Channellock 349 Linesman Pliers- Is mine normal?

[strnjss]

Picked up some nice massive channellock 349's, and they are the first linesman pliers I have ever owned that have a gap in the gripping jaws.

On my other, smaller linesman pliers the jaws come together and touch when closed, but with the 349's, they stay apart.

I assume this must be normal, maybe an anti-crushing feature or something?

But I just want to be sure they are not defective (as many of my recent purchases seem to be).

here's some pics:

and a clearer pic:

 

[jsackin]

I checked the one's we have in the store, and all the Channellock lineman's pliers we sell have that same gap, including the #349. Don't know the reason though.

Jori
http://store.harryepstein.com

 

[strnjss]

I checked the one's we have in the store, and all the Channellock lineman's pliers we sell have that same gap, including the #349. Don't know the reason though.

Jori
http://store.harryepstein.com

thanks! At least I know it's normal

 

[kursplat]

cause there ain't nothin' on a pole smaller than that gap

 

[fr0mastaj]

My CMan Pro linesman's also do this...albeit not that large of a gap.
________
JAILBROKEN

 

[caper]

It's for pulling fish tape.

 

[HandyManny]

All linemans pliers have that gap. You'll find it beneficial when twisting solid copper electrical wire.

 

[caper]

Some models have it some don't.My Kleins don't.

 

[dj spanners]

my snap on linemans are the same and i bought mine in the late eighties, (pobably chananlock) was told by my dealer at the time that it give those little sharp teeth in there a bit more life by not mashing against each other, snap on are doing it again now with the power edge side cutters by keeping the cutting edge apart a little bit, must work i guess

 

[HandyManny]

I was reading a book about sharpening tools by the founder of Lee Valley Tool and the book indicates that the reason for the gap on Linemens was so that the cutter part of the pliers could be re-sharpened a couple times before the end of their life before the jaws touch. Makes sense but I've never needed mine to be resharpened. Of course my linemans pliers only ever get used for automotive electrical or home electrical work on copper wires.

 

[kursplat]

It's for pulling fish tape.

last thing a Lineman needs on a pole is a long metal tape

much better

Some models have it some don't.My Kleins don't.

your Kliens should have a gap at the top of the handles under the head for grabbing tie wire

 

[kursplat]

.....................

 

[electrodude]

+1 on pulling fish tape... my Kleins are made exactly the same way, I asked the Klein rep when I got them at Platt, that was his answer too.

 

[caper]

last thing a Lineman needs on a pole is a long metal tape

much better


your Kliens should have a gap at the top of the handles under the head for grabbing tie wire

I'm fully aware of what linemen use in a bucket.I work on them for a living.More lineman pliers are used by electricians(pulling fishtape),mechanics and do it yourselfers by far than by linemen.Linesman pliers is a generic name for that style.They're not exclusive to linemen.I'm a mechanic and I get issued them at work.I'd have to look at my Kliens to see which model they are.The ones we are issued at work have a brownish-orange handle.I can't find them on Kliens site.Here's the only pic I have of them at the moment.

 

[foolishpride]

Some models have it some don't.My Kleins don't.

All the Kleins that I've ever seen have a gap, although not as wide as those Channellocks. My Kleins that I own, have a small gap.

http://www.service.kleintools.com/Tool/PRD/Category/Side-Cutting Pliers PLIERS-SIDECUT

 

[foolishpride]

+1 on pulling fish tape... my Kleins are made exactly the same wahttp://garagejournal.com/forum/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=1084191y, I asked the Klein rep when I got them at Platt, that was his answer too.

I always pulled fish tapes by putting the fish tape behind the pivot knuckle on the pliers. Then you can put one hand on the handle end, and the other hand on the jaw end of the pliers. It worked great.

I see Klein now has a set of pliers that are made for pulling fish tapes.

http://www.service.kleintools.com/T... - Fish Tape Pulling PLIERS-SIDECUT-HLSCUTFTP

 

[Eric Commarato]

I'm fully aware of what linemen use in a bucket.I work on them for a living.More lineman pliers are used by electricians(pulling fishtape),mechanics and do it yourselfers by far than by linemen.Linesman pliers is a generic name for that style.They're not exclusive to linemen.I'm a mechanic and I get issued them at work.I'd have to look at my Kliens to see which model they are.The ones we are issued at work have a brownish-orange handle.I can't find them on Kliens site.Here's the only pic I have of them at the moment.

That is a well kept array of pliers etc. with a nice used "patina" You sir, take great care of your tools.

 

[boro_boy70]

My Kleins are similar to capers, and they have a gap. I never really noticed before, and they are used every day at work.

http://www.service.kleintools.com/T...PLIERS-SIDECUT-HLSCLNMNBT/Product/HD213-9NETH

 

[tonydanzah]

my channel lock 3048 1/2 don't have that much of a gap.

 

[tonydanzah]

i also noticed the 349 are called the wiremasters

 

[Quik208]

The SO ones I just agot lso have the gap as well. The wood rulers are pretty sweet.

 

[back2class]

Linesmans have that gap. Combination pliers do not. Combination pliers will also sometimes have a part of the jaw for grasping rounded objects where linesmans will never have that.

 

[HandyManny]

Linesmans have that gap. Combination pliers do not. Combination pliers will also sometimes have a part of the jaw for grasping rounded objects where linesmans will never have that.

Also Linemans pliers are much more solid and heafty in comparison with even better made combination slipjoint pliers. Some electricians even use their Linemans as a hammer in a pinch. The Linemans in my garage have but one use for me - home and automotive electrical wiring tasks, and they don't see as much use as they once did.