FOLLOW-UP ON USA VICE GRIP LOCKING PLIERS

[chief38]

Hopefully some here will recall I posted a thread months back regarding the Eagle Brand Locking Vice Grip Pliers by Malco. I stated that the original Factory in Nebraska which was the exact same home to the original Vice Grip Manufacturing Company was purchased by Malco and they have resurrected all the original Vice Grip Pliers as well as adding some ones as well. They are all designed and made in the USA and so they are a little more expensive. Some here responded that they would not spend the extra bucks for the original made in USA pliers and said they didn't mind buying Chinese knock offs. For those - you need to watch this video! There is a difference!

Here is a new video that just came out today and the tester (Farm Project) is a well known Youtube tool and product tester who's video's are well made and well thought out. By watching the video there is absolutely no disputing that the all American made original design and product line came out well on top. Not wanting to start arguing here, but I do think some who tried to save a few dollars might now rethink what I had been trying to explain.

Again, for the once or twice a year user, the knock off brands may be OK but for the handyman, homeowner doing his own repair work, professional, enthusiast, tool guy or any type of tradesman, these might save you time, money, damaged parts and busted knuckles. I have no horse in this race, don't get one red cent commission, or any thank you from Malco - but I do like promoting am all American made product that truly lives up to the reputation and the extra few bucks can easily be justified in spending. The fact that they bought the original building and designs is an added feather in their cap. Link pasted below.



[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8BDMF8KKlQ[/ame]


https://www.eaglegripusa.com/

 

[30-30remchester]

I work with my tools daily. I will not own a Chinese tool. I would rather be broken down along side a road without a tool that to have cheap anything. My brother and I had adjoining shops for our construction businesses. My brother bought every piece of junk Harbor Freight sold in its early days. The few time I would work in his shop his tools let me down regularly. I would enter my shop every morning and would often find his employees inside using my tools because as they said " Mine worked and didn't get them hurt". That being said, a pair of original vise grips is in every vehicle I own and in my bail out bag. About the handiest tool ever made. I even welded a hammer head to a few to increase its usefulness.

 

[delcrossv]

Time is money. Cheap tools waste time. 'Nuff said.

 

[Rifleman200-10X]

I've been a welder/fabricator since 1978. I am currently a shop supervisor at a custom metal fabricator, and an adjunct welding instructor at a local community college. And especially since I'm a life-long Nebraska resident, I can say with absolute certainty that the "new" Vise Grips made overseas are absolute GARBAGE. I have about 50 or 60 C-grip clamps, pliers, and other good old "Made in Nebraska, USA Vise Grips" that I wouldn't trade for a cargo container of the imports. I truly don't need any more Vise Grips, my 45 year old veterans work just fine, but I may buy a pair of the Eagle Malco brand just to compare.

 

[30-30remchester]

I think those that have and use cheap tools, don't make a living with them. And to me this is fine. To pay $40 for a tool used once at the house to straighten a nail is almost "a fool and his money" scenario. But for us that use tools every day and make our living with them is a different world all together. I haunt pawn shops and yard sales looking for old quality tools and can pick up original USA made vise grips whenever I can. Got lots of spares.

 

[Bajadoc]

Quality tools almost always work better and are a pleasure to use. That makes them worth it to me. Also, that video guy seems really sharp.

 

[chief38]

For most of my adult life I earned my living with tools. I still own all of them and they are all is excellent condition. Once in a blue moon I did have to have one replaced under warranty but they were replaced with no questions asked. Many of my tools were used on a daily basis multiple times a day.

My neighbor and friend directly across the street is a LEO who bought Harbor Freight tools almost exclusively. Since he doesn't make a living with tools he wanted to spend the least amount possible - thought he was getting a bargain. After years of asking me to borrow my tools he finally (recently) admitted that many of the tools he bought have either failed or just don't do the job correctly. I think he's seen the light - lol. Unfortunately, some of the times has he asked me to borrow my tools he has already rounded off bolts, Allan head screws and buggered up screw heads! He's starting to get the picture.

FUNNY: 3 years ago he handed me a set of 6 screwdrivers he had gotten for free with the flyer from HF. He said he had so many free sets, he didn't need anymore. Since I'd never actually use them as screwdrivers I repurposed them. A few I made into Rebound Spring removal tools for S&W Revolvers, a few into awls and a few I ground into "U" shaped sight nut removal tools. Since there is no real torque on these type tools they serve the purpose.

 

[chief38]

This just brought a big smile to my face!

My Dad who was also a big "Tool Guy" made me my first kid-sized work bench (complete with a small bench vise and stool) when I was 5 years old. He actually gave me real tools to use on it as well. One of the very first tools he gave me was a real pair of Vice Grips.

Now in my childhood neighborhood (not a fancy one - for sure) some of our Summer antics were having water hose fights to cool off and for fun. After my Mom and our next door neighbor started getting upset that we would get water in the house (opened windows in the Summer - no a/c) my Dad took the handle off of the hose spigot so no one could turn the hose on. After getting blasted by my neighbor's hose one hot Summer day, I ran down to my work bench, grabbed my Vice Grips and quickly got back into the water hose fight! Yup - my mom told my Dad what I had done and while he scolded me for it, there was a big grin on his face. He did not tell my Mom how I turned the water on - lol.

 

[NYlakesider]

Ya get what you pay for!

Most of my hand tools are from the 60s early 70s and are much better than most of the junk you see for sale today

Hand tools: sockets, all sorts of wrenches all sorts of pliers including a bunch of different size Vice Grips, some of those modified for need!

 

[Boox]

As a former Snap-On dealer in CNY in the 70's, it's pretty obvious what 90% of my hand tools are, and I include about 10 different size Vise- grips in that inventory. At 75 I don't wrench as much as i used to, but Snap-On is still my first choice. I do have a set of GearWrench wrenchs that i bought a few years ago, and I do use them quite often working on old garden tractors due to their ratcheting feature in tough to get at spots.

 

[jeffrefrig]

Nothing worse than a cheap Phillips head screwdriver turning into an awl the first time you use it on a tight screw. Those of you who've done it know what I mean! One apprentice handed me some cheap screwdriver from his bag, all proud of the bargains he got from HF. I threw it down behind the cooler where it stays to this day and told him to get one out of my bag! Later I explained why I did it. Buy once, use it forever!

 

[THE PILGRIM]

I have several Real Vise grips of various sizes, including large.
At my present usage rate, I would have to live longer than Methuselah before any possibility of actually wearing out any.
Losing - misplacing, always a possibility.
Kids - SIL borrowing ? Always possible!

 

[mtgianni]

I owned a Datsun 210 I bought new in 80. When it had carburator troubles at about 80,000 miles the mechanic walked across the street to Ace hardware. He bought a cheap $5 open end wrench, took a torch to it and bent the heated wrench so it easily fit the opening to the nuts holding the carb on. We agreed that he would keep the wrench and I would pay half of the cost. He hung it in his shop with a label as to what it fit. There were several others hanging near it.

Cheap tools have a place. They are OK if they only need to be used once a year or so.

 

[Jack Flash]

I believe in a "two tier" tool system. (Note that's "tier" not "tear" ).

I have some original Vice Grips bought back in the '70s that I keep with my top quality-tools in the house. But for out in the garage, in the shed, etc., it sure is handy to have some budget price tools so I don't have to go back into the house for every loose screw or bolt I encounter.

I agree that yard sales and especially estate sales are great for finding vintage American-made tools, often at give-away prices.

 

[Marshwheeling]

Hopefully some here will recall I posted a thread months back regarding the Eagle Brand Locking Vice Grip Pliers by Malco. I stated that the original Factory in Nebraska which was the exact same home to the original Vice Grip Manufacturing Company was purchased by Malco and they have resurrected all the original Vice Grip Pliers as well as adding some ones as well. They are all designed and made in the USA and so they are a little more expensive. Some here responded that they would not spend the extra bucks for the original made in USA pliers and said they didn't mind buying Chinese knock offs. For those - you need to watch this video! There is a difference!

Here is a new video that just came out today and the tester (Farm Project) is a well known Youtube tool and product tester who's video's are well made and well thought out. By watching the video there is absolutely no disputing that the all American made original design and product line came out well on top. Not wanting to start arguing here, but I do think some who tried to save a few dollars might now rethink what I had been trying to explain.

Again, for the once or twice a year user, the knock off brands may be OK but for the handyman, homeowner doing his own repair work, professional, enthusiast, tool guy or any type of tradesman, these might save you time, money, damaged parts and busted knuckles. I have no horse in this race, don't get one red cent commission, or any thank you from Malco - but I do like promoting am all American made product that truly lives up to the reputation and the extra few bucks can easily be justified in spending. The fact that they bought the original building and designs is an added feather in their cap. Link pasted below.



Best Locking Pliers (VISE GRIPS)? Irwin vs Knipex, Milwaukee, Craftsman, Stanley, Malco, Pittsburgh. - YouTube


https://www.eaglegripusa.com/

I recently saw a test video by this same guy comparing several brands of side-cutting pliers. I wouldn't bet money, but I am pretty sure that an American brand (Klein?) performed best. Knipex did pretty well, in the top half of the pack.

I love Knipex pliers, but the ones I carry every day are USA-made Channellocks, mostly for their slender construction, much easier to carry than even the smallest 4" Knipex..

 

[30-30remchester]

I owned a Datsun 210 I bought new in 80. When it had carburator troubles at about 80,000 miles the mechanic walked across the street to Ace hardware. He bought a cheap $5 open end wrench, took a torch to it and bent the heated wrench so it easily fit the opening to the nuts holding the carb on. We agreed that he would keep the wrench and I would pay half of the cost. He hung it in his shop with a label as to what it fit. There were several others hanging near it.

Cheap tools have a place. They are OK if they only need to be used once a year or so.

Owning, operating and repair heavy machinery was my profession for 36 years. Doing all our own repairs, we would often have to get creative with tool. So much of our machines were assembled the added onto from there. To keep from having to completely disassemble the machine to get to the lower component, we would create a tool just for that special purpose. Often it was as you described just a bent wrench, but sometimes far more elaborate. Welded many socket extensions to plugs and bolts to make removal easier. I would buy US made Craftsman wrenched for these special seldom used applications. One large drawer in our roll away was dedicated to these special need tool. When I die and someone purchases my tools, I bet there will be some head scratching trying to figure out what those tools were used for.

 

[oldbrownhat]

Reviews of various locking pliers, including the new/old Malco Eagle Grips on ToolguyD website. I find this site pretty useful.

I need a new pair of locking pliers but am a bit reluctant to spring the $$$ for the new Malco. But I do admit a preference for professional-grade tools, even though I'm not a "professional." A few years ago I attempetd to replace an old (c.1980) 1/2" drive Craftsman ratchet wrench and eventually gave up in disgust and bought a Wright. Made in the USA and will long outlive me

 

[THE PILGRIM]

I have some Disston Handsaws that are probably 100 years or older.
They were already old when my Dad bought them at an Auction about 1947.
You can tell the ones which were rode hard because the tips come to a point as the years of filing removes metal.

 

[MRB1]

I keep a tool box with HF and other junk tools in it for when my wife wants to "use" one, or if a neighbor needs something. My real tools are always locked up.