These are the vicegrips that I modified so that I could clamp in the fuel tank braces, and they have since proved useful for other clamping needs as well. I took a pair of fairly large vicegrips (the larger size available at Home Depot) and cut the clamp tongs in the middle (using a grinding wheel, the sawzall blade I tried didn't even make a dent in them... I guess that illustrates the difference between cast and forged tools!) Before cutting the tongs, adjust the Vice Grips to the closed clamping setting. Then I welded in a small section of square tubing. The trick is to weld in the first square tube on the tong that used to be straight. Then make sure the vice grip handles are in the closed position, and position the other tong such that it contacts the pre-welded tong. Clamp both ends of the bar stock to the 'grips, and make sure that the tong flanges match up squarely. If not, re-angle the tong. Weld it together and let it cool off. Now you're ready to go. (Perhaps there exist some special Vice Grips that are already extended, but I couldn't find them at HD or Sears...) .
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