Anyone else like Channellocks?

[redwrench60]

Hauled in some scrap steel yesterday. As I dumped one bucket out, I looked down and there was a set of blue handles. Heck yeah, I reached down picked them up and brought them home with me. Got them home and looked at them #440

That’s a nice little score there. I prefer the older pairs like that have the thinner profile compared to the current manufactured pairs. Hold em up next to a new pair and compare thickness if you’ve never noticed. It really comes in handy when dealing with plumbing or electrical fittings and locknuts right up against a flange or box when using them in pairs right up against each other.

 

[NUTTSGT]

That’s a nice little score there. I prefer the older pairs like that have the thinner profile compared to the current manufactured pairs. Hold em up next to a new pair and compare thickness if you’ve never noticed. It really comes in handy when dealing with plumbing or electrical fittings and locknuts right up against a flange or box when using them in pairs right up against each other.

I'll have to check them out when I go out to the garage. I've already used these when assembling the pallet racking.

I do need to clean them up a bit and get some oil on them. That should be an evening/end of day project. . . maybe even a firehouse duty day project.

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

I uh, needed these...

What, the donuts?

 

[toolmiser]

Anybody come up with a way to restore the blue color after they turn green? I've tried whitewall cleaner and hand cleaner and while cleaning, they are still green.

 

[Outlawmws]

Color change is tough but I've had good luck with SG getting the gunge off, so if its gunge related, that might be worth a try.

I have not yet tried GreazOff for gunge removal on pliers, but I'd bet it works well.

 

[measuredtwice]

Not sure if it will work but you might try Mr Clean magic erasers.

 

[Ton ton]

What, the donuts?

Love this .

 

[jeffmoss26]

working on a little something...

 

[NUTTSGT]

Now that I have cleaned them up, I know why they got tossed. They have a crack right beside the rivet.

 

[Outlawmws]

So weld and grind?

 

[ForrestT]

Warranty?


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[NUTTSGT]

So weld and grind?

Warranty?


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

Not going to weld and grind. I sent them in to see I can get them warrantied. If they warranty them, they are to ship them to my step-dad. Granted, the warranty is to the original owner.

However, my stepdad has wore out numerous pairs of 420's in his 35 years as an electrician in a factory setting, never warrantied a pair,
I have 15+ pairs of blue handled pliers, screwdriver, level and more pairs as gifts over the years. I doubt I ever warranty another pair other than that set. So between probably 30 pairs of pliers over a combined 60 years plus as customers, I think Channellock can warranty one set for us.

 

[jeffmoss26]

got some swag from the hardware store

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

Eric..they shouldnt flinch..

Jeff.. how the heck to you fall into so much swag?

New gets from Hoosier Supply in S Bend.. stopped up there when my son and I went up to say goodbye to our Uncle Ralph Prawat...

GL6 (to go with my other GLs)
Flush cut 758s
Smaller snap ring 926s

 

[jeffmoss26]

I worked for the guy from 2006-2019 and he knows I like Channellock

 

[jeffmoss26]

the other stuff I posted above I bought on ebay

 

[Blind1]

I purchased a set at HD awhile back and disagree with you.

I have found many tasks that the V-Groove excel at, versus the parallel jaw Channellocks.

If they work for you and they have blue handles I’m not going to complain.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Eric..they shouldnt flinch..

I'm not going to lose any sleep over it if they buck it, nor will I quit buying BLUE.

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

I'm not going to lose any sleep over it if they buck it, nor will I quit buying BLUE.

Thumbs up!!


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[NUTTSGT]

I'm not going to lose any sleep over it if they buck it, nor will I quit buying BLUE.

Another pair jumped in to my hands. #460

 

[jeffmoss26]

Btdt!!

 

[metaldad]

Color change is tough but I've had good luck with SG getting the gunge off, so if its gunge related, that might be worth a try.

I have not yet tried GreazOff for gunge removal on pliers, but I'd bet it works well.

sg..................... soylent green?
a pair of 430's, snapped, pulling on a pipe ****** on top of a 8' ladder. ceiling grid kept me from falling
no, did not warranty

 

[metaldad]

******************coming soon *******************
i do need, for you tool guys entertainment, a new group shot of my channey collection.

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

sg..................... soylent green?
a pair of 430's, snapped, pulling on a pipe ****** on top of a 8' ladder. ceiling grid kept me from falling
no, did not warranty

Looks like the back side (outside edge) had been broken for a long long time... the fracture face has lots of brineling... lots of use / cycling... on an already cracked joint...

 

[jeffmoss26]

added these to the collection!

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

added these to the collection!

Nice!!


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[jeffmoss26]

I posted that I was working on a little something...

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

Very nice....


Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[mr.lemons]

528

Rarely see this type of slip joint pliers in the UK. Don't think any European manufactures make them. Giving them a try to see if I'm missing out. Very happy with the fit and finish.

 

[measuredtwice]

528

Rarely see this type of slip joint pliers in the UK. Don't think any European manufactures make them. Giving them a try to see if I'm missing out. Very happy with the fit and finish.

The discontinued 5410, 548, 546, 537, and 516 have more aggressive teeth up front--kinda the poor mans version of Snap-On's talon grip. https://www.garagejournal.com/forum...like-channellocks.109610/page-63#post-8334662

You can sometimes find them in new condition even though they are discontinued... in the USA.

 

[metaldad]

******************coming soon *******************
i do need, for you tool guys entertainment, a new group shot of my channey collection.

i have forgotten.
soon, this weekend

 

[Ton ton]

The discontinued 5410, 548, 546, 537, and 516 have more aggressive teeth up front--kinda the poor mans version of Snap-On's talon grip. https://www.garagejournal.com/forum...like-channellocks.109610/page-63#post-8334662

You can sometimes find them in new condition even though they are discontinued... in the USA.

Thanks for sharing, measured twice.

 

[jeffmoss26]

got these for one dollar yesterday!

 

[dscheidt]

I just got a pair of 480s, new. They're bent, you cant adjust them to wide open without hitting them with a hammer.

 

[metaldad]

i have forgotten.
soon, this weekend

well, it's past 'this weekend'
work and the house has been keeping me busy. so - i have NOT taken a pic of my channey collection at the house, garage, work truck.
mind you guys, that will be a major undertaking.
i guess 1 shot of the entire assemblage would be convincing, as several shots could include repeats.
i will attempt to do this, this weekend. 1 group shot, and then, separated into tool groups.
to entertain you guys, here's 2 shots of channeys at work.
1 from my work cart, including the 4'' adj. thats on my wallet chain.
adjustables (1) 4'', (2) 6'', (2) 8'', (2) 10'', (1) 12'', (1) 15''.
(1) 426, (2) 430, (1) 440, (2) 460, 8'' needlenose

the other is from my 'spare tools bag', in another part of the building
(1) 6'' , (1) 8'' adj. (1) 420, (1) 7'' linesman, (1) 5'' ****, (1) snap ring

 

[jeffmoss26]

I AM NOT WORTHY

 

[metaldad]

yes you is, jeff.
you seen the old pics.
the current pile is bigger.
much bigger

 

[Ton ton]

I'm impressed, metaldad.

 

[Ado]

I'm a Channellock Junkie. I pick up old and rusted ones at yard sales and the like. The wire wheel and some WD-40 restores them nicely. I have yet to break any of the Channellocks I have and I tend to be somewhat hard on tools.

 

[dwasifar]

Anybody come up with a way to restore the blue color after they turn green? I've tried whitewall cleaner and hand cleaner and while cleaning, they are still green.

There are treatments that can whiten yellowed plastic items. I wonder if they'd work for this.

I don't have any greened Channellocks to test this on, but maybe you'd want to try. Basically it's hydrogen peroxide and UV light. It has to be strong peroxide, though, not the drugstore stuff.