Why are soft-grip pliers all low-friction?
#10
I got some soft grip pliers to use on fixtures in the bathroom and on stuff in the shop that I do not want to mark with plier jaw marks.

Both brands that I bought had nylon-like jaw inserts so that they had no grip at all on plated surfaces.

I got reminded of this tonight by the Lee Valley email that included a link for their soft-grip pliers.

They look really well designed, but, once again, the jaw inserts and the replacement jaw inserts are nylon.

The description points out that they are great for knurled surfaces. I am sure that they are.

BUT, where can I find replacement jaws or soft-grip pliers that have high-friction soft jaws?
"the most important safety feature on any tool is the one between your ears." - Ken Vick

A wish for you all:  May you keep buying green bananas.
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#11
Put some wraps of electrical tape over the jaws. Only good for one use usually but it works for me.
Mark Singleton

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The Laws of Physics do not care about your Politics   -  Me
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#12
Wrap with scrap leather.
Gary

Please don’t quote the trolls.
Liberty, Freedom and Individual Responsibility
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#13
Another reason to hang on to an old inner tube.
Blackhat

Bad experiences come from poor decisions. So do good stories. 


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#14
(01-29-2025, 09:17 PM)iclark Wrote: I got some soft grip pliers to use on fixtures in the bathroom and on stuff in the shop that I do not want to mark with plier jaw marks.

Both brands that I bought had nylon-like jaw inserts so that they had no grip at all on plated surfaces.

I got reminded of this tonight by the Lee Valley email that included a link for their soft-grip pliers.

They look really well designed, but, once again, the jaw inserts and the replacement jaw inserts are nylon.

The description points out that they are great for knurled surfaces. I am sure that they are.

BUT, where can I find replacement jaws or soft-grip pliers that have high-friction soft jaws?
....
Do what old machinists have done for 200 years to increase friction.use rosin...scrape a little off with your pocketknife...buy it at amazon...for violins...
Often Tested.    Always Faithful.      Brothers Forever

Jack Edgar, Sgt. U.S. Marines, Korea, America's Forgotten War
Get off my lawn !
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#15
Thanks for the suggestions.

I have some double-back turner's tape that I can try.

No rosin at home right now, but I just got pinged at work by the safety office because someone moved some corumda (probably 5-10 micron) polishing grit from a lab cabinet into a flammable storage cabinet. I know better, but supervisors don't generally get trained on chemical safety.

Wouldn't it be great if someone at LV took this as an upgrade or accessory suggestion?
"the most important safety feature on any tool is the one between your ears." - Ken Vick

A wish for you all:  May you keep buying green bananas.
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#16
Timberwolf, thanks for the tip! while I don’t have a specific use for it right now, I’m gonna pick up some rosin. We’ve got a local violin shop that I love to support, even with small stuff like this.

Of course, to tie it into a woodworking project,
Wink he loaned me a tuning peg reamer and shave so I could make tapered “nails” for a toolbox project with my then-two-year-old grandson.
Dave Arbuckle was kind enough to create a Sketchup model of my WorkMate benchtop: http://www.arbolloco.com/sketchup/MauleSkinnerBenchtop.skp
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#17
(01-31-2025, 06:56 PM)MauleSkinner Wrote: Timberwolf, thanks for the tip! while I don’t have a specific use for it right now, I’m gonna pick up some rosin. We’ve got a local violin shop that I love to support, even with small stuff like this.

Of course, to tie it into a woodworking project,
Wink he loaned me a tuning peg reamer and shave so I could make tapered “nails” for a toolbox project with my then-two-year-old grandson.
........
Rosin excels at preventing plane irons from moving, particularly wedges in wood-bodied planes. just scrape a little on the wedge and the frog and tap the wedge in place..You can find many other uses for it as well. Use it anywhere friction is wanted..I'm pretty sure it will stop tuning pegs from slipping.

And soft lead flashing {or soft lead/tin solder}, cut into strips can protect polished metal surfaces from being damaged by clamping pliers..just use a sprinkle of rosin on the lead {or leather} strip..
Often Tested.    Always Faithful.      Brothers Forever

Jack Edgar, Sgt. U.S. Marines, Korea, America's Forgotten War
Get off my lawn !
Upset





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#18
There's been a tool around for that purpose a lot longer than plastic sharpeners for carpenter's pencils.
Big Grin
Try a strap wrench. It does take a second longer to feed the strap through, but then it works like a ratchet wrench.
https://www.amazon.com/Multi-Purpose-Adj...D31DB?th=1
Sign at N.E. Vocational School Cabinetmaking Shop 1976, "Free knowledge given daily... Bring your own container"
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