IRWIN Tools VISE-GRIP Locking Wrench with Wire Cutter (4)

There are some tools that belong in every tool box, and most of us already have locking pliers from one manufacturer or another. Irwin Tools, maker of the original "Vice Grips" brand product is the best know. This new version of the tool looks and works nearly the same, but has a vastly improved jaw shape made specifically for grabbing on to damaged hex nuts and bolts.
I used mine just yesterday while working on restoring an old car for my daughter. I had to remove the heat shield from the exhaust manifold, and after 10 years of service those bolts were not in good shape at all. One of them was so bad that my sockets and box wrenches would just spin, getting no bite at all. My usual pair of locking pliers didn't help either. The unique jaw shape on the Irwin "Locking Wrench" grabbed the head of the bolt from three sides and fastened firmly enough to do the job. In just a few seconds I had that old bolt out without having to resort to cutting it with an angle grinder or torch.
I've seen these on-line for less than fifteen dollars, and for the amount of headache they save I'd call it well worth adding to any tool box. If you've ever used regular locking pliers to try to get a stripped bolt out, you'll find this new style of "locking wrench" works wonders.

I have spent 25 years on a farm, fixing things. Usually when something is stuck, the best socket is a 6-point instead of the more common 12-point socket. A 6-point has flat places that line up with the bolt. When things are very rusted/stuck, you can still round it off. This model of Vicegrips is absolutely the best there is. It hold three flat sides, and you can tighten it up to "crushing mode" if you are not careful.

As mentioned, these are not as much of an "all around" tool as other models of Vice-grips. My personal daily favorite is a 7WR (7", rounded jaw, wire cutters). This 7LW is a specialized model, mainly intended for removing stuck bolts. Since all bolts still maintain that same geometry, this works equally well on SAE and Metric nuts/bolts.

Yes, use penetrating oil. Yes, use a torch if you have it. These 7LW are still what you need to grab on to a stubborn nut/bolt.

This product delivers the excellent quality I expect from my vise grip tools. It's a great non marring wrench to grab either the nut or the head of a bolt while you tighten the other. It is bulkier than an ordinary wrench so you will only be able to use it in those situations where there is plenty of room. That being said, it is no more bulky than a regular locking plier. The advantage here is that it has a special mouth that is non marring to a hex bolt. Of course an ordinary vise grip would grab almost as well, although it might leave some marks on the hardware. As tools go, this is more of a luxury item. I don't use this very often, but when I do it's a real joy to use.
( It's a good gift idea for someone who already has a full tool box. )

Was very happy to have found all 3 vise-grips at same time. Makes things a lot easer.Always a good buy.

This review is not about the grips performance with nuts/bolts or wire cutting, but instead using a specifically designed tool for a task it was not designed for: TDC/TDF

Although they aren't used as often as regular grips, the way the jaws of these are shaped makes them perfect for clamping TDC/TDF flanges together. And the offset of the head makes it easier to line up the edges of the flanges.

The 7" version (for which this review was written) can also have the adjustment bolt replaced by a 5/6" x 4" eye bolt with a nut run all the way to the loop. This way you can grip the flanges loosely, tighten the eye bolt by hand, and then for a really strong lock you can put an alignment punch or screwdriver in the eye bolt and really torque that bolt down.

The ability to lock onto nuts can also be useful, as well as the wire cutters.

5 out of 5