Channellock 420's are really good pliers. It's probably been about 15 years now, but Channellock changed the design and made them thicker. I don't care for the new style, but since you've never used the old style, you wouldn't know what you're missing. Same with the Cobra's. If you've never used them, you'd think the 420's were great, which they are, just not as great as Cobra's or the old style 420's.
Well thanks for the help. I’d sure save myself a lot of money by going with a set of 420s. And for home use that’s realistically probably all I “need”. I don’t mind spending the money on the Knipex Cobras and Plier Wrenches, but it is something to consider I guess.
All I use around the house are 420's and occasionally 430's. I use Cobra's at work, but am too cheap to buy any for home use. That's what my old Channellocks are for.
The 420 does grip down, not as well as Cobra's, but anyone with a decent amount of hand strength can crank on them without any slippage. They aren't intended to be used in the place of a pipe wrench anyway. I used 420's exclusively for about 15 years. I did make the change to Cobra's, but it was more about the fact that I can adjust them and they stay that way until I decide to change the setting.
Disagree there. It is a phenomenal tool that in my experience has proven superior to a "correct" sized open end wrench for tie rod adjustments and any plumbing work that has flats on the fittings. The smooth jaws don't tear up the finish of chrome finished plumbing fixtures like a pipe wrench. It is also an outstanding tool for sheet metal bending and shaping.
I'll pass. Some day I might actually use it and discover that it's as fantastic as everyone on GJ says. Just because I haven't found a use for it in three years doesn't mean I won't. As far as the OP is concerned, he's an average Joe homeowner. He's been getting by with Harbor Freight tools, so anything will be an upgrade.
Their comfort grips are excellent and I go with them whenever it’s available on the particular pair, can understand the slimness but that also means it’s a little harder to put a lot of force on them since they dig into your hands more
Thanks for the feedback. I really do love this forum - it is very helpful. That said, you could really drive yourself nuts by listening to every opinion. You'd change your list of tools every 5 minutes haha. At some point you do have to just pull the trigger and realize this isn't the last time you will purchase tools. I still think my original list provides a good "base" and I can easily add more to it any time I want.
Where did you get the pliers rack? Pretty coolKnipex & Channellock are my go to brands. I do have quite a few Craftsman USA made pliers by Western Forge which are very nice as well.
Agree. I'm not really a SO fanboy but their Talon Grip 8" needle nose are outstanding. The talon grip serration pattern give you excellent grip in all different angles, the grips are tough yet not hard plastic like other pliers, the beveled tips give you access into some tight/confined locations. I would eliminate one of the other pliers from your list if budget is a concern. (IMHO the Klein 203-8 come in at #2 and Doyle/Tekton at #3, Channelock is #4)
Good call. I had my head up my rear once and accidentally bought a set with the stripping hole and crimping die once at the supply house. The stripper is only a #12, and with the hole right in the center of the cutter, makes it a pain to actually cut. The handles aren't long enough to get enough leverage to crimp the #10 and #12 crimp sleeves consistently. Sure, they will work for a splice or two, just like they will work to strip a wire or two. Nothing will take the place of real strippers and real crimpers.
The head of the dykes you want is cut at an angle. The dykes in question have a "bend" in the handle. I have that style also and use them exclusively when I am doing residential wiring. The bent handle acts as a fulcrum for pulling staples out. Other than that, I haven't found a use for the bend and go back to my regular dykes when doing commercial and or service work. The angled handles make them take up more room in my tool pouch and feel funny if I put them in my pocket.
That's a good start. I shouldn't have talked down about the pliers wrench. Just because I haven't used mine, doesn't mean it's not a useful tool.
It looks similar to mine. It might be a real pliers rack though. Mine are made from dish drainers that I bough at Walmart and cut the bottoms out of. The regular pliers racks that are sold at Harbor Freight, etc. are too tall for the drawer I keep pliers in. The dish drainer is low enough that I can fit up to Channellock 430's and close the drawer.
I spy Speed Grips! How do you like them? I swear, I pick them up to hold them every time I'm in the store - but I'm still on the fence whether I should bring them home. Those grips just feel funny to me - I wish they were wide in the opposite plane.Knipex & Channellock are my go to brands. I do have quite a few Craftsman USA made pliers by Western Forge which are very nice as well.
We have a surprisingly-similar selection - though not always in the same brands. Where the heck did you find the bent-nose Channellocks?? I haven't seen those before and I NEED them.Thanks I went to Home Depot and got the Klein Needle Nose and Diagonal Cutters you recommended. The jaws on the Klein were a lot more precise and looked to have better fitment. I do really like the Channellock feel though! The different colored handles on Klein bugs my OCD haha. I like the blue handles of Channellock but I know that doesn’t mean anything haha.
Angled side cutters are nice. I'd go that route if I were you. Gives you some space for your fingers if you're cutting up next to something.
Actually channellock has those blue handles patented. It does mean something.
Southwire has a few USA-made pliers. I believe Pro-America is the OEM for those. They look a lot alike anyway.^ Wow! It only took 105 posts for somebody to mention Wilde, who actually produces a better product, although at a slightly higher cost than their largest competitor.
For small stuff, ProAmerica does pretty good, although they're fairly spendy. The larger stuff (groove joints, slip-joints) you're better off going with Wilde.
When I bought my Indestro linemans pliers over 50 years ago, I was informed they were not designed for cutting nails. I generally try to follow that advice, and I'm still using them today. That's what they make bolt cutters for. If you want to cut nails, you use something like this
and keep those nice sharp edges on your expensive pliers.
YMMV
Did you cut the teeth in? I wish more companies made needle nose pliers with a section for grabbing round stock, etc. Those look fantastic, BTW.@sparky 1971 @CC268
My most used 203’s are a pair I customized.
It Klein made this profile, I feel it would move extremely well.
Both pin gripping slots have saved a tremendous amount of headache.
Regarding the 12awg hole, while i rarely use these to strip, I've used them so long I would miss it if it was gone. Angled they will do 14 as well. It gets used as a thread chaser too. And works great pulling small nails.
Sometimes modified tools work the best.
View attachment 1619762
You use yours for more than I do. I always have them on or near me, but for me job #1 is blowing out the knockout holes in boxes, both metal and plastic. #2 grabbing wires that I can't get my fat fingers on. #3 cutting wire when I drop my dykes and or strippers, if it's romex, the stripping hole makes it a ***** to cut, have to go through it like they are scissors. It's been a long time since I had the pair with the strippers, but I think the skinning hole was more in the center of the cutter. Your pair looks like it's more towards the front, maybe romex would actually fit behind the hole and it could cut with one whack. It's very rare that I use them in the traditional sense of holding and grabbing smaller items. I am going to give you props on the machining though, that's bad assery right there. The profile of the teeth looks similar to my now discontinued Channellock 5410's which I use a lot when doing commercial work.@sparky 1971 @CC268
My most used 203’s are a pair I customized.
If Klein made this profile, I feel it would move extremely well.
Both pin gripping slots have saved a tremendous amount of headache.
Regarding the 12awg hole, while i rarely use these to strip, I've used them so long I would miss it if it was gone. Angled they will do 14 as well. It gets used as a thread chaser too. And works great pulling small nails.
Sometimes modified tools work the best.
View attachment 1619762
Bubba Fett said:
