Customer Reviews

IDL Tools International VG6000BK ViperGrip 6-Inch 2-in-1 Self-Adjusting and Locking Pliers

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I got this thing awhile back for no particular reason. I think it was to fill out a "free shipping" order. Anyway, when I first got it, I wondered what ever possesed me to order such a contraption! You close the jaws with your index and middle fingers, then you lock it with the other two fingers. But, once it gets a bite, it holds on, to the point it was a pain to get released. I tossed it in the toolbox figuring I likely wouldn't get much use out of the thing, as I was working along on several projects though, if a pair of pliers wasn't handy, I would grab this. After a couple of months, I started looking for them and now it has almost become my "go to" for all sorts of things. Well built, laminated steel construction, I have beat on it removing nails and it hasn't been fazed nor lost it's grip. Guess I just had to develop enough co-ordination to use it properly. I would definately recommend it as a nice-but-not-essential addition to a tool arsenal.

I can't say enough good things about this tool. It's often the first or second thing I pull out of my toolbox for any home repair/craft task. Highly recommended.

I used this for a plumbing project this weekend, and it works great. This is really a top notch design. I'm a firefighter, and plan to carry this with my gear from now on...

These pliers are mechanical marvels. I looked up the US Patent to get an idea of the development history and found it was an evolutionary process by the same inventor. The thing took a while to figure out. The hand lever has two degrees of rotational freedom. Closing it from the forward end of the handle with index finger operates the pliers like a 3rd class lever - fast but useless for gripping. (That's probably why the bad reviews.) When the jaws make contact, you're supposed to wrap all fingers around the lever which shifts it to another mode that applies force to the jaws via linkages and widgets that multiple the force, similar to the toggle of a Visegrip pliers. In other words its pliers with an automatic transission. They seem great for light to medium duty, but for heavy industrial use, I'm not sure. The frame may delaminate, twist out of plane, or the cams, springs and rachets could fail. In other words they don't look idiot proof. IDL does offer a lifetime warranty - we'll see, I figure i might have another 30 years left.

I bought this tool for my dad for father's day and he's a man who has maaaaaany tools, yet he still loved this tool and it works great for him. :)

Solid tool, works good. Although it looks different, it functions and works the same as a standard locking vise grip. It's just more light weight, cooler looking, and less expensive. It also seems to feel better in my hand than a typical vise grip, although that's probably just a matter of preference.

So far it seems just as heavy duty as your normal vise grip. Time will tell.

This strange tool is very useful. I highly recommend it. Don't worry about hurting yourself when using this tool I have never had a problem using it. Anybody can learn how to use this thing in a few seconds given that a person has more than 2 brain cells to be able to figure out you should first squeeze it with your index finger when grabbing things.

UPDATE Sept 2011: All moving parts are still working great after adding little bit of oil to various places. The size of bolts the jaws can grab is amazing for such a compact tool. What a nice invention.

I have a couple of these in different sizes and absolutely love them. They aren't meant for the more rugged applications of a vice grip, but have worked for me in most situations around the home. It took a couple of times to get used to how they work, but since then I have loved them. My trick is to hold the ViperGrip with my thumb and index finger on the handle near the jaws. I only apply pressure with my thumb and index finger until the jaws are at the correct size. Then, I apply pressure to the rest of the handle with the rest of my hand to get the tool to lock on. I think it's a wonderful tool to have around.

It's pretty slick ONCE you get to know how to use it and that can take some time. It's all in where you squeeze it.

Its a pliers AND vice grips.

Quality made product.

definitively worth the $10 I paid.

Once you get used to how the latching mechanism works it is a handy little tool, that you can release a re attatch easily, while completing any sort of job.