Let's hope that isn't any time soon.....let's see your Channellocks!
Anyone else like Channellocks?
- Thread starter Jim C.
- Start date
Let's hope that isn't any time soon.....let's see your Channellocks!
Travisnd
Well-known member
TDLMOMOWERS
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 4, 2012
- Messages
- 175
No, shouldn't be any time soon. I have no way to post photos, I'm not very tech savvy.
Travisnd
Well-known member
Well, the toolbox is ready for me to pick up, however the 10 inches of snow we got last night (we don't get snow here!!!) has delayed me from picking it up!! 
Hopefully by this weekend I'll be able to go get it!!
Hopefully by this weekend I'll be able to go get it!!Well, the toolbox is ready for me to pick up, however the 10 inches of snow we got last night (we don't get snow here!!!) has delayed me from picking it up!!
We're looking forward to seeing it!
archirelic
Well-known member
Definitely wanting to see some pics of the box. I've always been curious as to how the blue looks in an actual photo and not from a website image.
Travisnd
Well-known member
It will definitely stick out in my garage with all the red/black/gray Craftsman boxes I have!! LOL!!!
Well maybe...... But just think how easy it will be to locate your Channellocks.
Travisnd
Well-known member
Yes, and my 4 year old son is very excited that someday the box along with the contents in it will be his one day!! Couldn't not buy it after that!!
zakmartin
Well-known member
I just got some new Channellocks the other day (420, 426, 440 and 460) using an Amazon gift card to replace some old Crescent USA (7", 10", 12", 15") channel lock pliers I've owned for 15+ years that were dirty and starting to show some surface rust. I also have a set of Knipex Cobras (6" 7", 10", 12" and 16" versions).
The Knipex Cobras are the most useful of the bunch simply based on the push button mechanism, but to be completely honest, the 15-year old Crescents are so much sturdier compared to the new Channellocks and Cobras, it almost seems like a joke.
At this point, I haven't decided whether to return the Channellocks or to relegate them to the portable tool box. Regardless, the Crescents are going to get cleaned now that I realize how good those tools actually are. They have much less arm flex and feel WAY beefier compared to the other tools. The grips are thicker and have held up after years of regular use (I cleaned the filthy grips off with some silicone spray last night and now they're bright orange and like new again.)
The build quality of the Channellocks is almost laughable compared to what Crescent USA put out 15 years ago. The Channellocks are wobby at the pivot point and the upper and lower jaws don't line up. This problem doesn't exist with the Crescents.
I know it's an apples to oranges comparison since Crescent no longer makes these wrenches. For that matter, I don't think they make anything in the USA now. I love that the Channellocks are built here in the USA once again, but good lord, the quality just isn't what it used to be. Then again, who DOES make a quality hand tool that's reasonably priced and Made in America anymore?
The Knipex Cobras are the most useful of the bunch simply based on the push button mechanism, but to be completely honest, the 15-year old Crescents are so much sturdier compared to the new Channellocks and Cobras, it almost seems like a joke.
At this point, I haven't decided whether to return the Channellocks or to relegate them to the portable tool box. Regardless, the Crescents are going to get cleaned now that I realize how good those tools actually are. They have much less arm flex and feel WAY beefier compared to the other tools. The grips are thicker and have held up after years of regular use (I cleaned the filthy grips off with some silicone spray last night and now they're bright orange and like new again.)
The build quality of the Channellocks is almost laughable compared to what Crescent USA put out 15 years ago. The Channellocks are wobby at the pivot point and the upper and lower jaws don't line up. This problem doesn't exist with the Crescents.
I know it's an apples to oranges comparison since Crescent no longer makes these wrenches. For that matter, I don't think they make anything in the USA now. I love that the Channellocks are built here in the USA once again, but good lord, the quality just isn't what it used to be. Then again, who DOES make a quality hand tool that's reasonably priced and Made in America anymore?
Travisnd
Well-known member
There is definitely a difference between new Channellocks and the older NOS Channellocks that I've been collecting, which is a big reason why I've been looking for older Channellock stuff versus the newer stuff.
I've got mostly newer Channellock tools and they're fine, but I'll admit that I'm selective about the tools I buy. If there's more than one of a specific model that I'm interested in, I'll look at them all an pick the best one. I look at how they're ground, how their jaws lineup, joint slop, etc. I do that with most tools now, including Knipex pliers. I've seen a few pairs of Knipex that weren't ground prefectly, etc. Overall, I'm still a fan of Channellocks and will continue to buy them.
Jim C.
Jim C.
zakmartin
Well-known member
LOL! I do that too and it drives my wife CRAZY. I'm like that guy in the movie "Clerks" who is obsessed with finding a perfect carton of eggs. I ordered the Channellocks online and figured I was going to have to settle for whatever tool was the next in Amazon's stack, but out of the four wrenches, none of them met my high-quality tool standard. They're good, but not great. I suppose the proof will be in the pudding when I try them out for the first time (yes, I've decided to keep them since I don't have channel lock pliers in my portable box.) As long as they don't fall apart and do what they're designed to do, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. I guess it's all a bit depressing when you think that for the same price, tools from 15 years ago were so much better.
Travisnd
Well-known member
Received this in the mail today!
Plan on picking up the toolbox tomorrow...should have pictures up tomorrow night or Sunday!
Plan on picking up the toolbox tomorrow...should have pictures up tomorrow night or Sunday!
metaldad
Well-known member
Just picked up a pair of 960's.
metaldad
Well-known member
I'm always doing something.
foreman service pipefitter industrial/heavy commercial hvac
Just picked up a pair of 960's.
Anybody ever use these before? I've been tempted to buy them several times but keep thinking they are too thin to grip the lock nut well.
Travisnd
Well-known member
Well.....here it is! Picked it up last night and finally got to it today. Seemed to be packaged up well, but some of the cardboard did come off I assume in transit....luckily nothing was damaged!!
I am very pleased with it seeing as I only paid about $130 for it. It does come with drawer liners, which I think are nicer than the ones in all my other cabinets!!
What it looked like when I picked it up...
Nice drawer liners!
With pretty blue tools in it!!
It definitely stands out among the rest!!
Overall, I'm very pleased and hope to fill it up with blue pouch goodness!!!
I am very pleased with it seeing as I only paid about $130 for it. It does come with drawer liners, which I think are nicer than the ones in all my other cabinets!!
What it looked like when I picked it up...
Nice drawer liners!
With pretty blue tools in it!!
It definitely stands out among the rest!!
Overall, I'm very pleased and hope to fill it up with blue pouch goodness!!!
metaldad
Well-known member
Nick, they grip 1/2 and 3/4 just fine. you can 'manipulate' them to grab 1''.
and, you kinda can use them in reverse on 1/2.
and, the supply house where i got them only charged $13 and change.
Travis, damn you. I now have another 'need'.
didn't know that box had bearing slides. very nice, and great idea, to store the collection.
and, you kinda can use them in reverse on 1/2.
and, the supply house where i got them only charged $13 and change.
Travis, damn you. I now have another 'need'.
didn't know that box had bearing slides. very nice, and great idea, to store the collection.
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Cool, thanks, off to Amazon I go...
metaldad
Well-known member
I see there's an addy on amazon that states they grab up to 1 1/2.
don't have that size here, i'll have to check at work.
don't have that size here, i'll have to check at work.
jeffmoss26
Well-known member
Heh, pretty cool Travis!
Travisnd
Well-known member
Thanks Jeff!
Hey Travis,
After seeing the cardboard shipping box, I was concerned!! I'm glad the box inside made it without incurring any mechanical or cosmetic damage. Seeing all those NOS, still in the pouch tools, your new box is absolutely PERFECT for them. There's no other way to store an impressive collection like that. GREAT collection in a GREAT looking box!! Thanks for all the pictures!
Jim C.
After seeing the cardboard shipping box, I was concerned!! I'm glad the box inside made it without incurring any mechanical or cosmetic damage. Seeing all those NOS, still in the pouch tools, your new box is absolutely PERFECT for them. There's no other way to store an impressive collection like that. GREAT collection in a GREAT looking box!! Thanks for all the pictures!
Jim C.
I have a pair, come in a box of misc junk I bought real cheap. They are what I would call "handy" meaning you could probably live without them but they are pretty convenient. I've used them quite a bit for motor and control panel work, quite a bit more precise than my old hammer and ground down nail.
If you did mostly general construction in a house I probably wouldn't bother. On the other hand if you work on elecric motors and control boxes that use wire keeps with those nuts I'd say they are nice. I probably wouldn't pay full price unless there were going to be used on a heavy basis.
Just my 2¢
Man I love that color.
Nice box Travisnd. Do the slides have a maker and or number on them, if so who and what? Are they Repon slides? Is the drawer liner foam sheet, they look like it?
I wonder how well the color match would be with this box?
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lbgradwell
Well-known member
Overall, I'm very pleased and hope to fill it up with blue pouch goodness!!!
Very nice collection!
Travisnd
Well-known member
I don't see any markings on the slides. Maybe the number 16/19 but it's difficult to tell. The drawer liners are a foam sheet and seem to be really nice quality. My recent additions below....The drivers were only $9 at my local Sams Club...got it more for the bottle opener as I now have the blue/black and blue/red bottle openers!! Also got more blue pouch goodness which is getting harder and harder to find, so if you guys come across any, please keep me in mind!!!!
dankicksass
Well-known member
I like Channellock but their cutting pliers are getting soft.
Hey Dan,
How do you mean? Do you think they're made from lesser quality steel or what? I just bought a pair of #436 cutters and have been using them all day today. They seem okay to me.
Jim C.
dankicksass
Well-known member
I've killed a couple of their linesman pliers (936?) in the last year cutting small solid wire. They don't hold up like they used to.
Travisnd
Well-known member
Got some more blue pouch goodness today, some snap ring pliers, #907G. Also got some Channellock stickers that Channellock sent me that I plan on turning into magnets to put on the new Channellock toolbox!!
cagullett1
Well-known member
Travis, is there a retailer that you know of that sales Channellock in the pouches? Like Harry Epstein?