Vise-Grip Tales

Posted by Alex in Gadget, Medicine on March 10, 2009 at 2:59 pm


Last year, vise-grip manufacturer Irwin held a contest called "Tell Us Your Vise-Grip Story" where people share their personal experience of using the tool. They’ve chosen 3 finalists, one of which is this one by Bryan from Chesapeake, VA:

As a US Navy spine surgeon, I routinely deal with dozens of different types of screws, rods and bolts that have been implanted into the spine. Each manufacturer has their own unique tools to insert and remove their specific hardware. While deployed to the Middle East in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, I did not have access to these specialized tools. I did however have some Vise-Grips that could be sterilized and used to emergently remove the screws and rods from this infected solider’s spine.

No doubt about it – vise-grips are useful. Almost as useful as duct tapes: Link – via Popular Mechanics and The Zeray Gazette


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COMMENT

12 comments to "Vise-Grip Tales"

  1. MadMolecule
    March 10th, 2009 at 3:06 pm

    Vise grips are awesome tools. With two of them, you can pretty much disassemble the entire world.

  2. Craig
    March 10th, 2009 at 3:45 pm

    Don't forget: vice grips were clamped onto the fuel selector valve in John Denver's airplane! They were clamped on there so the pilot could reach the selector valve, which was behind his shoulder, and switch tanks. (Apparently it was just a bit too awkward for at least one pilot...)

  3. avraamov
    March 10th, 2009 at 4:32 pm

    Bah. Everyone knows they're called mole-grips.

  4. Byrd Brain
    March 10th, 2009 at 4:44 pm

    avraamov, no. No they don't.

  5. Johnny Cat
    March 10th, 2009 at 4:53 pm

    Let's just make stuff up.

  6. Skipweasel
    March 10th, 2009 at 5:44 pm

    "Emergently"?

  7. SenorMysterioso
    March 10th, 2009 at 6:18 pm

    Never heard of "mole-grips"

    I thought they were called TV dial replacements and car window roller replacements

  8. Charles Pergiel
    March 10th, 2009 at 8:24 pm

    The biggest problem with Vice-Grips is they get used so much that when you really need them, the pair you've got are completely worn out. New ones, with nice sharp teeth, work much better. Go buy a new pair now. And make sure they are Vice Grip brand, not some cheap imitation knock off.

  9. Moon
    March 11th, 2009 at 12:09 am

    I'm using a pair as a shower handle. The dumb superintendent of our building can't find a shower handle replacement so I have to make do. I'm moving, needless to say.

  10. Moon
    March 11th, 2009 at 12:11 am

    I never heard of mole-grips either, but they apparently DO call them mole grips, if you go by the GOOG.

  11. Skipweasel
    March 11th, 2009 at 7:29 am

    They're called a Mole-wrench in our house.

  12. rob
    March 11th, 2009 at 1:16 pm

    I use mine as a handle for the recliner after the original broke off. See I should of won.


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