mini Vise-Grips good for impressioing?

[Peter Martin]

I found these 5-1/2" Vise-Grips at a flea market and picked them up. Anyone try to use them to hold a key during impressioning? Jaws seem a mite small, but tight enough.
Pete

[GWiens2001]

I've used them before.

Gordon

[femurat]

My friends use them all the time. I prefer bigger ones, but have used the small size before and worked just fine.

Cheers

[Dyonzi]

If you get the right angle they are very strong.

[jwrm22]

These vice grips work reasonably well. The key does not mount straight and tends to bend side ways. Don't bend it back as it will increase metal fatigue.
I would suggest to rotate the key CW and CCW with one hand and the up/down movement with the other. This will reduce the risk of RSI.
Don't use excessive force. If it hurts you are doing it wrong.

If this one does not suit you you can always make a dedicated handle. It's not hard.
Get a round bar of 1" aluminium by 4 or 5", cut a slot in one side with a hacksaw or angle grinder.
Drill and tap perpendicular to this cut out to hold the key tight with a grub screw. Similar to the one I made for Femurat.

[Safecrackin Sammy]

Thats all I have ever used.

[femurat]

If this one does not suit you you can always make a dedicated handle. It's not hard.
Get a round bar of 1" aluminium by 4 or 5", cut a slot in one side with a hacksaw or angle grinder.
Drill and tap perpendicular to this cut out to hold the key tight with a grub screw. Similar to the one I made for Femurat.

The one you made for me is my favourite handle!

Cheers

[GWiens2001]

Here is an impressioning handle I made a while back. It works fairly well, but being solid steel, it is heavy and can easily have too much pressure placed on the key during lifting. A little practice and it worked fine. Just happens I was at work when I made it, and the steel was free - part of a broken part.

The aluminum mentioned above would be better since it would you allow to feel the key and pins better. The set screws can be the same, holding the key very firmly, though it leaves marks on the key bow.

Normally don't give an impressioned key to a customer since the key would be weaker due to the stresses of impressioning. I duplicate a copy to a new blank.

Gordon

[Peter Martin]

If this one does not suit you you can always make a dedicated handle. It's not hard.
Get a round bar of 1" aluminium by 4 or 5", cut a slot in one side with a hacksaw or angle grinder.
Drill and tap perpendicular to this cut out to hold the key tight with a grub screw. Similar to the one I made for Femurat.

Thank you. I searched for an image of the tool you made and found it. It appears that I am able to make something similar. I will keep an eye out for 1" round stock at my next trip to the metal scrap yard.
Pete

[jeffmoss26]

I use a pair of older US made 5WR on a daily basis.