Super Mech
Well-known member
Are there any good american made locking pliers like the old Peterson vise grips still around?
Vise Grips
- Thread starter Super Mech
- Start date
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Sure, you will mostly find them in yard sales and flea markets... If you get lucky, you might find some NOS in a store. (one guy here did recently)
BillK
Well-known member
Guys,
I just bought a new pair of Vise Grips at my local hardware store. To be perfectly honest with you, I did not even look where they were made but I simply cannot tell the diffference between them and the old worn out 15 year old pair that they are replacing.
Why not just buy a set of Vise Grips and be done with it ???
I just bought a new pair of Vise Grips at my local hardware store. To be perfectly honest with you, I did not even look where they were made but I simply cannot tell the diffference between them and the old worn out 15 year old pair that they are replacing.
Why not just buy a set of Vise Grips and be done with it ???
I still buy all my vise grips "USA" from garage sales and flea markets. I still find top quality and low use for very reasonable prices. Just a pain when you find 10 of the same you already have just to find one you don't. I still buy them all for the right price. If you cant seem to find the specific pair you are looking for some times you can find a deal on evilbay for a set.
flying2275
Well-known member
I've been picking up a few here and there off of ebay when the price is right. I'm trying to get a few of each type while I can.
lowbucktruck
Well-known member
"Grip-On" name is familiar... heard that somewhere. Who makes those? (manufacturer)
plinker
Well-known member
Popular mechanics had a test a while back, they took a new pair of Vise grips (china coo), a junk set (read as HF or similar), and a set of American tool co./Petersen Vise grips (USA)
The USA vise grips came in first and the chinese made was second. The junk ones were just that. Conclusion was the USA made are/were the better ones, but the chinese were better then most. The teeth were the biggest issue, IIRC.
I do not have any of the chinese ones myself. I got most of mine before they quit production here.
Epstiens may have some old stock Vise grips available yet
http://store.harryepstein.com/c/Closeouts.html?dinoR=1
The USA vise grips came in first and the chinese made was second. The junk ones were just that. Conclusion was the USA made are/were the better ones, but the chinese were better then most. The teeth were the biggest issue, IIRC.
I do not have any of the chinese ones myself. I got most of mine before they quit production here.
Epstiens may have some old stock Vise grips available yet
http://store.harryepstein.com/c/Closeouts.html?dinoR=1
grip-on is spanish made i believe and the oem supplier to snap-on. the difference in 'tightness' in the joint is amazing between them and all my cheapies from HD/Lowes/etc. i've broken a couple of the gripping surface faces on the cheapies but not the gripon. that said, i was holding something and bashing it with a hammer, so may not be indicative of better metallurgy.
bottom line at this point is that after using the grip-on for 6 months, i won't be buying anymore of the hardware store options. i've got a list of i think 6 styles of grip-on that i'm waiting for sales on to replace the cheapies...
ahm
ps grip-on IS the manufacturer - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001G0MGTQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20
bottom line at this point is that after using the grip-on for 6 months, i won't be buying anymore of the hardware store options. i've got a list of i think 6 styles of grip-on that i'm waiting for sales on to replace the cheapies...
ahm
ps grip-on IS the manufacturer - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001G0MGTQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20
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lowbucktruck
Well-known member
To the OP: New or used? As mentioned, you can still find vise-grip or locking pliers in used condition (I recently found a matching set of Powr-Kraft branded vise-grips in great condition, will be a Christmas gift to my father-in-law). I have another pair of Craftsman-branded USA-made vise-grips that I picked up at an estate sale in very good condition.
Sometimes if you browse an established hardware store with older stock, you might get lucky and find the Petersens. Crescent also makes a vise-grip style plier, you can still find NOS Crescent that's USA-made if you look. The new Crescent tools (Apex Tool Group) are made in Taiwan I believe.
Sometimes if you browse an established hardware store with older stock, you might get lucky and find the Petersens. Crescent also makes a vise-grip style plier, you can still find NOS Crescent that's USA-made if you look. The new Crescent tools (Apex Tool Group) are made in Taiwan I believe.
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garfunkle24
Well-known member
I think the old Crescent ones were Grip-on? I also say buy Grip-on FTW.
Displaced Hokie
Well-known member
I have a Proto pair that say made in Spain so they must be Grip-Ons. Very nice pliers.
southalabama
Well-known member
When I travel I look for the oldest locally owned hardware store I can find. I've found plenty of USA Vicegrips that were covered in dust. Old time hardware stores are quickly fading into history.
OP
Super Mech
Well-known member
Thanks for everyones input. I will look at those Grip-on locking pliers. Will also check out Epstiens.
thesilverone
Well-known member
if you have an ACE Hardware Store in your area, check them too.
Gregg33
Well-known member
Grip-On is the oem for SO, Gray, Channellock and others. The only difference is the handles are different colors. A good product at a fairly reasonable price. Not a big fan of used locking pliers, most I find are pretty beat up. Might be good for holding stuff while welding or spray painting though.
87handmedown
Well-known member
What's wrong with Irwin Vise Grips? 
gunz
Member
What's wrong with Irwin Vise Grips?
this^^^
ive been thinking of purchasing Irwin vise grips, we dont have much selection down here in aust.
currently have a few cheap locking pliers and looking to upgrade.
Irwin Vise Grips are now made in China. Newell Rubbermaid closed down the original factory in Nebraska and moved all production overseas. The quality is just not the same. The teeth on the new ones bend rather easily if you clamp on just about anything hard. They also have a lot more slop in them than the older ones. The Grip-ons are a far superior product now.
dr_clyde
Well-known member
I don't know where they are made, probably overseas somewhere, but I'm a huge fan of StrongHand tools. I think they are vastly superior to Irwin Vise-Grips, and are less money to buy. They have a lot of really neat fabrication tools and magnets. I get them at my local welding supply.
87handmedown
Well-known member
Wow, when did this happen? I have several Irwin Vise Grips that are all working well, in my opinion, but they do all have a few years on them. Maybe I'm just not using them like you guys are. IDK
WOAH!!
Do they make a normal set in that color????
diesel research
Well-known member
I am thinking part of the bitterness is an exaggerated "change" in quality, but in reality bitterness over the closing of the plant itself.
I don't remember "older" ones of 10-15 years ago being so much greater.
Once the year is over, I am going to dunk them in the parts washer, remove the grime, and reveal how the chinese version turns out. That will be 1 year of hitting with a 4lb engineer hammer, using around a torch as a bolt extractor, using as a backup wrench behind an impact (previously rounded or corroded bolts), and stored away grimy.
I might want to mention it has had a 10" cheater "permanently" attached to the handle for pretty much the whole time....
The factory in Nebraska shut down toward the end of 2008. I believe it was the end of October, so it's been about three years. It really doesn't take much to bend the teeth up on the new ones. The heat treatment or the steel quality is just poor.
We all need to stick together and not buy the trash the Vice Grip makes now. They had the market in the USA for years, and there was no need to cheepen them up and move to China. Funny how they are all produced in china now, but the price never droped. They are nothing more than harbor freight tools now with a US price!
There's actually been quite a lot of discussion on this board about the new Vise Grips. Here's a pair that flattened out after the first use.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=74885
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=74885
Stuart in MN
Well-known member
I picked up two Vise-Grips at a swap meet a few weeks back for $3/each, they were built at the Nebraska plant back when it was still Petersen Mfg. 
Still in great condition, no rust and the teeth are in good shape.
Still in great condition, no rust and the teeth are in good shape.