Vise-grips that actually work

[Gone Boating]

I've got two pairs of Irwin vise-grips I think I bought at Lowes, and they are garbage. They flex, and when tightened down on a nut or something it just shaves metal off the vise grip instead of actually gripping. Surely there has to be better ones out there, suggestions?

 

[sberry]

I use them. Not sure why they don't work for you. They did make some subtle changes to some models.

 

[mr.lemons]

This comes up a lot. Modern Irwin are very soft. Similar to Grip-On and Milwaukee. It's worth getting some old "Mole Grips" from ebay. They are much harder than modern grips.

 

[ChrisLS8]

I've been having good luck with Grip On, Bremen and Strong Hand

 

[DerekV]

Bremen from Harbor Freight and the Milwaukee offerings are what I recommend.

1) Excellent/fair prices
2) Easy to get, no need to hunt for old and rusty Petersens that the internet says are "everywhere and sold by the bucket loads"
3) Easy to warranty
4) Most importantly - they actually don't ****

There are some Duralast ones (Autozone) that are made in Taiwan and seem equally as nice, so there's another option. However, the stock seems to vary wildly store to store, just keep that in mind.

 

[d.mcfarland]

Post a picture of the ones you are currently complaining about.

 

[Gone Boating]

These are the ones I'm complaining about.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[JBH]

Grip-on, Bollmann (sold through Hazet, Stahlwille/VBW, and sometimes Heyco), Gedore, Facom (rebranded as USAG and Proto)

 

[Astro_Pneumatic_Tools]

These are the ones I'm complaining about.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Can I send you a 8.5" pair of these and you just use them until they break, fail, or prove not useful?

 

[Negen]

Eagle grip will be available in may.

In the meantime the France made locking pliers seem to be the best. I avoid China/Taiwan unless no other choice is available. I don't mind Taiwan but too many rebranded tools odd seeing people compare tools when it is clear they are from the same factories. Rare that Taiwan branded tools have r&d from the marketing company on the label.

Sent from my G8141 using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[d.mcfarland]

The 9LN (on the right in the picture) look like the useful life of those teeth near the tip are about used up.

 

[Professional Tool User]

Grip ons are not that much better. I would give the Made in Taiwan ones (HF, Tekton, and Milwaukee) a try.

 

[Gone Boating]

The 9LN (on the right in the picture) look like the useful life of those teeth near the tip are about used up.

The teeth started to show wear at the first use. I haven't used them nearly as much as I would have, if they didn't frustrate me every time I went to use them!

 

[Gone Boating]

Can I send you a 8.5" pair of these and you just use them until they break, fail, or prove not useful?

I didn't realize you make them. Shoot me a PM

 

[Astro_Pneumatic_Tools]

I didn't realize you make them. Shoot me a PM

Were just in testing phase, and not for Astro brand.
PM sent

 

[ChrisLS8]

Were just in testing phase, and not for Astro brand.
PM sent

Will you be doing C clamp style?

 

[plinker]

Older US made are good, I'm curious about how the new Eagle grips will be.

I did get some Milwaukee locking pliers, made in Taiwan ( I thought they were from china). I havent really used them until today. The 10" with the hex/square jaw worked well for holding a tie rod while loosening the rusty jam nut. My only gripe is the checkering/crosshatch teeth are non existent.

I dont care for Grip-on's. The teeth are too fine on the one I have and the release lever is backwards.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

I think the first step to finding acceptable vice grips, is the realization that they are consumables. I do not believe it is physically possible to make a "good" and long lasting pair; especially if they're holding objects from spinning while getting impacted on. If the impact starts spinning that sway bar link or whatever, the teeth will be taking a major hit.


Bollman grip, Irwin, Engineer (vampliers fame), snap-on/grip-on, they will all wear out. Grip on has done well for me, currently trying out some tektons that got good reviews here, happy so far. A set of knipex showed up today, I'll be putting them to hard use. Eventually all vice grips become welding leads/grounds. The truly terrible ones become chip-clips, to keep my pretzels fresh.


EDIT: In general, the pointed tip vice grips which you pictured, cannot be made well. I have yet to find a set that works well, my grip-ons are merely acceptable, I still don't trust them

 

[reader2580]

Eagle grip will be available in may.

People are putting an awful lot of faith in the Eagle Grip locking pliers being the same as the Peterson Vise-Grip.

Did Irwin leave behind original tooling in the plant? If they have the original tooling will Malco be using that tooling? Does Malco have access to information like what alloy of steel was being used and so on? Any patents Malco has to worry about?

 

[greg13]

Vise Grip is a trademark owned by Irwin. Irwin is owned by Stanley.
There are lots of knock off locking pliers out there, but I have never seen any with the quality of Vise Grip brand.

 

[plinker]

People are putting an awful lot of faith in the Eagle Grip locking pliers being the same as the Peterson Vise-Grip.

Did Irwin leave behind original tooling in the plant? If they have the original tooling will Malco be using that tooling? Does Malco have access to information like what alloy of steel was being used and so on? Any patents Malco has to worry about?

As far as the Eagle grips are concerned, new product so time will tell. Any new tool is suspect until it's used and then worn out. How fast it will wear out is the question. There does appear to be a market for Peterson equivalent locking pliers, so if they can do it so much the better.

I would imagine the main patents expired quite a while ago, I'm guessing about thirty years old as being the most recent one. One older set of 10WR's I have has no release lever and a 1942 (IIRC) date. The needle nose type and locking wrench type would be the more recent patents, based on when they were introduced. I have not researched it other then what I remember seeing, so I could be wrong.

If patent infringement was an issue with the basic variety of locking pliers, there would be great potential money for lawyers as everybody makes them.

It was mentioned on here that the material used was CR-MO & CR-V, one for the body & one for the jaws (IIRC). They had sample pic's of the pliers, so what tooling they use is a bit moot as they seemed to have that taken care of.

 

[M6erfan]

If I were in the market for locking grip pliers I'd give Bollman at Harry J Epstein a hard look.

 

[Trucker88]

These are the ones I'm complaining about.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I agree. I have a few pairs of these. The snub nose ones are a bit better but not much. These “ needle nose” ones are absolutely horrible. Way too much side to side deflection to actually secure onto anything. I have been considering trying to warranty mine into Lowe’s for replacement but I am sure I would go through all that trouble for cleaner newer equally crappy pliers. I see a twin pack of Milwaukee ones at Home Depot for $15-$20 and have been considering them but just saw some not so good reviews of them as well. I am curious with what you decide to do.


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[why worry]

I have been picking up old ones at garage/estate sales for some time and have noticed the price seems to be going up on originals. Now in the 6 to 8 dollar range for a 10 CWR, still worth it considering the quality of the new ones.
Dave

 

[Mr_B]

^
+1 on old but decent originals from yard sales etc .
also the toptul ones are pretty decent effort .
I don't rate gripon, money better spent at yard sale .

 

[Gone Boating]

I agree. I have a few pairs of these. The snub nose ones are a bit better but not much. These “ needle nose” ones are absolutely horrible. Way too much side to side deflection to actually secure onto anything. I have been considering trying to warranty mine into Lowe’s for replacement but I am sure I would go through all that trouble for cleaner newer equally crappy pliers. I see a twin pack of Milwaukee ones at Home Depot for $15-$20 and have been considering them but just saw some not so good reviews of them as well. I am curious with what you decide to do.

I'm happy to hear it's not just me with unrealistic expectations. The larger pair looks like it is well used, but they spend the majority of their time just sitting in the tool box. If they have been used 50 times that is stretching it. Like I said, every time I use them they leave me angry because they flex and don't hold.

 

[GTO]

Check out CH Hanson.

 

[sberry]

They work for me when I got to use them. 50 uses sound good, they are not a primary tool. They saved one the other day on a difficult screw.

 

[nmantas]

People are putting an awful lot of faith in the Eagle Grip locking pliers being the same as the Peterson Vise-Grip.

Did Irwin leave behind original tooling in the plant? If they have the original tooling will Malco be using that tooling? Does Malco have access to information like what alloy of steel was being used and so on? Any patents Malco has to worry about?

They at least have a good chunk of the former workers there, at least at the start of operations, so that helps.

 

[hangfirew8]

I can't remember the last time Vise Grips, or a competitor, has saved the day for me with a rounded-off rusty bolt or a spinning end link or rod end that I need to remove the stuck nut on the other side. Maybe, mid-1990's. I usually end up cutting it off or grinding/filing flats on it, and then using a wrench. (This is why I love air tools.)

I use them for work holding while welding, gluing, holding the far side of a good bolt or nut while assembling, but rounded off rusty stuff? Clamping a round rod going into a ball joint of some kind while impacting the nut, hoping it won't spin? Useless.

I like the Blackhawk (COO Taiwan) version because the release lever moves in the opposite direction. They are easier to unclamp without springing into your hand and hurting you. But they have failed to save the day with stuck or spinny things many times.

Also the alligator nose Vise Grips have the lease mechanical advantage and the most flex. They are the last things I would reach for when the going gets bad.

 

[DGersic]

I don’t expect they’ll be great, but Farm&Fleet had a closeout sale on Stanley branded vice grip pliers. Three (sm, md, lg) for $20. I use them as holders and clamps, so they should be fine.


Sent from my iPad using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[joetech]

I have several older vise grips from my grandfather when they were made in the usa. My current go to is a Milwaukee Torque Lock vise grip. Torque Lock is real handy at times.

 

[rustbucket5]

i have been trying out some milwaukee ones for the last year and they see to be better than the irwins, jaws are a bit harder (not exceedingly though) but where they shine is the added features, torque lock, the release lever being opposite is much easier to release, and they cant fall apart when opened all the way like the irwins do. id still like to find some that are top notch quality

 

[MushCreek]

I bought a big set of Irwins a while back, and they are lousy. I still have a few Petersons, and they do work much better than the new stuff.

 

[FMC1959]

I would say check out the flea markets in the summer. I always see tons (lots) of the old Peterson original vise grips. They are sometimes rusty and pretty ratty looking but still fully functional. Ten minutes of wire brushing and finish with a fine coat of any oil to prevent future rusting, you'll have top notch vice grips. Often they are in used but great condition that you do not need to do anything to.