$7 Mr. Pen Locking Pliers compared to Malco Eagle Grip? 12 times more expensive. Just as good? Not!

On Amazon:

[acidxero]

I've bought a lot of Mr. Pen products and been satisfied with nearly all of them. They almost always require some sort of minor modification to bring them up to snuff, but considering that as well as the over-all quality and SUPER affordable prices, there are certainly some purchases that Mr. Pen is just right for. Definitely not my daily driver for most (any) things, though.

[authalic]

I just ordered both of these on Amazon, in early September 2023. They're available for about $44 each. I still have some original Petersen locking pliers made in the same DeWitt, Nebraska factory as these Malco models. It's a real tragedy that Malco couldn't keep it going, but American consumers don't want to pay for quality domestic goods, and most big American businesses are more concerned with price points and volume than with producing anything respectable. As long as American consumers keep picking the $7 Chinese option over the $45 American tool, we'll continue to see US manufacturing jobs, the industries that support them, and the local businesses that benefit from workers' wages, dry up and blow away.

[ZPositive]

Even at $50, the Malco is way too expensive to be used as vise grips should be used. Vise grips are beaters, and that's what makes them useful.

[RingZero]

Hey doc, I respect your views and also love all American made tools. I have supported American made tools and still do it provided it is all worth it. Paying for US made tools that costs 20%-30% above than C or T made can be understood by $44 as compared to $10 ? C'mon now. I am buying a pair of pliers and not a piece of Shiny jewelry and I need to use and beat up on it on daily basis.

[Tools_and_Guitars]

The Mr. Pen pliers honestly don't seem too shabby, even if they were twice the price. Probably good to have around as extras, or for people on an extremely tight budget. But for me, the moment I got some Eagle Grips in my hand, I knew they were untouchable in quality. I'm glad I got the 7 and 10" curved jaws early on, but very sad they will no longer be manufactured; and especially for the loss of jobs to over 60 workers at their facility.

[rwbishop]

Honestly I've always considered Vise Grips as consumables. However, one good use for them, that even the econobudget versions work well for, is to drill/tap a pair & attach the ground lead of your test light!

[diemman]

I’m glad I bought my Malco’s a year ago for $56. I just bought them to have a USA vice grip. I’ll probably never use them.

[darrellsnow]

They were available for less than $86, I bought 4 pair for $183.76. They are worth every penny.

[foxwood]

After you first video I hemmed and hawed if I should get the 10 + 7”. I didn’t pull the trigger I have 15 pairs of Chinesium and USA Irwin’s that get beat without conscience. Couldn’t see me using Malcos with weld spatter and implements of persuasion

[RomboutVersluijs]

Seen a video with a person comparing all kinds of brands. This eagle grip showed 1050 ish lbs of force. Then was a different brand at 750 orso lbs and then 3rd Irwin with 550lbs orso. Crazy bizarre strength. More than double for most brands he used.

EDIT
saw another comment, the channel name is : Project farm he did a video on locking pliers

[ptstouring]

I clamped the Malco down on a cap head allen screw on the starter on a rover. It had stripped. Then I took an 8mm head head socket on a 3/8 breaker bar and cranked down on the Malcos. Not only did the bolt come out, the teeth would still slice my finger. I will say the Mr, Pen cat mail trimmers work pretty well. Street cat seems fine with them (could not find any Knipex, Gedore, snap on etc nail clippers).

[bluefalconcatering]

I think I would buy the $7 for the work I do

[johnbeach]

I own a few pair of snap on branded and they are by far the best. They have their purpose. As a welding clamp? No! I do enjoy how they are easy to open and when it’s cold out that to me is worth it.

[drew]

Very glad I got the curved jaw eagle grips while I still could but my regret is since I can’t replace them It makes me nervous about using them which kind of defeats the purpose.

[render]

It's all about the steel used at the jaws and how it's treated for durability/ toughness (something you can't see)
The rest of the tool and it's geometry of operation matters but to a slightly lesser degree
Project farm did a good review of these pliers...
Malco took the win, but at $60...ea.
I have at least 14 or 16 pairs of these pliers in various sizes and styles bought over the years (decades) made by the original Vise Grip, then Irwin .
The clamping style I use all the time, but the gripping style shown here don't get much use, they are for what I consider a desperate situation... Some rusted broken worn out thing that you have no other way of grabbing... You know it's bad when you have to use these.
If they could have kept the price at around $40 ish... I could see paying the extra amount.

[johnparker]

Thank you.
I expect the affordable China option is best for the DIY and a lot of pro users too.
We have been buying the Malcos. Unreasonably high priced as they are, they are a quality product made by American labor in Dewitt Nebraska.
I'll bet we have over a thousand well used pairs of the old (by some standards) Dewitt NE Vice Grips and clamps between our shops and trucks. We tried one bunch of China made Irwins and gave them to the welders to finish off.
With a quality domestic option available, we will use it.
The down side is that these kind of costs get passed along to our customers and ultimately the consumer.

[MattLitkeRacing]

I like supporting American manufacturers if possible. I did buy the Snap-on locking pliers. But I will have my Irwins around too

[rebel]

No doubt the Malco is the far superior product. It's just hard to justify them at that price point, especially when the old Peterson Vice Grips can be found for a few bucks at most garage sales/flea markets.

[mnight]

If im honest, im not paying 10 times the price just because they are made in america. Im trying to get work done, make money and provide for my family. I need to save what im trying to do

[boosted._sky]

I have a set of the Malco Eagle Grip Pliers but for daily use I use Tekton and they are really good for the price..
you ought to look at those I like the quick hinge instead of the push button it's extended to pull instead of squeeze..
I like that function a lot better DeWalt also makes a really nice set