C.H. Hanson’s new Automatic locking pliers have been redesigned to be 7X faster, 2X stronger and 100% easier to use than traditional locking pliers. These pliers are based on LockJaw’s design, which, according to their website, is now a part of the CH Hanson family of products.
The aptly named Automatic lineup of pliers can lock onto any size object without needing to be manually adjusted. There are no knobs or thumbscrews needed to adjust the pliers’ jaw size, only an initial clamping pressure setting which ranges from “slight” to “extreme”. Simply “set and forget” and the pliers will self-adjust to grip objects of different sizes with equal gripping pressure.
Additional features include a redesigned handle that is thinner and more ergonomic, a more controllable release lever, and new construction that is aimed to eliminate pinch points.
Not only did C.H. Hanson upgrade the LockJaw design, it looks like they expanded the product selection by quite a bit as well. Sounds good to us!
Older Style LockJaw Pliers via Amazon (older style)
I have a few of the old ones and do not like them much. they just feel cheap and can be hard to use one handed at times.
I all so have a bunch of lever wrench ones and love them but they stoped making them back it the 80s I think. I got some NOS ones from here http://all2ools.com:8106/index.pl/closeouts
they still have some left but are out of the needle nose ones wich are my go to locking pliers.
Is this how those laminated-steel robogrip pliers work? I never tried them because of the construction but I had heard some guys liked them. If this stamped-steel style came out with smooth adjustable wrench-style jaws (or even Vise-Grip’s 3-sided locking-wrench style jaws, never tried them either), I think I’d buy a set for the mobile kit.
I don’t think that Robogrips work on a similar principle, but will try to see what I can find out. I too was hesitant about the laminated construction so I never picked up a pair, even when they went on sale.
Generally I’ve never seen smooth-jawed locking pliers, only on locking clamps. I do have a Vise Grip locking wrench, but it’s one of my least-used tools. What would you use the smooth-jaws on to warrant a pair in your mobile kit?
I should have specified that this would be my motorcycle on-board kit where space and weight are issues. I’ve been hesitant to outfit with a set of adjustables because they’re simply loose by nature and their heads are too big to fit into spaces you’d normally choose an open-ended wrench over a socket wrench for anyway. The locking wrench solves one of those problems, but a set of combo wrenches that at least covers the most popular sizes is probably inescapable for anyone who wants to be able to make real repairs on the side of the road without getting frustrated beyond the limits of functioning. I suppose a locking wrench’s place is probably still best left in the main toolbox for an option in cases of damaged and rounded fasteners.
You seem to have a great product to which I would like to purchace one; but the problem is that lately all that I run into is sites that advertise items with no damn number to call to place a order…is there a reason for this…I truely believe that this form of communication, e-mailing is crap for all that happens is we go back and forth doing this lack of human contact. Do you think you can either send me a actual phone number so I can call and talk to a actual human or and I hate to say this but contact me by e-mail which in my opinion will not get me any closer to making a purchace.
Comments & reviews are fine but ijust want to BUY one! Where and how much??
I used these once and they fell apart the first day. I had to bring them back for a full refund. I then bought a Robo-grip.
Chris, you can buy the pliers via Amazon for $15-20. Other locking pliers sizes and styles are also available.
It’s been a year now. No rubber-handled Automatic locking pliers – and not even a mention on the Hanson website, either. [sigh]