Archive for the ‘Pliers’ Category
Irwin Vice Grips Have It Held Down
When it comes to multi-function tools in the workshop, having a pair of pliers that doubles as a hand-held vice is invaluable for any craftsman looking to increase the efficiency of space as well as avoid buying more hand tools than necessary.
The perfect tool for this type of usage is a pair of Vice Grips by Irwin tools. Vice Grips work much like an adjustable wrench that locks into place one the appropriate size is set. But unlike an adjustable wrench, the Vice grips give a firm hold on the object you’re working on. The Vice Grips wrench also doubles as a mini vice or clamp that is perfect for those time when both hands are need while holding a small object in place. I can’t count how many times this little trick has worked for me when I didn’t have a a vice around or when the shop vice is just too much for the job.
Irwin Vice Grip Pliers Are Great In A Pinch
Working out on the cattle ranch, one has to get innovative a lot of the time in order to do what needs to be done. This can mean using everyday hand tools for some pretty unusual purposes.
One of the things I like to do in a pinch is use my Irwin Vice Grip pliers as a pair of clamps when I have nothing else. A good example of this is when my heat lamp stand broke off of the cone where the bulb sits, I reattached it using my Irwin Vice Grip pliers. I just adjusted the face to the size opening I needed, then clamped the light in place. Since it’s temporary fixture for warming up the chicken coop in a deep freeze, I’ll be sure to get the Vice Grips back in the tool box soon enough.
Vice Grips Give You A Grip On the Workshop
After years of using hand tools in the workshop, I have come to the conclusion that Vice Grips are among some of my favorites. What makes Vice Grips so unique is the adjustable locking feature on the handle. This is the reason Vice Grips are also called locking pliers; they can be adjusted, and when fit to the right size, locked into place with a lever on the handle.
Vice Grips are especially useful when you need a free hand or even two when also needing a grip on what you’re working on. I’ve found them to be an essential part of my shop and recommend them to anyone serious about their workspace.
Slip Joint Pliers Are A Tool Box Essential
When I’m out on the ranch, there’s always a little of this and a little of that to do. I never know what kind of job I’m going to be fixing until I get there, so keeping the right kind of hand tools around is must.
This is why I always carry around a pair of slip joint pliers in my tool box. Slip joint pliers, also called tongue and groove pliers have an adjustable face making them the right tool for most jobs requiring a pair of pliers. Slip joint pliers also have a long handle for extra tight clamping power. I also find using slip joint pliers to be very useful hand tools specifically for use on water pumps. Keep a pair of these in your toolbox and you’ll find little need for any other pliers.
Vice Grip Pliers In the Workshop
There are many things going on in my workshop. I enjoy everything from woodworking to working with metals, and one thing that I’ve noticed in all applications, is that there’s usually something getting crimped or clamped down in an awkward position where a bench vice just won’t do.
In these situations, I break out one of my favorite hand tools, the Vice Grip pliers made by Irwin Tools. Vice Grip pliers are locking pliers that have an adjustable face to fit on most bolts or nuts. They also double as a small duty vice or clamp for those unexpected times when you need to hold something in place while still using both hands. The Vice Grip pliers are a must-have item in my shop.
Looking For A Great Stocking Stuffer? Try Channellock Tools
Winter time is here again, and that means soon Saint Nick will be coming down the chiminy. Not only will the big man be leaving gifts under the tree, but he’ll be stuffing all of those stockings as well.
Let’s make it easy for Santa Claus this year and ask for hand tools from Channellock tools. Also known as “Channel Lock” tools, Channellock makes some of the finest hand tools around. They are well known for their model of slip joint pliers and water pump pliers, which are simply known as channellock pliers. Tis the season for Channellock tools.T
My First Kitchen Sink Project Using A Pipe Wrench
As a young man, one of my first at-home projects was to fix the kitchen sink. Thinking that it was going to be a one-two-three job, I grabbed my hand tools, including my pipe wrench, and took on the job head-first. quickly I discovered that the sink was very old and hadn’t been touched in what looks to be ten years.
Because of the awkward position of the sink under the counter, i couldn’t get a good fit on the pipe with the pipe wrench. Because the handle of the pipe wrench was so long, it was bumping into everything. At that point, I broke out the channel lock pliers, which still gripped the pipe like the pipe wrench, but the handle was much shorter making it at least able to turn. It took a lot more muscle, but I got the pipe off, and didn’t wind up damaging it too much.
Swapping Out the Air Filter With A Pair Of Channellock Pliers
For about twenty years now, I’ve been using the same lawnmower to cut the grass. Until this year, I have never experienced any problems getting it started or running it what so ever. However, I noticed that it started to die on and off and I figured that it was probably just the air filter that need to be replaced, so I grabbed one of my favorite hand tools and went to work.
I took my Channellock pliers, which are a type of slip joint pliers and removed the nut that held in the air filter. I used the air gun connection from the air compressor to blast out the lodged-in dirt and grime that was stuck in the filter. I was careful not to get too close, because the high pressure air could damage the filter. When it was all grime-free, I used my Channellock pliers once again to tighten the air filter back into place. When I started her up again, good as new. Looks like this mower’s going to last another twenty years!
Such Diversity In Vice Grip Pliers
Things to do on the ranch can get quite diverse, and I always find myself inventing new ways to do things with the existing stuff that I own. This sometimes means using some hand tools in unconventional ways. An example of one of the hand tools that I am talking about is Vice Grip Pliers, made by Irwin Tools.
I find Vice Grip pliers to be one of the most useful hand tools because of the adjustable and locking features built in to it, which is why they’re also called “locking pliers”. This means, that I can use them like a clamp for things that need to be held together temporarily. For example, I use them to hold together the sections of collapsable hay rings so I can use my hands more freely to get the bolts in. This works especially well with c-clamp style Vice Grip pliers on larger things that the regular Vice Grip pliers can’t get around.
Fixing the Electric Fence With Slip Joint Pliers
Using electric fences are a great way to allocate cattle herds easily and effectively around the property, but it’s not the most durable type of fence, so it’s usually only used inside of the property line, and a sturdier fence is usually constructed on the perimeter. An electric fence is so light actually, that deer and hogs can break it very easily just by running through it.
When I go out there to fix the fence, all I need is a pair of slip joint pliers. A popular hand tools manufacturer named Channellock, makes a good pair of slip joint pliers, which are often referred to as “Channel Lock pliers”, but you’ll find that there are many types slip joint pliers available that will work just as well. All I do is take both broken ends and twist them together enough times to ensure that it’s not going to slip loose when I let go. I then take the slip joint pliers and give them both a few more twists for extra strength, and that’s it! I’m done!