Just because they’re made in USA....

[McFarmer]

doesn’t mean they are quality.

Got these Witco pliers from an Epstein day deal, good price and can always use a set of pliers on the farm.

Half way down a mile fence row and they start hanging up, not easily closed. Nearly new.



Slip joint is hollowed out on the top side, binding the bolt going through. I’m a huuuuge buy USA guy and was disappointed. They don’t show up in Epstein's offering and I couldn’t find the company on line. Must not be in business anymore.

Anyway, if you run across them I’d keep my money in my pocket.

 

[vssjim]

Witco is Wilde Co.
https://www.wildetool.com/product-category/pliers/

 

[65k10]

I bought some older production Wilde pliers from HJE a while back. They did not seem to be as well made (rougher) compared to new production Wilde pliers which have been decent in my experience.

 

[Wamsutta]

People are going to look at this thread and think never buy Wilde pliers.

 

[McFarmer]

People are going to look at this thread and think never buy Wilde pliers.

I don’t think there is a connection. I’ve got Wilde pliers and these bear no resemblance.

 

[paulsomlo]

People are going to look at this thread and think never buy Wilde pliers.

Yep, and that would be a shame - could be a bad one got through. Go back to either Epstein's or Wilde, see if they'll make it right.

 

[sk farmer]

I don’t think there is a connection. I’ve got Wilde pliers and these bear no resemblance.

well then you would be wrong. witco stands for "wi"lde "t"ool "co". wi-t-co.

those are old, old pliers. wilde has not had chrome pliers for a long, long, time. while they may not look like it they are from the same company.

one of the giveaways as well is the small grip area towards the front and the larger one closer to the rear.

 

[B_Bimmer]

I have many of those that have been around for ages and work fine as far as basic slip joint pliers go. You got a bad pair, move on. As a side note, no farmer would use slip joint pliers for fencing.

 

[Jland]

Craftsman fence tool is the ****!! IMO.. as for this thread.. even snap on breaks.. .

 

[seber]

Fencing with slip joint? No slip joint will stand up to that. There are special tool made for the purpose. https://www.amazon.com/Fence-Pliers/s?k=Fence+Pliers Notice the size of the pivot on all of these. There is a reason they are made that way.

 

[exmaxima1]

I have many of those that have been around for ages and work fine as far as basic slip joint pliers go. You got a bad pair, move on. As a side note, no farmer would use slip joint pliers for fencing.

I would add that nobody uses basic slip joint pliers anymore when there are so many better types now available.

 

[lardy1]

I use slip joint pliers quite a bit. Wilde slip joint pliers. No problems at all. Better than the old Craftsman in the drawer beside them.

 

[Wamsutta]

I don’t think there is a connection. I’ve got Wilde pliers and these bear no resemblance.

I have two pair of Wilde pliers that I got when NAPA was clearing out their NAPA branded tools. 10 inch slip joint pliers. I think they're awesome.

 

[nh_yota]

I would add that nobody uses basic slip joint pliers anymore when there are so many better types now available.

I use them to pick up hot pieces of metal.

 

[laser3kw]

I would add that nobody uses basic slip joint pliers anymore when there are so many better types now available.

I know.... but for some reason they feel so comfortable to use.
I have a draw full of other styles and will instinctively dig out my hog nose to use.

 

[measuredtwice]

Buy the Wilde USA slip joint pliers instead of the cheap Witco pliers that are being liquidated.

I’m a huuuuge buy USA guy and was disappointed.

Then why use the anti-American mantra chanted by those pushing imports??? You even spread it across the title and body for effect.

Re: Just because they’re made in USA....

doesn’t mean they are quality.

A more reasonable title would be “Witco slip joint pliers slipped up”… or maybe even “The cheapo Witco slip joint pliers that are being liquidated aren’t very good which was probably already obvious to everyone else but the OP”.

You made this about America. It didn't have to be.

 

[McFarmer]

Buy the Wilde USA slip joint pliers instead of the cheap Witco pliers that are being liquidated.

I do, I have many. I threw these in to support HJE because I’ve never heard of them.


Then why use the anti-American mantra chanted by those pushing imports??? You even spread it across the title and body for effect.

Because it’s true ?




A more reasonable title would be “Witco slip joint pliers slipped up”… or maybe even “The cheapo Witco slip joint pliers that are being liquidated aren’t very good which was probably already obvious to everyone else but the OP”.

I guess what’s obvious to some isn’t to others. That however, is obvious.

You made this about America. It didn't have to be.

It’s about only paying attention to COO. I really doubt there is a more fervent buyer of USA products than I.

Well I learned more than one thing today. One is that Witco is evidently the old Wilde. Thanks to those who politely pointed out my ignorance.

I need to offer Wilde an apology, like I said I never would have dreamed these were made by them, evidently in an earlier era. I hope no one judges the current offering by my assessment of these. These should have been trashed. I got them a few years ago from HJE like I said to throw on an HJE day order, never heard of them. When they arrived I could tell they were lower quality and I threw them behind the seat to be used if needed. Yesterday I used them. My assessment was correct, at least related to this example.

As to not using slip joint pliers for fencing. I’ve been fencing since I was old enough to keep up to dad and I’m 66 years old. There’s never been one of those “fencing” tools on the farm. One tool trying to do the job of many just never works out from what I’ve seen. I have a bucket with staple puller, hammer and pliers. If they work for you fine, I’ve never seen anyone use one.

 

[Taco Truck]

Then why use the anti-American mantra chanted by those pushing imports??? You even spread it across the title and body for effect.

Did we read the same title?

As to not using slip joint pliers for fencing. I’ve been fencing since I was old enough to keep up to dad and I’m 66 years old. There’s never been one of those “fencing” tools on the farm. One tool trying to do the job of many just never works out from what I’ve seen. I have a bucket with staple puller, hammer and pliers. If they work for you fine, I’ve never seen anyone use one.

You're not acting like US made tools are God's gift to man, so you must not be a real farmer. Some people, man.

 

[visionguru]

...
Then why use the anti-American mantra chanted by those pushing imports??? You even spread it across the title and body for effect.
...

 

[Ton ton]

I agree with measuredtwice.

 

[velocipede]

Begs the question if you are a tool manufacturer. Do you dump inferior products on the market if they can still be attributed to your company? You have to think through the possible short term gain versus the future damage to your name and loss in sales if you are branded by those bad tools.

 

[McFarmer]

Begs the question if you are a tool manufacturer. Do you dump inferior products on the market if they can still be attributed to your company? You have to think through the possible short term gain versus the future damage to your name and loss in sales if you are branded by those bad tools.

Good point.

Just supposition on my part but if these are an early Wilde product they evidently made the decision not to compete on price but rather to compete on the basis of quality.

Good choice on their part.

 

[measuredtwice]

Begs the question if you are a tool manufacturer. Do you dump inferior products on the market if they can still be attributed to your company? You have to think through the possible short term gain versus the future damage to your name and loss in sales if you are branded by those bad tools.

Actually, the Witco line was a inexpensive line created in the 1970s to compete with the flood of cheap imports. It was a separate line but brand separation doesn't work perfectly. In particular, sellers like to link budget and premium brands when it helps sell the budget brand.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

witco stands for "wi"lde "t"ool "co". wi-t-co.

those are old, old pliers. wilde has not had chrome pliers for a long, long, time. while they may not look like it they are from the same company.

X2. My school had Witco hand tools when I was in 8th grade metal shop...

Tommy