Vice-grip storage question

[muddyjoe15]

So i was clean up at the end of the day, while putting away my vice grips a question came into my head. Is it better to store vice grips with a little bit of pressure on and clamped, or have them open with no pressure? Maybe i think to much, but just curious what other people thought.

 

[dagoat_1]

I keep mine closed only because it saves on space.

 

[Avgas]

No difference

 

[Kirbot]

I doubt that it would make the slightest difference, but I store mine clamped on a piece of angle iron.

 

[jjjrmx5]

An LOL question but one that begs a serious answer.

I have prolly a dozen of made in usa vice grips from the 1950's and up and all are useable and fine. No broken pieces or parts.

I oddly thought the same question tho went I went and bought several sets of the newer Irwin vice-grips a few years ago i keep at home that do not see daily use.

All that's there to break really is the keeper/tension spring but I;m not sure if those are available seperately any more, especially for the NLA or offshore made units.

 

[Trucky]

Won't make a difference in our lifetimes if the metal is worth anything.

 

[Kirbot]

Won't make a difference in our lifetimes if the metal is worth anything.

Or our great-grandkid's life times most likely.
I can't see how it would any difference whatsoever, it's not like it's a precision tool or anything.

 

[jrbracing15]

I keep mine clamped with a little pressure just so they don't open in the drawer. I've had them open up and get caught on the lip of the drawer above it, and now you have to fuss with clearing them out of the way to open your drawer. i also store the standard ones in a plier rack so thats another reason they at least have to be shut.

 

[muddyjoe15]

I didnt think it would matter, thank you for replieng to my dumb question.

 

[JC23]

I doubt that it would make the slightest difference, but I store mine clamped on a piece of angle iron.

What about those two small ones you keep on yer *******?

 

[Kirbot]

What about those two small ones you keep on yer *******?

I clamped 'em on your *** while you weren't looking.

 

[ron gray]

No pressure! The loading is low enough that it doesn't matter, but clamped with pressure creates stress. Would you like to wear a 1 pound hat all day, or no hat at all? Neither is gonna kill ya, but one is certainly easier on you!

 

[domain]

I also clamp them just enough to keep them from popping open when I look at them wrong. Works great for me.

 

[MoToys]

I have made a habit of lightly clamping them together as well.
I found the craftsman ones in my truck tool box pop open and the pin sometimes screws itself out after the jaws pop open.

 

[sonnyboy]

Ditto on the clamped with slight pressure.

One of my pet peeves is when somebody uses a vise-grip from the company's toolbox at work, and just puts it back without closing it back up. Then again, another one of my pet peeves is when they put them back upside down. I should just be happy they put them back.

 

[justanengineer]

I have gotten several that had some pretty heavy corrosion on them from auctions/estate sales, and the ones that were clamped usually ended up in the trash because they would not open. For this reason, I do not clamp them. I always plan for the worst case scenario in life, and care about my tools enough to not want to see them trashed.

 

[Regnar]

An email to Irwin

A question came up the other day and no one really knew the answer. The
question was should your Vise Grips be stored closed with pressure or
slightly open with no pressure. I think everyone is looking for tool
longevity as the goal. Just wondering what your company has to say and
the reason behind it.

An their reply

Sir,

Thank you for your inquiry. I have spoken with a product manager about
storing your vise grips. The best way to store these is to leave the
tool locked with just a little bit of pressure. Always store in a dry
place and you can place a small amount of oil on the two screw areas,
these are on the top and bottom jaws.

Thank you for choosing Irwin Tools!


Irwin Industrial Tools Customer Service
8936 Northpointe Executive Dr, Suite 200
Huntersville, NC 28078
800 866 5740
Fax 800 866 5742

 

[Toolhorder]

An email to Irwin

A question came up the other day and no one really knew the answer. The
question was should your Vise Grips be stored closed with pressure or
slightly open with no pressure. I think everyone is looking for tool
longevity as the goal. Just wondering what your company has to say and
the reason behind it.

An their reply

Sir,

Thank you for your inquiry. I have spoken with a product manager about
storing your vise grips. The best way to store these is to leave the
tool locked with just a little bit of pressure. Always store in a dry
place and you can place a small amount of oil on the two screw areas,
these are on the top and bottom jaws.

Thank you for choosing Irwin Tools!


Irwin Industrial Tools Customer Service
8936 Northpointe Executive Dr, Suite 200
Huntersville, NC 28078
800 866 5740
Fax 800 866 5742

There you have it, damn it now I have to get out the oil and clamp all these damn pliers in my plier draw. Thanks

 

[Underdog]

Here is how I store mine. My one and only tool board. The other vise grips I close just tight and into the tool box they go.

 

[larry_g]

I have a suspicion that this question stems from the storing of micrometers and other precision tools where storing them closed is frowned on.

lg
no neat sig line