The Critic
Well-known member
These pliers are useful for loosening coolant hoses in tight areas. I am looking for an upgrade - any recommendations?
Long Reach Hose Grip Pliers
- Thread starter The Critic
- Start date
These pliers are useful for loosening coolant hoses in tight areas. I am looking for an upgrade - any recommendations?
demarpaint
Well-known member
They're OK, they do flash rust quickly. I put a thin coat of oil on them before they go back into my toolbox.
BlakeTheCarGuy
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I have the Blue Point set I bought about two years ago on sale for around $100 I believe. They have done well. I’ve put some serious pressure on them for really stuck hoses. Never broken or bent them. Yes they look new cause I cleaned them when they got coolant all over them haha. But I’ve used the heck out of them. (I could be completely wrong on the price can’t remember haha)
dnschmidt
Well-known member
They do what they are intended to do. I live in Phoenix where nothing flash rusts so I'll take demarpaint's word for it. HF does make one ICON version of this type of pliers but why "upgrade" something that's getting the job done. If the Pittsburgh aren't working for you then upgrade but if they are why bother?
OP
The Critic
Well-known member
The teeth are not the greatest - hence the desire to upgrade.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Pro America 3pc 11" Extra Long Ring Nose Hose Gripper Pliers 5/16 1/2 3/4in. USA
Pro America 3pc 11� Extra Long Ring Nose Hose Gripper Pliers 5/16 1/2 3/4in. USA
bowerstool.com
I have a set of these. They have worked well for me. Also made in USA.Pro America 3pc 11" Extra Long Ring Nose Hose Gripper Pliers 5/16 1/2 3/4in. USA
Pro America 3pc 11� Extra Long Ring Nose Hose Gripper Pliers 5/16 1/2 3/4in. USA
OP
The Critic
Well-known member
First time hearing of this brand.Pro America 3pc 11" Extra Long Ring Nose Hose Gripper Pliers 5/16 1/2 3/4in. USA
Pro America 3pc 11� Extra Long Ring Nose Hose Gripper Pliers 5/16 1/2 3/4in. USA
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Yeah, go back into time 25-30 years and all of the long nose/long handled type pliers on the non snap on tool trucks were rebadged Kal pliers. They were actually made in the USA back then. This was before the truck brands hawked the Chinese made versions. I'm sure how ProAmerica tools came to be but, I know they were filling Government contracts for several years. i still have my old Kal pliers from back in the day.
71goldss
Well-known member
I have both the Pittsburgh and the GearWrench Double-X sets. Bought the Double-X set for the extra length, as the heater hoses off the firewall of my '71 El Camino are way back in the corner and can be difficult to reach. I've owned both sets for a few years, but have yet to use any of them. Personally, this seams like a tool that one can easily get by with a cheap set. I mean, they grip and pull a hose off!
I suggest you check Japanese brands for that (Japanese amazon), e.g. Tsunoda. I think I saw a few options of these tools from the Japanese, and usually affordable.
For example... Long reach, has a cutter, grips a round portion, cuts for gripping round wire, and a slip joint for larger stuff, made in Japan and they cost ~14$. Hmm the ultra thin pliers seem very useful in niche cases too.
For example... Long reach, has a cutter, grips a round portion, cuts for gripping round wire, and a slip joint for larger stuff, made in Japan and they cost ~14$. Hmm the ultra thin pliers seem very useful in niche cases too.
11" Hose Gripper Plier Set - Sunex Tools
We are the industry leader for individual sockets - The Right Socket for Every Job. Stay up to date on product releases, latest developments, and more!
sunextools.com
This is the set that I have. Decent quality
milky2k
Well-known member
I'm also looking for upgrade suggestions that won't break the bank. A few years ago I wanted some hose grip pliers but I didn't want the HF Pittsburgh because those were cheap. They only wanted $15 for them, how good could they be? I thought I would be clever and pay more for a slightly better brand. You know, you get what you pay for. So I paid $28 for a set from Titan made in India. Omg they were horrible. I should have got them from HF instead. I missed the return window so I'm stuck with them for now. They seem to work okay but I don't like looking at them so now I am looking for an upgrade. If all the budget hose grip pliers look like this then maybe I'll try to sand the bad spots and polish them up instead. Can anyone share pics of ones they like? Here are my Titan's as a horrible warning so you don't buy them.
nicks78camaro
Well-known member
Milwaukee makes some now they look good
four.cycle
Well-known member
Proamerica 5047 11 inch x 5.16 inch ring-nose pliers 01
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four.cycle
Well-known member
Proamerica 5049 11 inch x 3.4 inch ring-nose pliers 01
These have increased in price significantly since I bought mine.
Currently you can get the 5048 for $33 from bowerstool either through ebay or on his website, but the 5047 and 5049 are up to $51 a pair.
Ordering directly through bowerstool.com will save you paying the sales tax, depending upon what state you are in.
"Proamerica Tools" was formerly known as KAL, mentioned above by FedWrench.
Proamerica / see Pro America Premium Tools /
Pro America / Pro America Premium Tools, 4265 Puente Ave., Baldwin Park, CA 91706 / Emporium Forging Co. Inc., 221 E 2nd St Emporium, PA 15834 / https://proamericatools.com/ / est. 1954 (?) / https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/proamerica-tools.21675/ / https://www.garagejournal.com/forum...terprises-inc-emporium-forging-co-inc.491165/
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Wamsutta
Well-known member
If I could go back in time, I'd buy a hundred KAL made MAC nose pliers.Yeah, go back into time 25-30 years and all of the long nose/long handled type pliers on the non snap on tool trucks were rebadged Kal pliers. They were actually made in the USA back then. This was before the truck brands hawked the Chinese made versions. I'm sure how ProAmerica tools came to be but, I know they were filling Government contracts for several years. i still have my old Kal pliers from back in the day.
WagonHo!
Well-known member
This is the one I’m interested in, but $$$ spendy. So I’d appreciate some overly positive comments to help me blame this particular tool addiction purchase on a similarly afflicted GJ member.
2ndGearRubber
Well-known member
I'm also looking for upgrade suggestions that won't break the bank. A few years ago I wanted some hose grip pliers but I didn't want the HF Pittsburgh because those were cheap. They only wanted $15 for them, how good could they be? I thought I would be clever and pay more for a slightly better brand. You know, you get what you pay for. So I paid $28 for a set from Titan made in India. Omg they were horrible. I should have got them from HF instead. I missed the return window so I'm stuck with them for now. They seem to work okay but I don't like looking at them so now I am looking for an upgrade. If all the budget hose grip pliers look like this then maybe I'll try to sand the bad spots and polish them up instead. Can anyone share pics of ones they like? Here are my Titan's as a horrible warning so you don't buy them.
I have some of those sunex, and some MAC imports which look about the same. Not fancy, but they look way better than the ones you got. They have more handle flex than I would like, but my plier preference is usually Knipex and Snap On.
Snap-on Store
Here's a blue-point rebrand, Snap on and Knipex don't seem to offer long reach options. Knipex offers spark plug wire pliers, basically the same, but shorter length.
I think the HF set is pretty amazing value for what is 5 bucks or less a pair, yes they not most rigid or amazing teeth but do job pretty well and not awful live with (QC best you can from what on display peg). you would have to spend 4 times as much get much else equal/better .
I got some MAC ones used, do see them around fair bit and MAC tends be fairer prices used than Snapon or Bluepoint .
I got some MAC ones used, do see them around fair bit and MAC tends be fairer prices used than Snapon or Bluepoint .
milky2k
Well-known member
These adjustable slip joint hose grip pliers look interesting.
milky2k
Well-known member
So I ended up buying a dusty but unopened Blue Point set off Marketplace for $50. I didn't consider Blue Point because they retail for about $80 and that was more than I wanted to spend but this guy was selling it for less and I offered $50 and he went for it. Before the Blue Point's came up, I was considering the Sunex set for $40 which is what I should have bought to begin with. Autozone, Advance Auto, or O'rielly do not sell any hose grip pliers sets which is too bad since I most likely would have bought something from them first before looking on Amazon. I checked the flea market but I only found beat up and incomplete Matco sets and interestingly enough I also found one old orange handled Pittsburgh small hose grip plier that looked pretty good. It seemed well formed, way better than what Harbor Freight is offering today so I wonder what happened and why the quality declined. If it was a full set I would have bought that. So I guess I am done with my search, these are more than sufficient for the occasional use I will put them through, thanks for the suggestions.
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I have the Icon pair and they are well made but the sizing is too large for the smaller hoses and lines that I’ve most commonly encountered. They have been most useful for removing spark plugs from their rubber boots, as well as disconnecting the electrical connectors with two opposing tabs.
Those sunex pliers look pretty good, a 5/16” pair may be in my future …
Those sunex pliers look pretty good, a 5/16” pair may be in my future …
They do look good but they want $40/plier or $100 for the set. Sure, the intersecting handle design is nifty but that’s still about twice as much as i want to pay for Chinese pliers.
Pro America's are on sale right now (MSRP: $130.02 $119.99):
bowerstool.com
Pro America 3pc 11" Extra Long Ring Nose Hose Gripper Pliers 5/16 1/2 3/4in. USA
Pro America 3pc 11� Extra Long Ring Nose Hose Gripper Pliers 5/16 1/2 3/4in. USA
bowerstool.com
bw77
Well-known member
The Milwaukee pliers are made in Vietnam.
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The more you look at options the more you see the value of the pittsburgh (more so if buy at a coupon price and take time QC best from what on display peg)
After that blue point off of eBay seems good at around 60 bucks .
Personally I be buying used MAC usa before spending over 120 bucks on other options .
Milwaukee design is good but it spendy for vietnam produced tools .
Main thing is avoiding the real garbage at more cost than HF or bluepoint price tiers ...
After that blue point off of eBay seems good at around 60 bucks .
Personally I be buying used MAC usa before spending over 120 bucks on other options .
Milwaukee design is good but it spendy for vietnam produced tools .
Main thing is avoiding the real garbage at more cost than HF or bluepoint price tiers ...
Wamsutta
Well-known member
MAC has a double jointed set too.
Wamsutta
Well-known member
MAC has a 16 inch Python set.
nicks78camaro
Well-known member
They do look good but they want $40/plier or $100 for the set. Sure, the intersecting handle design is nifty but that’s still about twice as much as i want to pay for Chinese pliers.
I don't own them yet but I like how they have a deeper reach and likely more holding power than the regular single or double jointed types. Especially the regular single jointed, they seem to flex a lot.
I think the Milwaukees are the only of their kind.
The Milwaukee design looks smart for something like this.
But I doubt they are stronger than the 15$ pliers made in Japan that do more or less the same thing plus add a slip joint. IPS always surprises me with quality for the bargain prices they offer.
But I doubt they are stronger than the 15$ pliers made in Japan that do more or less the same thing plus add a slip joint. IPS always surprises me with quality for the bargain prices they offer.
Do you have a source for this? Milwaukee makes it difficult to find COO on their website, all I could find was this product description on Home Depot & Acme Tool Co
bw77
Well-known member
I looked on the HD web site, and clicked on Questions and Answers. Several answers say Vietnam.
Also on the zoro tools website, it says Vietnam in the Product Information section.
Milwaukee Tool 3 pc. Long Reach Hose Grip Pliers Set 48-22-6563 | Zoro
Order Milwaukee Tool 3 pc. Long Reach Hose Grip Pliers Set, 48-22-6563 at Zoro.com. Great prices & free shipping on orders over $50 when you sign in or sign up for an account.
www.zoro.com
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Hohn
Well-known member
I have the shorter ICON version of these and they are frankly a game changer for working on any modern vehicle with coolant and vacuum lines everywhere. ESPECIALLY if it's like my vehicles and the hoses are mostly seized to the ****** they slide over.
These pliers are useful for loosening coolant hoses in tight areas. I am looking for an upgrade - any recommendations?
The combination of a hose pick plus specialty pliers like this was quite an epiphany for me. Before, I likely would have had to cut some of these hoses off in pieces. IN truth, that probably should have been done to force all of them to be replaced, but when they're still in pretty decent shape and replacements are several weeks out, I reused.
Bubba Fett
Well-known member
Gearwrench offers these...not sure where they are made. $93.
bw77
Well-known member
Made in China according to zorotools.
Newer version is $56 (Amazon and HD). Made in Vietnam.
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Bubba Fett
Well-known member
Yeah, HD price is way better, but more than I'd want to pay for Chinese pliers. $93 is ridiculous.Made in China according to zorotools.
Much cheaper at HD, $56.
GEARWRENCH 3-Pieces Double-X Hose Grip Plier Set 82107-06 - The Home Depot
Visit the Home Depot website to buy Double X Hose Pliers Set (3-Piece) Model# 82107www.homedepot.com
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I like mine but found them to be a bit too big for vacuum lines, unfortunately. Perfect sized for spark plug boots & coolant lines though.
I, too, struggle with removing the baked-on rubber stuff without tearing it. In addition to proper pliers & pick, some silicone spray and a heat gun helps it come off intact. Well fitting pliers that grip & engage the entire hose really are the key though