Starter set of pliers

[gagreen]

Lol ya'll are too much. He is 17 looking for non professional tools as I understand his first plier collection. Knipex, snap on, full price c'locks generally speaking are way over what he needs at this point. Find a combo set on sale at a local hdware store and ****** it up.

The fun part of tool buying is trying them on. Don't get caught up on brand over fit and function in your hand. Find what you like in the way of function and feel. Learn how to properly use the pliers for their intended purpose rather than catching yourself up in the brand/coo war here.

Don't order your first of anything online without handling it first. Spending 90+ on a 4 piece plier set is flat out crazy for you at this point. Sears does sell a 49 dollar plier set with 4 craftsman pliers and in my local stores the pliers are still us made. Try your tools on like a pair of jeans before locking into them financially. Sears sells c'lock brand as well so make a quick trip of it and decide for yourself which you like.

Just stick to the standard plier group diags, linesman, needle nose, slip joint. Enjoy shopping for them and don't let someone convince you before you use a certain brand that you will like that brand over a possibly cheaper option.

 

[Dave455]

Thank you for that Blockw@rt! I have some pliers by Stahlwille that are top quality, but identical to some bought by my grandfather about 60 years ago and just marked 'Germany'! I always wanted to know the maker!

 

[shoturtle]

And pliers from Stahlwille (made by VBW!!) also not available ?

Really hard to find stahlwille in the USA. Only couple sites carry them. And they really do not carry all the items. Knipex you can find at the big box like a bauhaus or hornback. NWS mostly on line.

 

[sk farmer]

Lol ya'll are too much. He is 17 looking for non professional tools as I understand his first plier collection. Knipex, snap on, full price c'locks generally speaking are way over what he needs at this point. Find a combo set on sale at a local hdware store and ****** it up.

The fun part of tool buying is trying them on. Don't get caught up on brand over fit and function in your hand. Find what you like in the way of function and feel. Learn how to properly use the pliers for their intended purpose rather than catching yourself up in the brand/coo war here.

Don't order your first of anything online without handling it first. Spending 90+ on a 4 piece plier set is flat out crazy for you at this point. Sears does sell a 49 dollar plier set with 4 craftsman pliers and in my local stores the pliers are still us made. Try your tools on like a pair of jeans before locking into them financially. Sears sells c'lock brand as well so make a quick trip of it and decide for yourself which you like.

Just stick to the standard plier group diags, linesman, needle nose, slip joint. Enjoy shopping for them and don't let someone convince you before you use a certain brand that you will like that brand over a possibly cheaper option.

^^^this is wisdom. do not listen to the fools who will tell you that you need something exotic right now. as your collection grows and your needs change you may want to try something else. nothing wrong with that as sometimes the size or shape of a tool will make one work better than the other in a particular application. if that 50 dollar pliers is too big or the wrong shape to fit the application it isn't worth a nickel.

from my experience, 5 ten dollar pliers of different sizes and shapes will allow you to do more than one 50 dollar pair.

 

[oilfieldtrash4]

Channellock are awesome. Bought me a pair of 9" linemans pliers and I'm sold on the quality. Nice to know it supports American workers as well. I like having my American job so I support USA made whenever possible.

 

[jeffmoss26]

Can't go wrong with us made craftsman, channellock, or Klein.

 

[cookiemonster]

Don't listen to all this bs about high end brands or german made. Just buy craftsman and be done with it. Lifetime warranty and Made in USA. Enough Said

 

[Mrmanface3]

I'm 17 and started building my tool collection a few years ago. I agree that it's not a good idea to try and buy everything from the top tool brands. Especially when you're just starting out. However, there are some tools that are worth the extra money.

When I first started out there were quite a few things that I bought cheap and have ended up replacing as they either broke, got worn out, or were simply miserable to work with.

My recommendation would be to skip buying the cheap set and get something that will at least last a long time, such as a set of Channellocks. Or if you have the extra money and are will to spend it you could pick up something like a set of Knipex Cobras.

Personally I've been through all three stages with my pliers. First I had a no name made set that was made in China which after a few months had wobbly joints and rounded teeth. So I went out and pick up a set of Channellocks and they worked and held up fine. I kept reading about how great Knipex pliers were on here and a few months ago decided to give them a try. All I can say is that I wish I had saved myself the time and money by just getting the Knipex first.

 

[Thunderbisciut]

If I wanted a decent cheap set of pliers, I'd probably look at Wilde myself. Me, I love my NWS, but I'm not going to recommend a 17 year old drop all his earnings for the same. If I could only have 3 pliers, it would be a larger slip joint/channellock/water pump/etc style, a duck bill, and a cutter. In fact that's really all I use other than specialty pliers.

 

[hallboyone]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007KHFYDE/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Is this what kinda' like what you guys are thinking?

 

[shoturtle]

It is made by western forge, it is a good set. Not to expensive. But sears have them on sale every now and then. And can be had for 30 buck.

 

[Blöckw@rt]

all I want is to start building a set that will last a lifetime

He is not asking for cheap or china ****, he wants quality !

Where is the problem guys ?

 

[shoturtle]

because you are going up against the COO mofia on GJ.

 

[fivespdcat]

I would probably run with the craftsman set. I had that forever and didn't need all that much more. C'lock style pliers, needle nose and side cutters, I have never really found too much of a use for slip joints but I don't work them every day all day. I personally would not spend extra money on the German brands at this point, and really the only thing I think that is really worth it are the pliers wrenches. It's easy to get carried away on pliers, but buy what you need and don't bother with the exotics, they usually do the same job at much more premium price.

 

[PCO6]

I've always liked Channellocks and with a few exceptions they're pretty much all I have. They often go on sale around here. Princess Auto has them at 25% a few times a year and Canadian Tire had them at 40% off just prior to Christmas. If you're in no rush the sales are well worth waiting for.

 

[hallboyone]

Canada is a bit of a long drive my friend , or do they have an online store?

 

[hallboyone]

I'm a Texan .

 

[sk farmer]

because you are going up against the COO mofia on GJ.

i believe the word you are looking for is mafia. that said, there is no gj coo mafia.

there is however some people who almost always pick some exotic foreign tool no matter what the purpose or question. some of us just realize that helping our fellow americans when we have an oppurtunity is the right thing to do. i have a mix of tools from all countries but choosing a quality item of us origin is not a bad thing.

hey did anyone forget?

chinese craftsman =

 

[jeffk14]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007KHFYDE/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Is this what kinda' like what you guys are thinking?

Those will be just fine.

Or, if you want something just a little better;

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004WQZWGK/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[sk farmer]

I'm a Texan .

good for you! just remember, supporting your american mfg's when you can is a good thing.

 

[PCO6]

Canada is a bit of a long drive my friend , or do they have an online store?

Do you not have sales in Texas? PA sells on line. No idea re CT or whether either would ship to the US. Even with the savings I doubt it would be worth shipping them anyway.

 

[cburnscrx]

Since you're caught up on the COO, then get the Craftsman. I think the Channellock grips get too slippery.

 

[MrMark]

Those will be just fine.

Or, if you want something just a little better;

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004WQZWGK/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Perfect first set! Cheap too!

That's all you need basically until you get into specialized automotive and then you can get more as needed. There are a few Knipex that are vastly superior: the Cobra, the Alligator, the Pliers Wrench and the Mini Bolt Cutter. The Alligator and Cobra are available at Sears and are not that expensive, especially if on sale. I would keep an eye on those and add as needed.

 

[Conductor562]

i believe the word you are looking for is mafia. that said, there is no gj coo mafia.

there is however some people who almost always pick some exotic foreign tool no matter what the purpose or question. some of us just realize that helping our fellow americans when we have an oppurtunity is the right thing to do. i have a mix of tools from all countries but choosing a quality item of us origin is not a bad thing.

hey did anyone forget?

chinese craftsman =

Wilde is also worth a look

 

[RedFordTruck]

Hard to beat this set for $30... sells for $40 at sears

http://www.kmart.com/craftsman-4-pc-pliers-set/p-005W032007811000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=


Home depot has an identical set of Channellock for $40

 

[Uncle Ben]

Channellock. Get yourself a set of 420 T&G, needle nose, side cutters, and a pair of standard slip joints to start out. Channellock's are affordable, USA made, and will last a lifetime under normal use.

Agreed, and I would also recommend getting a pair of Channellock "linesman" pliers, which are my personal favorite plier.

 

[richfinn]

Politics aside, NWS are what you should get. For sockets and wrenches buy USA but pliers and screwdrivers you really want the European brands. They are just better value when your starting out. Buy more burgers if you want to support US manufacturing they don't make much else anymore sadly.

 

[hallboyone]

So what are some good European brands for screw drivers?

 

[Conductor562]

So what are some good European brands for screw drivers?

Wiha and Wera are the 2 that come to mind. I've grown fond of these Blackhawk's. They are French made.

 

[bcradio]

wow, lots of haters in this. if you like european pliers, good for you and that is fine. i have some facom and knipex. personally i don't see what the big deal is. the kid is 17 and you are encouraging to skip over lots of fine brands that also happen to be us made for basicly no other reason than being us made. that is no surprise from shoturtle, the guys is on a mission to slam everything that is us made. but really bc radio? sending some random person a 20 dollar bill is helping. i am not a flaming usa fanatic but you guys are pathetic.

here is some real advice for the kid. there are some awefully good pliers out there that are still us made. wilde and channelock come to mind first. epstein hardware is an excellent place to start. you can surf the website for hours, especially the closeout section i have had good luck with the us made craftsman. not so much with the imported stuff.

No no no no, I'm not saying anything against any brand at all. Pretty much all pliers I have seen made by Channelock are top notch no ifs/ands/buts about it. I just think knipex has a slight edge on design over channelock though which makes them my personal pick over the C-locks. Definitely the best option IMO for a 17 year old would be the Channelocks because they are a better value for the money and will last a lifetime.

 

[crewchief888]

i've been wrenching on const eq for a long, long time.
channellock has been my "go to" since day one.

a pair of 420's
dykes
crimpers

i do have a pair of knipex dykes that are really nice, but that could be 'cuz my channellocks are 30 years old...

i think the 2 pair of needlenose i actually use from time to time are mac..

the cheaper, less expensive brands pale in comparison, and only seem to p*ss me off to no end....

 

[richfinn]

i've been wrenching on const eq for a long, long time.
channellock has been my "go to" since day one.

a pair of 420's
dykes
crimpers

i do have a pair of knipex dykes that are really nice, but that could be 'cuz my channellocks are 30 years old...

i think the 2 pair of needlenose i actually use from time to time are mac..

the cheaper, less expensive brands pale in comparison, and only seem to p*ss me off to no end....

So what are some good European brands for screw drivers?

I like Wiha,Facom,Witte but you won't beat Snap On for a racheting screwdriver. I really like USA stuff too but I play the game and get the best value as I'm a humble tradesman. Look after no 1 (you and your family) leave politics to morons in suits

 

[shoturtle]

wiha, wera, witt, pb swiss and felo are all good.

 

[SlowPoke-Canada]

Not to fan any flames but...
We're seeing advice from guys that are pro ergo grips and put snap on hard handles on everything they can. Guys that are typically flag wavers but make an exception where quality is a notch better from Europe.

My point is, everyone here thinks THEY have THE best tool in existence without knowing what these tools are needed for.

C-lock and C-man do the basics as good as anybody and at a reasonable price with good local support. Euro brands tend to be a little more innovative and task specific at a higher price and may be more difficult to get support. Truck brands are mostly re-branded at a higher price and more difficult to get support if you're not on a route but are a great option if you want to support your dealer or buy on credit.

My preference is C-lock and I'll state why.
I've had cheapo's that flex or need tightening.
I've had Craftsman comfy grips that perform well but are a ***** to clean when going from the Jeep to home duty.
I've had knipex mini bolt cutters that went over the side of the boat after cutting the hooks out of an angry muskie. I don't begrudge them for their ability to sink, just that they were about 6x the price of my Princess Auto minis.

C-lock makes sense for me. They're durable/reliable. Easy to clean. Broad range of sizes and styles. Replaceable just about anywhere. Cost effective.

If the OP is entering a trade where pliers will be used more than any other tool, than buy the best most comfortable tool regardless of cost, coo, handle colour, ****** preference or political leanings. It's an investment.

 

[Vvmvbb]

Functionally, the differences between channel locks or craftsman and, say, knipex are vanishingly small if you think about it. I can't think of a single job I've ever done that made me put down the channel locks and pick up the knipex.

But, it's perfectly fine to spend more for more enjoyment out of a tool - better design, fit, finish.

At 17, I'd spend my dough on drinks and women.

 

[cookefab]

Buy Knipex Cobra Pliers and Pliers Wrench. Made in Germany. Not in USA I know but Channellock can't hold a candle to them for usefullness. Channellock Might be a touch more durable, but if I never had to adjust the size of a Channellock style pliers again I would be quite happy. I have been quite satisfied with the quality of Knipex as a whole and the good old USA can only be "as good as" when it comes to pliers and Knipex. They typically fall a little short however.

For USA made, Channellock makes a good set of linesmans for $40-45. I go 50/50 on Channellock and Knipex for linesmans pliers as Channellock's do not close all the way at the tip. The Channellock Nutbusters work great, I just don't pull em out terribly often due to tongue and groove frustration. Another good option could be Wilde Pipe Wrench pliers.

For small needle nose pliers - buy cheap. Don't much matter what you get here. Ergonomics and asthetics maybe matter but thats a stretch. Chinas fine here.

USA made is a nice sentiment to have but I don't buy into it. The problem with America is the participation trophy mindset and in reality, if American industry wants to save itself they need to start doing it best rather than relying on sentiment of the good old days.

Sorry, I have to disagree w/ the bit about cheaping out on needlenose, or getting Chinese anything...have you ever used Swiss-made precision pliers? Or Snap On? Or even Wilde? Once you know, you won't go back to junk...and no, you don't have to pay the high prices that go w/ quality. $80 for V5 or $60 for SO is a bit much...I look for "lots" and sell off what I don't want/need individually...most of my SO pliers were bought new, however...

 

[cburnscrx]

So what are some good European brands for screw drivers?

I am confused...in your original post you wanted USA pliers, and now you want European screwdrivers? Huh?

 

[ddo]

Sorry, I have to disagree w/ the bit about cheaping out on needlenose, or getting Chinese anything...have you ever used Swiss-made precision pliers? Or Snap On? Or even Wilde? Once you know, you won't go back to junk...and no, you don't have to pay the high prices that go w/ quality. $80 for V5 or $60 for SO is a bit much...I look for "lots" and sell off what I don't want/need individually...most of my SO pliers were bought new, however...

Sounds reasonable. Havent had huge need for small pliers so havent had too much frustration. Spent the big bucks on the pliers that i use most and have no regrets on that decision. Like spending the money for features and mechanical advantages and didnt see much on the little gripping pliers. Got a few high quality needle nose pliers, just dont get the same feeling of having a leg up on the chinese brands as i do with other style pliers.

 

[jjjrmx5]

Functionally, the differences between channel locks or craftsman and, say, knipex are vanishingly small if you think about it.

No, NOT a small difference at all if used professionally or used in a mfgr or high use situation.
No comparison at all.
None.
HUGE difference between low end and Knipex (and I call C'man pliers mid-end and ChannelLock above mid) .

If starting out I suggest the black handled Craftsman pliers and supplement those with Channelocks. Win win. Both good products and cost effective.

Hell, my local Sears was selling off the German COO Knipex made 7" C'man branded Cobras since the first of the year for $10.07 a pair WITH tax. And folks were still too cheap in that store to buy them at that waay marked down price while being a $27 retail product.

But if used professionally, the Knipex and NWS plier products are at the top of thier game.
Gravity, water and a 32 ft/second incident aside.
LOLZ.

 

[jtw401]

im with you on Knipex pliers...the 12" cobra water pump pliers are perhaps the greatest tool EVER MADE