Vise grip question

[johnbennetch]

I have pondered this question often. What is it that makes vice grip far superior to all the other copy cats. Is the metal better or is the machining tighter. Why does the thumb screw hold up much better, the rivets are stronger.
Maybe you disagree? I look at things at face value and I can't see that much different. But there is no question in my mind. Vice grip is the king!

 

[GTO]

I have plenty of original Vise Grips(Made in USA), but I like my CH Hanson's too
http://www.chhanson.com/products_ALP.html

 

[WhiffySpark]

I'm trying to pick up grip ons. They seem much easier to use

 

[dr_clyde]

Old Peterson vise grips were the king. The new Irwin ones are less nice in most areas. They have noticeabley softer steel and are generally less well made.

 

[sberry]

I havnt used new ones but I really doubt there is much difference but I got to agree with the OP, there is something about it that makes it what it is, kind of like the Channelock.
They are just now getting to the point where something else works as good and as much as anything it is a known value.
A guy uses this tool regular and he gets a feel and its predictable and while they make specific tools that can do a job better not many do so many things so well.

 

[Ponchoguy]

I have pondered this question often. What is it that makes vice grip far superior to all the other copy cats. Is the metal better or is the machining tighter. Why does the thumb screw hold up much better, the rivets are stronger.
Maybe you disagree? I look at things at face value and I can't see that much different. But there is no question in my mind. Vice grip is the king!

I have old and new Vice Grips and Craftsman version (made by WF). I'd say the Vice Grips are better. They seem to "bite" better than the others, although the Craftsmans are fine.

 

[sberry]

I have some Cmans, the real deal are a bit better.

 

[Sam'sAutoParts]

I have plenty of original Vise Grips(Made in USA), but I like my CH Hanson's too
http://www.chhanson.com/products_ALP.html

Those look nice!

 

[1950mercury]

Petersons are king for sure... When I was 12 I used them for everything. 30 years later I hardly ever use them because 99% of the time there is a better tool for the job

 

[Rosso]

The quality of the steel i would say, my father has some old ones 40+ years old and they are still superb at gripping.

I've used modern ones and the teeth are just too soft, i even had a set once the teeth flat spotted when i tried to grip a tie rod.

Now i just get the snappy branded grip on's and get them warrantied when they fail.

 

[d.mcfarland]

Old Peterson vise grips were the king. The new Irwin ones are less nice in most areas. They have noticeabley softer steel and are generally less well made.

The new ones have an initially sharper tooth pattern. But once you really clamp down on something they start to lose that edge.

They all work I guess, so at the end of the day it's all gravy I suppose.

 

[CJM8515]

Ive found that the old ones have sharper and longer lasting teeth. So far the only new store bought ones I like are the new milwaukee branded ones.

 

[2oolhound]

The worst thing I find with off shore copies is the pin joints loosen up and the jaws no long align. They're definitely **** metal and a waste of money at any price.

 

[Hammer1963]

The actual latter Peterson and early Irwin Vise Grips design use the same tooling and are virtually the same animal. The Chinese made Irwin Vise Grips use different modified tooling and are different in several areas. The closet new product I have found are the Milwaukee Taiwanese produced clamping pliers. These seem to a very close copy of the beloved latter Peterson era designed Vise Grips. I own all the above mentioned pliers and have measured and compared them physically and in OJT situations.

 

[JUNK-MAN]

I don't buy copy brands because of a bad a experience with a pair of blue point's, I griped em on a rounded bolt and rather than turning the bolt it ate out the teeth and part of the jaws leaving a large rounded part in the jaw, besides that piece of **** all mine are old USE Petersons. No copy is better then good ol' vise grips.