Abstract: A hand tool for gripping and joining together adjacent duct sections. The hand tool includes jaws which are adapted to be wedged between the wall and the drive edge of the adjacent duct sections respectively where the hand tool is used in a first orientation where the hand tool is positioned generally perpendicularly to the walls of the duct sections. A notch in each of the jaws defines a time which is adapted to be wedged between the wall and the drive edge of the adjacent duct sections respectively where the tool is used in a second orientation where the tool is positioned generally parallel to the wall of the duct sections. The handle on the tool is closed to bring the jaws together and thus the duct sections gripped thereby together into abutting relationship so as to allow a drive cleat to be applied to the drive edges of the duct sections to secure the duct sections together. A locking assembly associated with the handle allows the tool to be clamped to the duct sections.