Welding Tips and Tricks

What Vice Grip model do you use most in your welding ventures?

Depends on the day but either the 7CR-small and does a lot of different things. Also the 12" fish mouth are phenomenal and work for everything else well. I use the 7CR the most for two reasons-one General welding and fabrication because it it small and fits in my ouch and had pretty good reach for large objects and works on small objects as well. Secondly- I am a farm kid and on that farm and nearby farms 7-CR vise grips are the common solution for everything. Rounded bolt head, hold a fuel pump up when removing it from a tank, ripped of handle in a combine, some guys have broken off door handles and slapped on a grip as a new handle. I think their size and usability make it my favorite.

I think the ones I use mostly are the P-11. Either a P or a R.

Any of you find a use for the 9R model?

Yes. I've built window frames for churches, and we would use those to hold the extrusions together when fitting up and tacking. Especially useful on the large round rosettes.

Have used the model you have there but not a fan. Just know of a pain to me and too wide and badly placed for what I do.

6R/11R/11SP

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11 R and 7 R here

I use Harbor Freights copies of Vice Grips. I went to a sale at an old bath fixture plant and bought a milk crate full of all different kinds of actual Vice Grips for $10 but they sit on a shelf unless I have something that needs lots of clamps. Im pretty rough on clamps so I would rather tear up my junky clamps. Not using my good clamps benefits me how?

How do you get away woth not using every clamp you have Jeff. Seems like every time I need to use vise grips I'm always asking for another one. I also will argue till the day I die that you should never buy cheap knock offs unless you hit them with a torch and cut them vise grips will lest forever and if the crack which they will, you could always weld them up and they work just as well the day they came out of the box.

Farmwelding wrote:How do you get away woth not using every clamp you have Jeff. Seems like every time I need to use vise grips I'm always asking for another one. I also will argue till the day I die that you should never buy cheap knock offs unless you hit them with a torch and cut them vise grips will lest forever and if the crack which they will, you could always weld them up and they work just as well the day they came out of the box.

If you saw how many clamps I have you would understand. I have a bin under my welding table full of clamps and I have been known to plasma cut the pads in half and/or weld the clamp to the work and have to cut it off or several other ways to abuse clamps. I don't believe in buying junky tools either but some Harbor Freight stuff you can get away with like their clamps. VG clamps, $20+ a pair..HF $4...I also like to make specialized clamps for certain things and I don't mind sacrificing a $4 clamp for a one-off project.

I have no less than 15 different kinds. And lots more styles that I've worn out and haven't replaced till I need them next time. I buy both the name brand and the cheap stuff. I think I probably use regular c clamps of various sizes and depths more than anything else.

Fair enough Jeff, need those specialty clamps for one or two little projects. You always have a feeling in the back of your head that it isn't a good idea to weld some plate on a $20 clamp.

I have a number of vicegrips but the most used is my pair of "6ln". Had/have the same pair for 35-40 years, use 'em more than any 'plier' type I own. (ie vice grips-channel locks-pliers-etc)

-c-

cornmuse wrote:I have a number of vicegrips but the most used is my pair of "6ln". Had/have the same pair for 35-40 years, use 'em more than any 'plier' type I own. (ie vice grips-channel locks-pliers-etc)

-c-

Gonna pick up the one with a knife and screwdriver now. Not worth it to me. already carry the knife and a multi tool which has a screwdriver and if I wanted a multitool with a locking pliers I'd break down and buy the Leatherman crunch.

These vise grips in the middle are for sheet metal as they are used in autobody.