vice grips, real or knock off

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well I have always boughten the good old fashion vice grip brand vice grip. and I was wondering how many of you guys will only use the good old original or go with the other brand of "locking pliers"
Reply:It's been my experience when it comes to vise grips that you get what you pay for.  I have had some luck with TSC's clamping vise grips though.  They're worth the price anyway.DewayneDixieland WeldingMM350PLincoln 100Some torchesOther misc. tools
Reply:I have always purchased only Vise-Grip locking pliers and chastized friends and relatives who buy asian copies - until recently.I have always had extremely bad luck with asian copies of vise-grips.  But recently I purchased a set of Husky brand locking pliers from Home Depot and so far find them to be fully equal to the originals.  Metallurgy seems fine.  Strength seems fine.  Adjusting screw (a notorious weak point of asian copies) seems fine.  Attention to detail seems fine.  I'm satisfied.awright
Reply:no matter what brand I buy the springs always break off and i gotta constantly jam that little catch thingy back in place...  I think I have an entire drawer full of "springless" locking pliersI like to party!
Reply:Real, the ONLY way to go. I have had Craftsman, and others, no comparison the real thing beats em hands down. I am gonna' try the Lockjaw pliers next time I go to the LWS.Disclaimer; "I am just an a$$hole welder, don't take it personally ."
Reply:I use the cheap ones as disposable clamps for those times when I just know that something bad is gonna happen to the clamp.
Reply:I prefer the ones that have a release lever.America Needs AMERICA'S Oil!!!"Global warming is the greatest scam in history ...There is no run away climate change. The impact of humans on climate is not catastrophic. Our planet is not in peril."--John Coleman, Founder of The Weather Channel
Reply:Original Vice-Grip only for me.So far, no others even come close enough to compare.My favorite is the 7wr.
Reply:You can't have too many vise grips.  I have some over 30 years old.  Never had one to fail.  I hope they keep making them here in the USA.MILLER 330 AB/PMILLER GOLD STAR 130KUBOTA BX24CASE MINI HAY PRESSBENCH MILLHYPERTHERM 45BABY HOSSFELD
Reply:Grit your teeth and buy genuine Vise-Grips. Never used any knock-offs that were anywhere close to as good. A friend gave me a pair of Craftsmen a long time ago and they are as good as Vise-Grips until you go to take them off and the lever is really hard to operate, usually takes a screwdriver to release it. The only way I use them is if I need more clamps than I have Vice-Grips.
Reply:Originally Posted by CaptainWillyno matter what brand I buy the springs always break off and i gotta constantly jam that little catch thingy back in place...  I think I have an entire drawer full of "springless" locking pliers
Reply:We have about 20+ pairs of 5" long nose5" C Clamp type10" etc etc all Vise gripsI use them all day longWe also have a few of the cheaper makes and all stuffed in various corners collecting dust.Vise grip everytime!! And for the bigger stuff Carver CrampsHaving said that I've just bough 5 pairs of Pro Tools Elite Long Nose Pliers at a 1/3 the cost, so far they are holding up very well
Reply:Nothing but the original for me. Some of our sets are well over 30 years old. They served dad for that long, and will probably be around for my kid. Why change what works.Patriot Performance AutoLincoln Power Mig 255CLincoln AC-225 StickVictor Journeyman O/AQuincy QT-5 Compressor
Reply:Real for clamping. Especially heavy clamping, or where it needs to be fast.HF knockoffs for bashing, modifying, etc. If I'm welding a light fixture to it, or using it as a work lead clamp, I'll use the $2 HF rather than the $20 real deal any time, knowing that it won't last forever.Same reason I won't machine a Kurt vise, but the cheapo taiwanese knockoffs get modified for jobs pretty regular
Reply:My Snap-On dealer only sells honest-to-God ViseGrips, so that's what I buy.  He warranties them just like Snap-On hand tools--if it breaks (or becomes unserviceable) it gets replaced no questions asked.  Even if I weld a ring onto the adjusting knob, hang on a 4 ton come-a-long to straighten the door skin on a Mack truck?  Yup.  Try that with Chairman Mao's stuff.  I only have 2 locking pliers that are not genuine ViceGrip.  One is an extra wide duckbill for clamping epoxy joints on fiberglas hoods.  It never gets abused cause if you tighten it too much, all the epoxy squeezes out, and that's not good.  The other is fairly new cause the dealer asked me to try it, see how I liked it...it's a LockJaw brand, model 6CJ.  It has a different style grip pressure screw.  Perhaps I'm just so used to the ViseGrip form and function over the years, but so far it's a thumbs down.  I haven't found a particular application where it's better.  Hey, sometimes you just can't improve on the original.
Reply:I have a couple of the HF locking clamps they work great for me welding and grinding. at a few dollars each I don't care if they get covered in spatter or raked with the grinder.
Reply:I use the HF models when it is likely to be destroyed doing the job at hand.  Also use the HF clamps for the same purpose.  I hate ruining tools even cheap Chinese stuff but sometimes it is the most expedient way to get the job done.I have welded up a bunch of the HF clamps and locking pliers for one off applications.  No they really don't hold up well or function smoothly but I don't feel as bad when I throw them in the scrap pile.,
Reply:Real. I'm actually starting to like the leverless ones. They're quick and easy for clamping a cutting guide on a sheet of 1/4 or 1/8 for the plasma cutter.
Reply:I use the real thing.  Model 310S being my favorite (like the 11SP only one jaw is on a bar).You can get replacement springs and screws from Irwin.  Looks like there's no charge, haven't tried it.http://www.irwin.com/irwin/consumer/...tsfrag.jhtml.1
Reply:I have 10+ pair of the originals and I just got some mac brand off the mac truck about a month ago.I guess they are all right the adjustment screw is real tight on them and I guess I just gatta break em in???? never had to do that with my "vice grips" though!!If it's too . get an office jobLincoln wp225g7 Lincoln 250 idealarcFrankenstein O/A set-up Weld-tech  tig set-upLincoln sp 175 plus profax  arc gouger
Reply:If you use locking pliers much, you will hate the cheapies. Just get the vise grips, they are worth it. And you can beat the heck out of them, arc them out, gouge into them with cut off wheels and they still keep working. For quite a long time.
Reply:I have over 100 pair of the original Vise grip clamps ranging in sizes from 6" to 30"  I've never had any other brand that would hold up.  My local parts store will warranty them if anything happens.  I will say that If you shop around you can find them fairly reasonable.  Enco has them usually priced from $11.00 to $15.00 for the 11"I'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......
Reply:Cheap ones are fine for basic clamping.  Where I wouldn't scrimp is for use where it would become a hazard by possibly slipping and bust a knuckle.  Not worth the healing and pain curve.  Work Smart!Hobart 140 Handler w/ gasHyperTherm Powermax 380 Plasmaoxy/acetylene
Reply:Originally Posted by CaptainWillyno matter what brand I buy the springs always break off and i gotta constantly jam that little catch thingy back in place...  I think I have an entire drawer full of "springless" locking pliers
Reply:Originally Posted by CaptainWillyno matter what brand I buy the springs always break off and i gotta constantly jam that little catch thingy back in place...  I think I have an entire drawer full of "springless" locking pliersI have all Vise-Grip brand never tried any other, I love my 11RsThose and Bessey clamps are the ****
Reply:I prefer the originals... mainly because they were invented in Nebraska, but also because i can't find anything better. even if i bang the @#$% out of them, i still can't get one to break. i dunno if it matters or not, but i think Irwin makes them now... looks like they are more comfortable to use, but they also look like they'll stink when spatter hits the cushy rubber grips. i have some of my dad's old, all-steel, chrome plated vice-grips... never broke, never will.Later,Andy
Reply:Vise-Grip... cant find anything better in my local,Unit in my fab shop dept:my good hand and team that trust me...A lone welder make art... a village full of welder make Miracles...
Reply:I just bought a niffty facom vise... better egronomic work as good as vise-grip... just abit of vanity to have a set of facom Attached ImagesUnit in my fab shop dept:my good hand and team that trust me...A lone welder make art... a village full of welder make Miracles...