astrodoggie3000
Well-known member
Should i get the black handle C-man pliers... or the pro pliers with the red and black grips? Need some opinions to make up my mind on these as they both look pretty good.
Craftsman pliers?
- Thread starter astrodoggie3000
- Start date
littlekillertoad
Well-known member
If money isn't really a concern, I'd go with the pro pliers. I've used both and I think the pro's are way better.
I'm sure someone else will ask this too, but is there any reason that you're sticking to just C-Man pliers? When it comes to warranty and availability, C-Man's are definitely hard to beat but there are a lot of other good brands out there that you might be overlooking.
I'm sure someone else will ask this too, but is there any reason that you're sticking to just C-Man pliers? When it comes to warranty and availability, C-Man's are definitely hard to beat but there are a lot of other good brands out there that you might be overlooking.
4x4gearhead
Well-known member
Ive never had very good luck with the black handled ones theyre pretty cheap.
Brandon_Lutz
Well-known member
I have both Pro's and the regular plain Jane black handeled pliers. Both are good values IMO.
If money is a concern, go with the black handled versions, the will serve you well.
Channellocks are a great value as well. I have Channellocks mixed in with my pliers.
If money is a concern, go with the black handled versions, the will serve you well.
Channellocks are a great value as well. I have Channellocks mixed in with my pliers.
timgr
Well-known member
IMO the main danger with pliers is that you may lose them, not that they will break. So why bother with Craftsman?
Several different Klein, Knipex and Wiha pliers mixed in with the sale items at Amazon. All three of these brands are very high quality. http://www.amazon.com/b?_encoding=U...rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1283273902&pf_rd_i=384082011
Several different Klein, Knipex and Wiha pliers mixed in with the sale items at Amazon. All three of these brands are very high quality. http://www.amazon.com/b?_encoding=U...rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1283273902&pf_rd_i=384082011
The black handles are uncomfortable imo. Go for the red handle ones, or if open the purse strings a bit, go for the REAL red handle ones (Snap-on). Those are probably my favorite tools in the toolbox. Bombproof and super nice grips on them.
I have a ton of older Craftsman stuff, and only bought Craftsman hand tools for years through the late 1970s and 1980s. Since more and more Craftsman stuff is now coming from china, I've started looking for more US made tools. During the last few years I've started buying Channel Locks and I really do like them. The quality is easily as good as Craftsman (or maybe better), they're made in the USA for sure, and they also come with a warranty. I'd recommend giving them a try.
Jim C.
Jim C.
RbrtAWhyt
Well-known member
The older black handle ones are awesome. I personally dont care for the handles on the new red/black ones...
OP
astrodoggie3000
Well-known member
I paid 38 dollars and change for the 10" Snap-on Tongue and grooves and i felt like i was ripped off. The jaws didn't meet together very well, the head looked a little bent to one side, scratches all over them. They told me i have have to pay another 8 dollars to mail them back for some new ones. That would bring the total to 46 dollars... no thank you. I would rather look at the tool before i lay down money again.
OP
astrodoggie3000
Well-known member
I have some pliers at work, but i'm looking to buy a set of the basics for home use. Needle nose, cutters, slip joints cobra pliers maybe.
timgr
Well-known member
Deskmechanic
Well-known member
yeah all my craftsman pliers have lost the grips. But really I think they are pretty good pliers, especially for the money. Channelocks are nice too though.
i would buy klein needle nose and diagonals and knipex cobras.
My local Lowes has a combo set of knipex cobra 10" and 7" (I think) that was recently price dropped to $39.97. The prior price was $57. YMMV but it's worth the shot. While you're there check out their Channellocks and Kleins to fill the rest. You may want to also check your local hardware store too. They usually have old stock USA made pliers.
Lowes also sells a 3 pack of Channellock adjustable pliers for $30 and Amazon has the same thing for $41 right now. I also noticed ebay was more expensive including shipping. Almost seems like the online prices are no longer the bargain they once were.
SnowBlaZeR2
Well-known member
Are you guys talking about the newer CMan Pro with red and black handles? Why not warranty that?
dankicksass
Well-known member
Craftsman warranty is better than Craftsman quality on most of their pliers, in my opinion.
gatewaysysop
Well-known member
Meh. I've got the black handled c-man line, mostly just the basics (lineman's, cutters, slip joint, needle nose and a few others). For what they are, I find them to be pretty good value. If you buy the set, on sale anyway, it's a terrific value for the money.
That said, I also have some Knipex, Klein and Channellock and the quality difference is quite evident. You really do seem to get what you pay for in pliers, at least most of the time. That said, I still like using the plain old Craftsman black handled, as there's nothing wrong with them and they've performed fine. Not the best, but far better than most of the cheap stuff like HF or other PRC-made stuff.
I second other opinions here, if you have the $$$ to step up to something nicer, go for it. If not, I wouldn't hesitate to buy the black handled Craftsman stuff in a pinch, as the value for the money is still pretty good.
That said, I also have some Knipex, Klein and Channellock and the quality difference is quite evident. You really do seem to get what you pay for in pliers, at least most of the time. That said, I still like using the plain old Craftsman black handled, as there's nothing wrong with them and they've performed fine. Not the best, but far better than most of the cheap stuff like HF or other PRC-made stuff.
I second other opinions here, if you have the $$$ to step up to something nicer, go for it. If not, I wouldn't hesitate to buy the black handled Craftsman stuff in a pinch, as the value for the money is still pretty good.
SnowBlaZeR2
Well-known member
I might have to agree on the basic stuff, but the Pro pliers are just as nice as any other set of pliers I have or have used.
Yes the newer pro series ... the tool is still functional and has become my sacrificial pair in my box so no real need to warranty anything they work just fine. I keep telling myself I am going to pick up a can a plastikote stuff and give it a try.
briggsguy17
Well-known member
I would assume that you do not use them a lot then? Every and I mean every pair of Cman Pro pliers I have ever owned had the grips slip off. It becomes very annoying when you are really wrenching on something and the grip starts to slide off
If they could or would fix the grip issue I would agree that they are very nice pliers. SnowBlaZeR2
Well-known member
I would assume that you do not use them a lot then? Every and I mean every pair of Cman Pro pliers I have ever owned had the grips slip off. It becomes very annoying when you are really wrenching on something and the grip starts to slide off
If you're implying that I don't use my tools, then you assume wrong.
I use the right tools for the right job, and even my ****** tools rarely break or have issues. Maybe I'm just lucky, or maybe I bought the only good set, but I use my pliers and the grips are still hanging in there. My brother and my dad would tell you a similar story of theirs. Maybe they only sell the good ones in Ohio.
OP
astrodoggie3000
Well-known member
I like C-man for the warranty... but i don't break to many tools. Thanks for the opinions. I think i might just go eith the Knipex Cobras and needle nose from Lowes, the price isn't to much higher than C-man pro pliers. The C-man cobra pliers look the same to me?
dankicksass
Well-known member
There are black/red dipped handle Craftsman Cobras, I have a pair from warranty exchange. The Lowes two-pack is a lot cheaper than the Craftsman price...
Krawlin98ZJ
Well-known member
My thoughts exactly.
cruiser808
Well-known member
I bought my Cman black handles in the 80's. That was all that Sears offered at the time and they still do just fine for me.
Hey guys, does anyone see a difference between the older WF ones I have versus the current black handle offerings? I think the younger folks would like to know this when buying new or used. Thanks.
mrholeshot
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Skip past the Craftsman, don't get sucked up into some of the overpriced Knipex and go straight for Channellock. I have many differant brands and Channrllock not only works better, last longer have a super good warranty but they are in the reasonable price range. This is the time of year to buy them. Some really good deals going before Christmas. Dollar for Dollar the best pliers made
SMKS
Well-known member
+1.
I'm sure the Craftsman Pros are pretty nice, but unless they were considerably cheaper than the Channellock, then I'd choose Channellock.
Until recently, I was only familiar with the iconic Channellock tongue and groove pliers. But, all the other Channellock pliers I have seen are top-shelf quality. Really nice.
Their adjustable wrenches seem nice, too. I think they're made in Spain by Irega.
OP
astrodoggie3000
Well-known member
I know this sounds stupid... but i can't get past those baby blue grips! The ugliest color choice i've ever seen, in my opinion.
4x4gearhead
Well-known member
I can vouch!
dankicksass
Well-known member
I love Channellock blue. Not enough to buy a Channellock cabinet at Do-it-Best, but it's distinctive.
Hahaha that blue cabinet is a bit too much for me... I like the color on the handles or for accents on a cabinet or something like that but to paint the whole thing that color is too much for me...
I second that channellock is the best bang for the buck. Some of the WF craftsman pliers at sears are not bad though when they are on sale as someone else mentioned. They are pretty decent overall in my opinion.
I second that channellock is the best bang for the buck. Some of the WF craftsman pliers at sears are not bad though when they are on sale as someone else mentioned. They are pretty decent overall in my opinion.
They are ugly but they are easy to clean, somewhat comfortable, easy to recover when lost, and best of all ... durable.
I wonder what the quality is like on those cabinets... Price is cheap.
dankicksass
Well-known member
No idea on quality, never been to a Do-it-Best store and the ball bearing stickers aren't Waterloo's. It can't be any worse than the Craftsman 26-inchers, can it?
OP
astrodoggie3000
Well-known member
What is WF?