The Secret Vise Grip Trick not many know about

You could be using one of the world's most popular tools wrong, but I'll show you how to use it right in this video

[PureDWhiteCloud]

I have been a mechanic for 50+ years and this is the first time I have ever seen such a vice grip with that in the bolt.

[brianpringle]

I’ve always said if you’re not careful, you can learn something new every day. I am 60 years old and I’ve been crushing my hands for years trying to get the right tightness on these things. Thank you very much. !!

[rzh]

A gripping story ! Unfortunately, like many others, mine are so old they don't have this (useful) feature. I usually tighten to get a first grip and then maybe one more turn after that. Don't use them often but they are needed when they are needed. Years ago I bought a pair with a large flat dual surface for sheet metal bending. Those work great to hold small pieces for filing or cutting, etc. when no vice is handy.

[ericd]

That's actually a somewhat recent feature on Vice Grips locking pliers. I have plenty of old Vice Grip (10+ years) and some knock-off locking pliers and none of them have the hex socket in the adjusting screw.

[JakeJekle-Clown]

Thanks. Something I didn't know that was shown to me in a way that didn't make me feel stupid. Had my dad or any of my friends(if they themselves knew)shown me it would have definitely been one of those "Come sit under the learning tree." experiences. More stuff like this if u have the time please. Thank u again.

[donflores]

I'm a 72 year old retired mechanic. I just learned something new. just went out to my garage and looked at my 50 year old vise grips and they don't have that. What a nice addition to an already indispensable tool. They probably added that 20 years ago. Good to see something new.

[luemn]

I believe the allen keyhole was meant to release the pressure when you are ready to remove the tool. The problem is not being able to tighten the pliers tight enough but opening them back up without the pliers flying off, busting your hands up or not even being able to open them back up because you got monster strenth to lock em in but not to release them. Im just saying though.

[EyesWideOpen]

Been using them for a long time, genuine Vise Grips, not knock offs. I have multiple types big, small, needlenose, etc. For a second you had me saying "wow, can't believe I missed that", then I checked and none of them have a socket for an Allen wrench.

[ljprep]

Amazingly enough, I just checked all ten sets of vise grips (curved jaw, flat jaw, body jaw, and needle nose) and none of them had the hex inset. Then I looked in my other tool bag and found the very newest Vise Grip, a 7" curved jaw I bought 5 years ago, and finally found one set which had this. It's a great idea. Too bad it wasn't universally used. My favorite is the 6" needle nosed pair. I keep one in my BOB.
(Disclaimer: OK, a couple are HFT, and 1 is a 50 year old galvanized flat jaw, not VG.)

[RondeLeeuw]

That looks like a great way to strip the threads of the tightening bolt! I always #1 clamp #2 tighten #3 unclamp #4 tighten ½ turn #5 clamp. Always perfect!

[shawnfinlay]

I spent years as a pipefitter working in shipyards around the Puget Sound. I remember seeing vise grips that people had welded a washer, standing upright on end, onto the tightening nut and this made it more like a wingnut. It made it easier for turning the tighten/loosen nut.

[barrelgardener]

If yours doesn't have the hex key hole you can always use another set of vise grips on the knob.

[marctiltman]

I've just checked, and none of my vice-grips have this feature. Probably because they are 40 + years old. I have always closed them loose around the work, tightened the nut, opened them to turn the nut according to how tight I want them to be, then clamp. Always works, though, I have learnt something useful today. Thank you.

[krazmokramer]

I did not know this because none of my genuine Vise Grips have that hex feature. TRUE STORY...I'm a retired dentist. Over my 35+ years in practice I saw quite a few "DIY dentists". You know, the ones too cheap to pay a pro so they try to do it themselves. What I'm talking about is removing their own teeth! They ALWAYS use those huge Vise Grips and put them on their tooth. Then they snap the handles crush their tooth AND THE Intense pain immediately follows. Like many mechanics, I charged them a "DIY & you effed it up" surcharge on top of my normal removal fee. NEVER take your own tooth out. AND NEVER TRY IT WITH VISE

[TinkeringJohn]

Vice grips, like standard pliers, have 2 types of jaws. The inside serrated surface is either flat or curved (concave). The curved jaws are for gripping rounded surfaces. When you want to get a better grip on flat pieces like in this video, you should be using the flat serrated surface jaws.

[ehRalph]

I started collecting top value stamps from floor sweepings in a grocery store where I used to clean as a kid. After about a year I had enough stamp books to go to the redemption store. That got me a small and a large “brand name” vice grip plier set. No hex in the end on these, but I use those things all the time bending metal, extracting screws and nails, you name it. Very versatile tools.

[johnossendorf]

The Alan wrench thing is new. I have lots of old Irwin Vice Grips that do not have it. Still able to always get them tight enough that they don't slip and are not easily taken off. Used them in my Dad's steel fabrication shop.

[johnwallis]

I'm from the UK, I started using the UK-made 'Mole grips' in the 1970s but soon discovered that the original Petersen Vise-Grips made in USA were much better. I used to buy myself a new pair every few years and continued buying them after Unwin took over the brand. However, about 10 years ago I noticed that the quality suddenly went down - they just didn't feel the same or operate quite so precisely, I believe this was when production was outsourced to China. The 'Chinese' ones can be identified easily because the release-lever pivot pin which is flush in the original pliers has a protruding head in the later ones. Bad move Irwin! I've never bought a new pair since, but when I'm visiting the USA I search around yard sales and secondhand shops and usually find a pair or two of the original ones to bring home with me.

[johnsmitht]

Great video. I recently upgraded my tools to decent ones and got the Malco Eagle Grips, one of the best tools in my box by far, and it has a 6mm hex recess on the adjusting bolt. My newer Craftsman vise grips have a 5mm recess. This really changes how I use these tools, thanks. For those that don't have a hex recess, a set of pliers can tighten the nut. Never really thought about doing that, either, until this video, crazy how we get into a habit and never get out of it.

[purnimachaudhari]

I'm a DIY old man of 71 years of age. I bought a vice grip and learned from your video how to use it correctly. Thanks.