snap-on/ grip-on locking pliers

[import extermination]

I have read tons of awesome reviews of the grip-on locking pliers, and was planning on buying Some of the rebranded ones from the snap-on man. But after talking to another tech at work who owns a snap -on set, I am reconsidering. The teeth keep wearing off and are extremely soft. He has warrentied theme half a dozen times.... Anyone else run into this? Are the grip-on versions better?

 

[K-Dog]

I am a bit confused. For a while the Grip-On was being sold with Blue Point logos on them. I have a few.
That said I have been using the Grip-On clamps for years. Fifteen or more on some of them. I just broke my first and second one in the past two months. One I fixed myself the other I attempted to warrenty on the Snap-On truck but they were discontinued.

All that said I love these clamps. They are pretty much the only ones I will use or buy.

 

[MrGiggles]

I've used the Snap On locking pliers and wasn't all that impressed with them. I'm happier with my China Irwin sets than the SO, but that's just my preference. The jaw casting was rough on the SO and the teeth were very shallow compared to others.

 

[Loscaldazar]

My grip ons have been pushed hard, no tooth wear. I've had them take chucks out of rounded bolt heads. Can't imagine that the snap on versions are that bad.


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[jrobb316]

The issue as I see it is warranty. Snap on grips are very easily warrantied, any vise grips you're going to chew up eventually. Sounds like the other tech isn't either getting them tight enough, or he's asking too much of them when something should be heated before removal and whatever is clamped is just spinning in the jaws. That will eat any vise grip very fast. Buying grip ons directly won't get you a better product, just harder to get it replaced if needed. I haven't had a problem with the snap ons, unlike the China Irwin **** grips. Truth be told, no one make a superior vise grip anymore.

 

[abvw]

Even with rounded teeth they still seem to bite. I use the slim ones for sway links, and when they're seized with locknuts and corrosion any locking pliers will round if you use it with an impact.

 

[Jwych]

My driver said he warranties them often and advised me to stick with Irwin vise grips!

 

[Skin]

They're very overrated (Grip-On). The only positive is the Snap-On warranty. Get yourself some NOS Vise-Grip on ebay. Even at a small premium you wont pay Grip-On prices. Other alternatives are Knipex (Germany and cheap when imported), and Stanley (use to be Taiwan, MAC use to offer a 10pc bag full for $100).

 

[Sully1978]

I've had good luck with the Milwaukee vise grips lately. They're made in Taiwan and seem to match my old USA Vice-Grips in quality. I have one pair of Grip-on at work, seem to be ok so far, no heavy use though.

 

[techenthusiast]

I bought the whole set and after having a few warrantied I gave up

Unlocking a vice grip is supposed to be easy but not with these. Everywhere I bring them I need to make sure that I also have a screw driver to pry between the lock and the handle or it ain't gonna unlock. The first few grips with these is great but then the locker gets permanently misaligned from the tang used on the handle to press against it to unlock. My warranty replacements lasted a few weeks before getting the same problem. No sense wasting snap-on' s money because I would be warranting my set every few weeks if I wanted them in working order. Now I just bring a screwdriver with me when I grab my
Grip ons.

 

[rayh91]

I only have a needle nose SO pair and they seem fine. It does it's job but I can't say that I trust them. Which makes me not want to get the rest of the set. I do prefer the look and feel of them though.

 

[Rosso]

I have similar experiences to those above.

I have the full set from SO, i prefer them over the Vice grips all day but like others have said the release handle bends out of alignment then getting them to open is a mission.

I have only had this happen however on the large set, the other three have been used daily for 4/5 years now without issue. No issue's with the teeth on them either.

I just get the big set replaced by my dealer when it bends, i find it only happens when clamping them onto something large and very tight.

 

[bigdav160]

What are you guys using these pliers on? The only use I've found is clamping metal together for welding. Otherwise I find them pretty useless.

 

[Tim37]

I can't speak for the so. But Mac carries rebranded Irwin's that you can buy off the truck for about the same or less than what you pay at Walmart. Every time they put a set on sale in the monthly flyer I buy them.

 

[d.mcfarland]

Another advantage to the Snap On ones is that they car be had in different colors, whereas the MAC ones are silver.

What's the intended purpose of the vise grips?

 

[90zcar]

I have the snap on set and I have had them since 2008. I got them as a gift from my ex girlfriends father.
I don't use these daily but they get used from time to time a good bit in my home garage.
I have never had a problem with them except this one below I have issues with this arm popping out from time to time. One of these times I'll possibly see if my snap on dealer will warranty them out.

Other than that they are a great set and don't cost an arm and leg.
I will say tho if you have the OTC SLIDE HAMMER SET that the locking pliers attachment will "NOT" work with these pliers as they are a really odd thread pitch



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[Brownsfan]

I've had good luck with the Milwaukee vise grips lately. They're made in Taiwan and seem to match my old USA Vice-Grips in quality. I have one pair of Grip-on at work, seem to be ok so far, no heavy use though.

I have to agree here. I have been impressed with the Milwaukee locking pliers. They are in my service van and my old USA Peterson visegrips live in my shop box. I don't use them too often but they have worked great when needed.

 

[d.mcfarland]

Other than that they are a great set and don't cost an arm and leg.

Uh ... they are more than just buying the Grip on version, and more than the same in Proto rebranded version as well ...

 

[Snap_cap]

Uh ... they are more than just buying the Grip on version, and more than the same in Proto rebranded version as well ...

When I bought my set the sale price from S-O off the truck put the set at a few dollars less than ordering the same Grip-On versions from Amazon, even with free shipping.

Literally a few dollars ($3-4).

Just my experience, others MMV.

Neither version are the quality of the old Petersen's.

 

[Skin]

I can't speak for the so. But Mac carries rebranded Irwin's that you can buy off the truck for about the same or less than what you pay at Walmart. Every time they put a set on sale in the monthly flyer I buy them.

MAC locking pliers are made by Stanley, not Irwin.

When I bought my set the sale price from S-O off the truck put the set at a few dollars less than ordering the same Grip-On versions from Amazon, even with free shipping

Yep

Amazon 10" $21.00

Snap-On, same model, $24.40

Amazon 6" Needle Nose $25.20

Snap-On, same model, $24.40

 

[import extermination]

Alright thanks guys! I think I might just save a few bux and get the Mac (Stanley) set when they go on sale again ( they were just on sale where I live), or keep my eyes open for some old visegrips. Right now I'm running one pair of the old vise grips and a hand full of random cheap brands.

I find myself only using the old vise grip pair, and am afraid of braking her and be with nothing. Cheap random brands ****, they just look nice in the tool box and take up valuable realistate.

Originally i had my heart set on knipex or gripon. But if there is no real advantage then whats the point. ��

 

[jrobb316]

If the mac grips are lifetime warranty, go for it. Otherwise i'd buy the snapons. I also have the Knipex, very pretty nickel finish, but on the same level as the grip on/snapon. They do have a couple unique jaws that I use but they are not a beater set.

 

[90zcar]

What's wrong with good ol vise grips anymore. So what if they are made in China now...they still seem decent and they are cheap enough. I'd say they are far from "junk"


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[Skin]

What are you guys using these pliers on? The only use I've found is clamping metal together for welding. Otherwise I find them pretty useless.

Rust belt, they're kind of a swiss army knife of gripping rusted junk and also make a fairly good poor mans stud/bolt extractor in conjunction with a decent torch setup.

 

[Olafur]

Grip On are nice for fabrication work and basically for clamping whatever together.

But for busting out stuck bolts, screws, pins... where jaw hardness and brute strength come to play - I am not impressed!

Still like them a lot for various tasks.

 

[MagnumForce]

What's wrong with good ol vise grips anymore. So what if they are made in China now...they still seem decent and they are cheap enough. I'd say they are far from "junk"


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I agree, better than any other readily available brand (I don't consider tool trucks or online readily available) and since I use them only for fab work, I don't mind getting weld spatter on them.

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[Tim37]

MAC locking pliers are made by Stanley, not Irwin

When placed next to Irwin's the only difference I see are the finish is slightly different and the markings for Mac. I have purchased a few other things off the Mac truck that I believe are irwin

 

[Loscaldazar]

I'm shocked that so many are reporting that their grips on have problems with rounded bolts and such. I haven't been able to wear the teeth down on mine at all in the 2 years I've had them, and I usually could wear out the irwin vise grips in a few weeks. Their jaw hardness is second to none I'd say.

Also, Grip Ons can be had fro $10-$15 a pair from zoro during a sale (Proto branded).

 

[MagnumForce]

Other than fab work, what are they good for? Stuff like Knipex Cobras and Alligators grip and hold for better.

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[hautpot]

Other than fab work, what are they good for? Stuff like Knipex Cobras and Alligators grip and hold for better.

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they keep gripping after you let go, cobras are gravity assisted.

 

[MagnumForce]

By that time you need to reposition anyway.

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[90zcar]

Other than fab work, what are they good for? Stuff like Knipex Cobras and Alligators grip and hold for better.

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Well for starters I needed to take the rear sway bar links off of a Honda the other day. When I hit the nut it just spun. I had to bit a pair in at the boot on the joint and then bust it loose


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