Best Locking Pliers That Hold on for Dear Life!

Locking pliers, often known as Vise-Grips, are incredibly versatile tools used in a variety of scenarios thanks to their ability to securely grip, hold or manipulate a wide range of materials. Doesn’t matter if you’re already a pro in construction, automotive repair or metalworking, or you’re a diehard DIYer at home or a studio, these things come in handy!

Among the numerous applications of high-quality locking pliers, these are some of the most noteworthy uses:

1.      Holding Objects Firmly

2.      Removing Stuck or Stripped Fasteners or nails

3.      Temporary Clamping

4.      Bending and Shaping Materials

5.      Holding Hot Objects

How Can We Choose the Best Locking Pliers?

When browsing for the best locking pliers, there are some staple features you need to look for; namely, the material, the overall type of the pliers and the jaw type, their adjustment mechanism and finally, the size options.

Read More: Types of Pliers

As far as material is concerned, high-quality chrome-vanadium or chrome-molybdenum steel is the way to go for the best durability and rust resistance in your beloved pliers. The worst thing that can happen to locking pliers is if they get damaged easily while doing what they are designed to do!

The overall type and size of the pliers, too, are important to be exactly what your tasks need them to be. A great fit is always the way to go, so make sure you do your research before hitting the purchase button! There are a wide variety of jaw types such as straight, curved, long-nose and so on. You can look more into this category in the next part of this article.

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And finally, there are some miscellaneous features to look for such as the grip design being non-slip and ergonomic, additional built-in tools like wire cutters or whether the brand offers any sort of warranties or not. Keeping all this in mind and doing thorough research, and you’ve got yourself the perfect pair of locking pliers!

Types of Locking-Jaw Pliers

Some of the Best Locking Pliers

When it comes to locking pliers, choosing the right one can make or break the project: literally! From curved jaws to specialty clamps, here’s a roundup of the best locking pliers that bring performance, durability, and comfort to your workshop table.

Best Rated in Curved Jaw Locking Pliers

Steel construction and an impeccable grip make the Malco Eagle Grip make it here, as one of the best locking pliers overall. These pairs of curved jaw locking pliers are great for a variety of scenarios, whether you’re bending, clamping or even cutting wire. Although the wire cutting aspect of them is not the most reliable out there, it is merely a feature and can be a lifesaver in case of wire-cutting emergencies!

 
Best Sheet Metal Locking Pliers

Made of carbon steel, the Ronix sheet metal locking pliers have come to steal the stage for themselves. These pairs of pliers are built to take on industrial-grade challenges. Additionally, these offer an ergonomic grip which makes everything even easier with your hands fatigue-free. To top it all off, there is a powerful trigger release system making them lock in force and hold on for dear life!

Best Long-Nose Locking Pliers

If you find yourself in a situation where you need to grip, twist or reach into tight spaces, a long-nose locking plier is your best bet! So, here is one of the best locking pliers out there: The TEKTON 9-inch pliers. Aside from great performance, their slim profile and precise locking mechanism make them a standout and a must-have for those intricate tasks that need a bit of force!

Best Locking C-Clamp Pliers

Having issues with uneven pressure and surface damage using your normal c-clamp pliers? Say no more! Enter the Irwin T20EL4, a pair of c-clamp high-quality locking pliers with swivel pads. Swivel pads are the tiny thingies at the far end of the pliers attaching to your work surface and distributing the pressure to have the smoothest grip. These pairs are brilliant when it comes to clamping delicate or irregular surfaces. On top of all, they are made of alloy steel with a classic trigger release!

Best Chain Clamp Locking Pliers

Chain clamp locking pliers are mostly used in industrial settings. The Ronix RH-1442 pliers are built from durable carbon steel which means they are reliable for demanding environments and tasks. In addition to their high-quality build, they feature a convenient trigger release system and a comfortable grip. These pliers are truly a beast where they are needed!

Best Locking Pliers Set

If you find yourself in need of a variety of different high-quality locking pliers, then you might want to consider investing in a set of them. Look through different sets and find one that has mostly what you need and you’re all set! I have found a set like the Crescent CLP5SETN-08 to be versatile enough for most tasks. It features alloy steel pliers with both curved and long-nose options in different sizes which are some of the most used locking pliers.

Best Locking Pliers for Different Occupations

As much as locking pliers are versatile, they aren’t all suited and equally useful for every job. Now, you could be under the hood fixing a leak, or at your workshop wiring up a circuit; either way, here are the best locking pliers made to excel in these different occupations.

Best Locking Pliers for Mechanics

Curved Jaw Locking Pliers

Mechanics love their curved-jaw locking pliers for their strong grip on bolts, nuts and other round things like pipes and auto parts. The curved jaw design makes the pliers hold on tight so that even the most stubborn fasteners are handled easily.

Best Locking Pliers for Plumbing

C-Clamp or V-Jaw Locking Pliers

As the plumber’s best friend, C-clamp locking pliers are perfect for securely clamping joints and V-jaw pliers excel at gripping round or irregularly shaped pipes. There are a variety of different tasks that plumbers confront in their job and these two types of locking pliers are best at resolving or helping the user to resolve them. Some of these tasks are:

• Pipe Repair and Maintenance
• Fitting Installation
• Leak Fixing
• Tightening or Loosening Bolts
• Clamp-on Fixtures

Best Locking Pliers for Electricians

Long Nose Locking Pliers

For electricians, precision is a big deal. That’s exactly where the slim jaws of long-nose pliers come into play. They make it much easier for the user to grip wires, connectors and any other small components in tight spaces. Bonus: many models come with a built-in wire cutter for added convenience!

Best Locking Pliers Brands

All of the brands featured in this article are renowned for producing high-quality locking pliers. It goes without saying that if a specific model is highlighted here, you can trust that other locking pliers from the same brand will likely meet similar standards!

Read More: Best Pliers for 6 Different Applications

FAQ

What’s the difference between Channel Locks and Vise Grips?

While both tools are versatile and used for gripping, their designs and primary functions differ significantly.

While both tools are versatile and used for gripping, their designs and primary functions differ significantly.

• Channel Locks: This term is often used generically to refer to tongue-and-groove pliers, originating from the brand name ChannelLock. These pliers are adjustable and commonly used for gripping and turning objects of various sizes.
• Vice Grips: A trademarked name from the brand Vise-Grip, it refers to locking pliers. These pliers have an adjustable locking mechanism that allows them to clamp firmly onto objects and stay in place without continuous hand pressure

What are locking pliers used for?

Locking pliers are versatile tools used for gripping, holding, and clamping objects securely in place. Their adjustable jaw and locking mechanism make them suitable for a wide range of tasks .