Channel lock brand

[GBNZ]

Like your feedback on there products value for money/good and bad points etc thanks.

 

[alamerang]

Channel Locks are a quality brand and a very good value (at least they are here in the States) No real bad points that I can see on the ones I've owned. They always do what I ask them to do for me although I don't really put my slip joint pliers through that much abuse. When I really need some clamping force I get out my Vice Grips. If you get a chance check out the Big AZZ pliers they sell. Those are great.

 

[rockchucker]

From my experience the older ones are very sturdy and the newer ones, while they get the job done seem kind of flimsy. All of my Pops old Channel Locks are bulletproof and my newer ones do not seem up to the old standard. They still work well, don't get me wrong. They are just not the quality they used to be 20 years ago. Most of my pliers are Channel Locks though. Good product. Just not built like they used to be.

 

[JayL]

I own a couple of different types Channellock USA Made pliers and have no complains whatsoever including prices paid.

 

[rocco]

i own about 13 channellock pliers and they all work quite well, really a bargain when you look at the quality vs price point.

 

[woody 73]

Very nice pliers,you will get years of service out of them. I am still using pliers from the 1960's without any problems.

 

[kythri]

I love all of my new-production Channellock and they all seem as tough as my Dad's stuff that's 40 years older.

No complaints at all.

 

[mrholeshot]

Best pliers at the best price for the quality you get period.

 

[Red Green]

The only thing I don't care for is that the newer ones are lazer eched where the older ones were stamped. Dosen't effect the way the tool works. Other than that they are great tool for the money.

 

[KenS]

Mine (the ones made in the USA and even a set of Chinese screwdrivers) have been excellent tools and an excellent value.

That said, I do wish when the plasiticized grips wear out, Channellock had a program where you could return them to the factory and have them regripped. That would really build customer loyalty... but the bean counters would never allow it.

Also, they should bring back Little Champs®-- the old style ones with the plain blue plastic grips-- regardless of cost. That said, they did replace a set of mine under warranty no questions asked.

 

[back2class]

Great quality American tool! One of th few throwbacks in time when you could get a world class usa made tool for a working mans price range. A great value and one other tool companies should model after.

 

[strnjss]

I really like mine. They have a very professional feel to them. You can tell there was a lot of thought and effort put into their design. It doesn't feel like it was just thrown together and some big goofy grips tacked on like some company's products do.

I know a lot of people say they're a good price, and they are if you compare it to snap-on. But they are one of the more expensive brands.

However, I believe the price reflects the quality, which is very rare these days. You are paying for quality and you get it!

I usually don't care about country of origin that much, but with Channel Lock, it really does make the difference. This might sound cheesy, but you can feel the pride behind the tools when you use them.

They have fast become my favorite brand

 

[HandyManny]

Like your feedback on there products value for money/good and bad points etc thanks.

For pliers Channellock is the only brand I mosty choose and always have. Though I do own a few high quality pliers from other makers as well. Overall price, value, durability, and high quality combined - Channellock is the best! Another thing I appreciate about them is that most of their product line is readily and easily accessable to buy in any good hardware store or home center at a fair price. I do wish however that they offered a Lobster Claw shaped jaw 8" slipjoint plier though.

 

[HandyManny]

From my experience the older ones are very sturdy and the newer ones, while they get the job done seem kind of flimsy. All of my Pops old Channel Locks are bulletproof and my newer ones do not seem up to the old standard. They still work well, don't get me wrong. They are just not the quality they used to be 20 years ago. Most of my pliers are Channel Locks though. Good product. Just not built like they used to be.

Hmmm Interesting. Most of mine are Channellocks as well, various pliers spanning many years. Some as old as 40 years, some I bought in the 1980's and 90's, and a few I bought very recently made within the last one to three years. Only difference I've noticed is the permalock fastener used since the early 1980's and one of the oldest smaller slipjoints appears to be chrome or nickle plated. Most of the pliers I have from the 1970's through late 1990's are plain finished carbon steel and develope a slight patina from regular handling and use over the years. Those made within the last 10 years or so are still carbon steel finished but have what the company calls an electronic coating, which is just a clear coat varnish applied over the steel to protect it from rust which I think is unnessesary.

Only other difference I've noted is that many older tongue & groove pliers seem to have the top jaw milled thinner to match the the thin bottom jaw. The jaws on their T&G pliers just seem thicker today. At some point the company stopped stamping their brand name and product number into the tools and started faintly lazer etching it instead, and also removed Meadville, PA from the markings. Some older tools also have the patent number stamped on the reverse of the tool. Other than those slight modification I see no difference in quality at all and I use all my pliers pretty regularly too.

 

[HandyManny]

Great quality American tool! One of th few throwbacks in time when you could get a world class usa made tool for a working mans price range. A great value and one other tool companies should model after.

I couldn't agree more, especially your last sentence in that quote

 

[mikevango]

Made in Pennsylvania!!!

 

[HandyManny]

Made in Pennsylvania!!!

Most likely they were once made from the steel that was also produced in Erie's steel mills too. Oh times have sure changed in manufacturing in this country.

 

[mrholeshot]

They sell them just about everywhere including Wal-Mart and it hasn't hurt the quality. I have some that I bought new 35 years ago or more.

 

[Theloniousmonk]

good stuff at any price point. i don't like the vinyl laminate clear coating stuff they put on the diag. cutters though, doesn't seem to help w/ corrosion at all, and is a pain to get through to sharpen tips. used many diff. models for years, along w/ my german things and are just as good, at a much cheaper price.

 

[matthew]

Is Channellock readily available in New Zealand? Or would you have to import from North America???

For the price it sells for around here, Channellocks are good value. It's definitely good stuff, whether it's the best value over there will depend largely on how competitive it is with other brands in your local market.

 

[mickeyone]

Best bang for the buck,their diagonals and linesman pliers are first rate,the t and g pliera are the best with the possible exception of the knipex cobra I have at least a dozen of the channelock brand and never had a problem in 20 years.

 

[Indy_500]

Best pliers for the buck, and made in usa too!

 

[TheGrooveking]

Been buying and using Channellock pliers for almost 40 years, great products, great company, very consistent, something Klein can't say...

TheGrooveking

 

[GBNZ]

Thinking of carring the line of them yes they are available in stores.

 

[GBNZ]

Is Channellock readily available in New Zealand? Or would you have to import from North America???

For the price it sells for around here, Channellocks are good value. It's definitely good stuff, whether it's the best value over there will depend largely on how competitive it is with other brands in your local market.

Thinking of carring a line of them as there us made yes there are available in shops across NZ and AU

 

[comedyman809]

reminds me...has any seen my nutbusters????

they have been missing since 2006. i really liked those.

i still ask my self why i avnt bought a new set of them plus the larger size.
i love all my channellock stuff!!! i have dykes, end nippers, crimpers, tongue and groove, had needle nose, they grew legs.


i like the regular grip like on any plier, i dont like the new ergonomical grips companies are introducing.

 

[back2class]

As I said earlier, I love them. Though for water pump pliers I have finaly made the switch to the Knipex version. While I like the water pump pliers better than the knipex in some ways, I hate that they squish your fingers when they do slip. Happened one two many times, so now I reach for the Knipex. If they could change that handle design somehow to fix that issue, I would ditch the Knipex water pump pliers and go back to Channellock.

 

[rayzor32]

channellock is good stuff, made in usa. They are the only brand of "channellocks" i'll use. They make great pliers and cutters too.

 

[Teken]

Been buying and using Channellock pliers for almost 40 years, great products, great company, very consistent, something Klein can't say...

TheGrooveking

I have to agree with the comments regarding the Klein . . .

 

[Stephenw]

Value priced and made in the USA. No complaints.

 

[GBNZ]

Looks like great reports so far

 

[matthew]

Looks like great reports so far

Well, you won't go wrong with it. Depending on what other options you have in your local market, and how much they cost, there may be better values out there, but doesn't change the fact that Channellock is good stuff.

Around here a set of water pump pliers, say Channellock 430's, may cost $15-$18 on sale, $20-$25 regular price. Way cheaper than the high-end brands. And the cheap ones you can buy for about one-third to half the price just are not worth it.

 

[Skin]

pliers/snips are fine, watch out for other products they dont specialize in as they do have quite a bit of taiwanese stuff as well.

 

[GBNZ]

I only onsell usa made tools cheers

 

[Mr.Nutcase]

I believe Channel lock makes the plyiers for some brands like Cornwelll.

 

[Honda 1]

I have a few Channellock pliers, which are over 20 years old. They make a great tool at a reasonable price. You will be happy with this brand product.

 

[dankicksass]

I have no complaints about Channellock pliers, they're the only general-use pliers I'll spend my money on. Made in Meadville, PA, top quality for decades and they haven't offshored production of any pliers. Their adjustable wrenches are made in Spain. I do take issue with the quality of their licensed Chinese kits that you find in warehouse club stores and I feel those products devalue the brand but that's another day's rant. In my box I've got a dozen Channellock pliers for any other-brand plier in there.

 

[plinker]

+1 on what everybody already said.

 

[Chris_R/T]

Every Channellock product I've got my hands on has never let me down. I bought a set of their snap ring pliers a couple years ago and I haven't broken a single tip on them, which is more than I can say about alot of other snap ring pliers. This thread reminds me I've got to get out and buy some more Channellock stuff to replace some of the el cheapo pliers I've still got in my box.

 

[mrholeshot]

The only Channellock tool I own I'm not in love with is a 6 in 1 screwdriver that came free with two pairs of Channellocks. It's a real POS. It was free but I wish they would have left it out. It makes you wonder