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Quality (made In Usa) Locking Pliers

Discussion in 'The Tool Shed' started by FinoCJ, Sep 5, 2020.

  1. FinoCJ

    FinoCJ 1970 CJ5 Staff Member

    I ended up down a rabbit hole - but the short of it is that I wanted to add another 7" or so locking plier to my tool collection. I have two hand me down made in the USA Vise Grips, but when I went to get another one I found they are now owned by Irwin and made in China, and are not of the same quality....My next thought was Knipex - but those have gotten mixed reviews as better than Vise Grips, but not great. They'd probaby do the trick for me, and I don't have much of a budget to spend big on this like Snap-On. How are the Milwaukee ones - I can get them at reasonable price? Grip-on is twice the price but might be worth it?
     
    Last edited: Sep 5, 2020
    FinoCJ, Sep 5, 2020
    #1
    dane71 likes this.
  2. 47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    The irwin chinese ones are of similar quality as the old USA crescent and similar. The harbor fight vise grips have actually worked fine for me, but the big ones I use for fabricating with swivel pads from harbor fight are trash.

    Even the old USA vise grips i have from the 70's and 80s aren't real great. They broke and easily rounded off the serrations in the jaws. Honestly, vise grips are only useful if you have ruined fasteners anyway. By the time I use one I am kind of desperate.
     
    47v6, Sep 5, 2020
    #2
    wheelie, Fireball and FinoCJ like this.
  3. PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    I buy up the old US-made ones when I find them at flea markets, if the price is reasonable.
     
    PeteL, Sep 5, 2020
    #3
    wheelie likes this.
  4. Mcruff

    Mcruff Earlycj5 Machinist

    I can't swear to Knipex locking pliers but I have been using Alligator Knipex, Cobra Knipex and snap ring pliers for 20 years and wouldn't buy a set of channel locks ever again. They are the best snap ring pliers made! Most anything Knipex makes is top notch and I hate saying germans make good anything because I despise their cars of any brand.
     
    Mcruff, Sep 5, 2020
    #4
    termin8ed, wheelie and FinoCJ like this.
  5. wheelie

    wheelie beeg dummy 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

    I'll buy them second hand at yard sales when I can, if they are still in good shape, as Pete said. Old US made or newer Irwin. Whatever. At that point, the damage to the economy is done and the quality seems to similar, as Chris mentioned. I didn't really notice a drop in quality when Irwin took over vice grip but, I never really used them enough to wreck the jaws to the point where I could compare them in that way.

    What I do like and used more than the regular vise grips was the welding type locking pliers with the swivel pads. 11R I think they are called and smaller like 8R or 9R or something.

    I'd still opt for the Chinese Irwins over the HF version. No experience with Knipex. I'd like to give them a whirl. German tools are usually very good. They're newer cars and Unimogs........maybe not so much.
     
    wheelie, Sep 6, 2020
    #5
  6. timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    I have a couple of pairs of Grip-ons that I like. They were mentioned on the GarageJournal board as a quality brand. Spanish.
    LOCKING PLIERS & CLAMPS
     
    timgr, Sep 6, 2020
    #6
  7. Lockman

    Lockman OK.....Now I Get It . 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    I remember running out of them in our Shop , quite a long time ago. We did discover that my Pal had 9 of them clamping down various loose parts under the hood of his old Ford.
    They seemed to all work pretty well for Him . :rofl:
     
    Last edited: Sep 6, 2020
    Lockman, Sep 6, 2020
    #7
  8. dane71

    dane71 Member

    If theyre gonna be made in China I get the cheapest ones i can find, personally. But usually I try to find something else.
     
    dane71, Sep 6, 2020
    #8
  9. duffer

    duffer Rodent Power

    The chinese Irwins are definitely better than HF but just go to a pawn shop and find an original Pedersen version.
     
    duffer, Sep 6, 2020
    #9
    Lockman likes this.
  10. termin8ed

    termin8ed I didn't do it Staff Member

    Ive got a mac vice grip style plier i found and so far the teeth are looking as good as new.
     
    termin8ed, Sep 8, 2020
    #10
  11. Keys5a

    Keys5a Sponsor

    I have a pair of Craftsman locking pliers that are as good, maybe better than the original Vice-Grips. Their jaws have stayed sharp far longer, and can bite deeper in harder metal. I generally hate anything Craftsman from the '90s-up, but these have held up very well for the past 8 or so years I've had them.
    -Donny
     
    Keys5a, Sep 12, 2020
    #11