Non-motoring > Mole Grips	Miscellaneous
Thread Author: Chris S	Replies: 22

New Thu 23 Jun 11 12:26   Mole Grips - Chris S

Why are mole grips called 'mole grips'? Moles dig holes in your garden, they don't grip. Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 23 Jun 11 12:34   Mole Grips - Runfer D'Hills

Produced by M K Mole & sons apparently en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Locking_pliers Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 23 Jun 11 12:35   Mole Grips - WillDeBeest

Ah, but supposedly they do, with their surprisingly powerful jaws - or so my dad told me about 30 years ago when I asked him the same question. I'll see if I can find anything scientific to substantiate this. Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 23 Jun 11 12:37   Mole Grips - Clk Sec

All the information you need here:) tinyurl.com/6xhqav7 Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 23 Jun 11 12:36   Mole Grips - captain chaos

I think its just a trade name for vice grips that became generic. A bit like sellotape, jeep and hoover. Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 23 Jun 11 12:40   Mole Grips - captain chaos

Ah, Humph beat me to it :) Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 23 Jun 11 12:42   Mole Grips - WillDeBeest

Humph's right and my dad wasn't. I'd be having a word - if he were still here to argue with. Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 23 Jun 11 13:22   Mole Grips - Iffy

Handy tool, but as with all tools, worth buying a decent one. I have a pair of unbranded vice-grips in the caravan as part of a £30 Halfords tool set. The jaws chewed the first time I used them for a tough job. My genuine Mole wrench in the house has lasted for years and still looks as good as new. Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 23 Jun 11 14:02   Mole Grips - madf

Great invention for keeping things in place whilst you hit or weld them.. A larger size is I believe available for one's partner...:-) Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 23 Jun 11 14:08   Mole Grips - Runfer D'Hills

I've often thought that if one were a torturer, that a decent set of Mole grips would be a fairly basic requirement. I reached this conclusion as a teenager when idly experimenting with a large pair of Moles and set the jaws ever so slightly narrower than the middle knuckle on my left index finger before attaching the grips to it. As a test of theory it was entirely successful but I failed to make any comprehensive notes at the time. Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 23 Jun 11 14:16   Mole Grips - captain chaos

:) Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 23 Jun 11 14:24   Mole Grips - Clk Sec

>>Handy tool, but as with all tools, worth buying a decent one. Indeed. You can do plenty with one good set, but so much more with two. Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 23 Jun 11 17:36   Mole Grips - Manatee

I reckon they are one of the three most useful (and abusable) general purpose mechanicking tools, along with water pump pliers and adjustable spanners. Any other nominations? Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 23 Jun 11 17:55   Mole Grips - Ted

I've about a dozen from lickle tiny ones to regular sized. Always needed a fair few when welding. I look for them at car boot sales and the like. A very useful extra function for the 'C ' shaped ones id forcing pistons back when fitting new pads. Ted Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 23 Jun 11 18:16   Mole Grips - Iffy

We had a few unusual types of locking pliers for bodywork and welding, of which this is one: buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=all&item_ID=51307&group_ID=13599&store=uk&dir=catalog Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 23 Jun 11 23:17   Mole Grips - Ted

>> buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=all&item_ID=51307&group_ID=13599&store=uk&dir=catalog That's the one for caliper pistons, Iffers. One leg in the piston and the other on the caliper body. Set them for a half inch squeeze and they exert tremendous pressure. Ive also got the set which has two ' blades 'with a gap of about an inch so you can clamp either side of a short weld. Ted >> Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 23 Jun 11 23:28   Mole Grips - Iffy

...That's the one for caliper pistons, Iffers... Snap-on sell them as welding clamps. We used them to hold a new wing on where it meets the bonnet, and sometimes the join under the bumper. There's another version with two pairs of pincers, each about three inches apart. Last edited by: Iffy on Thu 23 Jun 11 at 23:29 Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 23 Jun 11 23:51   Mole Grips - Ted

>> ...That's the one for caliper pistons, Iffers... >> >> Snap-on sell them as welding clamps. Oh yes, they are welding clamps...that's why I bought mine. But I soon found out the secondary use when trying to get a piston back in a caliper that was off the car....never looked back ! Ted Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 23 Jun 11 18:13   Mole Grips - madf

>> I reckon they are one of the three most useful (and abusable) general purpose mechanicking >> tools, along with water pump pliers and adjustable spanners. >> >> Any other nominations? >> Hardened end screwdrivers: for hammering things. Sledge hammer. Cold chisel. Bigger hammer... Reply to this message | Report message       1

New Thu 23 Jun 11 18:30   Mole Grips - Bobbin Threadbare

My personal favourite has to be a lump hammer my dad had called 'Thor'. It was stamped on the side. Awesome for smashing stuff up to take to the tip. Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 23 Jun 11 19:16   Mole Grips - CGNorwich

In the same vein a crowbar. Great for dismantling and reducing anything to matchwood. Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 23 Jun 11 23:25   Mole Grips - Ted

I have a ' Thor ' copper hammer.......most mechanics have. As an aside, my Uncle Bob was killed by Thor.........it was a German armed merchant raider. It engaged with Bob's ship, HMS Alcantara and killed him and the bosun with a lucky shot ! I bet they both had Mole wrenches. Go to the local pound shop...3 wood chisels for a quid.....good scrapers and useful for things thet dont need a cold chisel. Often the blade runs up through the handle. I my Moles got nicked, it'd be a real wrench ! I'll get me coat ! Ted Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 24 Jun 11 07:13   Mole Grips - Cliff Pope

Anyone else irritated by mole grips that spring open in the tool box so that the internal prong thing disengages and tangles up with other tools? I have learnt always to store mine lightly clenching its jaws to keep them shut. Reply to this message | Report message