Anyone else like Channellocks?

[GX460DIYguy]

Found these today. They had the rubber grip on them and it was in pretty bad shape so I cut it off to find a bunch of rust. It’s not vintage made in the USA goodness, but they cleaned up pretty good. Who makes them in Spain for them? I’ll have to add them to the box tomorrow.

 

[neophyte]

Found these today. They had the rubber grip on them and it was in pretty bad shape so I cut it off to find a bunch of rust. It’s not vintage made in the USA goodness, but they cleaned up pretty good. Who makes them in Spain for them? I’ll have to add them to the box tomorrow.

The Channellock Soanish adjustable wrenches are made by Irega.

IREGA adjustable wrenches | IREGA

It may be possible to buy replacement Irega branded grips.

IREGA SPARE GRIP FOR 12" ERGOTOP

World's best tools for professionals: the latest coolest Tools from NWS and Knipex, largest inventory of quality tradesman tools by Knipex, screwdriving tools by NWS, Knipex, WERA and FELO. Full line of the latest greatest WERA Zyklop and Joker wrenches, Knipex pliers, NWS tools, and Gedore. Our...

chadstoolbox.com

 

[GX460DIYguy]

I actually prefer them without the grips. Easier to keep them from rusting under the grip. We don’t use them for anything real heavy duty anyway.

 

[neophyte]

I actually prefer them without the grips. Easier to keep them from rusting under the grip. We don’t use them for anything real heavy duty anyway.

I can understand that.
Years ago, when I first looked into Irega, my understanding from the catalog I received, was that the grips were designed to be removable, and replaceable, and that the underneath wrench was just made the same as a non “gripped” wrench.
Other manufacturers like Crescent, would skip stamping logos etc. into the steel wrench handles, when making rubber dipped wrenches, because the information and branding was printed onto the rubber grip.
Nowadays, Irega also makes wrenches with dipped handles, but it looks like they still forge their information into the handle on those as well.

 

[Outlawmws]

I've typically found the mfg. marking under grips, so I don't know if you mean a specific MFG or not; the translucent green grips you can sort of see the markings in the right light.

 

[FigN⋅m]

Grabbed a sub $20 ebay set of 460s for "JIC" work and immediately needed
them for installing poly bushings into my steering rack (not pictured)

 

[impactims]

I find Chanellock to be OK at best, generally speaking.

I have never had them perform well under demanding conditions. Yes, they are USA made, which is nice. But that's really the only thing they have going for them.

 

[engineer2]

I have a mini pair of Channellocks and use them frequently. Wish they were plated as they could very easily rust.
I have a large pair that are broken (roadside find). They will replace then for free, but the shipping cost is quite high.

 

[PhantomEB]

I need to move all my Channellocks to a drawer in the 42” box. 1.5 drawers in a 27 is stupid.

 

[Outlawmws]

I have a mini pair of Channellocks and use them frequently. Wish they were plated as they could very easily rust.

How Mini? if small enough. more people then me are playing with nickle plating.

I need to move all my Channellocks to a drawer in the 42” box. 1.5 drawers in a 27 is stupid.

How are you storing them; and are most the arc joints? I have way too many of the latter and started storing then side by side "vertically" as if they were racked, but no spaces.

 

[PhantomEB]

Laying flat. Easier to see and grab.

 

[NoahG]

Couldn’t resist.

 

[Ohio Andy]

My smallest (lower right) and largest channel locks.

I included the torx because they were in the photo already. This is a picture I sent to channel lock at they're request. I use the small torx on pocket knives.

 

[jeffmoss26]

Got these today

 

[engineer2]

How Mini? if small enough. more people then me are playing with nickle plating.

6" Nice size for small jobs like garden hoses and such.

 

[Outlawmws]

6" Nice size for small jobs like garden hoses and such.

That could be done in a larger "spaghetti sauce" jar home plating setup.

 

[engineer2]

I'm thinking about getting into some home plating. I even bought a power supply to do small parts. I accidentally dropped one lead onto the other and the "short circuit protected" power supply let the smoke out. No service, no diagram, no parts available from China.

 

[Outlawmws]

PS for plating - USB powered:

Portable Plating setup - USB PS/VR - under $20 when I got mine.
https://www.amazon.com/PEMENOL-Adju...-Voltmeter/dp/B07RXZ52KR?tag=atomicindus08-20

Airstone pump - to agitate the plating solution for Larger projects
https://www.amazon.com/ALON-Oxygen-Aquarium-Hanging-Buckle/dp/B098Q98395/?tag=atomicindus08-20


Nickel welding rods for the anodes - hammer on the flux crud and it comes off:

Amazon.com

Other:
Mason jars for the Nickle acetate

Making the Nickle Acetate: -Wear personal protection and do this outside as you don't want to be breathing the fumes.
cut a nickle welding rod in half and put then in ordinary white vinegar (EDIT: + 1/2 Tsp of salt to make it more conductive), connect to the USB power supply (don't short them out... - put a 2A fuse in line... EDIT: I also made a set of clips to the top edge of the jar and a plastic "spacer" for the lower ends) and run for a day or two until its a nice dark green - you are ready to plate

Polish the heck our of your part and plate. Brass/Copper is easy,

I used an old UPS 12V battery, with a lighter socket connected, and a lighter socket USB to plug the USB PS into

 

[Numerator2142]

Do y'all expect new channel locks to be a little "stickey" and require a break-in? I got a pair of 426's (the 6" guys) today and the max open is kind of fiddley and gets stuck. Trying to decide if I should take them back and exchange them.

 

[Outlawmws]

Does not sound right to me for a pair of arc Joints. Is the hinge nut over tightened?

 

[jeffmoss26]

Does not sound right to me for a pair of arc Joints. Is the hinge nut over tightened?

They haven’t used a nut in years

 

[four.cycle]

^ Correct.
Channellock is all riveted.

That's one reason Wilde is a better product: nuts and bolts.

 

[Outlawmws]

They haven’t used a nut in years

I guess you can tell I haven't been paying attention - I think I can count the "new" style on one hand...

 

[Numerator2142]

Yeah riveted but all the other settings are just fine.

 

[jeffmoss26]

Added a new item to my Cornwellock collection

 

[Ton ton]

I found an old style 430 tongue and groove pliers on the side of the road - channellock brand. It has a nut you can tighten. What year did channel lock switch to the current style?

 

[AreBeeBee]

Alloy Artifacts shows a model 440 with a rivet instead of a nut in its Channellock entry at The Blue Handle Era: "Although not marked with a patent number, these pliers are held together by a rivet as described in patent #4,603,607."

The patent was applied for in 1982 and granted in 1986; it's available here. The patent covers using rivets as pivots for slip-joint pliers, saying, "This invention is intended to provide a pivot connection for slip joint pliers which is stronger than the nut and bolt connection now in use."

 

[four.cycle]

"This invention is intended to provide a pivot connection for slip joint pliers which is stronger than the nut and bolt connection now in use until it works loose."

FIFY

 

[AreBeeBee]

FIFY

4C -- I have several Channellocks hung on a pegboard, and where I have more than one of a given size, the nut-and-bolt version goes up in front of the riveted. For just the reason you mention.

One of my riveted ones worked loose, so I put it on the railroad rail that's my anvil, and gave the rivet a smallish bang with a hammer. I was pretty careful because I knew it would be a PITA to loosen it a skosh if I slugged it too hard. Luckily I didn't, but it would be all too easy to do.

It's the nut version by universal (?) preference.

 

[Ton ton]

Alloy Artifacts shows a model 440 with a rivet instead of a nut in its Channellock entry at The Blue Handle Era: "Although not marked with a patent number, these pliers are held together by a rivet as described in patent #4,603,607."

The patent was applied for in 1982 and granted in 1986; it's available here. The patent covers using rivets as pivots for slip-joint pliers, saying, "This invention is intended to provide a pivot connection for slip joint pliers which is stronger than the nut and bolt connection now in use.

Thank you!

 

[neophyte]

FIFY

Rivet becomes loose.
Go to selection of ball pein hammers, grab one, give rivet whack, see if rivet tightens up.
If not, hit harder, or grab a bigger ball pein, repeat process.

 

[four.cycle]

^ Rivet vs. nut-and-bolt is one of many reasons I own a lot of Wilde.

 

[NoahG]

On the subject of rivets, a coworker had the rivet on a pair of 909 crimpers shift last week making them impossibly hard to open. The pair is less than two years old and gets light use.

My 15 year old pair is still nice and smooth.

 

[lilscorpion]

Honestly - I was planning on buying/having a full set but when I received a set of needle nose pliers that were obviously ground by hand, and sloppily so, I decided that I’ll go all in on Knipex after returning them only to get another set exactly the same.

Red handles are better than baby blue too…IMO OC course

 

[NUTTSGT]

Picked this up on vacation the other day. 1/4" drive spinner handle with a female end in the handle.



What I noticed on the backside of the tag. ...exclusively for Do It Best Corp.

 

[KnurledNut]

Picked this up on vacation the other day. 14" drive spinner handle with a female end in the handle.



What I noticed on the backside of the tag. ...exclusively for Do It Best Corp.

I have the same one and bought it from Do It Best.

 

[Outlawmws]

What dolt in marketing decided that re-branding to "Do It Best" was going to get them more sales?

Oh, I see "Do It" without the space = DoIt

 

[NUTTSGT]

What dolt in marketing decided that re-branding to "Do It Best" was going to get them more sales?

Oh, I see "Do It" without the space = DoIt

I can't imagine that the "Do It Best" hardware stores could order enough to warrant their own line from Channellock.

 

[jeffmoss26]

They do! The CL name is licensed for all these other products which are only sold through the Do it Best hardware co-op.

Exclusive Brands – Do it Best Hardware

hardware.doitbestonline.com

Do it Best Channellock Catalog

This document provides information about various tools and tool accessories available for purchase from Channellock Products. It includes details on wet/dry vacuums, extension cords, tape measures, staple guns, tubing cutters, clamps, striking tools, toolboxes, gloves, and more. Many of the...

www.slideshare.net

 

[AreBeeBee]

Good heavens! I do think I need a Channellock shop vac.....