Tweezers that Grip?

October 19, 2009 10:31 PM

Is there a tool that's shaped and sized like a tweezers, but functions like a clothes pin....i.e. the jaws grip tightly unless released? I don't need particularly good quality, so I'm hoping there's something cheap that does this in hobby or hardware stores.
posted by jimmyjimjim to grab bag (16 comments total)

You can get something like that in a sewing or fabric store. Don't know what it's called but it's designed for pulling elastic or drawstrings through a folded over bit (like a waistline or something). It's basically just tweezers with a sleeve that slides down to lock it closed.
posted by shelleycat at 10:33 PM on October 19

I'm seeing these described as alligator clips, and they appear to come in any size you can imagine, including miniature ones that aren't any bigger than tweezers.

I think they're mostly for electrical work, so a hardware store should certainly stock them.
posted by Pomo at 10:35 PM on October 19

It sounds like you're looking for a hemostat clamp.
posted by contraption at 10:40 PM on October 19 [2 favorites]

Locking hemostats come in many sizes. They lock firmly, have flat edges, and can be purchased at electronics and hobby stores
posted by Jinx of the 2nd Law at 10:40 PM on October 19

I purchased something like this at a hobby shop in the plastic model-making section. It basically works like tweezers with a half-twist, so the default state has the point/teeth/grippybits closed and you open them up by applying a bit of pressure on the handle. Here's a similar item.
posted by cowbellemoo at 10:47 PM on October 19

And here are some hemostats, though cowbellemoo's link seems to match your description exactly. Hemostats aren't spring loaded like tweezers, but this allows them to have several selectable stages of gripping power.
posted by contraption at 11:13 PM on October 19

Self-closing tweezers
posted by Pinback at 11:14 PM on October 19

Fishing stores will have similar tools for tying flies, like those in the middle of this pic.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 12:18 AM on October 20

Hemostats ("clamps") are neat to have, for sure, and come in handy for many purposes, but I think what you actually mean, and all you need, is a pair of 'reverse' tweezers. Super-common drug-store item, usually mixed in with the 'forward' action ones.
posted by rokusan at 12:37 AM on October 20

Spring action needle nozed pliers. Available at any hardware store.
posted by Neiltupper at 1:26 AM on October 20

What Shellycat said. The term is Bodkin - there's a picture about a third of the way down on this page.
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 3:45 AM on October 20 [1 favorite]

Lord help me, but the first thing I thought of was a tweezer-stype nipple clamp. [nsfw, but no nudity]
posted by kathrineg at 5:06 AM on October 20

Thanks guys. All of them look good, except perhaps the nipple clamps! :0
posted by jimmyjimjim at 7:18 AM on October 20

If you don't care what it looks like and you want to go ultra-cheap and easy, you could use a pair of cheap drugstore tweezers and a "nut" (the hardware kind, not the munchy kind) to hold them closed.

Place nut loosely around business end of tweezers. Insert material to be clamped between tweezers. Push nut up towards thicker handle end of tweezers to hold tweezers closed.
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 8:50 AM on October 20

Serene, good idea, but I need a bit more active clamping than that.

I spotted these 90 degree bent clamping tweezers, which I spotted via someone's link, above (here's another version), look perfect.

I just have to figure out if any physical hobby shops (e.g. Michael's) carry them, cuz I need something to use today.
posted by jimmyjimjim at 9:48 AM on October 20

Argh, that first link should have been to this page.
posted by jimmyjimjim at 9:49 AM on October 20