Back when they were building those old time 'Liberty Ships', they used Vise grips a good bit to hold various components together for welding... and were in such a hurry that they just welded many of them right into the ships. A pair of Vise Grips also went along on most (or maybe all) Space Shuttle flights... not for any particular purpose, but because they can be extremely useful should 'improvisation' ever be necessary.
Your editing prowess is amazing. That was a seamless cut away. I have never broken a real pair of vise grips, but they definitely get a little weeble wobbly. I have definitely broken the cheap knock offs.
I had some vice grips with a difference, which was a simple sliding mechanism that replaced the bolt on the bottom. They were quite old when I got them, 60s I'd say. They were fantastic, and I used them all the time. Of course someone pinched them in the end, and I've never seen this brilliant design again. Anyone else seen this type before? They had a clear yellow plastic piece (like screwdriver handles) on the side which you could instantly slide to fit any size job. My favorite tool. Ever.
I just found 3 pairs of old ones two 10 inch and one seven one straight jaw the other twoslightly curved, I have been getting great old tools and you've helped me to positively identify these and other pliers and I got some channelock 410 parrotnose and some like crazy big ass slip joints that are almost like linesman in that they are wide and square jaws.those were new old stock for 10 bucks and the other 4 were 1 dollar each I love the local flea market
It takes time to build up collection but finding them at flea markets is nice because you save a ton of money so you don't mind using them in tough situations
@@CatusMaximus exactly and I have recently become sober and needed a new hobby and stuff to do and I've been finding old tools and cleaning them up and just working and having most things I need.a bad day finding and fixing up tools is better than any day being addicted to opiates
I carry my first ever pair of Irwin vise-grips in my work bag every day..And I work in an office! My favorite tool of all time...so versatile. Great vid!
I have a watched several dozen of your videos and subscribed. I must say I'm impressed with the level of detail you go into and the variety you display. Can we get a tool box tour? I'd like to see your full collection
haha I have never thought about a Catus Maximus tool box tour, but I just had to laugh when I read your comment, because I can't even imagine what that would be like after seeing all of the different tools he has. Might take all day for a tour haha.
Cool. Good videos man. I've been trying to catch up on the library. Vise grips are a tough all American tool alright. I just found an old pair of the big original straight jaw ones in some junk a renter left in the trash. They were rusty and grungy and I thought they were broke. I looked again and the little unlocking tab wasn't broke off. There never was one. They didn't put it on til in the 40s or 50s I believe it was. They cleaned up OK, jaws aren't wore out and they work fine. I only use them to hold things snug cause they're definitely worn but pretty good for however old they are and the life they've led from the looks of them. Some of the new ones are great and most are adequate but very few have the feel of American tools made back in the day.
...one thing I want to add...back in the late '80's-early 90's, Master Mechanic(True Value house brand) WERE Vise Grips...the 10wr-7wr etc. was on the lower jaw, and identical "made in u.s.a." stamped on the bottom of the lower handle...they were identical...True Value would run a sale back then, bought the 7" pairs on sale for $3.99 each. I bought several pair, still have most, they have held up just as well over time as the Vise Grip brand...no surprise, since they are the same thing. Recently bought a current production pair off Ebay just to test them...Made in China, no surprise, nowhere near as good as the old ones. They also appear to not be made by Vise Grip anymore, different rivets, etc. As an aside, Crescent made the balance of Master Mechanic pliers-slip joint, needle nose, groove joint, etc.- back then, and also their adjustable wrenches. All made in u.s.a.........
Another issue with older Vise Grips, is with that 'strut' running from the lower grip, up into the the upper grip & butting against the adjustment screw. The upper corners of said strut would imbed themselves into the inner upper grip, giving a soft lack luster feel. The fix was to pivot the strut out and dress off the corners with a file, leaving a slightly rounded upper strut surface to ride within the grip. I don't think the newer versions have this issue, and from what I've seen the strut can no longer be pivoted out of the upper grip anyway. Check your older ones, back the adjustment out & compress the jaws together by hand, pivot the strut out and look... are there two linear 'tracks' hogged out within the upper grip? Once done with the mod, a tiny dab of good grease up in the upper grip, and on the adjustment screw threads makes them work really smooth. Flush with brake cleaner & re-apply as necessary.
In its day the ViceGrip brand were the only brand to buy , no knock-offs . Recently discovered a brand of locking pliers , Grip On , Made in Spain . The catalog has a large variety and configurations of locking pliers. Quality made with durable painted epoxy surfaces . 2/23
What good are the straight jaw vice grips? Are they worth buying or just stick with the curved jaw? I have never encountered a need for straight jaw ones. I did need a straight jaw for pulling a hood release wire but I used the needle nose vice grip instead.
I had to watch this after yesterday when a needle nose vise grips saved my butt when trying to tighten a loose pipe fitting in a very tight situation. It was the ONLY tool I had that would do the job.
Good info and very interesting. The only failure I've ever had with vise grips is pulling the adjustment screw threads out of the body.never seen a broken jaw but the newer chi com ones are noticeably weaker
Great review, learned some things I never knew about vice grips. Here’s another question: are there any differences in vice grips since Stanley Black & Decker bought Irwin from Newell Brands? The new Craftsman screwdrivers made in Taiwan are great quality. I’ll try to see if I can spot any differences.
I have this real old vise grip from the whale co. Called pli-wrench. They have the flat teeth setup but also are cool because the lower jaw can slide. So basically at many thicknesses the jaws will still clamp total flat with each other. Never saw another brand have this design.
I love those things! My favorite is a 4" pair of bent needlenose (4BN) that hasn't been available for years. I used them on cushion clamps for wireharnesses. Wow, you made your set?
I didn't really make them effectively I just heated them up with the rosebud knowing that I would weaken the Jaws by damaging the heat treatment and then just bent them using a press
They are great till you get thee web between you thumb and hand stuck in the locked handle. Ouch is all I can say when your trying to unlock it with your non dominant hand. Great review.
I believe Malco who makes Eagle Grip has bought the original tooling and equipment to make the original vise grip. Eagle Grip is the Original vise grip sold today.
The rounded teeth vise grips are better for plumbing and tubes, while the straight ones are good for securing something while you work on it, like with a file or sandpaper
A few years back bought some cheap knock off vise grips, had an employee injure his hand so needless to say all the cheap locking pliers got thrown into the scrap pile.
getting smacked real bad in the hands unlocking vise grips is not only required for manhood, but also required for boyhood too lol. the 2 best tools to learn that you need to respect them is with vise grips and stabbing something with a flathead
@@CatusMaximus Thats sounds about right as to why it happend.. So ive gone to lowes and home depot lately with channellocks or kleins and they swap them right across no problem. Vice should do it also.
I was cleaning my old Petersen Mfg 5WR Vise Grip this afternoon and was wondering how old it is. Certainly early 80s or maybe late 70s. Read up on the name change to Irwin, then Rubermaid and now recently the Black and Decker buy outs. When manufacturing moved to China in 2008 and Dewitt closed -losing 300 jobs (in a town of 8-900), quality dropped. There are more than a few reviews of teeth on even near new months-old Chinese Vise Grips wearing down in shops. Mine are still fine and are 35 years old or so. Soft Chinese steel sucks. Find a good pair and maybe replace the screw with an hex - which is clever, and don't buy the new stuff.
I think the original Petersen Vice Grip had forged jaws with some of the surface hardened and the Malco version from the refitted factory in DeWitt Nebraska has the same.
If you want US made vise grips, I hear the "offspring" company of the original tool is basically the only one making them, and supposedly they're really good. Google "Eagle Grip Locking Pliers". They look pretty nice from the ads I guess, but I don't need to spend more money on tools I don't really have an immediate use for just yet. Trying to cut back on that kind of wonton spending lol.
Good news but then bad news,since this video Malco made an attempt to bring back the original American quality locking plier by refitting the former Petersen Vice Grip factory (the tooling there I understand was sent to Communist China to make the "Irwin" stuff ,the Malco version appeared about a year ago but the price is fairly high ,I understand that they are at least as good as the original Petersen Made in USA Vice-Grip which was better than the "Genuine" replacement but due to poor sales they are now going to stop making them seems like now that word has gotten out that there won't be any more made people are starting to buy them
...the Petersen Vise-Grips were unbeatable, have several pair, unfortunately most are nearly worn out. The Irwins are clearly not as good, even the "assembled in USA of global components" ones(Read: "assembled in USA of Chinese parts"). The original Vise Grips are legends, the current ones are not "the original" despite them stamping it on the handle. I refuse to buy Chinese Vise Grips, I will buy Taiwan copies from Milwaukee, etc. instead.....
..yes, indeed..they should still be made there...REALLY made there, too...not just Nebraskans assembling a bunch of Chinese made parts.....@@biggiefitz6275
Back when they were building those old time 'Liberty Ships', they used Vise grips a good bit to hold various components together for welding... and were in such a hurry that they just welded many of them right into the ships. A pair of Vise Grips also went along on most (or maybe all) Space Shuttle flights... not for any particular purpose, but because they can be extremely useful should 'improvisation' ever be necessary.
The tool equivalent of "first aid kit in a jar"
No matter what I research, Catus Maximus shows up with a video. Good stuff, always great reviews.
Your editing prowess is amazing. That was a seamless cut away. I have never broken a real pair of vise grips, but they definitely get a little weeble wobbly. I have definitely broken the cheap knock offs.
Yes especially considering I'm still using a cell phone to run this channel... :)
I had some vice grips with a difference, which was a simple sliding mechanism that replaced the bolt on the bottom. They were quite old when I got them, 60s I'd say. They were fantastic, and I used them all the time. Of course someone pinched them in the end, and I've never seen this brilliant design again. Anyone else seen this type before? They had a clear yellow plastic piece (like screwdriver handles) on the side which you could instantly slide to fit any size job. My favorite tool. Ever.
I just found 3 pairs of old ones two 10 inch and one seven one straight jaw the other twoslightly curved, I have been getting great old tools and you've helped me to positively identify these and other pliers and I got some channelock 410 parrotnose and some like crazy big ass slip joints that are almost like linesman in that they are wide and square jaws.those were new old stock for 10 bucks and the other 4 were 1 dollar each I love the local flea market
It takes time to build up collection but finding them at flea markets is nice because you save a ton of money so you don't mind using them in tough situations
@@CatusMaximus exactly and I have recently become sober and needed a new hobby and stuff to do and I've been finding old tools and cleaning them up and just working and having most things I need.a bad day finding and fixing up tools is better than any day being addicted to opiates
I carry my first ever pair of Irwin vise-grips in my work bag every day..And I work in an office! My favorite tool of all time...so versatile. Great vid!
Sounds like a perfect tool for office use they can't hold a very thick stack of paper together very effectively
@@CatusMaximus Lol, stripped apart a giant copier with seized bolts a few weeks ago..have yet to use them as a paper holder. Good idea though!
I have a watched several dozen of your videos and subscribed. I must say I'm impressed with the level of detail you go into and the variety you display. Can we get a tool box tour? I'd like to see your full collection
Thank you for your comment, I'll do a rolling chest tour for the Thousand subscriber special
haha I have never thought about a Catus Maximus tool box tour, but I just had to laugh when I read your comment, because I can't even imagine what that would be like after seeing all of the different tools he has. Might take all day for a tour haha.
Cool. Good videos man. I've been trying to catch up on the library. Vise grips are a tough all American tool alright. I just found an old pair of the big original straight jaw ones in some junk a renter left in the trash. They were rusty and grungy and I thought they were broke. I looked again and the little unlocking tab wasn't broke off. There never was one. They didn't put it on til in the 40s or 50s I believe it was. They cleaned up OK, jaws aren't wore out and they work fine. I only use them to hold things snug cause they're definitely worn but pretty good for however old they are and the life they've led from the looks of them. Some of the new ones are great and most are adequate but very few have the feel of American tools made back in the day.
...one thing I want to add...back in the late '80's-early 90's, Master Mechanic(True Value house brand) WERE Vise Grips...the 10wr-7wr etc. was on the lower jaw, and identical "made in u.s.a." stamped on the bottom of the lower handle...they were identical...True Value would run a sale back then, bought the 7" pairs on sale for $3.99 each. I bought several pair, still have most, they have held up just as well over time as the Vise Grip brand...no surprise, since they are the same thing. Recently bought a current production pair off Ebay just to test them...Made in China, no surprise, nowhere near as good as the old ones. They also appear to not be made by Vise Grip anymore, different rivets, etc. As an aside, Crescent made the balance of Master Mechanic pliers-slip joint, needle nose, groove joint, etc.- back then, and also their adjustable wrenches. All made in u.s.a.........
I didn't know the old Master mechanics were rebranded vice grips thank you
Another issue with older Vise Grips, is with that 'strut' running from the lower grip, up into the the upper grip & butting against the adjustment screw. The upper corners of said strut would imbed themselves into the inner upper grip, giving a soft lack luster feel. The fix was to pivot the strut out and dress off the corners with a file, leaving a slightly rounded upper strut surface to ride within the grip. I don't think the newer versions have this issue, and from what I've seen the strut can no longer be pivoted out of the upper grip anyway. Check your older ones, back the adjustment out & compress the jaws together by hand, pivot the strut out and look... are there two linear 'tracks' hogged out within the upper grip? Once done with the mod, a tiny dab of good grease up in the upper grip, and on the adjustment screw threads makes them work really smooth. Flush with brake cleaner & re-apply as necessary.
In its day the ViceGrip brand were the only brand to buy , no knock-offs . Recently discovered a brand of locking pliers , Grip On , Made in Spain . The catalog has a large variety and configurations of locking pliers. Quality made with durable painted epoxy surfaces . 2/23
Vise grips where the first tool I could remember using lol, I was probably about 5 learning to change my bicycle tire haha
why would you need a vise grip to change a tyre lol?
What good are the straight jaw vice grips? Are they worth buying or just stick with the curved jaw? I have never encountered a need for straight jaw ones. I did need a straight jaw for pulling a hood release wire but I used the needle nose vice grip instead.
I had to watch this after yesterday when a needle nose vise grips saved my butt when trying to tighten a loose pipe fitting in a very tight situation. It was the ONLY tool I had that would do the job.
Great post sir. Yep Irwin took over vise grip an Stanley took over Irwin
Such a shame too. I think many tool manufacturers sell out just for the money even though they can remain viable as independent organization.
Good info and very interesting. The only failure I've ever had with vise grips is pulling the adjustment screw threads out of the body.never seen a broken jaw but the newer chi com ones are noticeably weaker
I have a pair stamped patent date 1942
Great review, learned some things I never knew about vice grips.
Here’s another question: are there any differences in vice grips since Stanley Black & Decker bought Irwin from Newell Brands? The new Craftsman screwdrivers made in Taiwan are great quality. I’ll try to see if I can spot any differences.
Some people in the comments have said that the newer vice grips aren't as good a metal in the heat treatment is not as good
I have this real old vise grip from the whale co. Called pli-wrench. They have the flat teeth setup but also are cool because the lower jaw can slide. So basically at many thicknesses the jaws will still clamp total flat with each other. Never saw another brand have this design.
I found a set of old made in USA Craftsmans at a yard sale this summer
I love those things! My favorite is a 4" pair of bent needlenose (4BN) that hasn't been available for years. I used them on cushion clamps for wireharnesses. Wow, you made your set?
I didn't really make them effectively I just heated them up with the rosebud knowing that I would weaken the Jaws by damaging the heat treatment and then just bent them using a press
@@CatusMaximus
I wish they still made the bent nose pairs. I have a 6" straight needle nose I haven't figured out what to do with yet.
They are great till you get thee web between you thumb and hand stuck in the locked handle. Ouch is all I can say when your trying to unlock it with your non dominant hand. Great review.
Thank you and yes vice grips can pinch you badly
What the pliers with the hammer nub thing called?
I believe Malco who makes Eagle Grip has bought the original tooling and equipment to make the original vise grip. Eagle Grip is the Original vise grip sold today.
The rounded teeth vise grips are better for plumbing and tubes, while the straight ones are good for securing something while you work on it, like with a file or sandpaper
I just bought some Crescent Vise Grips recently I got two of them for $14.99
Milwaukee !!! 100 % American----stockholders group.OK .OK. They DO make a good plier gripper. Real decent. Smells like chicken(egg rolls)
I have a new defective Irwin one, it sucks and I'm returning it. And a ton of solid quality ones from Walmart
I have a few of the early ones they dont have a lever
I have not seen the small waile mouth ones i have 12 inch pair
Canada tire sold ones like the harbor freight
A few years back bought some cheap knock off vise grips, had an employee injure his hand so needless to say all the cheap locking pliers got thrown into the scrap pile.
I have about 150 pair of them
11:45
You shoulve gone with the word ratchet instead. It would've been ave level confusing
getting smacked real bad in the hands unlocking vise grips is not only required for manhood, but also required for boyhood too lol. the 2 best tools to learn that you need to respect them is with vise grips and stabbing something with a flathead
I got a broken pair where theyre off center from being forced
Yes I've had a few pairs that are like that usually from using too small of a pair for the job
@@CatusMaximus Thats sounds about right as to why it happend.. So ive gone to lowes and home depot lately with channellocks or kleins and they swap them right across no problem. Vice should do it also.
I was cleaning my old Petersen Mfg 5WR Vise Grip this afternoon and was wondering how old it is. Certainly early 80s or maybe late 70s. Read up on the name change to Irwin, then Rubermaid and now recently the Black and Decker buy outs. When manufacturing moved to China in 2008 and Dewitt closed -losing 300 jobs (in a town of 8-900), quality dropped. There are more than a few reviews of teeth on even near new months-old Chinese Vise Grips wearing down in shops. Mine are still fine and are 35 years old or so. Soft Chinese steel sucks. Find a good pair and maybe replace the screw with an hex - which is clever, and don't buy the new stuff.
I think the original Petersen Vice Grip had forged jaws with some of the surface hardened and the Malco version from the refitted factory in DeWitt Nebraska has the same.
Vise-Grips are the duct tape of hand tools. I remember my dad showing me how they work, decades ago.
Well said
I agree, they can handle just about any job.
@@matthewjackson9615 channel locks are good also but not as good as locking pliers
If you want US made vise grips, I hear the "offspring" company of the original tool is basically the only one making them, and supposedly they're really good. Google "Eagle Grip Locking Pliers". They look pretty nice from the ads I guess, but I don't need to spend more money on tools I don't really have an immediate use for just yet. Trying to cut back on that kind of wonton spending lol.
Yeah Malco. They are pretty nice, but a bit expensive. But probably worth it because it will be the last pair you need to buy.
Good news but then bad news,since this video Malco made an attempt to bring back the original American quality locking plier by refitting the former Petersen Vice Grip factory (the tooling there I understand was sent to Communist China to make the "Irwin" stuff ,the Malco version appeared about a year ago but the price is fairly high ,I understand that they are at least as good as the original Petersen Made in USA Vice-Grip which was better than the "Genuine" replacement but due to poor sales they are now going to stop making them
seems like now that word has gotten out that there won't be any more made people are starting to buy them
...the Petersen Vise-Grips were unbeatable, have several pair, unfortunately most are nearly worn out. The Irwins are clearly not as good, even the "assembled in USA of global components" ones(Read: "assembled in USA of Chinese parts"). The original Vise Grips are legends, the current ones are not "the original" despite them stamping it on the handle. I refuse to buy Chinese Vise Grips, I will buy Taiwan copies from Milwaukee, etc. instead.....
Yes it's unfortunate that their quality has gone down my script was not facing bankruptcy I don't know why they sold out
Mine say Dewitt, Nebr. Made in my state! Just wish they were still made here.
..yes, indeed..they should still be made there...REALLY made there, too...not just Nebraskans assembling a bunch of Chinese made parts.....@@biggiefitz6275
Flies markets and buy the original.
Vise Grip moved manufacturing from DeWitt Nebraska to China. I won't ever buy Vise Grips that aren't made in the USA..