General Purpose Tools

Long Nose 4-inch Vise Grip Pliers

Clamp metal together

These are a smaller pair of long nose vise-grips I got on Amazon for around $13. If you want the same ones, using the Amazon link in the description helps support my videos and the Cool Tools blog.

These are handy pair of pliers that can be generally used as needlenose pliers. They’re 4-inches long, with 1.5-inch jaws, and with a wirecutter tucked in the back.

But unlike regular pliers where you have to keep constant tension with your hand to grip whatever you’re using it on, the vise-grip style pliers can lock on and stay put.

It takes some fiddling with the adjustment screw to get the jaws the right size for the thing you’re working with — not too loose and not too tight. But when you get it right, the pliers almost act as a semi-permanent extension of whatever they’re gripping.

And if you really want a super tight squeeze, you can use the hex socket in the adjustment screw to really lock things in.

I’ve found these to be really useful for clamping metal together. They’re great as clamps for gluing up small things. They can also a handy little third hand for tinning up wire or holding small things. If you’re worried about them being conductive you can wrap the jaws in gaffer tape or heat shrink.

-- Donald Bell 03/27/18

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