Thread: Vice Grip vs LockJaw

This might be a bit less technically involved than I see the general trend of threads to be, ah so be it.

We all know what ViceGrips are.

You've seen those newfangled yankee LockJaw doohickeys? Auto-adjusting etc etc.

The people in the shops tell me they're great and I should buy two in every size, but they would say that.

I figure it costs me nothing to ask here and get some other folks feedback on these toys.

Love 'em? Hate 'em? What say you.

(Yes, I do feel like a bit of a knob asking about pliers when everyone else is talking Lathes. They won't let me play with the expensive toys yet)

I am sure as with any tool, there is the trade off between the right application and frequency of use.

The good gear,the genuine Vicegrip is relatively expensive, but the good bit is that it is produced in so many configurations, that there seems to be a suitable tool for nearly every conceivable application.

I find the Vice grip design to be a pain in the bum for what I do them for and use a slightly different design I found in Bunnings . My application is to hold items that require tack welding together.

I like the Bunnings model because I can release them one handed and were cost effective at $10.They work well for me.

Grahame

Firstly welcome aboard screwdriver , My self i use vice grips, I have draws full of them, picked them up all over the place, over the years, So I'll stick with them. But all said and done, the vice grip is a great device, never fail, and can grid off any spatter if need be, and even the real cheap chinnese ones will lock on and not let go.

Guys,
when you got an odd one off application and Chinese clones are so cheap,you can do these types of mods with guilt at wrecking a good set.I have more pics if theres an interest.

Grahame

Nice modifications, Grahame. Grizzly has a couple like pic 1. One by Kreg (H7345, $$$) has a knob to engage a keyhole slot in a separate plate to be attached to the bench. Some others, less dear (G1872, G8079, & H1127), engage slots in a drill press table.

Pic 2: Some sort of remote-release device?

Joe

Hi Joe,
Exactly that.

I saw them on on the shop floor forum I think.The man was working at heights and did not want to run up and down a ladder to bring lightish items (he didn't say what exactly ) back to ground. level.It appears he had his trailer parked below and jury rigged the grips for a quick release ,when the load was lowered into his trailer.
I save stuff like that for future reference.



Grahame

I use them everyday in my job, and the genuine ViseGrip has never let me down. I have had some for over 15 years. Chinese ones have ended up in the scrap recycle bin.

Hi Peter,
I can understand what your saying,but there is something inside me that I can't bring to wreck a perfectly good set of vicegrips.I know the quality is there.

Frinstance the chrome coating is better on the Vicegrips while the chinkgrips are showing rust through their micron thick coating of chrome.

I have no such qualms about chopping up clones.
These photos are of (modified ) pipe flanging vicegrips.

Grahame

Here is a mod that does not involving changing anything a real lot.
It utilises the non slip nature of the tool and incorporates a slide hammer.

Grahame

Great mods, Grahame, keep 'em coming


Cheers...............Sean

I'm a real Vice-grip fan, and have several versions including a chain-mouthed one, which is excellent for gripping round things like hydraulic rams, and pulling stuff together.
I have bought and used various brands and sizes with differing success, but my biggest beef isn't with jaw strength etc, but with with a certain brand that thought it better to have the release mechanism work opposite to the normal action! I mean, why would you bother, apart from p*ssing off the vast majority of users! Certainly confuses the innocent people I try teaching when 2 seemingly identical tools work in completely different ways!!

Cheers,

Yeah, I like Vice Grips as well including the cheapo versions which are excellent to modify and not feel guilty as already mentioned.

I like the 11" 'C' type vice grips for welding. I reckon they are real versatile particularly if they have the swivel grippers.

You can never have too many.

Cheers..........Barry.

The last ones I have
I had to resize them big time.

These are one I found in a car site.

The extensions reach over the sill and way under the panBy the looks,I am guessing extra blocks were used to pack between the grips and floor.

Grahame

Agree with the endorsement of the swivel jaw c type ones, I have a number of pairs & use them to hold the router table fence, drill press fence, assembly clamps, stop blocks, etc etc.

Very versatile.


Cheers..Sean

Firstly welcome aboard screwdriver

Thanks.

I use them everyday in my job, and the genuine ViseGrip has never let me down. I have had some for over 15 years. Chinese ones have ended up in the scrap recycle bin.

Aye, on No-name $10 pairs I've had just about anything that can break, break.

Interesting custum jobs there Grahame, I think the boss might go a bit nuts if I take the torch to his tools though

So no one has any opinion on the LockJaw branded vicies?