Good, cheap Linesman Pliers (preferably USA)

[FlushingDIYer]

In looking for something to purchase for my electrician cousin (I decided on some PB SWISS screwdrivers, I'll let everyone know how that pans out...), I came to the realization that I don't have any linesman pliers or needle-nose pliers. So I figured I would get some advice here. (Need to get a few wrenches from Cripe so trying to fill out my order )

I know Klein, Knipex, Channellock are the golden standards. But I don't need golden here! I got some renovations I need to do this summer that will entail some electrical. (Fixing some lighting in the garage, kitchen renovation stuff, etc.) I'd prefer a USA tool, but if that Crescent and/or the Gearwrench is better than the rest, well, so be it. I'm surprised the Ideal one is as expensive as it is. Does it really represent almost twice the value of the Wirepro? I'm assuming this Irwin is Chinese, right?

Anyone have any experience with any of these linesman pliers? They're all from Cripe... (Where else would they come from?)

Wirepro by Klein WP200 9" Sidecutting Linesmans Pliers With Crimper USA $7.75

FYI: Here's some info on Wirepro in case anyone is interested.

IDEAL 35-6012 9-1/4" Side Cutting Linesman Pliers $13

Crescent 9" Heavy Duty Linesmans Pliers Pro Series 20509CMG $11

Gearwrench 82090 9" Linesman Pliers $9

Allen 25208 Linesman Plier 8 With Grip USA Made*A $10

Irwin 1773614 Vise-Grip 9.5" Lineman's Pliers With Wire Stripper Crimper $14

FYI: Price on Amazon... for that price, I know, I know, you go with the golden standards...

I'm leaning towards this USA Allen Linesman, even though it doesn't have a crimper. The Allen, Ideal and the Wirepro have matching needle-nose pliers. Not that matching stuff is all that important.

 

[fivespdcat]

I've got one of those wire pro side cutters. I would say it's halfway decent and well worth the $5 i paid for it. However when I'm just doing light household wiring i rarely if ever reach for my linesman. I basically carry a handful of tools:

-Knipex 1301614 electricians pliers
-klein C1 combo tip screwdriver
-electrical tape
-Wiha flat blade screwdriver

I don't even know if I've used my linesman in my house at all. Maybe others find them more useful than me.

Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk

 

[ducksface]

Limited use for me.
Opens at an odd angle for my use.
But like stated above, five bucks is plenty to spend.

 

[jumbojak]

Do you need them to be new? If the renovations are any time away I'd keep my eyes open for a pair of Klein's at junk stores, etc. Then, if you haven't found a good used pair in that time go ahead and buy new Irwins or whatever else wags your tail. My Klein's cost one dollar and have served me very well.

 

[PhantomEB]

Kliein or biased me says ChannelLocks.

 

[TomB19]

Milwaukee 9"

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

 

[kctyphoon]

None of them are gonna give you a huge "night and day" difference, not really.. some will be more comfortable to use, and cut better, but none will really let you actually do more over another.

What separates the good from the bad will really be the hardness of the metal used, which is important for the cutters, and the longevity of the teeth. Other than that it will be the general machining of the tool, the smoothness of the joint, and the size and placement of the rivet. Smaller joints more closely placed to the "throat" of the jaw will result in more leverage and easier cutting. A little difference gives a big result with that respect.

If you are only going to be cutting copper wire, the cutters will be fine using some softer metal. Channellock is a good "happy medium" in that respect, they are not the "gold" standard of pliers.. if the USA thing and buying new are important, get the channellocks. the XLT versions provide the most leverage, but it's not necessary and regular high leverage versions will be cheaper. IMO, knipex are the best. Klein are good but they can take years to break in and be butter smooth at the joints. I'd make life easy on yourself and go channellock for this. They are not very expensive and are easy to find, also nice that you can find matching pliers at stores and find great deals on them on eBay..

The 9.5" is probably the most popular among electricians, but an 8" is ok too.. this would be my suggestion for you - kind of a middle ground IMO. $20 shipped on Amazon.

Channellock 369 9-1/2-Inch High Leverage Linesman Plier https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00004SBD6/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I can tell you just buy the pictures that the Allen and Wirepro will not be easy to cut with compared to the others. Look at the rivets, and how big and far away they are from the jaws compared to some others pics..

 

[Ign]

Subscribed. I need to order about 10 pair for my non-profit. I was gonna go w the Husky at $11.97 but if I could get US for a similar price.....

 

[Furd50]

I've been doing electrical work for most of my life and I doubt that I have used a pair of linesman's pliers more than a half dozen times.

Yes, most of my life. My mother would tell a story of how as a three-year old I would drag around a cord with an unguarded light bulb. Up and down stairs and across the concrete sidewalks and curbs, stopping periodically to plug it in and see if it still worked. It was a lie, the bulb DID have a wire cage around it and it was a 6 volt lamp that I connected to a "hot shot" battery. Being a low-voltage lamp it had a substantial filament.

 

[FlushingDIYer]

Do you need them to be new? If the renovations are any time away I'd keep my eyes open for a pair of Klein's at junk stores, etc. Then, if you haven't found a good used pair in that time go ahead and buy new Irwins or whatever else wags your tail. My Klein's cost one dollar and have served me very well.

Nah, doesn't have to be new. I was just thinking ahead! I was wondering if any of these were decent. I am keeping an eye out. There's a neighborhood flea market around here. But I never see anything good there. I also live less than a mile away from the Electrician's union so I think there's competition out there for $1 Kleins...

 

[sberry]

Regardless where those are made they are super cheap. I looked in an Ace Hwd the other day, 33$. Used ones are already worn. I need to replace all my stuff, 3 of everything. The stuff is so worn its becoming a problem and no matter what it cost new it doesn't matter, going to toss it.

 

[LXCam]

I gotta say that a couple years ago I bought some GW pliers and am very surprised at the quality. Myself, I'd only go with a set of Klein 9"rs but I think the GW stuff would be fine.

 

[FlushingDIYer]

None of them are gonna give you a huge "night and day" difference, not really.. some will be more comfortable to use, and cut better, but none will really let you actually do more over another.

What separates the good from the bad will really be the hardness of the metal used, which is important for the cutters, and the longevity of the teeth. Other than that it will be the general machining of the tool, the smoothness of the joint, and the size and placement of the rivet. Smaller joints more closely placed to the "throat" of the jaw will result in more leverage and easier cutting. A little difference gives a big result with that respect.

If you are only going to be cutting copper wire, the cutters will be fine using some softer metal. Channellock is a good "happy medium" in that respect, they are not the "gold" standard of pliers.. if the USA thing and buying new are important, get the channellocks, and get the XLT versions if you want the most leverage.. IMO, knipex are the best. Klein are good but they can take years to break in and be butter smooth at the joints. I'd make life easy on yourself and go channellock for this. They are not very expensive and are easy to find, also nice that you can find matching pliers at stores and find great deals on them on eBay..

Would you suggest something like the Channellock 369CRFT? I do have a soft spot in my heart for Meadville... But man, my budget!!!

Here in NYC, we use BK cable for everything so I definitely need something to cut that. I ruined whatever the hell I was using for my last two projects. And ended up using a pair of snips to cut cable, a crappy pair of strippers, and a crappy pair of needle nose pliers. (I know, I know, this was before I knew about this GJ...) Well, between the horrible cuts and then having to fix the sharp edges, it was just time consuming. I'd like to get something that'll make my life easier.

I watched some videos on those electrical installation pliers. They look really sweet if you ask me... But if my wife finds out I'm spending a nice night out on a pair of pliers, she'll be livid!

Are these really the proverbial "bees knees"??

Knipex vs Klein Multi Purpose Electrical Installation Pliers

 

[d.mcfarland]

Allen, out of the list you have. Channellock seem to fit the bill better though.

 

[sberry]

I use them every day. 8 are too small. I saw a sale deal on some "wimmin" size at a box store, clocks, too small and ruined them in a hurry.

 

[kctyphoon]

Would you suggest something like the Channellock 369CRFT? I do have a soft spot in my heart for Meadville... But man, my budget!!!

Here in NYC, we use BK cable for everything so I definitely need something to cut that. I ruined whatever the hell I was using for my last two projects. And ended up using a pair of snips to cut cable, a crappy pair of strippers, and a crappy pair of needle nose pliers. (I know, I know, this was before I knew about this GJ...) Well, between the horrible cuts and then having to fix the sharp edges, it was just time consuming. I'd like to get something that'll make my life easier.

I watched some videos on those electrical installation pliers. They look really sweet if you ask me... But if my wife finds out I'm spending a nice night out on a pair of pliers, she'll be livid!

Are these really the proverbial "bees knees"??

Knipex vs Klein Multi Purpose Electrical Installation Pliers

Re read my post.. I had edited it while you were responding I guess.. I'd have to assume they would be ok with BX cable.. it's a pretty soft jacket, but honestly I've never had to work with that here in jersey so I can only speculate. I had issues with channellock and stainless steel, but I think you'd be ok.

I have the XLT's among many others,. they are pretty good.. the 369 I posted should do well for you. I'm also not a fan of wide padded grips that come with some brands. The channellocks are nice, USA made, and a good middle ground. Just don't cut anything crazy with them, and you should be just fine.

I think if you go on the channellock site they show you why the joints are important, and how small and close the xlt rivets are to the jaws.. the difference between the xlts and high leverage are not very big at all.. a cheap plier will have a large joint, placed far away from the jaw throat. ( I have no idea if "throat" is the proper term, it's just what I write to try and explain things)

 

[alien]

IDEAL 35-6012 9-1/4" Side Cutting Linesman Pliers Look a lot like the Kliens I have been using for decades and they say USA made?

Out of your list that's what I would go with. I actually use the Klein 9NEHD2000 high leverage hardened cutting edge pliers at about 3X that price.

 

[FlushingDIYer]

Re re read my post.. I had edited it while you were responding I guess.. I'd have to assume they would be ok with BX cable.. it's a pretty soft jacket.. I had issues with channellock and stainless steel, but I think you'd be ok.

Thanks for the solid insight. Much appreciated kctyphoon. I think this is solid option.

 

[FlushingDIYer]

IDEAL 35-6012 9-1/4" Side Cutting Linesman Pliers Look a lot like the Kliens I have been using for decades and they say USA made?

Out of your list that's what I would go with. I actually use the Klein 9NEHD2000 high leverage hardened cutting edge pliers at about 3X that price.

Woah... you might be onto something, alien. I'm surprised that Cripe doesn't list these Ideals as USA. But the pricing would then seem to make sense...

IDEAL 35-6012

Klein9NEHD2000

 

[T45]

Unless you are reaming conduit and pulling fish tape, do you really need linesmans? If you keep an eye out on Knipex you can get good deals. These sets arre $60ish in europe, which is $20/tool...you really cannot beat that for cost or quality...and in the US the NE linesmans plier is about that much alone.

 

[Gmonkee]

If you can get five of ten of the 'golden standards' at or about ten bucks it's hardly Vegas odds to get a good one.

OP, your projected needs won't wear out dollar store junk so I suspect any good brand will be fine. A nice position to be playing from too.
Pretty hard to lose with any.

I have a big bronze pliers of this style for sparkproof tool areas. I have never had to even dig them out as other tools always did the job easily.

 

[kctyphoon]

Thanks for the solid insight. Much appreciated kctyphoon. I think this is solid option.

I replaced all my cheap pliers at home with channellock stuff last year I think. I have a small set at work too, but I like my Knipex stuff better for work. The cutters especially are better from Knipex since I use them a lot, and for things I probably shouldn't be using them for, so the channellock stuff at work is a secondary set. I've been very happy with them for my home tools. Not the absolute best, far from the worst, but a good and respected professional tool. I hit up eBay for a lot of them. I think for like 200 or 250 I created a pretty good set for general home and auto use..

Cheaper tools still work fine for me on most things, but one day I just kinda said "I'm 40 and still buying the cheapest stuff", so over like 3 weeks I bought better pliers for home. channellock is nice cause they are easy to find, and for not much more money it's much better than things like Husky, Koblat, and also made in the USA - which is nice since they cost about the same as some imports. You'll be happy with them.

You can probably line up a dozen different brands of lineman pliers, and most will look very similar to each in pictures.. not saying those ideals couldn't be rebranded, but it's tough with lineman pliers just comparing pictures..

 

[FlushingDIYer]

I replaced all my cheap pliers at home with channellock stuff last year I think. I have a small set at work too, but I like my Knipex stuff better for work. The cutters especially are better from Knipex since I use them a lot, and for things I probably shouldn't be using them for, so the channellock stuff at work is a secondary set. I've been very happy with them for my home tools. Not the absolute best, far from the worst, but a good and respected professional tool. I hit up eBay for a lot of them. I think for like 200 or 250 I created a pretty good set for general home and auto use..

Cheaper tools still work fine for me on most things, but one day I just kinda said "I'm 40 and still buying the cheapest stuff", so over like 3 weeks I bought better pliers for home. channellock is nice cause they are easy to find, and for not much more money it's much better than things like Husky, Koblat, and also made in the USA - which is nice since they cost about the same as some imports. You'll be happy with them.

I really appreciate this insight, kctyphoon... I have a nice set of Channellock pliers for all sorts of automotive and plumbing work. And they get used for just about everything. So I know the kind of quality you get with them.

I'm almost forty and don't want to use the cheapest stuff around anymore either. I don't do this work professionally so I can't justify Knipex stuff, but every year there are always one or two or three home remodelation projects I need to attend to (mine, my parents' or my brother's stuff) and a good tool makes stuff go faster.

 

[kctyphoon]

Some info on ideal - http://m.ewweb.com/bulletin-board/ideal-launches-plier-line-made-usa-marketing-push

 

[californiaHank]

Amazon is selling Channellock 368 pliers at $20; Home Depot's price is about $2 more.
You'd be getting a good US made product for about the price of a 12 pack of decent beer.
You can always find something that's a little worse for a little less money, but why bother?

 

[rick carpenter]

IDEAL 35-6012 9-1/4" Side Cutting Linesman Pliers Look a lot like the Kliens I have been using for decades and they say USA made?

Out of your list that's what I would go with. I actually use the Klein 9NEHD2000 high leverage hardened cutting edge pliers at about 3X that price.

Yah, same here. For something different, USA made, and at that low price I'd go with Ideal. They once had a good rep for electrical tools but you don't see much love for Ideal anymore.

 

[SantaAna12]

Sberry's post on 8 inch linemans being small is a good one.

IMO Klein 9 inch off ebay....you will not need the high leverage for most jobs.
A better value than those u listed.
In my experience, Klein 9s are a much better choice than Channellock 8s.

Spend a little more, get a better value.

Good luck.

 

[T45]

They once had a good rep for electrical tools but you don't see much love for Ideal anymore.

I'd be leery of ideal unless you have them in person. Based on what they did with the crimpers, they have dumbed them down over the years. The newer ones are not as good as the older ones. This is why I highly doubt that the linesmans are equal to klein.

How do you equal another company's product when you cannot even keep your own quality consistent (?)...this is also a common problem with made in USA tools....there are alot of USA-marked tools that are inferior today to the tools that earned the reputation of the tool. Craftsman is the obvious poster child, Irwin Vise grips, etc.... but I would say every brand has a couple products that they make worse today to cut costs.

The most expensive tools and worst deals are the tools you buy twice or never use....

 

[mikebaker1129]

I'd be leery of ideal unless you have them in person. Based on what they did with the crimpers, they have dumbed them down over the years. The newer ones are not as good as the older ones. This is why I highly doubt that the linesmans are equal to klein.

How do you equal another company's product when you cannot even keep your own quality consistent (?)...this is also a common problem with made in USA tools....there are alot of USA-marked tools that are inferior today to the tools that earned the reputation of the tool. Craftsman is the obvious poster child, Irwin Vise grips, etc.... but I would say every brand has a couple products that they make worse today to cut costs.

The most expensive tools and worst deals are the tools you buy twice or never use....

Well said! I have noticed this among a few brands Klein being one,that are not as good as the older ones were.
I would skip the wire pros,but I do have a few pairs of the diagonal cutters and they are awesome for the $8 a piece.
I would go for the ideals,but I use the dykes more often than the Kleinsmans pliers.

 

[shockwave]

Channel lock is really the best option for you being USA and priced

Knipex and vampliers and much better but priced a bit more too

 

[M6erfan]

I'll chime in with a vote for Channelock as well. For general homeowner use they should out last you, if used within their parameters and no abused.

I'll also add that I disagree a bit with 8" being "to small". I have 9.5" and 8.25" and find that I reach for the 8"'s way more. I find the 9"ers a bit cumbersome in most around the house situations.

And, like T45 posted above, do you really need linesmans? Out of all my pliers I honestly use linesmans the least, and that's with doing a fair bit of remodeling at our place...

 

[Robinson1]

Those wire pros are pretty much ****. I've got a set in my tool belt right now going on about a year and I'm ready to replace them. Now given I have cut a fair number of nails with them but the bulk of their use has been pulling staples and brads. I'm not impressed. Had a pair of Klein that were used when I bought them and they lasted for years until I finally cut a hot wire pulling down exterior lights that were according to the customer disconnected in the attic and haven't worked for years.

 

[skruft]

The ones I use now are two Klein and an antique Proto that is getting dull. I had an old Craftsman that was fine too. All the suggestions above seem good.

 

[sberry]

I just took a swing at some Masterforce at Menards for giggles. I bought a linemans and dykes, I am going to take them back. They are duller new than 2 pairs of china junk are from the retool store that been abused. I should have test cut a small nail with them in the store. I got a pair of Kobalt dykes a while back and they were super, very sharp, cut great.

 

[sberry]

I been following this thread, was going to save up a couple hundred and blanket replace my old stuff, mostly Klein, Diamond etc which are simply old and dull on the cutters.

 

[Ign]

Just got my 10 pair Wirepro pliers and 5 pair Wirepro dykes from Cripe!

edit: even after shipping it averaged out to $7.88 per piece (15 pieces total).

 

[48548]

[/QUOTE]

I like that. That is a nice sold set. Channel lock are growing on me as well...

 

[uncwstudent]

Have you thought about possibly buying vintage pliers off Ebay? I ordered a pair of H Boker and Co. Linesman's pliers and they are the best that I have ever held. They were $7 shipped and in great condition! It might be worth looking into and you can plastidip the handles if you prefer that.

 

[Schurkey]

I've been carrying a handful of Japanese lineman's pliers around in my toolbox since Regan's first term.

I've never used them. At this point, they look kind of beat-up, but it's all from storage not use.

I've never seen anyone use linesman's pliers. 'Course, being in the automotive end of things, I don't know a lot of linemen.

What am I missing? I get the side-cutting part. I own a few real sidecutters, and they work great. Don't need linesman's pliers for that. I get the gripping-pliers part. I own plenty of pliers. Don't need linesman's pliers to grip 'n' pull.

 

[SantaAna12]

#6 ground wire. That is the what and the why of them. And 9s are preferred.
If its just "around the house" 8s are fine, and I agree the Channellocks are your best bet.
Auto? Never used my 9s on cars. Maybe cutting screws and/or nails. Another application where 9s are preferred.
Whatever floats ur boat.