Crunch vs Regular Locking Pliers

[max6166]

I was looking at some locking wrenches today and was wondering how the Crunch compared purely as a wrench. Basically, I was wondering why not just buy some small vise grips instead?

Now I know there is a lot of Crunch love out there, and I am not putting it down. I am really just curious as I hadn't really considered getting one until recently, and I was also considering just carrying some vise grips.

For carry, the Crunch looks heavier (193.7g/6.83oz) than dedicated locking pliers.

I think the Crunch would be more compact overall, but I also saw some pretty small yet usable Irwin's too. From the photos, I don't think there is that much a difference in length, despite the folding head. I think the handles might be longer to allow the other tools. They are certainly thicker.

How big do the jaws open on the Crunch? I'd like to compare it to a comparable locking plier and see the size difference too.

[Poncho65]

I believe it says than it can clamp onto pipes 1 inch in diameter if that helps any

[hawkchucker]

I would love to answer this for you but now one will trade me for a crunch.

[WH867]

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How big do the jaws open on the Crunch? I'd like to compare it to a comparable locking plier and see the size difference too.


[/quote]

 Hope this helps.

[max6166]

Thanks! I just went and looked up some basic vise grips on Irwin's site. The only info they give is that basic 1.5" jaw capacity grips are 7" long. I actually have a pair of that exact model and they weigh 335g.

Other models are significantly smaller: the 1-1/8" model is 5" long; and the 15/16" is 4" long. I don't have weights for those though.

They also list some long nose locking pliers with a 1.5" capacity that are only 4" long? That seems pretty wild, but it fits in with their listings for the rest of that line. The 2" capacity long nose pliers are listed as 6" long.

I can't find any weights for these things either.

I only looked quickly at Irwins alone though. I don't know if the locking pliers of other manufacturer are heavier or lighter than Irwin, etc.

[jzmtl]

If you just want a locking plier check out viper grip, it has laminated jaws and switch between locking and non-locking with flip of a switch.

[max6166]

If you just want a locking plier check out viper grip, it has laminated jaws and switch between locking and non-locking with flip of a switch.

I actually posted about those in another thread. They looked interesting, but I was a little skeptical. If you recommend them, I may just get a pair. They were certainly very light and compact, and the jaws opened very wide. And they have jaw guards too to prevent damaging the object you are working on...

[jzmtl]

I only had brief experience with them actually, so can't vouch for their longevity, but they seems pretty solid.

[HaChayalBoded]

If you just want a locking plier check out viper grip, it has laminated jaws and switch between locking and non-locking with flip of a switch.

I actually posted about those in another thread. They looked interesting, but I was a little skeptical. If you recommend them, I may just get a pair. They were certainly very light and compact, and the jaws opened very wide. And they have jaw guards too to prevent damaging the object you are working on...

light and compact? The vipergrip is freaking huge! Oh and my crunch locks on to 1 1\4" tubular steel just fine and I removed the axles on a BMW that used 24mm acorn nuts just fine as well. It also doubles as a "bead buddy" holding a tire down in the bead of a rim while I changed out the tires on a friends BMW.

[max6166]

The model of Vipergrip I was looking at was 6" long, very thin, and weighed about 350g. Certainly small enough to throw in a bag...

[HaChayalBoded]

The model of Vipergrip I was looking at was 6" long, very thin, and weighed about 350g. Certainly small enough to throw in a bag...

hmm, I looked at a few at lowes the other day and they were all thick and heavy, I wanted to get one to drop in my MC toolkit, which model were you looking at? The one I wanted they didn't have, it was a standard locking wrench head with an added needlenose tip.

[max6166]

I actually went to buy one just yesterday. At my store, they had 3 models: 6" regular, 7" needle nose, and a much bigger one which I can't recall the specifics of.

As I mentioned previously, the 6" one is the model I was interested in. After playing with it some more, I put it back though. The three 6" ViperGrips I examined didn't seem very well built. The locking handle was attached to the jaws area by a very thin piece of metal which looked like it would break or bend with any real use. The springs, locks , etc. all seemed very delicate as well. I just didn't have confidence that the thing would last more than a few minutes of normal use.

The 7" needle nose and larger model seemed a little tougher, but I was already put off by the quality of the 6". I might check them out again, but I think I would be better off with a much more robust solution.
 

[Grant Lamontagne]

I think the big reason why folks carry a Crunch rather than dedicated locking pliers is convenience, which is the reason any of us carry multitools at all.  No multitool can compare to a set of dedicated pliers, a dedicated knife, a dedicated screwdriver etc, but the cost and inconvenience of having all of those handy when you need them is prohibitive.  Taking an average multitool, you have a metal saw, wood saw, 3-4 screwdrivers, a knife, pliers and wire cutters.  If you had each of those individually, you'd have spent probably close to $150, instead of the $50-75 on a multitool, and you'd be lugging around several pounds of kit, which you'd probably either leave at home or in the trunk of the car where you wouldn't have it when you needed it anyway!

If you find yourself needing a locking set of pliers often enough to warrant carrying an additional, dedicated set, then by all means, outfit yourself properly, but remember, there are tradeoffs involved in specific tools as well as multitools!

Def

[max6166]

I have definitely started to appreciate the convenience of the Crunch since my original post. Purely in terms of the locking pliers, I haven't found anything similar in terms of size and capability.

While some of the dedicated tools are cheaper and fairly similar in *expanded* size and weight, they don't collapse into a handy portable package like the Crunch and have slightly less jaw capacity.

I wish LM also offered a version of the Crunch which eliminated the tool redundancy when already carrying an LM multitool. Perhaps a lighter pliers-only Crunch with no tools in the handles? Or even a version with completely unique tools in the handles not found in other LM tools? 

[Poncho65]

I have definitely started to appreciate the convenience of the Crunch since my original post. Purely in terms of the locking pliers, I haven't found anything similar in terms of size and capability.

While some of the dedicated tools are cheaper and fairly similar in *expanded* size and weight, they don't collapse into a handy portable package like the Crunch and have slightly less jaw capacity.

I wish LM also offered a version of the Crunch which eliminated the tool redundancy when already carrying an LM multitool. Perhaps a lighter pliers-only Crunch with no tools in the handles? Or even a version with completely unique tools in the handles not found in other LM tools? 

You could probably mod it and or take the tools out and change them for something that might suit you better

[max6166]

I looked at the Crunch photos a little more closely and see that there is probably not much to be gained by eliminating the inline tools.

[Poncho65]

I looked at the Crunch photos a little more closely and see that there is probably not much to be gained by eliminating the inline tools.

You might lose an ounce or 2 that would probably be it But you are right if you carry it an another LM you have 2 many duplicate tools But if 1 were 2 break a person would be very happy to have the extra