Long Reach Pliers Set. Does it Belong in Every Tool Set?

[zakmartin]

I have this set from ebay $30 shipped and it's a very high quality blackhawk/proto set.

I got those Blackhawks with the Proto long-reach dikes. By far, the best e-bay tool purchase I've ever made. Those tools are fantastic (sometimes I wonder if they're counterfeit due to the price, but to be honest, even if they are, they've still worked and are made beautifully).

 

[hancock1701]

I got a 3 piece set (including cutters) from Astro Pneumatic during a Woot promotion for $15. Very nice set for occasional use. I've used them a few times, and those were the times when it's nice to have them.

 

[PelicanPines]

Pliers are a thing you need a lot... I only have 1 long reach out of 50 pairs of pliers. Would I want more? Hello yes.

 

[Thax]

Do you have to have them as a DIY? No, but they sure are nice sometimes. Id say grab a set from HF, Autozone or any parts place and see how you like them. They can be real handy sometimes.

 

[Boudin]

I have a pair of long reach angled channellock pliers. I use them frequently in automotive work to reach hose clamps, clips, fasteners etc. I think they are a must have for a garage mechanic.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

 

[Moose364]

Mac tools on there website has some long reach duck bill for 4.99 with free shipping, just go to there website, type in closeouts in there search block, and it will pull up all of there closeout stuff, I got 2 pairs for 10 dollars heck of a deal

 

[rdog422]

Thanks mypov. I know I won't be using them often; will be used mainly in automotive work.

i wind up using mine when I put spark plugs in most honda's and those chevy straight 6's. My spark plug socket never wants to come off so I have to pull if off with the long reach pliers. As with most tools, you never "need" it until you do, and if you don't have it, you can't do the job, or it takes way longer.

 

[rockinacummins]

I have this set from ebay $30 shipped and it's a very high quality blackhawk/proto set. They have saved my bacon many times. I use them a LOT more than I thought I would.

Have these as well. Even bought the long reach cutters/pliers because what the hell. $60 for all three shipped to my shop. Used them a couple of times and was very glad to have them. Made it all my life without them, but I assure you I won't spend any more of my life without them.

 

[Tsquare]

+ 1 on having long reach pliers in the box. Not a pro - no problem - Buy an inexpensive set and be glad you have them when you need them.

 

[winlinmac]

Thanks for being to the point. It's one of those basic tools I'll probably occasionally use, but will be grateful to have when I need them before the next ripple occurs.

+ 1 on having long reach pliers in the box. Not a pro - no problem - Buy an inexpensive set and be glad you have them when you need them.

 

[lightning02]

I ended up buying the ones in the eBay link.

 

[chrispyny]

I would not have been able to reach in to get the snap ring holding the bearings in place on my crafstman drill press when i was restoring it this spring without the long reach pliers i purchased from my local Harbor Freight. I bought every kind they had. I think i have three or four now, Super cheap and amazingly handy. At the price they cost, who cares. Buy and be happy to have them. The one day you need them, they will already be in the tool box.

 

[OkRider]

Not pliers in the traditional sense, but I've found long hemostats to come in quite handy working in tight spaces from time to time.

 

[jrp458]

Mac tools on there website has some long reach duck bill for 4.99 with free shipping, just go to there website, type in closeouts in there search block, and it will pull up all of there closeout stuff, I got 2 pairs for 10 dollars heck of a deal

I saw that. Are they any good?

 

[Tatsuya]

It's one of those items you never need until you do, and then work stops because nothing else will do. I'd buy a cheap pair.

I agree. Cheap HF ones will probably do for these.

 

[bob from indiana]

I have H.F. long pliers at work and in my car. They will rust up if given any chance. My car set developed rust on the side touching the trunk carpet last winter. Some wire wheel therapy and a few coats of clear spray paint has kept them clean since then.

They will not win any awards but they can save the day when I drop something in a hard to get to place.

 

[LumpyMusic]

Another vote for the HF pliers. I have the orange handled, bent nose style. I don't cut with them, I don't apply huge or precision torque with them, I don't repeatedly use them for hours at a time. I use them once in a blue moon to do something like hold a #10 nut on to a blind side of something. Often I don't even use them as pliers. ie I don't open the jaws. I just push the nose of them onto the thing I'm holding in place while I use my uber expensive, European made, daily polished, geometric design handled, spin balanced, blast finished non-glare shanked, kroil (only!) lubricated #2 phillips screwdriver.


Sgt Lumpy

 

[Tsquare]

I would not have been able to reach in to get the snap ring holding the bearings in place on my crafstman drill press when i was restoring it this spring without the long reach pliers i purchased from my local Harbor Freight. I bought every kind they had. I think i have three or four now, Super cheap and amazingly handy. At the price they cost, who cares. Buy and be happy to have them. The one day you need them, they will already be in the tool box.

This is exactly why I purchased my long reach pliers from HF doing the restore on my two Carftsman 150 Drill Presses -

 

[pablo94sc]

I use mine more often it seems than my standard and jewelry ones. It's a necessary tool for automotive work, IMO.

 

[Strouty]

Did you end up getting some pliers? How about a quick review for us?

 

[PelicanPines]

I have been watching this thread... waiting for a review... hope it comes soon.

 

[winlinmac]

As far as long reach pliers go, I went with a 10" Knipex Diagonal Cutter, 11" Long Nose and 11" Bent Nose Long Reach Proto Pliers, 11" 90 Degree Tekton Pliers, 11" Ring Shaped Tekton Pliers, and Long Reach Duckbill Pliers from Mac Tools

A quick overview suggests that the Proto Pliers are favorable.

However, many whom I've asked personally jumped to Harbor Freight, but rust-prone tools are generally not my taste. Tekton's customer service deserves applause. With many of the long reach pliers originating from overseas, I'm more content with going with a company that truly stands behind their products.

Did you end up getting some pliers? How about a quick review for us?

 

[PelicanPines]

Long reach duck bills... got a picture?

 

[winlinmac]

PelicanPines, it was $5 during Mac Tool's clearance sale, prior to last year's Black Friday. I'm sure many of us hopped on that deal. They align perfectly on mine, not sure about others. Appears to be Made in China though, but still content. Stanley owns Mac Tools, makes sense.

Long reach duck bills... got a picture?

 

[GTO]

I bought a set of Craftsman Pro long reach by WF about 20 years ago,still use them today.

 

[Soslow]

I had a cheap set from harbor freight and used them all the time. Now I have a set from Mac. It was worth it to me to make the investment.

 

[jimmyin3D]

How are the Mac tools 10 piece long reach pliers? Do they still have the set for $100? Worth it or are the proto/blackhawks and a set of ltektons equal in quality?

 

[Finky198]

I Have the Mac set do they work yes are they good no, But @$10 a pair. I think they will work fine for most... Unfortunately as said above most are all from the same crappy mfg...

 

[bob from indiana]

I have Tekton long pliers at work. They meet my needs.

I have H.F. long pliers at home and they will get oxidized VERY quickly. I left a pair in the car trunk last winter and they were getting rusty after a few days. I cleaned them up with a wire wheel and sprayed them with rattle can clear coat. This has held up fine so far. They are not great tools but they are good enough to get in places my big hands can't.

 

[kctyphoon]

Temp out of stock right now, but this was a decent deal for anyone looking for a set.. People were saying these were identical to the Mac set..

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=320986

 

[ZRX61]

I have maybe 5 or 6 of them, various bends/offsets etc....

BUT!!

I had one pair which had a joggle in them so the tips were parallel to the handles etc like straight pliers, but had about a 3/8in offset.

Some fucker stole them & I've not seen identical ones sold ANYWHERE.

Edit:
How did the word *pliers* get converted into a link to ebay in my post? What is this viglink BS?

update:
Visited their website & opted out. Sorted.

 

[Milwookie]

Here's the Craftsman/GearWrench models: Crescent PSX204C X2 Long Reach Plier Set, 2-Piece https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00N9ULHO6/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[jimmyin3D]

Are the proto/blackhawks better than the Mac version with the spring loaded handles?

 

[anndel]

I have long reach SK long nose and bent nose.

 

[gdocktor3]

Here's the Craftsman/GearWrench models: Crescent PSX204C X2 Long Reach Plier Set, 2-Piece https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00N9ULHO6/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I have a set of these by Crescent I bought cheap on eBay and they are really nice. Only complaint is the handles are white and blue. I also have a pair of Gearwrench long reach that aren't double x that work well. Then I have a pair made by TP I think. They all work just the same, with the cheap TP's having a bit of flex in the handles, weakening their grip. Same reason I passed on the HF pliers. Too much flex.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

I had one pair which had a joggle in them so the tips were parallel to the handles etc like straight pliers, but had about a 3/8in offset.

Some fucker stole them & I've not seen identical ones sold ANYWHERE.

Knipex used to make them. I have a pair at work.

They did 3 types with offset jaws, they only make one of them now.

 

[superautobacs]

Probably some time in the near future, Knipex will actually mass produce them:

Picture is from the Knipex booth at the International Hardware Fair at Cologne/Koln 2016

Knipex's mechanic's pliers series:

 

[Parabellum]

Remove stuck spark plug boots