IRWIN VISE-GRIP Original Locking Sheet Metal Tool, 8", 23

Powerful and took a lot of punishment while working with these. They hold up to the task quite well.

If you're like me, you have several pairs of locking pliers, or "Vise-Grips". That funtionality is a natural pairing with a sheet metal tool. It's like having an extra hand to hold the metal tight while you bend it. I found these pliers to be of high quality as is expected from Irwin. The pair I received was made in Taiwan, according to the box. An extra with these is the option to use a hex wrench to make "live" adjustments to the locking function while the pliers are still locked down. Otherwise, the lock would have to be released before making an adjustment by hand. The jaws will bend thee inches of metal at a time. Not huge, but that still allows the pliers to get into some tight spaces. As some have mentioned, the top jaw is not perfectly flat; it has a very slight curve, but that did not affect useability. Finally, I used the metal benders on the drip edge on my house. The bottom 1/4" is bent outward slightly and I bent it a little more to give rainwater a bit more of a kick away from the fascia.

Can’t ask for better vice grips

I use it to create right-angle bends in metal strapping. It's effective when clamped down; however, the bar that rides in the metal groove is free-floating and will flop around until you actually clamp on something. Seems like Irwin could have devised a clip to keep it on track while the tool was unlocked.

Get 2 to bend metal—one on each side. These come in handy for all sorts of craft projects, from bending different metals to flattening out all the bends in metal picture frames that I take apart for projects

I don’t do a lot of sheet metal work but I am a photographer and I was wanting a couple “duckbill” clamps to hold foam core panels. Well they are of course made by other companies that use a sheet metal vise grip as their starting point before modifications. They are also kinda pricey and I wanted a project. I suck at welding but I got it done and sturdy, if not pretty. Bolting on some custom cut and bent 16 ga sheet, voila! They work as good or better than purchased ones I’ve used in the past. SO of course you HAVE to have a good set of grips to start with. Irwin fits the bill, priced right, strong and reliable, whatever your use turns out to be.

Ok, it did the job. But what what the job? My irrigation system nas a 1" diameter flexible rubber hose used as an aggregator for small, high pressure sprayers, and it was folded and strapped closed at one end. Well, over time that strap deteriorated, causing the hose to open and flood part of the yard any time those sprinkers would come on. The solution? Clamp the end of the hose closed again. However, since I didn't have a high strength metal band (no, not metallica) or a way to apply it, this was the next best thing. I folded over the hose and clamped it closed with these vice grips. The wide duck-bill was the perfect width. Currently the hose, and these vice grips are buried in the yard, and the sprinklers work great. :)Oh, you want to know if they work for sheet metal? I have no idea, but they will crimp the heck out of a wide rubber irrigation hose.

Excelente