Irwin makes the Vise-Grip locking plier. It also makes clamps, drill and auger bits, saw blades, chisels, taps and dies, and layout tools. The locking pliers and the Quick-Grip clamps are the lines most tradies buy, and they are the ones we get asked about most. On this page you’ll find our reviews and buying guides for the full Irwin range.
Why Tradies Choose Irwin
Irwin started in 1885 in Martinsville, Ohio. Charles Irwin was a pharmacist who bought the rights to a solid-centre auger bit from a local blacksmith and built a company around it. Most of the other names came later, by acquisition. Vise-Grip came from Petersen Manufacturing in De Witt, Nebraska, where William Petersen invented the locking plier in 1924. Marples is an old Sheffield chisel maker. Hanson covers taps, dies and extractors. Strait-Line covers chalk lines and marking gear. Irwin itself has been part of Stanley Black & Decker since 2017.
The Vise-Grip design is worth understanding, because it is the reason the tool still sells. You set jaw pressure with the screw in the handle, and the locking action works separately from that setting. So the plier holds its gap through a repetitive job instead of needing a re-adjust every time you open it. The jaws are heat-treated alloy steel with hardened teeth cut to grip on an angle, not just square on. The release trigger is guarded, so the tool doesn’t let go when you knock it against something.
Worth knowing before you buy: Irwin manufacturing has moved offshore over the years, and older US-made Vise-Grips have a following because of it. If that matters to you, check the country of origin on the specific model rather than assuming.
Irwin Tools By Category
Locking Tools
- Original Locking Pliers
- Fast Release Locking Pliers
- Locking Clamps & C-Clamps
- Locking Wrenches
- Welding Clamps & Sheet Metal Tools
- Locking Tool Sets
- Replacement Parts
Clamping & Workholding
- Quick-Grip One-Handed Bar Clamps
- Heavy-Duty Bar Clamps
- Spring Clamps & Handi-Clamps
- C-Clamps
- Corner, Band & Strap Clamps
- Clamp Sets
- Vises
- Workbenches & Sawhorses
Hand Tools & Cutting
- Pliers & Cutters
- Screwdrivers & Nut Drivers
- Adjustable & Pipe Wrenches
- Utility Knives & Blades
- Snips & Shears
- Marples Chisels & Planes
- Hacksaws & Hacksaw Blades
- Handsaws & Jab Saws
- Files & Rasps
Drilling & Boring
- Cobalt, Titanium & Black Oxide Drill Bits
- Impact Performance Series Bits
- Speedbor Spade Bits & Auger Bits
- Unibit Step Drills
- Hole Saws & Arbors
- Masonry & SDS Bits
- Drill Bit Sets & Cases
Fastening & Threading
- Insert & Power Bits
- Nut Setters & Bit Holders
- Taps & Dies (Hanson)
- Screw & Bolt Extractors
- Threading Sets
Saw Blades & Power Tool Accessories
- Circular Saw Blades (Marathon)
- Reciprocating Saw Blades
- Jigsaw Blades
- Band Saw Blades
- Oscillating Multi-Tool Blades
- Diamond Blades & Wheels
Layout & Marking
- Chalk Reels & Marking Chalk (Strait-Line)
- Levels
- Tape Measures
- Squares & Marking Tools
Storage & Carry
- Tool Bags
- Tool Boxes & Organisers
- Tool Belts & Pouches
Safety & Wearables
- Safety Glasses
- Work Gloves
- Knee Pads & Protective Gear
More from Irwin
- New Products
- Vise-Grip Collection
- Marples Collection
- Strait-Line Collection
- Miscellaneous & Accessories
Latest Irwin Reviews
Our Irwin reviews and comparisons. We add to this list as we test and publish.
Irwin reviews follow the same criteria we use for every brand on this site. See How We Choose What to Recommend.