- Thread starter Am333rcr
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slim_boy_fat
Member
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Among other things, clamping flat workpieces to the drill table when a vice isn't suitable.
pedrobedro
Man at Matalan
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I have a Facom grip which has lasted years simply because I don't use it for a welding grip. It's the ordinary type not fast adjust, quick release or anything fancy and it black not chrome.
I have a few, couple of proper welding clamps, the rest from any cheap place I can get them. (The Range is cheap enough) I only use them for clamping bits of metal together for a bit of welding. I Don't use them for trying to undo bolts.
Scruffywelder
Member
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Mole grips are the work of Satan, they must be responsible for at least ten blood blisters/nips for every pair sold
Bob
Did anyone else suffer an involuntary shudder when they read that?
Genuine Petersen Visegrips are still the best I've found. Some of dads must be the rough of 50 years old now and still better than the Irwin ones I bought a couple of years ago. Hard to find now unfortunately...
Facom are about as good as you'll get easily now.
Snapon ones are overpriced junk!
Hood
I am obsessed.
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- Carnoustie, Scotland
In my pic above the top set is a pair of Vise grips, the next down are Mole grips, both at least 40 or 50 years old, probably more as the Vise grips were my Granddads and the Moles were my dads, the Wurth ones however are better than both. Will the Wurth ones last as long? No idea but the will probably outlast me.Look out for the old original vice grips on Ebay or boot sales as you wont get better imho...every time i find a set i buy them
roofman
Purveyor of fine English buckets and mops
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Are the wurth still available before i go searching?
graffian
Seer unto the end of his beard
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Hood. isn't the top pair a Mole wrench?
I have quite few pairs. Moles and Vise Grips are fine, the moles were given to my dad in the early 60's when he worked in Newport.
All the cheapistani ones have split, all of them have been pushed back into shape and welded, and they deformed around the jaw
again.
What do I use them for, loads of things.
I have quite few pairs. Moles and Vise Grips are fine, the moles were given to my dad in the early 60's when he worked in Newport.
All the cheapistani ones have split, all of them have been pushed back into shape and welded, and they deformed around the jaw
again.
What do I use them for, loads of things.
Hood
I am obsessed.
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- Carnoustie, Scotland
Yes, don't think I paid that much though and BTW when I say they are better than both the mole and vise grips I have I am comparing to 50 year old sets so....Are the wurth still available before i go searching?
northwest
Searching for the Holy Grail.........
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As has been mentioned, the Facom Mole type grips are very good.
I would agree that the Snap-On variety are way overpriced. I know because I have a set and one of the few Snap-On purchases I have made where I thought "been done there". Oh well.
I would agree that the Snap-On variety are way overpriced. I know because I have a set and one of the few Snap-On purchases I have made where I thought "been done there". Oh well.
Hood
I am obsessed.
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- Carnoustie, Scotland
I think they are Vise grips, would have to check to be certain but I am sure that is them.
I can't fault the Lidl set I bought either,....I think it all depends on how you use them and what you expect a mole grip to tackle exactly.
Sure there are better tools to try on rounded off bolts etc in the first place.
Munkul
Jack of some trades, Master of none
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Auto grips... the holy grail... just not attainable.
I have a set of Hansen auto adjustable molegrips... they are actually very good... just a bit impractical. Any time you want molegrips on a job, you want total control over the grip pressure... which auto ones are a bit hit and miss.
They are fantastic for clamping stuff to surfaces, though. Their auto C clamps are awesome, I have both large and small.
bert
Member
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- Wiltshire, England
Don't buy the snapon mole grips, I've had s few fail and my rep replaced them with irwin. No issues with irwin yet.
I use the aldi and Lidl versions and they are ok it only last a year before they break, sadly it's the quality of the metal they are made from. I've welded a fair few up to keep them going.
I use the aldi and Lidl versions and they are ok it only last a year before they break, sadly it's the quality of the metal they are made from. I've welded a fair few up to keep them going.
