Looked at Knipex and Channel Locks Today

[243]

I stopped by Lowes after reading another thread on pliers and looked at the selection of Knipex and Channel Locks. They both seemed to be high quality with the finish going to Knipex.

I was surprised but the price is pretty close for similar tools.

I was also hoping to see a variety pack for a reduced cost but it looks like I will need to buy piece by piece.

I did like the comfort grip handles of the Knipex but would most likely get the standard handles for the reduced bulk and I can always put on a pair of gloves if a project requires some long hours.

Price may not dictate which brand I select unless I find some sweet deals.

I have a drawer full of pliers and most are low quality. I plan on putting together some tool kits for my daughters and one for the house and getting a decent set for the garage.

Lineman, needlenose, channel lock, diagnonal cutters to start.


I also stopped by Sears yesterday to look at the pry bars, I wanted to spend 20.00 bucks for the set of three but I finally decided to wait until I break my cheapo's from HF. It was a tough decision though.

 

[Crash913]

Home Depot's Channellock prices are a couple bucks cheaper than Lowes' in my area. Just a heads up They carry Klein instead of Knipex though...

 

[Davefr]

Price may not dictate which brand I select unless I find some sweet deals.

IMHO one of the better BF deals for tools could be the Ace Hardware 1/2 price coupon for Sat. 11/27.

You can buy any one regularly priced item up to $30 for half off. Most Knipex and Channel lock SKU's are usually <$30 at Ace.

The coupon is at bfads.com

 

[zer0cell]

My ace stores seem to have none of either brand unfortunately or I'd be all over it. By the way, will the coupon for that day be available in-store?

 

[Stuey]

My ace stores seem to have none of either brand unfortunately or I'd be all over it. By the way, will the coupon for that day be available in-store?

I'm wondering that as well. I don't normally get Ace flyers.

 

[Davefr]

I'm wondering that as well. I don't normally get Ace flyers.

I'd just print out the coupon at bfads.com or download the one that'll probably show up at acehardware.com next week.

As long as the store participates, they don't seem to care where the coupon came from. However Ace's are franchises and not all of them participate in the nationwide promotions.

Fortunately the Ace I shop at has "the good stuff".

Maybe this forum should have a BF Deals thread for good tool deals for next week. I'm hoping MSC does a discount coupon and free shipping.

 

[Stuey]

I'd just print out the coupon at bfads.com or download the one that'll probably show up at acehardware.com next week.

As long as the store participates, they don't seem to care where the coupon came from. However Ace's are franchises and not all of them participate in the nationwide promotions.

Fortunately the Ace I shop at has "the good stuff".

Maybe this forum should have a BF Deals thread for good tool deals for next week. I'm hoping MSC does a discount coupon and free shipping.

Thanks, I might give that a try!

I put together a few hand-picked clippings from the available flyers: http://toolguyd.com/tag/black-friday-2010/

Home Depot sent legal threats to pretty much all the BF sites, so nobody's willing to publish those deals. I looked a Lowe's sale preview, and will go through their short full flyer when I have a chance.

 

[american lockpicker]

IMHO one of the better BF deals for tools could be the Ace Hardware 1/2 price coupon for Sat. 11/27.

You can buy any one regularly priced item up to $30 for half off. Most Knipex and Channel lock SKU's are usually <$30 at Ace.

The coupon is at bfads.com

Might pick up some pliers or something.

 

[243]

I will check out ACE later this week and watch for the sale.

Tonight I went out to sort through the two drawers full of pliers, adjustable wrenches and locking pliers. I pulled out a lot of no-name tools but was surprised of what I had since most all of these tools have a heavy patina.

I have far fewer gaps to fill in than I thought; quite a few Klein, Channel Lock, the green Klein needlenose were my Dad's, the blue dikes are just engraved USA, the fence tool is Sheffield, the red Lineman is Sears and the locking pliers are Vice Grip.

The others that I would like to pull out of the toolbox are Clark I believe from Tractor Supply and no-name. The wire strippers are Ideal (I think) and the tin snips are WISS?

I will probably retire the green Klein's since I have very few tools of my Dad's. I guess I don't need much, maybe a good pair of lineman and needlenose pliers. I am getting to the point I would rather have one good tool than a bunch of lower quality tools, it would be easier to keep track of them too.

 

[lbgradwell]

the blue dikes are just engraved USA

Diamond, I think...

 

[243]

Diamond, I think...

I searched for Diamond on GJ and Google and did find any good leads. Thanks for the information though

 

[Steve_P]

all my Diamond pliers have green dipped handles; they're early-mid 90s

 

[lbgradwell]

all my Diamond pliers have green dipped handles; they're early-mid 90s

Yes, that's true; most old Diamonds - especially the T&G models - were a distinctive green.

But some of the smaller, electronics pliers were a paler green and I ordered some NOS off eBay a couple of years back and the dykes had blue dipped handles as pictured:

 

[tooldeloo]

I have had Channellock pliers for thirty years now, but hadn't bought a bent nose until just recently.
I ordered their Model 386. What a surprise when it arrived--the tip of one of the jaws was ground down to about half the thickness of the opposite one and there were noticeable and numerous grinding "facets" all over the jaws, from the box joint outwards.
Also, probably from when the nose was bent, the jaws between the box joint and the tips mated unevenly--closed on the"concave" side and open on the "convex" side.
I sent it back, and the got another one in return. I could tell that the order picker had taken a look at the tips, they were poked through the plastic bulk bag. This time, the jaw tips matched in thickness, but there were still those grinding facets all over the jaws and the uneven mating.,
Afterwards, I stopped by a Grainger store, and looked at one of their 386s. This one came in a plastic clamshell with a cardboard insert. It looked pretty much the same as the first one that had been shipped to me, with one of the points ground down way too much.
Later on, elsewhere, I llooked at a Klein bent nose, which was comparably priced. The jaws of the Klein didn't mate all that well either, but the tips were evenly ground and the overall finish was much nicer.
I haven't called Channellock yet, to ask them what's going on, but I aim to. It was the first time that I ever had an issue with one of their tools.

 

[243]

So the Diamond pliers just have "USA" engraved for identification?


I stopped by ACE at lunch, a brand new store and all they had were Channel Lock and ACE brand tools. I will check Home Depot for pricing against Lowes and keep an eye out for BF deals.

 

[Danglerb]

IMHO Ace is a waste, I shop and buy there from time to time for specific things, but twice I've walked through the store with a 40% or better discount coupon and left with nothing.