Mole grips recommendations?

KompetentKrew

KompetentKrew

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I'm in the habit of buying tools on an as-needed basis, but I somehow managed without mole grips my entire adult life before boat ownership.

Clearly I'm going to need a pair at some point, so I might was well buy good ones now, rather than being forced to grab whatever's available from the local chandlery or hardware store when I'm in a fix.

Screwfix have a set of three for £9, but I think this is the kind of tool I'll happily shell out for good quality ones, hoping they'll last me a lifetime.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/x/4091V

WonkeeDonkee Tools have quite a selection - amongst them Britool and Stanley, which my dad's might have been, but do they still make them as good?

https://www.wonkeedonkeetools.co.uk...locking-pliers.html?___store=default&limit=72

Just from the picture the Facom ones look quite good quality. They are correspondingly priced, though. Or more-than-correspondingly.

https://www.wonkeedonkeetools.co.uk/501amp-quick-release-locking-plier-250mm-mono-position.html

Does anyone have any recommendations, please?
 
If you want them to do the job and last a long time Irwins are the only ones to get, all of the cheap ones are a dissapointment.
The milwaukke ones from toolstation are a sensible compromise.

Two basic types flat and curved jaws, I use the flat ones all the time as they really grip well.
 
Actual "Mole" brand ones were really good: pity I left mine behind when I left the UK in 1980. Never saw them again. All the replacements I've bought since aren't half as good. Many cheap ones lock on tolerably well but don't unlock easily.
 
davidjackson said:
I was issued Mole grips as part of my tool kit the day I started my apprenticeship in Sept 1971. Today, they remain unused in their box, wrapped in VCI paper.

Tool of last resort as there’s usually a better alternative.
Click to expand...

I one on board but it only gets used as a hand vice to hold some small part securely whilst filing or drilling it, for example. I would never use it in lieu of a spanner since I have every size I could possibly need on board.

However, the Mole-type drill clamp version is very useful and saves a lot of time : axminster drill clamps.jpg

https://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-drill-clamps-ax23568
 
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I found mine lying in the road about 40 yrs ago. They are authentic Mole ones and are useful from time to time but as someone said earlier, there are usually better alternatives. Stillsons are better for gripping round objects as the more turning force the stronger the grip unlike Moles. Stillsons can make a mess of what they're used on though.
 
Hmmm.
Methinks no serious welders have turned up on this thread yet?
An arsenal of mole gips/vice grips/locking pliers are indispensible aids to anybody fabricating steel / stainless steel /aluminium items using almost any weld technique.
It is said that fi you are building a wooden boat you cant have too many clamps. Same with metal fabrication, but often mole grips are handier.
If used on hex heads except as a last resort, then shame on you!
 
Thanks for all the replies. Irwin are looking like the right sort of price.

I do indeed intend them as a tool of last resort - I have a very good range of hex sockets (which would be my first choice) and spanners in metric sizes, but I would like to be prepared.
 
KompetentKrew said:
Thanks for all the replies. Irwin are looking like the right sort of price.

I do indeed intend them as a tool of last resort - I have a very good range of hex sockets (which would be my first choice) and spanners in metric sizes, but I would like to be prepared.
Click to expand...
+1 for Irwin which were formerly known as “Visegrip”. A really good tool to always have in case the proper tool for the job is not available or cannot be fitted into the available space. I have several different sizes and shapes and am always reassured that with those, the job can be done even if the correct tools fail.
 
It depends on where you intend to use them. I have the Lidl equivalent of what you showed. They are OK for use on a boat because when they go walkabout while afloat they do not induce any weeping at their loss. The same applies for their use on welding projects. One of the set broke in use but that was not a big deal. Consider them as 'disposable'.
On the other hand, proper quality like Mole, Vise, Facom, etc., live in my workshop and only go on the boat when we are on the hard.
 
John the kiwi said:
Hmmm.
Methinks no serious welders have turned up on this thread yet?
An arsenal of mole gips/vice grips/locking pliers are indispensible aids to anybody fabricating steel / stainless steel /aluminium items using almost any weld technique.
It is said that fi you are building a wooden boat you cant have too many clamps. Same with metal fabrication, but often mole grips are handier.
If used on hex heads except as a last resort, then shame on you!
Click to expand...

Thats pretty much what I use them for, welding/clamping parts for cutting/drilling etc, some are over 20 years old and painted all different colours from overspray.

Irwin make much better tools for hex heads than mole grips.
 
KompetentKrew said:
Thanks for all the replies. Irwin are looking like the right sort of price.

I do indeed intend them as a tool of last resort - I have a very good range of hex sockets (which would be my first choice) and spanners in metric sizes, but I would like to be prepared.
Click to expand...

Another vote for Irwin - good balance between price and quality.
 
davidjackson said:
I was issued Mole grips as part of my tool kit the day I started my apprenticeship in Sept 1971. Today, they remain unused in their box, wrapped in VCI paper.

Tool of last resort as there’s usually a better alternative.
Click to expand...

Agree. Horrible tool don't do it. A good pair of water pump pliers are much better if you are really desperate.
 
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