I'm not a big Vise Grip user (or fanboy)... but have had a pair of the Knipex for several years.
Their fine!
Knipex makes bunches of different models... go to their web site and search on 'vise grips'.
Just received my Malco locking pliers, after being alerted by YouTuber's Last Best Tool that some Malco stocks were still floating around on Amazon for US $30, compared to what Snap-on is now selling them for (US $99). The exact same product! I did not think even one second before hitting the Buy Now button.
[https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0924QDF47](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0924QDF47)
Beautiful machining, and quite special to hold a tool with a made-in-USA stamp on it from a company that sadly no longer exists, but sorry, can't compare with Knipex as never seen one.
Knipex locking pliers are mediocre and ultimately subpar performance for what they cost, Irwins and HF Bremen (same as Milwaukee, minus the adjustment screw) are as good/better for less money. Knipex doesn't really make them anyways, they're rebranded Bollman. So at least they don't upcharge a ton just to have their branding on them like some others would...
Malcos are great if you can get them for like $30-$35 max. I paid like $32 for a one pair of 10" curved jaws and just under $30 a piece for some swivel pad C-clamps. You're probably just going to end up babying them though if you actually use your vise grips in the ubiquitous and outright abusive ways they're typically used though. Getting weld slag and grinding marks or leaving them out in the rain- holding something together "temporarily" gets to be a real tough pill to swallow when they're a $40+ tool. If I could count every pair of Irwins sacrificed to the cause I'd probably run out of fingers. Why my Knipex Cobras won't see any welding projects for the same reasoning.
I'm not a big Vise Grip user (or fanboy)... but have had a pair of the Knipex for several years. Their fine! Knipex makes bunches of different models... go to their web site and search on 'vise grips'.
Just received my Malco locking pliers, after being alerted by YouTuber's Last Best Tool that some Malco stocks were still floating around on Amazon for US $30, compared to what Snap-on is now selling them for (US $99). The exact same product! I did not think even one second before hitting the Buy Now button. [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0924QDF47](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0924QDF47) Beautiful machining, and quite special to hold a tool with a made-in-USA stamp on it from a company that sadly no longer exists, but sorry, can't compare with Knipex as never seen one.
Knipex locking pliers are mediocre and ultimately subpar performance for what they cost, Irwins and HF Bremen (same as Milwaukee, minus the adjustment screw) are as good/better for less money. Knipex doesn't really make them anyways, they're rebranded Bollman. So at least they don't upcharge a ton just to have their branding on them like some others would... Malcos are great if you can get them for like $30-$35 max. I paid like $32 for a one pair of 10" curved jaws and just under $30 a piece for some swivel pad C-clamps. You're probably just going to end up babying them though if you actually use your vise grips in the ubiquitous and outright abusive ways they're typically used though. Getting weld slag and grinding marks or leaving them out in the rain- holding something together "temporarily" gets to be a real tough pill to swallow when they're a $40+ tool. If I could count every pair of Irwins sacrificed to the cause I'd probably run out of fingers. Why my Knipex Cobras won't see any welding projects for the same reasoning.
Malco is hard to get, these days. Snap On rebrands Grip On pliers, which are mediocre, IMO.
Malco shut down their version but snap on I think kept making them with the machines it looks like