Comments on: Reader Find: IDL Tools’ ViperGrip

By: John

John — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 20:05:05 +0000

Frank’s right feel is important. Especially if you are using them a lot. But Frank — I have used these both as the SeberGrip and now as the ViperGrip and while they may look odd they actually feel great in your hand and the “small things” were actually covered by these guys. For example- there is not wide draw required to open the jawsas there is with standard pliers and they do have some cushion (not much but some) on the handles — it also helps with not slipping.

Still they could look better — but I wouldn’t trade mine for anything. They are worth a shot.

Incidentally — you can also get them at http://www.buyvipergrip.com too.

By: Daniel Rutter

Daniel Rutter — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 07:21:02 +0000

Previously known as the SeberTech SeberGrip.

By: Stuart

Stuart — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 00:32:49 +0000

http://canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524443293967&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1408474396673312&bmUID=1165105770160
is for the Canadian Tire deal.

By: Stuart

Stuart — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 00:26:29 +0000

Canadian Tire (In Canada duh) has these on sale this week.

By: Frank Hicinbothem

Frank Hicinbothem — Sat, 02 Dec 2006 17:11:52 +0000

ps. Just to be contrary, I’ve never liked the design of the “real” Vise-Grips either. The handles are too smooth and it’s too easy to pinch yourself when operating them one-handed.

By: Frank Hicinbothem

Frank Hicinbothem — Sat, 02 Dec 2006 17:09:58 +0000

I don’t doubt the utility of the thing, but the aesthetics of a tool are nearly as important to me as the performance. The way a tool looks, how it feels in my hand, and the materials it’s made from *do* make a difference. When I make something, I take the time to design it so it’s pleasing to the eye as well as functional. It annoys me when tool designers don’t bother, or think they need to make the thing look weird just to be “edgy.”

I’m not being some kind of Luddite here; there are a lot of tools that have newer designs that I embrace wholeheartedly. The Sear Dead-On framing hammer is a good example. It’s not a normal-looking framing hammer, but it has nice lines and it just feels natural in my hand. On the other hand, I much prefer my old Milwaukee Sawz-All to several others I’ve used, because they went to the trouble of making the barrel and grip rough enough that it doesn’t slip but smooth enough that it feels comfortable int he hand. These are small things, but they matter to me.

By: Ken

Ken — Sat, 02 Dec 2006 02:42:15 +0000

Why all the excitement. Sears had these a long time ago.

By: Steve Quigley

Steve Quigley — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 21:39:55 +0000

Got one last year - best pliers I ever used. I use it for something almost every day. Some guys I work with tried to get one but it is tough to find because it is not in a lot of stores.

By: Will

Will — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 20:54:02 +0000

Frank — it might not be the prettiest thing you’ve seen but it really does perform beautifully.

As I said in my post, I was skeptical about it too. It does take a small amount of getting used to (grab it upfront) but I was really impressed once I put it to the test. I got over its looks pretty quickly. Hey whatever works best, I’ll use it — ugly or not!

In a sense it is like a ViceGrip + more because it’s jaws self size the material and don’t need to be dialed open or closed. It also has a switch on it so it can be locking or non-locking.

Ugly or not — I liked it and think others will too.

By: Frank Hicinbothem

Frank Hicinbothem — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 19:04:13 +0000

And here I thought the Bionic Wrench was the ugliest tool I was going to see his week! Someone went out of their way to make this thing look weird.

By: bodiby

bodiby — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 17:53:06 +0000

Is this like a pair of super vice-grips?