Who sells U.S made needle nose locking pliers?

[Magnum440d100]

Looked at Irwin/vice grip and made in Taiwan or China. Milwaukee, made in China.

Haven’t stopped in sears, because I know craftsman went over seas.

I’m about to stop in a pawn shop when they open, and see what I find.

Like the title states, who makes US locking pliers?

I don’t mind the COO, but when a Chinese Irwin is $15 and a Chinese harbor freight is $4, that’s when it bothers me.

The locking pliers will be temporarily holding up aluminum horizontals, sometimes many stories above ground, while I’m drilling holes in them and into the bracket behind. So I would like something that I don’t have to worry that they’ll let go, and have the horizontal fall. I work out of a boom lift, so if they fall, I’d have to boom down, and get it, and hope it isn’t too damaged

Thanks in advance!

 

[Skin]

No one makes anything currently as far as I know. Malco will be the only US made locking plier whenever they get around to creating a distribution channel for them.

The Milwaukee ones are actually made really well.

 

[Magnum440d100]

No one makes anything currently as far as I know. Malco will be the only US made locking plier whenever they get around to creating a distribution channel for them.

The Milwaukee ones are actually made really well.

Thanks.

Yeah, I picked up the Milwaukee’s as my main and a couple husky’s for backup/secondary.

I’ll know maybe Monday if they work as well as I need them to

 

[Jlarson]

I'm going Milwaukee for whatever I can locking pliers wise and I use a lot of them welding. Haven't had an issues so far. I like the fact I can tighten them with my spud wrench or welpers too for more clamp.

 

[anndel]

I got my USA made locking needle nose Vise Grips from Ebay. Some used and some NOS.

 

[richfinn]

It's the design that matters not the C.O.O

I have both Petersen/Irwin Vice grips

They are the only ones I bother to buy anymore and I have tried a few brands over the years

 

[bob15]

It's the design that matters not the C.O.O

I have both Petersen/Irwin Vice grips

They are the only ones I bother to buy anymore and I have tried a few brands over the years

For many people, myself included, it is the COO that matters.

Sometime in the future we might be able to find these pliers out in the world: https://www.malcoproducts.com/news/malco-products-sbc-officially-begins-production-of-new-tool-at-former-vise-grip-factory-in-dewitt-nebraska/

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Grip on is made in Spain, and supplies snap on and proto. Bollman grip is made in Germany. Those are the only first world brands I can think of.



I feel the same about COO. If a company is producing in China or the third world, fine. But I want to see part of those cost savings in a reduced price. Which obviously never happens. I still prefer first world stuff as rarely will companies pay those labor costs and deal with the regulations to produce junk.

 

[Wamsutta]

BOLLMANN Germany

https://www.bollmann-selzer.de/en/products/locking-pliers/b0360-long-nosegrip/

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

In that sutuation I'd add a tether no matter what COO.

 

[richfinn]

For many people, myself included, it is the COO that matters.

Sometime in the future we might be able to find these pliers out in the world: https://www.malcoproducts.com/news/malco-products-sbc-officially-begins-production-of-new-tool-at-former-vise-grip-factory-in-dewitt-nebraska/

Don't get me wrong I would love to exclusively buy British made stuff and never have to travel outside Yorkshire again as long as I live

But I can't, because of capitalism and the ridiculous obsession with profit before everything else!!!

So I buy what works the best and makes my life a little bit easier, when it comes to locking pliers, Petersens design is still the best for what I do (even though it is not made in the USA anymore)

 

[BolognaBlake]

Others have said it, but I also reach for my Milwaukee locking pliers before any of my USA made Vise Grips.

 

[DFB]

I have old Petersons, and enough Vise Grips for my needs but if was to buy new locking pliers I would get the Milwaukee my pal has them at the motorcycle shop

 

[jabberwoki]

For many people, myself included, it is the COO that matters.

Damn right.

 

[Parrothead]

For many people, myself included, it is the COO that matters.

For many people, myself included, it is the COO that matters.

Damn right.

Actually, the reality of the situation is that COO doesn’t matter for many people, otherwise we wouldn’t have a thread on finding USA made locking pliers. I’m not saying I agree or don’t, but whereas all of the companies producing these items do them elsewhere speaks volumes. Maybe that changes now? Who knows?

 

[WittHay]

It's the design that matters not the C.O.O

I have both Petersen/Irwin Vice grips

They are the only ones I bother to buy anymore and I have tried a few brands over the years

Have exactly one pair of Milwaukee vise-grips, sits under the seat of a truck and used sparingly. Dont like the large adjusting tabs on them. Most of the US made vise-grips are worn out and used as welding clamps now. Must have 20 Irwin made in China vise-grips that are used for the important stuff

Waiting for the Malco US made grips as Malco is sold in the local tool stores and would be easy to buy

I think past the COO a bit and look at the company making them.

TTI/Milwaukee is a Chinese (Hong Kong) company who makes most of there products in one huge Chinese factory. Milwaukee has not been US owned since 1995 or about quarter of a century

Irwin has always been US owned and is now part of the US based SBD group with factories all over the world. Irwins are easy to get and the Peterson design works.

 

[gearhead1]

This page on Amazon lists Wright as the manufacturer, but the picture shows Irwin vise grips. Ad states they are US made.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002M3ZHTM/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Wamsutta]

The main most important thing is the way the locking release lever is setup. I prefer the kind that I can pull UPWARDS with my middle finger and that's not going to be the ViseGrip brand type.

 

[clown]

For many people, myself included, it is the COO that matters.

Damn right.

Times a trillion for me. I buy USA made whenever I can/they're available.

Knipex makes needle nose visegrips...like here: https://www.ebay.com/p/5018529716

I have the 4144200 (Angled version) and the larger general purpose vise grips and had good experience with them.

Knipex products seem overpriced in the USA, try ebay.de, amazon.de or TBS Achen.de

I have a set of the Cobras(channel locks), snap ring pliers, long reach needle nose pliers, wire strippers, side cutters; I think all of Knipex pliers are awesome and every Knipex tool I own is stamped "Made in Germany"

 

[metaldad]

WHEN are the malco's going to hit store shelves?
been anxiously waiting an eternity it seems

 

[ive]

For many people, myself included, it is the COO that matters.

Actually, the reality of the situation is that COO doesn’t matter for many people, otherwise we wouldn’t have a thread on finding USA made locking pliers. I’m not saying I agree or don’t, but whereas all of the companies producing these items do them elsewhere speaks volumes. Maybe that changes now? Who knows?

The coo should matter. Purchasing from a regime empowers it, greatly.

 

[richfinn]

For many people, myself included, it is the COO that matters.



The coo should matter. Purchasing from a regime empowers it, greatly.

Thats just politics, most of us are engineers of some description, I need to buy Vice Grips occasionally and the best ones happen to be made in China (for an American company), If they start making them in Africa or North Korea they will still be the best available until a better design comes along

 

[Maddog1337]

I've been anxiously awaiting the Eagle Grip locking pliers as well. I'm sure Corona hasn't been doing any favors to the manufacturing industry. Luckily geography does play a huge part - hopefully with the factory in Nebraska that area isn't too heavily hit. If anyone has an update I'd love to hear it.

To answer your question, if you want USA locking pliers, you're only option right now are old Vise Grips secondhand. Craigslist, eBay, Facebook Marketplace, estate sales, garage sales, etc.

I've considered the Proto branded ones, but those are made in Spain.

Edit: I do have a cheapo Chinese Irwin needle nose locking pliers. The one thing I like about the Chinese Irwins is that you can crank down on the locking bolt with a 3MM allen key.

 

[karoc]

HD sells Klein tools which are made in USA,these are tools that people in trade use.

 

[bob15]

HD sells Klein tools which are made in USA,these are tools that people in trade use.

Locking pliers (vise-grip type pliers)?

 

[Skin]

Grip on is made in Spain, and supplies snap on and proto. Bollman grip is made in Germany. Those are the only first world brands I can think of.

Facom. They're actually fairly well known for their locking pliers in Europe, but they don't make needle nose style and the new revisions are very expensive. They're under the Proto label as well but hardly anyone sells them other than places like UltimateGarage. I bought some pairs because when you need them in the rust you really need them. Nothing quite like grabbing a fastener or stud, attempt to turn it and having all the jaw teeth shear off.

3 Peaks has some that are suppose to be made in Japan. I actually bought one of their miniature pair as they cut the jaws like a Vamplier.

Grip-on are junk in my experience. Jaws just as soft as Chinese Irwins. Couldn't dump them fast enough. I don't know what Snap-on's problem is but 80% of the stuff they've started to bring in from Spain has been utter garbage. Bollman are pretty okay if mostly for the fact that they're super cheap when purchased from Europe/UK and work quite well despite some little issues like excessive jaw slop.

 

[wafrederick]

Grip on is made in Spain, and supplies snap on and proto. Bollman grip is made in Germany. Those are the only first world brands I can think of.



I feel the same about COO. If a company is producing in China or the third world, fine. But I want to see part of those cost savings in a reduced price. Which obviously never happens. I still prefer first world stuff as rarely will companies pay those labor costs and deal with the regulations to produce junk.

Grip On makes Snap On's locking pliers which are a pile of junk.Local Snap On dealer in my area replaces them with the Irwin locking pliers under warranty.Youtube Subscriber Koon Trucking had them,threw them in the parking lot not worth having anymore.His dealer Hamilton doesn't sell them anymore warrantying them out a lot

 

[Y00PER]

WHEN are the malco's going to hit store shelves?
been anxiously waiting an eternity it seems

This summer... According to their Facebook post

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Grip On makes Snap On's locking pliers which are a pile of junk.Local Snap On dealer in my area replaces them with the Irwin locking pliers under warranty.Youtube Subscriber Koon Trucking had them,threw them in the parking lot not worth having anymore.His dealer Hamilton doesn't sell them anymore warrantying them out a lot

I've heard of people not liking them, but they work well for me. Mine are mostly proto. I will say they really dont like trying to hold spinning bolts, that's what ruins the teeth.

 

[dnschmidt]

TOPTUL makes excellent needle nose locking pliers as does Milwaukee. The new Harbor Freight line (don't know what they call it) is very good as well. All are made in Taiwan. Eagle Grip is a case of I'll believe it when I see it. They are turning into the second coming of S-K where they announce **** at least five years before they actually manufacture it.

 

[Magnum440d100]

Got a chance to use the Milwaukee’s today at work and they are sufficient.

But I will be keeping an eye out on marketplace and craigslist for older US ones, though the Malco ones sound promising, provided they are ever made lol

Thank you guys for the input!

 

[richfinn]

Facom. They're actually fairly well known for their locking pliers in Europe, but they don't make needle nose style and the new revisions are very expensive. They're under the Proto label as well but hardly anyone sells them other than places like UltimateGarage. I bought some pairs because when you need them in the rust you really need them. Nothing quite like grabbing a fastener or stud, attempt to turn it and having all the jaw teeth shear off.

3 Peaks has some that are suppose to be made in Japan. I actually bought one of their miniature pair as they cut the jaws like a Vamplier.

Grip-on are junk in my experience. Jaws just as soft as Chinese Irwins. Couldn't dump them fast enough. I don't know what Snap-on's problem is but 80% of the stuff they've started to bring in from Spain has been utter garbage. Bollman are pretty okay if mostly for the fact that they're super cheap when purchased from Europe/UK and work quite well despite some little issues like excessive jaw slop.

The worn teeth are why I have to replace my Petersens from time to time with the Irwins, I treat vice grips as a consumable really, the design I think is still the best and nicest to use