Which locking pliers to buy? Malco, Knipex, or Harbor Freight? You will be surprised!

My opinion on which Locking pliers you should buy and why I think so. Bremen from Harbor Freight, Knipex, Malco, or Irwin Vise Grip?

[MorrowSind]

Chrome molybdenum has its uses, but when it comes to locking pliers, I'd say chrome vanadium is the superior alloy. I know chrome molybdenum is more ductile; it's a tougher alloy, but over time, I'm guessing the teeth will fold over. I'd also avoid any wrenches made from chrome molybdenum; the open end ends up spreading or bending out with too much applied torque. With that said, the heat treatment is critical: chrome vanadium with a poor heat treatment can also give too ductile or too hard and brittle tools.
All that aside, I'm loving those Malco American-made locking pliers. :)
Thanks for sharing.

[corygriffiths]

I found out that Malco is closing the plant in Dewitt Nebraska and moving to China so it looks like we’re not going to be able to buy USA made vise grips right now unless Snap On would buy the plant but I don’t know if they will just thankful I had bought 2 of them

[jameselam]

Ok so Its Important to understand that putting chrome moly or chrome vanadium on a tool is just a generality. They can have a dash of either and be called that. Some of the best knives made use CPM S30V which has high wear resistance and keeps its edge a long time. Good Chrome moly steels have great twisting and bending strength and that's why they are used for impact tools. I guess my main point is a company can label a tool however it wants but it doesn't mean that the steel it uses is all that great or is as good as another brand. Some Expensive chrome vanadium's are better than average chrome moly and vice versa.

[branned]

Malco American-made locking pliers are the best that I have and I have over 30.

[mmmmmlemons]

Hi. The Matco locking pliers are made by Bohlman. Same as Knipex, but not made by Knipex.

[beyonose]

Knipex doesn't actually make their own locking pliers - I believe they are OEM by German company Bollmann.

[chuck_howard]

I would like to see a grip test because CR-V steel when made well can be just as good as chrome moly for strength and crush resistance. I would not count out the Matco "Knipex" as being a lower quality unless I tested it first.

[emarr]

Ur instincts r correct!! I used a brand new knipex vise grips with the pivoting jaw & promptly destroyed (smushed) the teeth. They held up to the abuse of trying to turn a 4" one-way security lag bolt tho, that is to say they didn't bend or warp & the jaws didn't misalign. But those teeth were very soft. I own a lot of knipex tools & I'm a fan but these were disappointing. I finally removed the bolt w/ some cobras & the teeth survived.

[rachavya]

Very reputable tool manufacturers will find uses for both chrome vanadium and chrome molybdenum, depending on the application. I would not fault the Knipex grips for using CRV. On the other hand, if scientific tests show they don't grip as well as the Malco grips, well then, THAT'S a damn good reason not to buy them.

A likewise lame argument against the Knipex is that they're made by another company (Bohlmann-Selzer). Snap-on doesn't make theirs either; they rebrand Malco. That doesn't make the Snap-on product inferior, it just makes it (unjustifiably) more expensive.

A product should be rated on its capabilities, warranty, and price performance, NOT by who sells it or where it is made.

[corycg]

I like the Malco but $40.00 for one pair is way to much Crescent has a 5 piece set for $39.99 at Tractor Supply I’m getting that instead because I get a set instead of just one pair.

[dazstoolshed]

Nice lot you buy some cool tools 🔧 😎 lol