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# Tuesday, October 07, 2008
100 Words About Your Vise-Grips Could Win You $25,000

Vise-Grips aren't a woodworking tool, but I'd be hard-pressed to do woodworking without them.

Whenever I break a screw head off, I reach for these adjustable locking pliers to get myself out of trouble. Whenever we have a weird bolt or nut that needs wrenching on a machine, my old Vise-Grips are never far away.

If you have a similar affection for this tool, you should check out a contest being run by Irwin (makers of Vise-Grips) that ends Oct. 31. If you have a good story you can tell in 100 words or less about how Vise-Grips got you out of a jam, you could win a custom motorcycle or $25,000. There also are other prizes and ways to win some tools instantly.

Check out all the details on the Irwin web site via this link. And if you win, be sure to stop by the office and give us a spin on your new ride.

I wish I had a story about how I delivered our second child in the wilderness with the help of Vise-Grips, but my best story won't win me squat. But here it is: Until two weeks ago, a pair of Vise-Grips served as my window crank in my 1968 Karmann Ghia. Yawn.

— Christopher Schwarz


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Tuesday, October 07, 2008 3:49:49 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #  Comments [3] 
Tuesday, October 07, 2008 5:14:29 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
Its too bad all these contests are limited to those in the continental US. You should put some pressure on these companies to expand their horizons to include at least your readers from the great white north up here in Canada. Especially as I have the winning story for the absolute best use of a pair of Vise-Grips. :)

cheers
Jeff
Canadian
Wednesday, October 08, 2008 3:08:01 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
So, Chris, what do you use for a window crank now? ... a 6 inch K-clamp? ... or did you turn a fancy buginga crank?

My vise grip story is pretty ho-hum too; it involves clamping a corroded battery terminal so I could start my Karmann-Ghia winter rat when I lived in upstate New York. They also served to hold the driver's side door closed ... why you ask? Salted roads! Thank goodness, I no longer need a winter rat (in California).
Edward Lindley
Wednesday, October 08, 2008 3:19:49 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
Edward,

I broke down and bought the $14 window winder.

I know. Big spender.

Chris
Christopher Schwarz
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