Irwin

IRWIN tools help builders, homeowners and maintenance crews grip parts, clamp assemblies and mark work. VISE-GRIP covers pliers, QUICK-GRIP covers clamps and STRAIT-LINE covers chalk layout. One-handed operation on selected pliers and clamps leaves your other hand free to keep the work lined up.

Irwin Industrial Tools is an American manufacturer and distributor of hand tools and power tool accessories. Stanley Black & Decker owns the company. IRWIN is best known for VISE-GRIP locking pliers.

Pliers and clamps for holding work

For repair work that involves repeatedly gripping and repositioning parts, IRWIN has a useful feature: VISE-GRIP Fast Release provides one-handed, triggerless release. That’s a practical reason to choose it when your other hand is supporting the part.

The VISE-GRIP family includes long-nose pliers, locking pliers and locking C-clamps. Long-nose jaws help you reach and position small parts; locking pliers hold their grip while you work. Choose the jaw shape around the access and the part, and protect finished surfaces from toothed jaws.

QUICK-GRIP’s one-handed mini bar clamps let you hold a small piece in position while operating the clamp. The family also includes medium-duty hybrid clamps for larger assemblies. Measure across the whole assembly, including any pads or scrap blocks between the jaws and your work.

Clamping pressure can slide a joint out of line. Bring the pieces together, check the alignment, then tighten enough to keep them there.

Chalk for layout that stays readable

STRAIT-LINE includes chalk reels, marking chalk and reel-and-chalk combinations, with traditional or quick rewind available across the reel range. Quick rewind is worth choosing for repeated layout because retrieving the line promptly keeps it out from under boots and material.

IRWIN offers blue standard chalk and permanent chalk, including crimson-red permanent staining chalk. Treat permanent staining chalk as a lasting mark. On work that will remain visible, put the layout on a concealed face or test a scrap first.

Thread repair and cutting accessories

IRWIN makes taps and dies for internal and external threads. Match the diameter and thread pitch to the fastener you’re using, then start the tool square.

IRWIN also makes screw and bolt extractors. For a screw extractor that requires drilling, keep the pilot hole centered and use the drill size specified for that extractor; stop if it starts twisting without moving the screw.

IRWIN’s drill bits and saw blades give you options for drilling and cutting work. Choose the accessory for the material and the hole or cut you need, then match its fit to your drill or saw.

IRWIN’s warranty addresses faults in a tool’s materials or manufacture on select products for as long as the original end-user purchaser owns them. Exclusions include normal wear and the specific TCT and masonry drill-bit products.

Selected sizes and specifications

Product	Size	Type or package
QUICK-GRIP mini bar clamps	6 inches	One-handed; four-pack
QUICK-GRIP hybrid clamp	12 inches	Medium-duty
QUICK-GRIP hybrid clamp	24 inches	Medium-duty
IRWIN crimson-red marking chalk	4 pounds	Permanent staining

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Irwin a good tool brand?

IRWIN is a practical choice when the features match your work. Its Fast Release locking pliers and locking C-clamps have one-handed, triggerless release, so you can release the grip while your other hand supports the part. That’s a useful feature when you’re repeatedly adjusting a fit.

What are Irwin Vise-Grip locking pliers used for?

Irwin Vise-Grip locking pliers hold a part without you keeping the handles squeezed. Adjust the grip before locking them so the jaws hold securely without crushing the work. More pressure isn’t always better, especially on thin material.

How do you use an Irwin screw extractor?

For an Irwin screw extractor that requires drilling, start with a centered pilot hole sized to that extractor’s instructions. Apply steady turning pressure in the specified direction and stop if the extractor twists without moving the screw. Forcing it risks breaking the extractor inside the screw and making removal harder.

What are Irwin taps and dies used for?

Irwin taps cut threads inside a hole, while dies cut external threads. When you’re repairing existing threads, you need to match both the diameter and the thread pitch. A close match isn’t enough: the wrong pitch can cut across the existing threads instead of cleaning them up.