The Malco was clearly the best by a lot, and given what the classics are currently selling for, these days I'd go Malco or Bremen. Pittsburgh was predictably disposable (but not actually bad, just not a choice I'd make vs. the not-much-more Bremen) and the Milwaukee was genuinely annoying, though I liked the screwdriver hook for tightening. I wish Malco had gone with the 1/4" square for tightening like Bremen did (vs. the 1/4" or sorta-6mm hex), but whatever. I rarely do that anyway.

 

[Mr_B]

Yes the Bremen are good and certainly hit the value mark .
You got the bonus of being able hand pick QC an extra nice alignment/finish that pleases your standards from the display stock .
Had a few Bremen in the shop and they done well, got a few clamps used for metal fabrication and they decent and got all of them with coupons of some type .
Still worth looking for decent old vise-grops, yard sales and markets about best prices but harder find super clean ones, sometimes sets on eBay work out a fair price per pair, I got an old but like new blue point pouched set off eBay and had a few tidy singles but recent purchases been more cost .
I'm quite happy pay 15 bucks and even 20 bucks for a more special model pair as really like using them and earning a living from my tools .
Will never buy grips via snapon, not a great deal lol .
Malco's are nice but they didn't produce many model variants & it turned into a right poorly thought out fiasco ...