The Vice Grip/Irwin units sold in the big box stores these days are
made in China.  Caveat Emptor.  Found a pair of new US made
Vise Grips at a yard sale last fall, but didn't want to pay $8 for
them.  I would today!!  Secretly switched out the US made vise grip
needle nose pliers my wife had in her tool box for a shiny new pair
of the Irwins.  I don't think she noticed.....yet.

DM&FS

At 07:04 PM 8/9/2010, Scott Daniel - Turbovans wrote:
>Mike, how would you know what vice grips I probably have. ?
>I hate that cheap HF junk.
>I didn't exress any difficulty with vice grips - I don't even get where
>you're coming from.
>I was talking about 'when vice grips won't cut it' ..
>the next tactic above vice grips, kapeesh .
>
>a good vice grips should dig in at the teeth for sure.
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Mike" <mbucchino@charter.net>
>To: "Scott Daniel - Turbovans" <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>;
><vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>Sent: Monday, August 09, 2010 4:21 PM
>Subject: Re: Re: Well so far it's beat me. >:-(
>
>
>>  Get a new pair of 'quality' vice-grips.  I bet yours are old/ worn/
>>smooth jaws/ cheap HF ones.  Use the ones that have a curved jaw with
>>sharp teeth. Works every time.
>>  If they're slipping, they're the problem, not the bolt.  I just removed
>>my axles and had to use vice-grips on the outside of half of them!  The
>>cheap, worn ones slipped no matter how hard I clamped them!  The good ones
>>bit in so hard that they left tooth marks.
>>Ymmv,
>>Mike B.
>>
>>--------------------------------------------------
>>From: "Scott Daniel - Turbovans" <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
>>Sent: Monday, August 09, 2010 6:54 PM
>>To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>>Subject:      Re: Well so far it's beat me. >:-(
>>
>>>hi ,
>>>it's not 'taping with a hammer' on top of stuck cv joint screw..
>>>it's very sharp severe whacks, not 'thud' ..
>>>but sharp whack.
>>>with a short drift and good ball been hammer,
>>>give it like 20 of those.
>>>10 might be enough ....of .really sharp hard whacks if using the chisel
>>>method below.
>>>for the screw whacking I  use an old king pin for a drift..
>>>it's extra hard steel, really transfers the force.
>>>
>>>then with the chisel you're going to unscrew it in a circle with the cold
>>>chisel.
>>>dig a hard notch in the top outer edge of the screw, aimed in the
>>>unscrewing
>>>direction.
>>>
>>>somethings it's hit the chisel 40 times..
>>>or much fewer if you're lucky ..and it'll unscrew finally.
>>>then remove it with the vice grips.
>>>
>>>there's anohter pre-chisel trick, and that's to tighten the screw some
>>>first, or if it won't unscrew, tighten it some if it will, that helps
>>>them
>>>unscrew nicely sometimes.
>>>
>>>the upgrade 12 point screws are better..
>>>need a special tool, but they are harder metal.
>>>I've seen just one of those stripped out in hundreds of vanagons and cv
>>>joints and screws...
>>>and umpteen stripped out 6mm allen ones.
>>>
>>>scott
>>>www.turbovans.com
>>>----- Original Message -----
>>>From: "Courtney Hook" <courtneyhook@SHAW.CA>
>>>To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>>>Sent: Monday, August 09, 2010 3:27 PM
>>>Subject: Well so far it's beat me. >:-(
>>>
>>>
>>>Alright, I've gotten every CV joint allen head out except for one on the
>>>stub end. The AH PO obviously was a wanker, as there is NO way this thing
>>>wants to come out. He must have had the Incredible Hulk torque it up for
>>>him. Did I mention that it already looked like he re-used a bolt that was
>>>somewhat ovaled instead of 6 sided!!Things I've tried so far after WD-40
>>>over the last few days, and tapping it with a hammer:
>>>
>>>1) Quality Crafstman allen head socket and ratchet. No way, just spun
>>>out.
>>>2) Vice Grips on outside - just spun around the bolt even though I reefed
>>>them on there as hard as I could, and checked I had clearance to spin the
>>>grips. No way.
>>>3) Took a cold chisel and ridged the outside circumference to get the
>>>vice
>>>grips to bite better instead of spinning. No way, still spun. :-(
>>>4) Threw a temper tantrum and spoke in tongues I learned in the Army.
>>>Wife
>>>not impressed. Me either.
>>>
>>>So what's number 5?? Get out my mig, and weld an allen wrench piece into
>>>the
>>>hole and use it as an "extension" Little worried about the grease, oil,
>>>gas,
>>>electronics about this one.
>>>Thanks,
>>>Courtney (Eyeing some Bud Limes right about now so I don't start speaking
>>>in
>>>tongues again)
>>>
>>>++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>>>Always be yourself, because the people that matter don't mind,
>>>and the ones who mind, don't matter.