Vise Grips Vise Grips are a well-known type of locking pliers widely used by both professional tradesman and do-it-yourselfers. Vise Grips are manufactured by the U.S.-based company Irwin Tools, a well known hand tool brand which is the direct descendant of the business that Bill Peterson formed after being granted a U.S. patent for locking pliers in 1924. Today, … [Read more...]

Slip Joint Pliers Slip joint pliers, also known as adjustable pliers, are hand tools which are used for clamping down on objects for tightening and loosening purposes, or for bending the object being gripped. Originally called "channel locks," slip joint pliers were invented by engineer Howard Manning in 1933. Manning was an employee of the Champion-DeArment Tool … [Read more...]

Types of Pliers Just about every household tool set on the market includes a pair of pliers.  Like many hand tools, the design and function of pliers hasn’t changed much over the millennium. Way, way, way back in the day, pliers were made of wood. In fact, ancient Greek art depicts the god Hephaestus using pliers in his forge.  Apparently even a god can get a … [Read more...]

The Best Socket Sets (Tool Review & Buying Guide) for 2023 A great socket set is pretty much a necessity for anyone who wants to be able to fix or work on anything that has a nut or bolt. And lets face it, that's practically everything today. Yes, you can use a wrench just as easily as a socket set, but socket sets make any job a whole lot easier and faster. And they … [Read more...]

What is an Awl? And 10 Cool Uses for One! Awls are handy tools that craftsmen use to punch holes in a wide variety of materials, including wood, leather, and more. Awls have quite a long history, as they were used throughout ancient times. More often than not, they come with a built-in thread hole. While awls serve many purposes, their main purpose is to puncture … [Read more...]