What's happened to vice grips.

[armalites]

Knipex do them too and the quality of Knipex casting/finishing is very good even on the modern stuff

These even have a wire cutter in them
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Knipex-41...hash=item212f1b5210:m:mypi-ZU2LjTnU1OgEBTD80A

 

[Hood]

Got the Wurth ones today, seem pretty decent and not too expensive, can't recall exactly how much the rep said but think £13 odd plus VAT, delivery would also be extra if the total order was under £50.
The release lever is spring loaded which is something I have not had on any others, whether it is a god or bad thing I don't know yet.
Anyway some pics.

 

[Richard.]

They look ok. How do the jaws naturally marry up when closed? My new vice grips are a fortnight to 3 weeks away from sitting flush with each other. Is there much flop in the moving parts?
Mine have got 5 mm pins fitted in 20mm holes.

 

[Rocketman]

Look at these Hazet for 29 euros. They are a different world from the irwins and look better made than the wurth above.

https://www.tbs-aachen.de/Hazet/pliers/grip_pliers/Hazet_753-10_Grip_Pliers_i2712_18640.htm

 

[Agrismith]

I have a couple of pairs of irwins and they are perfectly adequate for the job
I always get the curved jaw ones i find the flat jaw ones a bit pointless as cant grip nearly as big stuff before it pings out
Alright as a clamp on flat but i use them a lot on round bar
The irwins have the wire cutter in and it is impressive what it wil cut
Im not sure but think the irwins with the rubber coated handles are meant to be a premium version

 

[Hood]

They look ok. How do the jaws naturally marry up when closed? My new vice grips are a fortnight to 3 weeks away from sitting flush with each other. Is there much flop in the moving parts?
Mine have got 5 mm pins fitted in 20mm holes.

Top jaw is rock solid and bottom jaw has maybe about 2mm max movement if you push one way then the other.
When you clamp something or clamp the jaws to themselves the seem to be perfectly aligned although the casting or subsequent finishing makes them look a bit untidy and the black paint doesn't help.
Not used them in anger yet but did use them to pull a key out of a motor shaft and they did it no problem.

Look at these Hazet for 29 euros. They are a different world from the irwins and look better made than the wurth above.

https://www.tbs-aachen.de/Hazet/pliers/grip_pliers/Hazet_753-10_Grip_Pliers_i2712_18640.htm

What I like about the Wurth ones is the top jaw is held with 2 pins, so not relying on the folded metal.

 

[Shox Dr]

Stopped buying new Vice grips a long time ago, the yanks have been complaining for at least 5yrs.
I’ve two pair of Hilka vice grips, (red handles) the other Draper. The Hilka’s are very good, better than VG ever were, imo. My long nose are ‘Elite’ found a pair at a boot sale, was that impressed the next time I saw some I bought the lot. I think MM may sell them. The C clamps are VC, I’ve used others and non compare.

 

[Richard.]

Top jaw is rock solid and bottom jaw has maybe about 2mm max movement if you push one way then the other.
When you clamp something or clamp the jaws to themselves the seem to be perfectly aligned although the casting or subsequent finishing makes them look a bit untidy and the black paint doesn't help.
Not used them in anger yet but did use them to pull a key out of a motor shaft and they did it no problem.View attachment 122171





What I like about the Wurth ones is the top jaw is held with 2 pins, so not relying on the folded metal.

They look sooooooooo much better made than the ones I bought

 

[Hood]

They look sooooooooo much better made than the ones I bought

Only thing I am wondering about is the painted finish, I presume it is just bare steel underneath so not sure how long it will be before they are rusty due to me being in salt air/water all the time.
They have other models that are slightly cheaper and look to be plated but they only have the one rivet at the pivot point rather than the extra 2 pins through the top jaw.

 

[Richard.]

I would imagine it's an industrial finished tool and quite a hard plating on them. I doubt it's a painted finish but only time will tell. I'm gonna ask would you mind dropping some comments into the thread after you've given them a good pull and twist because if you find they hold out well after a bit of use and abuse I'll be taking it on board and buying the same ones. They look fab from your photos and descriptions and the fact they clamp up true already tells me that they are of better quality than the today's version of vice grip.

 

[Hood]

I would imagine it's an industrial finished tool and quite a hard plating on them. I doubt it's a painted finish but only time will tell. I'm gonna ask would you mind dropping some comments into the thread after you've given them a good pull and twist because if you find they hold out well after a bit of use and abuse I'll be taking it on board and buying the same ones. They look fab from your photos and descriptions and the fact they clamp up true already tells me that they are of better quality than the today's version of vice grip.

Will do.
They are Wurths Zebra range which is the best stuff they sell so I hope they do turn out to be decent, any other zebra stuff I have had has been good. Why the heck they call their top range stuff after a black and white striped horse I have no idea

 

[Richard.]

Will do.
They are Wurths Zebra range which is the best stuff they sell so I hope they do turn out to be decent, any other zebra stuff I have had has been good. Why the heck they call their top range stuff after a black and white striped horse I have no idea

Could be worse. It could be called the wurths donkey range.
Thanks for that hood. I'll await your results patiently.

 

[Hood]

On another subject, I have not posted the torch yet as I have not been in the workshop so the guy picking it up may not take it if I am not there. Will be in most days this week so will get it sent off on Wed so should be with you Thurs, is that OK as I think I saw you were away this week.

 

[Richard.]

On another subject, I have not posted the torch yet as I have not been in the workshop so the guy picking it up may not take it if I am not there. Will be in most days this week so will get it sent off on Wed so should be with you Thurs, is that OK as I think I saw you were away this week.

No rush mate I'm back on Monday. I'll let you know what I get through it and send her straight back.
Do you know my address. I think you have it when you sent that boring bar but pm me if you need it again.

 

[Hood]

Will it be ok to send this week or better waiting until next?

Yes just looked and still have your address in the PM.

 

[Richard.]

Entirely up to you mate. Like I say I won't receive it till Monday so depending on how or who you send it with they will either leave it at the local post office, leave it with a neighbour, try to deliver it another day, try to force it through the letterbox or the best one I've had is where they've drop kicked it up the driveway and left a note saying it's by the bin.

 

[Hood]

It will be UPS or at least that is who I normally use. They should leave with a neighbour but will just wait until next week just in case.

 

[Rocketman]

What I like about the Wurth ones is the top jaw is held with 2 pins, so not relying on the folded metal.

Didn't notice the 2 pins. I'm pondering now, don't think I will be going with Irwin again anyway. The size of the steel on the jaws/well machined look on the hazet's had drawn me to them but on the other hand you point out the 2 pins on the on the wurth and your positive feedback.