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Mole grips - any good?

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StevenF
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Joined: 25 Apr 2008
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PostPosted: 17:13 - 11 Oct 2011    Post subject: Mole grips - any good? Reply with quote
I need to buy a pair and wondering if these would be any good?

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/pro104-7in-curved-jaw-locking-pliers?da=1&TC=RV-040210504
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G
The Voice of Reason



Joined: 02 Feb 2002
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PostPosted: 17:43 - 11 Oct 2011    Post subject: Re: Mole grips - any good? Reply with quote
Should be good enough.

Clarke stuff is generally 'ok'.
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BigGeeking
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Joined: 07 Jun 2011
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PostPosted: 17:59 - 11 Oct 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote
yes good tools from there and i think there is a VAT free weekend this weekend Thumbs Up
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Dazbo666
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Joined: 06 Jun 2004
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PostPosted: 20:13 - 11 Oct 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote
I've bought quite a lot of Clarke branded tools from Machine Mart over the last couple of years, and never had any major problems with them...
obviously not Snap On quality, but certainly functional, and well worth the money
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StevenF
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Joined: 25 Apr 2008
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PostPosted: 14:27 - 12 Oct 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote
divetime wrote:
yes good tools from there and i think there is a VAT free weekend this weekend Thumbs Up


Is that right enough? Had a wee look on the website and couldn't see anything about it.
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Pete.
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Joined: 22 Aug 2006
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PostPosted: 14:33 - 12 Oct 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote
Looking at the pic, they don't appear to be welded where the handle is rolled for the adjusitng thread. That is a weak point on all non-welded mole grips. Genuine 'Mole' brand grips are pretty good quality.
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anthony_r6
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Joined: 31 Mar 2011
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PostPosted: 17:01 - 12 Oct 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote
Unrelated to the Mole Grips - but can anyone recommend a good pair of Circlip Pliers? I bought some the other day that only barely (and with extra help) managed to get the circlip off and on again.
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cb1rocket
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Joined: 30 Jan 2010
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PostPosted: 17:07 - 12 Oct 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote
StevenF wrote:
divetime wrote:
yes good tools from there and i think there is a VAT free weekend this weekend Thumbs Up


Is that right enough? Had a wee look on the website and couldn't see anything about it.


you only get that when you sign up an account with them, you normally get a card through the door to use as a voucher to claim for the VAT free weekend.

Next time you buy something ask to put it on a business receipt with your name etc.

This then gets logged on the system to send out special offers
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DrDonnyBrago
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Joined: 03 Jan 2010
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PostPosted: 17:40 - 12 Oct 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote
Irwin vice grips are my weapon of choice.

I have destroyed a few pairs of stanley/unbranded grips through relatively minor use, I have yet to destroy my Irwin grips.
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Tiff
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Joined: 09 Aug 2006
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PostPosted: 23:55 - 12 Oct 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote
DonnyBrago wrote:
Irwin vice grips are my weapon of choice.

I have destroyed a few pairs of stanley/unbranded grips through relatively minor use, I have yet to destroy my Irwin grips.


Yup, wouldn't buy anything else. Got me out of many sticky situations where cheaper inferior ones make things worse.
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StevenF
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Joined: 25 Apr 2008
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PostPosted: 09:14 - 13 Oct 2011    Post subject: Torque Wrench Reply with quote
As per my previous post, I could do with a torque wrench to stop me from snapping bolts! Would this suffice? https://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/cht204-38in-drive-reversible-torque-wre?da=1&TC=RV-040212609
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Raffles
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Joined: 14 Apr 2009
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PostPosted: 09:40 - 13 Oct 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote
divetime wrote:
i think there is a VAT free weekend this weekend Thumbs Up

I'm not certain but I believe that their stores take it in turns to have VAT free days. I don't think that it happens simultaneously nationwide.
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tahrey
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PostPosted: 16:46 - 02 Nov 2011    Post subject: Re: Torque Wrench Reply with quote
StevenF wrote:
As per my previous post, I could do with a torque wrench to stop me from snapping bolts! Would this suffice? https://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/cht204-38in-drive-reversible-torque-wre?da=1&TC=RV-040212609


I've had one of those for at least the last 5-6 years, it's done me proud. Mind that I'm not a garage mechanic and haven't done anything that put more strain on the wrench than removing and retightening front wheel hub bolts (on a FWD car), though the latter did require putting a 4ft steel pipe over the wrench to do the final bit of tightening Very Happy

It's probably about the shittest torque wrench you can buy, for all I know, and would attract howls of derision from tool-pervs. But it does the job for home DIY.

The mole grips look very reminiscent of some more monochrome ones I've had for a similar period. The mechanism can be a bit hard to release when under high strain (needing careful levering), but it hasn't yet jammed and they grip OK if there's grip to be had. Again, they're probably utter crap as I haven't anything to compare to, but I haven't yet had to abandon a job because they didn't do what I needed them to.
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The Artist
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PostPosted: 16:47 - 02 Nov 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote
Pete. wrote:
Looking at the pic, they don't appear to be welded where the handle is rolled for the adjusitng thread. That is a weak point on all non-welded mole grips. Genuine 'Mole' brand grips are pretty good quality.


+1

I have a few pairs and the ones that are just rolled like that one are not as good. I am not sure what make my solid ones are.
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MarJay
But it's British!



Joined: 15 Sep 2003
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PostPosted: 16:55 - 02 Nov 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote
I always thought that mole grips fell into the category of "Cheap is fine"?

Unlike for example torque wrenches where it pays to get a decent one...
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.....
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Joined: 15 Jan 2005
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PostPosted: 16:58 - 02 Nov 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote
I had a (very) cheap set from eBay and they were terrible. Made from tinfoil and had lots of sideways movement in the jaws that made them useless for trying to really grip something tight.

Got some Irwins and they are a world apart.
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The Artist
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PostPosted: 17:40 - 02 Nov 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote
MarJay wrote:
I always thought that mole grips fell into the category of "Cheap is fine"?

Unlike for example torque wrenches where it pays to get a decent one...


Nooooo. Sideways movement in cheap ones is awful. When you resort to using molegrips you are usually pissed off because normal rational methods of turning whatever you want to turn, haven't worked. Nothing worse than molegrips that move sideways.
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Old Thread Alert!

The last post was made 14 years, 323 days ago. Instead of replying here, would creating a new thread be more useful?
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