Channellock Explosion!
- Thread starter John in OH
- Start date
For those curious, the Channellock 927 snap ring pliers are the same as Wilde #1434. Down to the Patent Number. I went with the Channellocks, they were $23.99 versus the Wilde labeled ones at $24.99.
I like to buy Wilde stuff as they're made a relatively close to me. The blue versus the red handles make little difference, I have the Wilde flush slip-joint pliers and the Channellock welpers. It would be cool to have a matching set, but I'll just settle for quality tools, at this point.
I like to buy Wilde stuff as they're made a relatively close to me. The blue versus the red handles make little difference, I have the Wilde flush slip-joint pliers and the Channellock welpers. It would be cool to have a matching set, but I'll just settle for quality tools, at this point.
kctyphoon
Banned
I've never seen a Wilde product for sale anywhere......
anndel
Well-known member
Absolutely! I think only a bunch of us here on GJ care about something being made in USA but for the rest of the USA, they don't that's why harbor Freight and Wal-Mart continue to flourish. I think the bunch of us will not help the bottom line of any company to stay competitive.
Brownsfan
Well-known member
ChannelLock putting their name on oversea's products is nothing new.. I've had their ratcheting wrenches for a few years.. There are identical to the HF Pittsburg..
Can we be honest here though, typically you are not "paying more" or "stepping up" to buy Channellock pliers.. They are usually cheaper than Milwaukee and some of Dewalts hand tools. What are you comparing them to? i I've bought 8" cutters on sale at Sears for $13.. I've bought much of my newer stuff off eBay or Amazon for less than other brand name overseas stuff.. They are not expensive.
I see you have the Milwaukee crimper they sell at home depot. Have you had a chance to use it much yet? I needed a crimper in a pinch and bought a set. I have a set of older previous generation diagonals and they were out of the standard Klein 1005 that I usually use(I lost my set and was on the road). I bought them and returned them and got the Klein the next day. I thought they would be decent because my diagonals were actually really good cutters. These SUCKED as cutters. Maybe I got a bad set but they couldn't cut basis soft stranded wire for ****. The grips were very nice though. I should have just went to Lowe's and got the new Ideal crimper they just started selling but had a HD gift card
kctyphoon
Banned
I have to be honest and say that the previous set of Milwaukee diagonals, (red and black handles) are pretty horrible.. I have all 3 sizes and none of them are really good. How they actually made it to production is beyond me. The new style is a big improvement (all red handles), but there are better options. The grips are great, I believe they might have went with a cutter/anvil design similar to ChannelLock on the diagonals. For home use they are perfectly fine, but for me the handles and grips make them impossible to fit into the lineman pouches I use at work.
I have used the crimpers a few times. They work Ok. Again, I have to admit the ChannelLock set I have (or Kleins that I've held) are a much better quality tool. You can instantly feel how much heavier the professional brands are - but they basically work and produce the same results.. I think I read somewhere that the Milwaukee were designed to be lighter, which may or may not be true. The weight of the others is a bit excessive for what they need to do, but they are pretty indestructible.. The Milwaukee stuff works just fine, the lineman pliers are really well made,the fencing pliers are heavy and solid, the filter pliers are almost identical to Channellocks, but the ChannelLock Crimpers, do feel like a more professional tool when you pick them up.
I have used the crimpers a few times. They work Ok. Again, I have to admit the ChannelLock set I have (or Kleins that I've held) are a much better quality tool. You can instantly feel how much heavier the professional brands are - but they basically work and produce the same results.. I think I read somewhere that the Milwaukee were designed to be lighter, which may or may not be true. The weight of the others is a bit excessive for what they need to do, but they are pretty indestructible.. The Milwaukee stuff works just fine, the lineman pliers are really well made,the fencing pliers are heavy and solid, the filter pliers are almost identical to Channellocks, but the ChannelLock Crimpers, do feel like a more professional tool when you pick them up.
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Brownsfan
Well-known member
The red and black handle cutters like I said we're OK. They cut pretty good. Just not at the tips. That's why I really don't use them. The nose design wasn't well thought out. Example was cutting a zip tie off of a wire bundle. It was impossible almost. Cutting wire was pretty good. But I use my wire cutters for many uses so they were not practical so I sold them off. I have just stuck with the tried and true Klein and Knipex. Nothing against Milwaukee but like you said there are better for the same or less money. Klein crimper at home depot is like 29.99 and the Milwaukee was like $2 less. I was going to buy the Klein and ultimately did after I returned the Milwaukee. That's what is so good about this forum. You actually get to hear real world experience from guys doing the same or similar jobs. I would have never known about tools like Williams screwdrivers and Wilde Pro America pliers.
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kctyphoon
Banned
I basically own almost every popular brand of diagonal cutters discussed on here. They are my most used tool for what I do, and I got tired of the everyone saying how this brand was the best - so I decided to try most of them. Honestly, the old Milwaukee's really are not impressive if you line them up and use them next to 10 other pairs.. That's a bit hard for me to admit cause I do like Milwaukee products. For basic home stuff, they are fine, their not having an actual tip is a problem.. The ChannelLocks are much better, but the cutting edge don't like hard material despite them being rated for it. I had a brand new set of them wear down in just 2 hours of use at work. I was shocked.. For pro cutters I like my 8" Knipex, and I'm going to buy the similar NWS when I get a chance. For a cheaper set, the Crescent compound cutters are ******* amazing in my book, they have the best jaw design and stood up to everything I threw at them. They are not a life long tool, the spring for the handles break, but at $9 a set if you find them on sale, I don't care.. Dewalt makes a similar set to the Crescent - they are WORLDS apart ..
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Brownsfan
Well-known member
I couldn't agree more on those crescent cutters. I got them for cheap as well but even at $15 they are worth it. I use mine all the time. I don't cut much in the way of hard material but when I do its either Klein 2000 series or Knipex mini bolt cutters. I do have some Channellock cutters but have only cut stranded wire with them. My favorites are the Klein 2000 series. I have beat the snot out of them
bfm336
Well-known member
Even if my candidate is the consensus to "lose," I will still vote for my candidate.
Likewise, I vote with my wallet on what I buy and where. I also make sure to encourage tool companies at every turn for making USA stuff. Someone(s) must have made enough of a stink for Dewalt to start assembling in the USA.
A local farm and ranch store has a varied selection. They carry pliers, of all kinds and the prybars.
I've got three Wilde products, but only one labeled Wilde:
Craftsman pry bar set (only difference is the paper in the packaging and the label in the handle, got it for $20, at Sears:
Wilde Flush nut pliers (not the Channellock welpers, as far as I know):
Then, the snap ring pliers, pictured earlier, I got the Channellock labeled ones.
So, what are the best diagonal cutter available, and what are the best when money is considered? I need a good pair.
kctyphoon
Banned
If you can hold out, the 8" Knipex when they go on sale at Sears. The kleins I have are a close second, but the jaws skip when you apply pressure. The joint is just a little too loose. I went back to HD and tried 4 more pair, and they were all like that. That might have been addressed - but it's a common thing to happen.
My Knipex get used - HARD - and they are worth every penny if you just want to buy one set. If you can find a set of Kleins without any play in the joint they would be great, but you will need to buy their heavy duty cutters to get something rated to cut items as hard as what the Knipex is rated for.. I've never seen Klein's on sale though
The new ChannelLocks are the E338. That's what pictured in my drawer. They discontinued the 338. They made the handles longer, the jaws are different, and the rivet is closer to the jaw to improved leverage, but it sacrafices a lot of jaw opening to achieve that. Despite what ALOT of people on here might tell you, there is NO difference between what any ChannelLock model diagonal cutter is rated to cut. All the steel and hardness is identical between every style. The only difference between the various models are the length and the joint style used.
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kctyphoon
Banned
Yes. That's actually the same ad I got mine from. Amazon says I purchased them April 20th 2015
I have those, the 10" set (stick with the 8"), the lineman pliers with crimper, the 10" alligators pliers, and the mini bolt cutters. They aren't cheap, but they are worth it.
IMO it's not like buying sockets. The hand tools have moving parts and the designs are very different between brands.
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Really worth the $10 more than the Channellocks? I can get three pairs of the Channellocks for the same price of two pairs of the Knipex.
Brownsfan
Well-known member
In a word yes. I have both and the Knipex are much better. Toss up between these and the my Klein set
kctyphoon
Banned
Wait...Snap On at Sam's club?
Snap on whores it's name out to made in China products, mostly allied tools I think, in an effort to make quick money by luring the public in with their logo. It's called a snap on "licensed" product
Costco sells snap on branded LED lights, that are pretty amazing regardless - but the snap on die hards get insulted that their premium name winds up on stuff us common folk purchase without having to make weekly payments on to afford them.. It's a cheapening of the Brandon their eyes....
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kctyphoon
Banned
Yes
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=219402&highlight=Channellock
I can't find the ChannelLock fan thread.. I think I had pics posted of of happen to my cutters just from stainless steel hose style clamps..
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Mustang1167
Well-known member
Wait...Snap On at Sam's club?
I was referring to the cheap flashlights with the logo on the side. There may have been other examples throughout the years.
Thanks, can find them lurking all over eBay now 
Gotta' visit a Do-it-Best Hardware store once of these days
Gotta' visit a Do-it-Best Hardware store once of these days
outdoorspace
Banned
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2014
- Messages
- 356
I personally feel that Knipex is largely overrated in certain categories but cutters are not one of them. The tolerances on the joints are tight enough that the pliers come from the factory with smooth operation but without introducing enough play that would cause the jaws to become misaligned after serious use. Channellock and Klein pliers often need to be broken in, changing how the jaws mate, which leads to premature failure of the cutting edges.
Cutting tools aren't something you should cheap out on.
Brownsfan
Well-known member
I agree. And one example where they don't Excel is long nose pliers. Klein is my favorite in this category. There is no best pliers company top to bottom. You have to pick and choose from them. Cutters Knipex and Klein. Long nose Klein and Snap on. Slip joints. Well that's a matter of preference and application. Lineman. Klein and Knipex. These are just my opinions. There are other less known companies like Wilde and Pro America that make some fantastic products for a good price. Then there are hidden gems like Crescent compound action cutters. They are like $9 on sale and they are awesome for the money.
metaldad
Well-known member
channellock and diamond, for pliers.