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Anyone else like Channellocks?

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cdncowboy

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Apr 10, 2010
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114
Location
Southwest Ontario
Picked up 7 pairs this week, 30% off. Had the 440, got the 430, got the Griplock GL12 and GL10 packaged set, got the 337 and 447 side cutters, the 369 Linemans pliers, and the 317 needle nose pliers. Still have a bunch more I want to buy. The blue-handled binge continues...
 
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bentrotor

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Aug 4, 2011
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chevy302dz said:
Most people I know still do that LOL. Kinda like ViseGrips for locking pliers or Kleenex for tissues. Now if Channellock would start making locking pliers to fill the quality/price/origin void left by ViseGrip moving production they could corner the entire plier market.
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US-made tongue-and-groove pliers are called Channellocks... anything else is an imitation :thumbup:
 
J

Jawn

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Jul 29, 2011
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Stuck in traffic, GA
nate379 said:
Dunno, I have always called them water pump pliers.
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My late father called 'em that too.

I'm just getting started on my Channellock binge... I've had a set of 440s for several years and they've worked well for me... a little rusty, a little crusty... but still solid.

I'm eyeballing a set with the 420s, slip joint pliers, cutters, and needle nose pliers... then add a few more: 426, some lineman's pliers, split ring tool, maybe the crimpers and strippers, and whatever else catches my fancy.
 
N

north

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Oct 16, 2009
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Location
Norway
Got my first Channellock pliers the other day. #526 6" slip-joint. I can see it being my go to for the lighter DIY stuff. If it performs well I will be looking for deals. First impression is good.
 
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J

Jim C.

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Jan 8, 2010
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Jawn said:
My late father called 'em that too.

I'm just getting started on my Channellock binge... I've had a set of 440s for several years and they've worked well for me... a little rusty, a little crusty... but still solid.

I'm eyeballing a set with the 420s, slip joint pliers, cutters, and needle nose pliers... then add a few more: 426, some lineman's pliers, split ring tool, maybe the crimpers and strippers, and whatever else catches my fancy.
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That's kind of been my story..... A couple months ago I had a few pairs of Channellocks. Now, just weeks later, I'm almost up to a dozen pairs!!!! One pair just lead to the next. Knowing myself and tools, I think what got me started on this binge were three things: Good quality, Reasonable price, and Made in the USA. I hope for the most part, Channellock will always retain those three factors.

Jim C.
 
S

Strouty

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Mar 21, 2010
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Location
Southern Maine
Old channellocks are great, new ones are just pliers. I actually have a bunch of the irwin slip joint pliers, they are pretty decent.
 
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69f100

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Apr 7, 2010
Messages
140
Location
Riverside CA
i personally love them, and their fence pliers especially. the channel lock channel locks are great to. only problem i have was with a pair ive had for years the teeth are going soft and stripping. maybe a little clean up will help them
 
C

cdncowboy

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Apr 10, 2010
Messages
114
Location
Southwest Ontario
cdncowboy said:
Picked up 7 pairs this week, 30% off. Had the 440, got the 430, got the Griplock GL12 and GL10 packaged set, got the 337 and 447 side cutters, the 369 Linemans pliers, and the 317 needle nose pliers. Still have a bunch more I want to buy. The blue-handled binge continues...
Click to expand...

Here is a pic of the blue handled goodness:
 
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B

bmxr4life87

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Mar 21, 2009
Messages
872
Location
Bixby Oklahoma
Channel locks are very nice except their needle nose could use a different shape nose and different teeth my snap on needle nose are a much nicer quality plier for not much more money
 
H

Honda 1

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Jan 13, 2007
Messages
391
Add me to the Channellock fan club! I have owned them for years and they are great tools.
 
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jeffmoss26

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May 25, 2011
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Location
Cleveland, Ohio
Here's my Channellock collection!
001-3.jpg


003-2.jpg
 
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SlimChance

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Dec 27, 2010
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Channelocks are awesome for the price and made in the USA. But I just prefer Knipex on some of the pliers they feel more refined.
 
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Jim C.

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Tim Cowan said:
Channellocks are like potato chips, Just Can't Have One. If I keep getting them, I'm going to have to start a second drawer for storage.
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Exactly!!!!! I bought so many in the last six months, I actually gave them their own drawer!!!

Jim C.
 
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J

Jim C.

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PowerGenGuy said:
Jim C. the adjustables are made in Spain, so are the new wright adjustables as well as snap on adjustables.
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Okay. I think I'll take a look. I've seen them around, but I never really stopped to check them out. I'm still on the "blue handled binge" so maybe they'll be next on my list.

Jim C.
 
C

canuckian

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May 7, 2009
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East coast of Canaaada
Jim C. said:
Okay. I think I'll take a look. I've seen them around, but I never really stopped to check them out. I'm still on the "blue handled binge" so maybe they'll be next on my list.

Jim C.
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For the price you cant go wrong. Of all my adjustables( snap on comfort grip included) this ones my favorite by a long shot and the one I reach for most often.
 
S

SquareBear

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May 26, 2011
Messages
61
I own about 9 Channellock pliers but I have this love and hate problem with them. The blue handles are like eye candy and made in the USA. However, the thin clear coat is not good enough. I have 3 pliers that are showing rust already and I hardly ever used them. *sigh* I'm still mad about the locking pliers Channellock decided to discontinued under their name.
 
A

AL`

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Sep 2, 2011
Messages
318
Location
Texas
Channelocks are a great value and they are made in the USA. I don't mind the lack of chrome at all. In fact, I kind of like them without the chrome. They won't rust under normal conditions. If mine get wet or some dust on them, I wipe them off with an oily rag or shoot them with some WD40.
 
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outcast

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Aug 4, 2011
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619
i was looking at knipex. but, for the price, and MADE IN USA. well....

HD has a pair of water pump pliers. the kind with the angled jaws, for $20

why are they called "water pump" pliers ?
around here, they are know as "channel locks"
 
E

ev2mopar

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Joined
Sep 1, 2008
Messages
240
Location
woodbridge new jersey
I like Channellocks too. I have some Snap On pliers, sidecutters and the such. I love my SO tools. Worth every penny. Yes I believe it. I absoloutly love the new thicker red handles. Work great in my mangled up greasy hands.
And now the truth...I use Channellocks most often because I have an abundance of them. I have a fear of losing a $50.00 pair of slipjoint piers ( I am out in the field alot). I would be only slightly less devastated losing a $9.00 pair of channellocks.
Oh, and Channellocks never, ever failed me either
 
M

metaldad

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Aug 2, 2011
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7,730
Location
nw indiana
took me awhile to take pics, and then find this thread. here's my collection,
the bottom right 8 are in the garage, the bottom left 9 are my basement chest. the top 3 left are in my trucks, the top right 6 are in my service truck.
025.jpg
 
M

Monte

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Dec 23, 2008
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Location
Germany
metaldad said:
took me awhile to take pics, and then find this thread. here's my collection,
the bottom right 8 are in the garage, the bottom left 9 are my basement chest. the top 3 left are in my trucks, the top right 6 are in my service truck.
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nice collection!!!
 
O

outcast

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Aug 4, 2011
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619
hey, guys. do the newer model blue handles change to green after a while, like the older ones ?
 
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Joe Mamma

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May 31, 2009
Messages
339
jblachly said:
Funny you should post this.

I purchased a pair of 317's at a WalMart as a show of support for WalMart carrying American products. When I got home, I noticed that the pliers had a large gap at the tip when fully closed because the knife edge and/or anvil were not ground down properly.

I emailed [email protected] (or whatever address they had posted on their site) and never got a reply, so I returned them to WalMart yesterday. I won't be buying any more ChannelLocks.
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I haven't read all of the messages in this thread. But I also had a bad experience with their warranty department recently. I don't think I'll ever buy anything made by them again.

Joe Mamma
 
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