The next new tool I want to talk about isn’t really new, even to me. It’s this Sears RoboGrip self-adjusting pliers. Looks like a gadget of dubious value, but it works really well. I’ve had pair of these for…many years. My mother was a master at finding tool gifts that even tool users don’t have, but are still useful. Off the top of my head I can think of at least 4 of these Christmas gifts over the years that were so useful I still have them and regularly use them.
Robogrip Pliers
At a recent, “tool and equipment” auction (we call it a junk auction) I came across a box lot that had two of these larger sizes in it and in basically unused condition. Easily worth the $5 for the box just for a couple more of these guys. Now I don’t have to agonize over where to keep them, in the office where I process tools for sale, or in the shop where Things Get Done, or in the truck because in a pinch it’s better to have a versatile tool.
It’s not a perfect tool, the teeth are aggressive and will leave marks. They have a limited effective range on the lower end. They do close down all the way, but they aren’t great on small things, you really need to shift to the smaller size of these things. They also make a worse then average hammer. With the laminated construction, they are very strong, but light, sadly.
One of the fascinating things about dealing with old tools is seeing all the different ways people attempted to solve a common problem before settling on the kit we use today. I have a thick book just of the patented (in the US) adjustable wrenches. From roughly 1830 to about 1930 hundreds of solutions to an adjustable wrench were patented and certainly two or three times as many were produced. Now, we have just a handful of winners: Crescent wrench, pipe wrenches, and a couple types of adjustable pliers.
Anyway, if you see a pair of these somewhere, pick them up, you won’t be disappointed.