As a US Navy spine surgeon, I routinely deal with dozens of different types of screws, rods and bolts that have been implanted into the spine. Each manufacturer has their own unique tools to insert and remove their specific hardware. While deployed to the Middle East in support of operation Iraqi Freedom, I did not have access to these specialized tools. I did however have some Vise-Grips that could be sterilized and used to emergently remove the screws and rods from this infected soldier’s spine. Photo shows an intraoperative xray and shot of the tool in use.

When my son Jake was about 7 years old he had broke his braces. The wire was cutting into his gum, and it was the middle of the night. What to do...Ah hah...I took out my Irwin needle nose vice grip - which enabled me to get a good grip on the thin wire - and was able to bend it away, and snip it off! Thanks irwin - you saved the day, I mean night!

In 1980, I was taking my Mother to a Cancer clinic in Mexico. After crossing the border, our truck hit a bump in the road –breaking a bolt on the exhaust system. I walked into town to discover the $600 part was not in stock. I used my favorite VISE-GRIP locking pliers to clamp the corner of the manifold and the exhaust together - stopping the leak completely. I was able to get my mother to the doctor for her treatment. 28 years later, I have the same truck with the VISE-GRIPS still holding the exhaust to the manifold.

I had to get my date home on time and the fan belt broke along with one side of the adjustment brace for the alternator.(67 pickup) I cut the seatbelt on one side, tied it as tight as I could and used the vise grips to hold the alternator and brace in place. I then eased along for 9 miles to her home on time. Vise grips SAVED MY HIDE!

Twice a week, I peddle my bike to a local watering hole to do a little fishing. I created my own ‘transport system’ for my tackle with the help of two Irwin vice grips. One holds a two-wheel cart on the back of the bike. Another Irwin vice grip holds the bait/catch basket to the cart. When I get to the pier, the vice grips hold my rods. What can I say? It works!

It was 1972 and my father was in his third year of medical school. During a bone marrow procedure the old biopsy needle gave way to metal fatigue and broke off in the patients hip bone; The tip could not be gripped by the available surgical instruments. He called Surgical Supply and explained the dilemma. Twenty minutes later a sterile package arrived via the pneumatic tube and inside was a gleaming Irwin Vise-Grip. Success!!

The Baja 500 is one of the most grueling races in the world. Many years almost half the teams who take the green flag, fail to cross the finish line for the checkered flag. A “Did Not Finish” is every team’s haunting nightmare. I remember one Baja 500 race I participated in was almost cut short when a brake line failed. However, I was able to use my Irwin Vise-Grip to crimp off the faulty line and maintain pressure on the remaining three brakes. Our team was able to rally and finish that arduous race!

During a spinal brace removal surgery performed by cutting through the throat, the surgeon could not get a screw removed near the brain stem. It was stripped. They contacted other hospitals for special tools. My wife was told I may have limited speech and movement due to area damage. Hours later, the doctor came out all smiles and showed everyone the "special tool" that performed a miracle! A small Irwin Vise-grip did the job! Bet Irwin never thought vise-grips would be a spinal surgery tool! Vise-grips, when nothing else works.

Back in my college days, my best friend and I traveled from Moorhead Minnesota to Hibbing for an impromptu bear hunt. The year was 1973; my trusty ‘63 Mercury Meteor’s shift lever broke off at 3:00 a.m. A relic required carrying a vise-grip, so I promptly clamped my vise-grip on a shard of metal sticking out of the column and it was a shifter. 690 miles on logging roads it sufficed, and my friend’s vise-grip was used as a steering wheel on the way home. By the way, we did get a bear!

Sailing as a crewmember on the Chicago Mackinac race the owner mentioned casually that should a cleat locking device malfunction we should not use a visegrip to clamp off the halyard (lines holding sails aloft under tremendous load). On the second day of the race when the owner was off watch we needed a powerful tool for the job! The visegrip functioned perfectly stripping the halyard of its core. Now we have crew t-shirts with DO NOT VISE-GRIP. The new halyards just aren't vise-grip tough and new crew need visual aides.