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Any pliers set recommendations?

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thais0n

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Jan 17, 2014
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Well, my HF pliers are finally crapping out, so I am looking for a new set. I really have my eye on the Channellock set below - only 5 pieces, but really its all that I need (at least for now).

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D8WR9Q0/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Seeing if you guys have any recommendations. This set is $89 and I want to keep it around or less than $100. My life/job doesnt depend on these, but I also like the quality and made in USA! I was looking at Irwin - they have some nice sets, but really wish they were made in USA.

Any other recommendations? Sometimes I see tool recommendations here for brands I have never even heard of!

Thanks in advance
 
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drtyler

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I've had pretty good luck with Craftsman pliers. Most are made in the USA by Western Forge, and the prices are pretty good too.

thais0n said:
Well, my HF pliers are finally crapping out, so I am looking for a new set. I really have my eye on the Channellock set below - only 5 pieces, but really its all that I need (at least for now).

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D8WR9Q0/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Seeing if you guys have any recommendations. This set is $89 and I want to keep it around or less than $100. My life/job doesnt depend on these, but I also like the quality and made in USA! I was looking at Irwin - they have some nice sets, but really wish they were made in USA.

Any other recommendations? Sometimes I see tool recommendations here for brands I have never even heard of!

Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
 
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Jeremy77

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Craftsman or Channellock are both made in the U.S., competitively priced and should give you many years of solid use. Personally I'd go with the CLs but others may disagree.
 
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Wizzard

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Knipex for top-notch quality. If you want CL I'd stop by both your local Lowes and Home Depot and piece together what you need and it would be about the same price as the set. HD has a bigger selection than Lowes, but my HD didn't carry the V-Jaw version (which I prefer for gripping round tube) Channel Locks which Lowes did...that is why I suggest stopping into both if feasible. HD also sells the Channel Lock Grip-Lock 2 pack for $25 which is a nice addition.
 
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vintage nut

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I love Klein linesmans, but the set I bought last year isn't as nicely made as my dad's 20 year old ones. I don't think their worth the extra over channelock anymore.

you can never have too many tools
 
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thais0n

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I do like how CL's are available at the big box stores - even WalMart carries a few. This is nice if i need to add to my set.

Its funny how Craftsman didnt even pop into my head - heard so much about their declining quality that I already wrote them off. I think you guys are confirming my decision for the CLs!

Usually I am not into buying sets, but the one I posted has everything I would buy individually to start.
 
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Jeremy77

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Unless you specifically need those water pump pliers in the photo that you posted, I'd opt for the traditional (430 I think) type pliers. I've found them to be more versatile than the WP style. Knipex are great pliers but you pay a premium price for them. It'd be hard for me personally to justify the price of a set of them for ocassional home use. The CLs will last you a lifetime. I'm 38 and still have and use a pair I had as a kid.
 
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Davefr

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Don't buy a set. Buy these 3 and you can do 99%.

Snap On 196 NCF

Knipex Cobra

Klein Dikes
 
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zakmartin

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Just so you know they're out there, get on Amazon and check out the set made by Martin. They're USA and make some top-notch stuff (particularly their autobody tools and pliers).
 
OP
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thais0n

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upgrading said:
Has there been a (major) price increase on these ?
I am not so sure they are a good deal anymore.


OP keep in mind the 4 piece Channellock set that HD sells.
Click to expand...


Completely forgot about that 4-piece set at HD. We moved recently and Lowes in MUCH closer so I almost never go to HD, but I do have a small gift card there. Might be a good use and pickup a few extra pieces to round out the set.
 
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zkling

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Davefr said:
Don't buy a set. Buy these 3 and you can do 99%.

Snap On 196 NCF

Knipex Cobra

Klein Dikes
Click to expand...

Agreed, although I might seriously consider swapping the dikes/diag cutters for a pair of knipex mini bolt cutters. Depending on how much and what type of wire you tend to cut.
 
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jobo1004

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upgrading said:
Has there been a (major) price increase on these ?
I am not so sure they are a good deal anymore.


OP keep in mind the 4 piece Channellock set that HD sells.
Click to expand...

I purchased the 9 piece set in the middle of December for $209, so at least on those, there has been a $30 increase.
 
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Garage Junky

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Have you looked at Tekton? They're available at Meijer (if you happen to be in a part of the country that has Meijer's) and they are USA made by Wilde.
 
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LordPsychon

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In your basement...seriously, go look now!
I'd go with Channellocks first because they tend to hold up pretty well and aren't too expensive. If you want an alternative, the rebranded Knipex at Sears are a great choice. If you want truly superior pliers, I'd say Knipex is the way to go but Tekton's not a bad second guess - kind of hard to find in the States though (at least where I'm at).
 
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thais0n

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Garage Junky said:
Have you looked at Tekton? They're available at Meijer (if you happen to be in a part of the country that has Meijer's) and they are USA made by Wilde.
Click to expand...

Are all Tekton tools made in USA? I see alot of their stuff on Woot, but never knew much about the brand
 
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jetdawg

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Isn't tekton just another chinese brand with a catchy name?

Or is it a legitimate US brand?
 
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Garage Junky

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thais0n said:
Are all Tekton tools made in USA? I see alot of their stuff on Woot, but never knew much about the brand
Click to expand...

No. Only the pliers and possibly certain other items are USA. The vast majority of it is not USA made.
 
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Garage Junky

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Also, I'm not sure if they sells plier sets, or just the individual ones, but you can always make your own set. They're relatively inexpensive also.
 
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John in OH

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I think your best value are the US-made Channelocks. Good quality, reasonable price. Don't know if Amazon necessarily has the best pricing so you might want to search around.

The German-made Knipex are excellent, but usually more expensive.

Tekton is mostly imported tooling from Asia, but some (all??) of their pliers are currently made in US by Wilde and they are pretty good. General consensus here on GJ is that Tekton quality is trending up, but their quality seems to vary greatly depending on the specific type of tool.
 
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texfan91

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I have owned the 3 piece knipex set someone posted on Amazon I boyght mine off the matco truck they were a lot more expensive but worth every penny best pliers I have ever owned. I now look on eBay and find other matching knipex pliers I want for a lot less and just buy one or two every month. So one more knipex vote here
 
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Sam'sAutoParts

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Channellock or Craftsman

Pliers are one of those things that need to be made in the USA or Europe to be any good. I don't own any other brands except a pair of ancient Kleins.
 
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d.mcfarland

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I don't know if a prepicked set is the best bet for you. I think picking the ones that you personally want would be the better option. And cheaper than having to pay for ones you aren't going to use.
 
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Uncle_Charlie

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Rogers, AR
I've been using a Diamond Horseshoe pair of pliers since the late 1980's. Recently, I started picking up some Channellock products and really like them. My favorite so far is the lineman's pliers.
 
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jeepinerdeep

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I never really liked Channellock for some unexplainable reason. If I could pick 5......

Knipex 10" Cobra or Alligator

Wilde NN

Wilde Hose Clamp

Knipex Dykes

SO Long NN, but I also like the sound of those Blackhawk sets everyone keeps getting on ebay.
 
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Ericgst

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I have bought Channellock pliers from Home Depot by having them price beat Walmart's lower price from my phone, plus you get 10% more off if you ask. Since Walmart sells for Zoro as well, you can use the Zoro price if its less.
 
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rick carpenter

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Thais0n, I can't see much wrong with going with the Channellock 5-pc set you're looking at. Go for it! I have a CL317 longnose, CL369 linemans, CL426 flat-jaw t&g, CL422 v-jaw t&g, CL337 dikes, and (pre-CL) Champion-DeArment nutbusters. I bought the 422's tonight, even though the thread http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=279232&highlight=gl10&page=4 started by Tool Fanatik eventually said the GL10's (in the set you're looking at) did better than the 422's in the tests he performed. I liked the greater engagement surface... plus Northern didn't have any GL10's. Kinda made that decision easier when I was hankering to spend some money and walk away with a tool!

I have the Knipex pliers-wrench for specific applications, Wilde-made Tekton slip-joints, Sears Japanese slip-joints, Diamond slip-joints, and some old needle-noses & end cutters.

I have not been disappointed with any of them, they do what I want them to do (and for added bonus the 369's make a functional enough hammer). I think that really just about any pliers if they are made for the job you want them to do will be good enough til you wear them out.
 
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