Vice Grip Shopping

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member
While I will continue my search for a Peterson brand
locking pliers, who currently makes the best "vice grip""?

Thank you,
Glenn F.
 
I hear ya.

Every once in a while at a gun show, garage sale, or wherever, I'll find used genuine Peterson vice grips for sale. I grab them regardless of the price.
 
I've got a pair of Channel Lock pliers that are like Vise Grips I bought in 1976 and they are tougher than Vise Grips, but I see Channel Lock doesn't make them any more. The new small Vise Grip's (especially the needle nose) are junk IMO. The old ones are great tools.
 
I find the NAPA UltraPro are about as good as you can get today. Somewhat better than the Irwin junk, but not much. Good luck finding the Peterson variety.

Rod
 
I think the Peterson brand was bought out by Irwin tools. I have a few Irwin products and they seem decent but far from the best IMO. I don't expect a lot out of a set of locking pliers and I seldom use them for stubborn bolts. I use locking pliers the most to simply hold a fastener that's hard to reach and to free up a hand or hold two pieces together for working on things.

Channel lock brand "nutbuster" or Knipex brand "raptor" pliers can grip just and good and maybe better than locking pliers. A good brand and assortment of pipe wrenches is good to have for gripping things too, for that I like Ridgid brand
 

Don't get the POS Kobalt that Lowes carries. I got a set of two for Xmas and one of them wouldn't work out of the box.
 
I wouldn't call them best but maybe least worst. I go to an old hardware store that has some older Irwin vice grips that have Made in the USA stamped in the grip. You have to dig to the back and it might have a little surface rust but I pick some up every so often.
 
I've been selling off two estates for people, and the older "real" VISEGRIP brand have been bringing good prices at the auction.
Surprised how many pair one hoarder had.
Usually tie 3 or 4 pairs together and get near the price they were new ,which is still a deal for buyer in my opionion.
 
I just bought two brand new pair of NOS Peterson brand with a 1982 date on the packages for $50 for the pair incl shipping on eBay. They were 10WR size. There are always a few new NOS and a few used Peterson brand Vise Grips on eBay all the time, at least when I look.

Good luck with the hunt!
 
I bought some Knipex locking pliers the other day. I prefer to buy American any time I can, but prefer Germany over China. The Knipex pliers are pretty nice, probably better than the USA vice grips.
Josh
 

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Back
Top