is this normal for irwin

[international3414]

5 mm hex on the cheap not made in usa vise grip...worn out junk already

[Bill Houghton]

Alas, Irwin is one of the companies that's been acquiring small companies or companies in financial straits, usually companies with a good product history and name, and value engineering* the product lines until they're worthless.  Too bad.  At one time, Irwin had a serious name, most famous in the U.S. for their carpenter's auger bits - to the point that the bit design they, and others, offered was known as the Irwin pattern.
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*An interesting term that often means "reducing the quality of the tool's components until it's completely valueless."

[Yadda]

The Peterson/Dewitt U.S.A. made Vise-grips are classic.  If I see them at a yard sale or estate sale under $5 I buy them.  One of the few hand tools that I have from my Dad is Vise-Grip pliers.  He had loaned them to me so they didn't get burned in the garage fire that took all his older tools.

[p_toad]

Ditto to the Made in USA tools in general.   I don't buy any of the new Nicholson files but look for the old ones that still cut at the Restore.

[international3414]

so i wonder if all the new ones have that 5 mm hex that would fit an Allen wrench...i just never noticed it before,but usually dont pick up these cheap crapers

[coolford]

Those useless vise grips by Irwin are made in Mexico out of tin cans.

[lptools]

When did Irwin start selling Vise-Grip imports???

[EVILDR235]

Irwin Vise Grips that say MADE WITH GLOBAL COMPONENTS are junk in my opinion. I only buy PETERSON brand Vise Grips.

EvilDr235

[amecks]

I never pay attention to new vise grips so never noticed the 5mm hex - but I bet they did that to enable machine assembly of product, eliminating a human job in the process.

[mvwcnews]

Irwin was one of the companies that Allen Petersen bought up when he formed American Tool as an umbrella (he'd borrowed quite a bit of money to buy out the other Petersen family members (mostly cousins) who no longer wanted to be active in the tool business).  When his health failed, Newell Rubbermaid bought him out & took over American Tool.  Then the corporate types started "economizing."  They thought Irwin was a better known brand than Petersen & so jettisoned Petersen & put Vise-Grip under the Irwin "name."  Then they started cutting production costs by shaving on quality & looking for cheaper places to assemble tools.
The former Petersen Mfg. plant at DeWitt, NE is finally being revived by a company called MALCO out of the twin cities & some time early next year will be putting out high quality (professional grade) locking plier wrenches, etc. from that plant, with some of the former Petersen Mfg. Co. employees doing the work & upholding the former standards.  So look for "Eagle Grip" in six months or so if you want a Nebraska made high end locking pliers.

[lptools]

Hello, Thanks for the heads up!!!. All of my personal Vise-Grip tools are from Dewitt , Nebraska, either from a long ago purchase, or from estate & garage sales. Regards, Lou

[Bill Houghton]

Good to hear that about MALCO taking over the Petersen plant.  They're a respected maker of sheet metal tools - one of the trades in which traditional tools are still prominent.

[international3414]

I never pay attention to new vise grips so never noticed the 5mm hex - but I bet they did that to enable machine assembly of product, eliminating a human job in the process.

good point,probably true

[papadan]

I've got probably a dozen Vice Grips that are mine or were my grandfathers. The newest ones are 25-30 years old. Never seen any with that hex in the end, but have not looked at any new ones in years. ;-)

[international3414]

anyone know where to purchase the eagle grip?....i couldnt find any?