[modas]

Hi Guys -

Can anyone recommend a set of welding vice grips that isn't terribly expensive? Sears has a 13 piece set for $200 but I dont want to drop that kind of cash on a set of pliers. Thanks!

[MARTINSR]

Just start buying them one at a time. I have about twenty pairs and never bought more than two at once, they are expensive.

I use only "ViceGrip" the original. There are pleny of off brands that work well, those at Sears may be Craftsmen or ViceGrip, I don't know what you are looking at.

What project are you doing that you would need a bunch of ViceGrips at once?

Brian

[modas]

Well, see that's the problem. I don't need a ton of them right now, but I'm going to be starting the floors/rockers in my '64 shortly and quite frankly, I don't have a clue what kind, size or how many I'm gonna need.

Its tough being a N00B

[oldred]

This is one item I would recommend not buying at Harbor Freight or any off-brand since you would find your self replacing them quite often and they will fall apart when you need them most. ViseGrip is THE way to go.

[adivito]

oldred i would agree with you about not buying the cheap ones but harbor freight by me carrys "visegrip" and they are about half the price of sears or home depot

[Jake_Dragon]

Start hitting the flee markets as well. I picked up some for a good price and used them at work for over 6 years (welder)
Definitely get the name brand

[FrankR]

Originally Posted by oldred

This is one item I would recommend not buying at Harbor Freight or any off-brand since you would find your self replacing them quite often and they will fall apart when you need them most. ViseGrip is THE way to go.

Depends on which one's you are getting. If you need jaws like for turning something, I would only stick with Visegrip. If you are just need the C type clamps, then I have used the Harbor Freight ones with no problems. If you are just using them to clamp something and not expecting to torque anything with them, they should be just fine.

[oldred]

I meant the HF brands and I was not thinking about them having the genuine ViseGrip, which they do at a good price , but as far as the el-cheapo brands being ok for welding and clamping work I still have to disagree because my experience with the things is that they poorly made and tend to come apart, twist under the slightest pressure and bend out of shape when you need them to apply heavy clamping force which is sometimes needed.

[MARTINSR]

Red, I am stonch (sp?) anti HF, 90% if what they have out and out garbage. The problem is it is a crap shoot. I bought a couple small locking pliers one there one day. One I use every day, the other I tossed in the garbage can the first day I TRIED to use it. It wouldn't even hold it's own weight!

My brother has a very profound staying, "I have never said Damn I wish I would have bought the cheap tool".

Modas, this isn't brain surgery. Just take your time, look at the rocker and see what pliers would be needed to hold it together. Go to the store, see what makes sense. I personally like the little tiny ViceGrips to hold "pinch welds" where you have two pieces of metal welded together right at the edge. Then, "C" clamps for the deeper welds that can't be reached. And listen, there is no reason to buy a thirty five dollar 24" deep ViceGrip for two welds. Use a small self taping screw and then after doing your plug weld remove the screw and weld up the hole.

Brian

[oldred]

No reason to spend $35 on a tool for two welds-That makes sense, Sometimes I tend to get a little carried away when it comes to tools I use every day and I guess I assume everyone else intends to use them as much as I do What would not make sense is to spend the 200 bucks on the craftsman set to use them only a couple of times so you guys are right, I spoke up without really looking at the whole situation

[IROC100]

The one tool that I will not skimp on are Vise Grips, don't buy the cheap off the wall brands. I bought a pair once and when I went to tighten them they twisted and I was unable to use them, I gave them to some one I didn't like. Spent the couple of extra dollars and buy Vise Grips. You should start out with a pair that are at least 5"-6" deep and then as time goes on you will find what other sizes you will need. Also one pair of one size is never going to be enough once you start doing body work. I don't even know how many pairs I have, I just know that when I started my brother in laws Chevelle, I didn't have enough, so he went and bought some more. Good luck.

[rrmccabe]

VICE GRIP. Period.

Its not just one weld you will used them on. You can use them forever on everything. Not just body sheetmetal. Need to discipline the kinds Oh better not go there.

If you have ever had a pair twist or pinched your fingures trying to latch/release a pair you will wish you had the real ones.

MARTINSR, I like your brothers saying

[Bee4Me]

Yes. VISE GRIP for SURE.
I have the harbor set of 3 and they are CRAP!!!!!
Did I mention they are CRAP??? YES,They are.Twist off and BEND like they were made from CHEAPainium. Bigiest POS I ever got from harbor.

I have a couple of pair of real vice grip's with the swivel "pod's" on the end's and they RULE!!!
Like Brian stated,Get a couple at a time and before you know it,You got a good set to clamp with.

[skeeveman]

Yeah, stick with the actual vise grip brand. Another cool trick to do with them is to weld a 7/8's nut....or some other nut of that size...to the thumbscrew on them. This saves your fingers, and when you manage to get them so tight you cant get them off....you can just put the appropiate wrench on there, and bam....removed with no blisters.


Maybe that should of been a tip of the day, hehe.

[oldred]

Hey you guys make me feel better, I thought maybe I had given bad advice at first, maybe not.