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

winlinmac · Sep 27, 2015

I've been thinking about Long Reach Pliers Sets lately, particularly Needle Nose and Duckbill. My work is mainly around the house and cars (DIY). Would a pair or set of Long Reach Pliers be useful in some of my applications?

I don't really have any brand preference since I'm not a professional in contractor work by any means, whats a good cheap decent set of Long Reach Pliers? (Includes Needle Nose & Duckbill)

Also, do they come in standard sizes as well? I only see variety standard pliers sets online, which only include one 8" Needlenose Plier.

thor80 · Sep 27, 2015

There's always harbor freight lol

mypov · Sep 27, 2015

I don't have any duck bill, but do have quite an assortment of long reach straight and angled, there was a deal on at one time from mac tools. Anyway, it will of course depend on the type of work you do... Don't often use them, but when I do - they are definitely required.

winlinmac · Sep 27, 2015

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

mypov said:
I don't have any duck bill, but do have quite an assortment of long reach straight and angled, there was a deal on at one time from mac tools. Anyway, it will of course depend on the type of work you do... Don't often use them, but when I do - they are definitely required.

winlinmac · Sep 27, 2015

Nay, they already had my fair share of business.

thor80 said:
There's always harbor freight lol

ATK305 · Sep 27, 2015

I have never needed them for specific automotive or motorcycle applications. I keep them around because I always drop things in the engine bay and they are good for retrieving nuts bolts and sockets where my hand wont fit.

Ponchoguy · Sep 27, 2015

I have them and I've collected them over the years. I was lucky to get a few USA made Craftsmans off Ebay and through yard sales whereby the person probably didn't realize what they could get for them. I can't think of when I specifically used them but think of it this way: The one time you use it, you'll be glad you had it. Some tools are like that.

3200fps · Sep 27, 2015

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.

lightning02 · Sep 27, 2015

I'm always looking for a set but they all seem to flex alot. I haven't checked out snap on one's yet tho.

franzdom · Sep 27, 2015

$(KGrHqQOKj!E1s026KBTBNcYfywz7g~~_12.JPG

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.

lightning02 · Sep 27, 2015

franzdom said:
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 a link? Also do the handles flex/bend alot?

3200fps · Sep 27, 2015

They all flex, even the Snap On ones (I have a pair of the extra long reach ones at work). Nothing wrong with that, I'd rather have them flex and reach into places. The other alternative would be very bulky if you want no flex and no one makes those.

franzdom · Sep 27, 2015

lightning02 said:
Have a link? Also do the handles flex/bend alot?

All I can say is they are top quality and they have a solid place among many Knipex, Snap-On, NWS in my pliers drawer.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...wk+pliers.TRS0&_nkw=blackhawk+pliers&_sacat=0

theoldwizard1 · Sep 27, 2015

thor80 said:
There's always harbor freight lol

Despite all the **** everyone give HF, this set is one of the the thing I DID buy there !

View media item 42750
Are these "must have" ? NO ! I lived a long time without them. "Nice to have" ? Definitely. The HF ones do seem to oxidize pretty quick (my tools are in an un-heated garage) so keep them oiled. (Fluid Film ?)

winlinmac · Sep 27, 2015

Spot on, I've had instances like that as well. :rocker:

Ponchoguy said:
I have them and I've collected them over the years. I was lucky to get a few USA made Craftsmans off Ebay and through yard sales whereby the person probably didn't realize what they could get for them. I can't think of when I specifically used them but think of it this way: The one time you use it, you'll be glad you had it. Some tools are like that.

winlinmac · Sep 27, 2015

This is one of those cheap tools from HF that tend to definitely oxidize pretty quickly, not everything in HF oxidizes quick though. My old Channel-locks oxidize as well. Recently, I used evapo-rust to get rid of most of the rust, and placed silicon packets in each drawer, seems to help a lot.

How's the ATD-Tool 4-Piece Set?
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A7EQFNU/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Not sure about Neiko's warranty but came across this as well,
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001DCSVDW/?tag=atomicindus08-20

theoldwizard1 said:
Despite all the **** everyone give HF, this set is one of the the thing I DID buy there !

View media item 42750
Are these "must have" ? NO ! I lived a long time without them. "Nice to have" ? Definitely. The HF ones do seem to oxidize pretty quick (my tools are in an un-heated garage) so keep them oiled. (Fluid Film ?)

928'er · Sep 27, 2015

Have a set of cheap "Oly-Pro" chicom ones I bought at Costco years ago. Use them ALL the time. Especially for auto work.

Just sprang for the Proto set. Thanks for the link.

ShadowRuleZ · Sep 27, 2015

It's one of those things that you'll gladly pay double for when you do need it. I got a set of yellow Protos from the hot deals thread a while back and the Crescent X version during some Sears sale.

winlinmac · Sep 27, 2015

I need to keep an eye out on the Hot Deals Thread, thanks.

ShadowRuleZ said:
It's one of those things that you'll gladly pay double for when you do need it. I got a set of yellow Protos from the hot deals thread a while back and the Crescent X version during some Sears sale.

Does Costco still stock a set?

928'er said:
Have a set of cheap ones I bought at Costco years ago. Use them ALL the time. Especially for auto work.

Just sprang for the Proto set. Thanks for the link.

2oolhound · Sep 27, 2015

We need to clarify what is "long"
I have what I think is long at 9" - 10" or so and then I have longer at 12" but I know they make 16" and I've seen those double helix ones that are also at least 16" but they could be even longer.

winlinmac · Sep 27, 2015

I was looking at something in the range between 11"-inches and 16"-inches. Though, as you mentioned, some pliers could be even longer.

2oolhound said:
We need to clarify what is "long"
I have what I think is long at 9" - 10" or so and then I have longer at 12" but I know they make 16" and I've seen those double helix ones that are also at least 16" but they could be even longer.

oldldh · Sep 27, 2015

How about three pairs for $ 28.26???

Tekton #3490, 3491, and 3492...

From Amazon...

GearWrench makes the double X pliers, GW# 82005, for $ 22.61, again from Amazon...

If occasional use is the plan, the three Tekton pliers would do...

Good folks, too...

928'er · Sep 27, 2015

winlinmac said:
Does Costco still stock a set?

No, it was one of those things that Costco stocks once and then you never see again (like the "real" (Sheffield) Record vise and the Jet drill press that I also got at Costco).

winlinmac · Sep 27, 2015

Lots of positive feedback on Tekton
I never had to warranty anything with GearWrench before, but how's their warranty compared to Tekton?

Costco needs to restock, they don't know their members well

They used to stock a decent mechanics tool set for the average DIY; as well as an aluminium floor jack for less than $100.

gaston9mm · Sep 27, 2015

I have a few huskies from home depot I bought on sale. I never realized how much I would use them.

dodge610 · Sep 27, 2015

My rule of thumb is just about the time you say I do not need those. Bam shortly you will be saying sure wish these pliers were just a little longer. As mentioned before once you have them you will wonder how did I ever do without them.

2oolhound · Sep 27, 2015

I bought a cheap set at Canadian Tire (off shore, they don't actually make tools) and they twist when you put too much pressure on them so they let me down. Since then I've scored some used snap-on and older mac that are more rigid around the pivot pin.

lightning02 · Sep 27, 2015

I wouldnt buy the tekton ones. Heard there not thay great. Better off with ones in thr ebay link.

franzdom · Sep 27, 2015

The Blackhawk/Proto ones are USA also. I have found the bent perfect for the air filter clips on my e46. I also have used them for otherwise impossible to reach vacuum hoses.

lightning02 · Sep 27, 2015

Yea I think I'm going to buy those tonight.

PavelK313 · Sep 27, 2015

Does knipex makes those?

FMC1959 · Sep 27, 2015

Check the " Mac Tools Closeouts! Some killer deals" in the Hot Deals section, they had some long reach & duckbill for $5.

jn50308401 · Sep 27, 2015

Ling reach pliers are not live with out itdms, but I love having them for odd jobs at the house and for cars. The long reach side cutters are my favorite tools they cut just about anything !

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

Sam'sAutoParts · Sep 27, 2015

I never owned a pair before this week, wished I had a pair several times. I have been wrenching for about 6 years as part of my job, before that I did DIY stuff for about 10 years.

I picked up a gear wrench pair at advance and used my speed parks so they ended up only costing me like $2

One tool I should have bought years ago!

mrvm · Sep 27, 2015

Got 2 long reach CM made in France from many years ago that are in mint condition because of the lack of any "heavy-duty" use. Great to have on hand when something drops in the engine bay but lately the angle-tipped one has been super for retrieving some dead stink bugs in the narrow angled space between the dash vents and the base of the windshield.

johndeereman · Sep 27, 2015

another vote for when you need them YOU NEED THEM. I have a set of the GEARWRENCH double x long reach so far they have been good.

franzdom · Sep 27, 2015

that IS one weird question mark!

winlinmac · Sep 27, 2015

Haha, oops, I meant

To keep it consistent, I selected the default option to be No icon from now on. :thumbup:

Now tool-collecting-101 is definitely a appropriate tag for this thread.

I need to check the Hot Deals section more often. Thanks

franzdom said:
that IS one weird question mark!

LXCam · Sep 27, 2015

Well I know there's exceptions with the double action Cresents being one of them. But I'm under the impression that every single cheap set is all made by the same company. Every detail for the most part is typical except for color choice. Here's my collection of junkers, but they come in handy when needed so I gots noooo complaints for what I paid.

My apologies for the wall art, I rotated them in PB but it's still vertical for some darn reason.

RedneckWelder · Sep 27, 2015

The double jointed crescent/gearwrench ones come in handy for me. They **** for gripping strength of course but they are lifesavers sometimes.

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

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