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Vice grips without slop?

thool

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Is there a brand of locking pliers that has little or no slop? I'm referring to the amount of movement allowed when closed, along the other axis.

The pic is a vice grip brand.

Thanks.4ac2957914ea1cff09b2564f64a37351.jpg

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Parrothead

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That's a long nose Vise Grip...good luck!

I've used a lot of those by different brands and they all have some degree of slop. Even my Peterson USA Vise Grips...so...
 

vssjim

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all my locking pliers are like that especially the long nose ones. they will never be made with a joint that doesn't allow it to be like that.i have never had it cause a problem.
i have all US made vise grips and some other brand US locking pliers and they are all about the same.
 

Wamsutta

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The best locking pliers ever made were the Crescent brand before Danaher bought Cooper Tools. I mean they were absolutely perfect.
 

drtyler

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Are these from the correct era?

https://frogmantools.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=353

Crescent%207%20inch%20locking%20jaw%20pliers(1)-380x475.jpg


The best locking pliers ever made were the Crescent brand before Danaher bought Cooper Tools. I mean they were absolutely perfect.
 

j0eschm0

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Knipex is what you seek.

German made, zero slop.

check out chadstoolbox.com or kctoolco.com
 
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thool

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all my locking pliers are like that especially the long nose ones. they will never be made with a joint that doesn't allow it to be like that.i have never had it cause a problem.
i have all US made vise grips and some other brand US locking pliers and they are all about the same.
The issue I had, and it wasn't only on the needle nose type is that under pressure, the body starts to rotate. Now instead of having pressure perfectly aligned, it is offset and can cause all kinds of headaches.

If there was a legit hinge/bearing option instead of folded metal and a pin, I'd buy it.

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Parrothead

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The issue I had, and it wasn't only on the needle nose type is that under pressure, the body starts to rotate. Now instead of having pressure perfectly aligned, it is offset and can cause all kinds of headaches.

If there was a legit hinge/bearing option instead of folded metal and a pin, I'd buy it.

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Given the precision you require, I wonder if something other than locking pliers would be a better solution
 

ike

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YES! THOSE ARE AWESOME!

The key feature is the lock and unlock mechanism. The design is leaps and bounds better than ViceGrip and the overall quality is superior.

My favorite locking pliers. I'm glad I was able to get a nice set of them put together before they got hard to find.

8yGqYPL.jpg
 

HoosierBuddy

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Given the precision you require, I wonder if something other than locking pliers would be a better solution

I remember 30 years ago when Car and Driver had their infamous "10 BEST TOOLS" article, Vise Grips were listed as "The only tool designed to fix something that has been FUed beyond repair". But hey...they made the 10 best tool list. Also included were "Big rock by the side of the road" and "2 quarters and a phone booth"...which kind of dates the list now.

Phil
 
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Parrothead

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I remember 30 years ago when Car and Driver had their infamous "10 BEST TOOLS" article, Vise Grips were listed as "The only tool designed to fix something that has been FUed beyond repair". But hey...they made the 10 best tool list. Also included were "Big rock by the side of the road" and "2 quarters and a phone booth"...which kind of dates the list now.

Phil

Don’t get me wrong, I love my Vise Grips and wouldn’t be without them. I probably have a dozen or so in different flavors and varieties.

That said, the OP is talking about twisting them when they are already fastened to the object.
 
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thool

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Don’t get me wrong, I love my Vise Grips and wouldn’t be without them. I probably have a dozen or so in different flavors and varieties.

That said, the OP is talking about twisting them when they are already fastened to the object.
Right, moving them once fastened, but also applying a little more compression when I need the pressure very well focused.
 

Parrothead

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Right, moving them once fastened, but also applying a little more compression when I need the pressure very well focused.

I know exactly what you’re talking about because I’ve had that same problem, though I can’t remember where or why.

Honestly, I think you’re just SOL.
 

PR1Gneon

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The Milwaukee ones are really good. Check em out the next time you're at HD.
Milwaukee Torque-lockf1138834866246c71f09d1000c854904.jpg

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anetode

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gripon.jpg
Grip-On longnose, a bit off

facom.jpg
Facom longnose, Chinese mfr, slightly better

facom2.jpg
Facom, but not a long nose, French mfr, forged jaws, almost no play whatsoever.

Also having seen the black Taiwanese Stanleys longnose, they're pretty good, maybe even less slop than in the Chinese Facoms.

Another note: the Chinese Facoms are almost exact Grip-On clones, frame-wise, except with nickel plating.
 
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Mr_B

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facom and toptul both pretty good but ideally need hand pick long nose.
 
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thool

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Thanks, I'll take a look at some of those brands, but also I'll see about examining tools off the shelf to find ones with tighter tolerances.

Even the cheap HF side cutters and needle nose pliers have no slop due to the type of hinge these tools have. I'm curious why there isn't a line of locking pliers that has this kind of joint.
 

Precivilization

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Knipex grip pliers are really good and high quality, but the ones I have all seem to have that slop, not much, but it's there. That never bother me.

The only ones I have with no slop are the French made Facom, and some of the German made Gedore.

Chad toolbox is a good place to start, but it is not cheap.


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maico

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Keelhauled

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Judging by the dent in his thumb it looks like he is pushing on the pliers to create the slop. I like my Milwaukees too :dunno:

Any pressure you can put on it with your thumb is going to be nothing compared to when it's hanging onto a bolt. I don't think he's trying to make it look worse than it actually is.
 

larry_g

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Are you doing something that may be done better by a different tool? Like a Kant-twist http://clampmfg.com/kant-twist/ ?

I don't think any locking plier with a sheet metal frame is going to be without slop vs. pliers with a machined frame/hinge. If the locking plier was made with a machined frame and jaws the cost would skyrocket. It may start out tight but the design will loosen up over time.

lg
no neat sig line
 
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