Are these any different from Slip Joint Pliers?

[winlinmac]

Just came across this set from Crescent, but doesn't seem to be any different different from Wilde's patented Slip Joint pliers. Crescent doesn't sell USA-made tools anymore, but apart from that, is anything unique in design compared to offerings from Channellock and Knipex?

 

[kunkernator]

Just another variation. They all do the same thing, ad serve the same purpose. Knipex Cobras, Irwin Groovelock, Wilde Slip Joint, Channellock.... etc...

 

[Fedwrench]

They're probably cheaper
The pliers are made out of laminated steel rather than a single piece.

 

[winlinmac]

Oh wow, I don't know how I missed that, thanks for clarifying
I'm still stuck between Channellock and Knipex. Its difficult for me to put the Channellock's away and use Knipex exclusively, vice versa.

They're probably cheaper
The pliers are made out of laminated steel rather than a single piece.

 

[Fedwrench]

Oh wow, I don't know how I missed that, thanks for clarifying
I'm still stuck between Channellock and Knipex. Its difficult for me to put the Channellock's away and use Knipex exclusively, vice versa.

If you have channelocks why would even look at these?

 

[four.cycle]

you're kidding, right?
those Crescents look way cheezy.

Go with the Wilde or Channellock. Knipex if you want to blow a lot of dough.

I thought I posted a couple Wilde groove-joint photos for you in another thread?

And again: groove joint vs slip-joint: go with the former. The latter results inevitably in bruised, pinched fingers.

 

[winlinmac]

Thank you four-cycle, I think I'm over-looking my current selection of pliers to see if there's anything else I need to add to my set. Based on your valuable information, it seems I should be all set as far as a complete set of pliers go.

BTW, what's the faith of Crescent, every time I walk into Home Depot, they look like low-cost tools now, being made in China and abroad.

you're kidding, right?
those Crescents look way cheezy.

Go with the Wilde or Channellock. Knipex if you want to blow a lot of dough.

I thought I posted a couple Wilde groove-joint photos for you in another thread?

And again: groove joint vs slip-joint: go with the former. The latter results inevitably in bruised, pinched fingers.

 

[Wakefield]

Has the "Crescent" name been sold?

 

[winlinmac]

They're under the Apex Tool Group now, but I rarely see their tools on store shelves, may be its just my local store. But many think now that Husky is Made in China, what difference does it make if they pick up Crescent or Husky?

 

[four.cycle]

Old Crescent (Crestaloy) was good stuff- new stuff is outsourced offshore.

Just my personal preference, but I prefer US made. I've looked at Knipex stuff over at Sears, and while I'll concede they've come up with a novel way to engineer a pair of pliers, I cannot justify paying that kind of money for them.
I have no doubt, from members here raving about them, that they may well be fabulous, but for all the same reasons I don't buy Snap-on, I'll go with a good-quality mid-range Wilde or Proamerica.
For what one pair of 10" Knipex cost, even at the lowest prices I've seen on them, I got two pairs of 8" slip-joints, one pair of 5" groove-joint ignition pliers, one pair of 7" groove-joints, and a pair of 8" linemans pliers.
The third pair of 8" slip-joints and the pair of 8" hose-clamp pliers I just posted in another thread set me back about $20 - I picked those up for a buddy of mine who's using a cheap-*** pair of Craftsman 6" slip-joints.
The 10" groove-joints set me back about $17 (including shipping.)
The 8" angle-jaw model (link posted in another thread) was about $12 including shipping.
All Wilde - all new - all from Ebay.
All depends on how much bang you want for your buck.

 

[Squddle]

They're probably cheaper
The pliers are made out of laminated steel rather than a single piece.

...is there an easy way to tell if something is laminated steel? Does it say on the package, or is it something you can tell by looking at it?

 

[shockwave]

I would pick up some knipex cobra over these
Look up woodstockva for video of Irwin vs cobra

 

[Stuey]

Just came across this set from Crescent, but doesn't seem to be any different different from Wilde's patented Slip Joint pliers. Crescent doesn't sell USA-made tools anymore, but apart from that, is anything unique in design compared to offerings from Channellock and Knipex?

The packaging says "USA" on it. So these are presumably made in the USA.

 

[fatfillup]

I have used Knipex for over 20 year, have worn out numerous pair and will gladly pay retail for them (but not truck price) when I need new ones. Plus you cannot compare them to Channelock because they are different tools. The best way to think of Knipex is as pipe wrench pliers. Channelock can't come close when used on pipe. You should have both.

 

[winlinmac]

I ended up with both of these,

 

[Gmonkee]

USA made but a heap of steaming dung to try to use. I was tossed a laminated CM pliers like that free and it was to high a price.

I keep them as a bad example only.

 

[winlinmac]

You're right, bruised, pinched fingers indeed. I received one today, and at the widest jaw setting, fingers can easily get pinched in between the handles, thus not making the mechanism worth it

you're kidding, right?
those Crescents look way cheezy.

Go with the Wilde or Channellock. Knipex if you want to blow a lot of dough.

I thought I posted a couple Wilde groove-joint photos for you in another thread?

And again: groove joint vs slip-joint: go with the former. The latter results inevitably in bruised, pinched fingers.

 

[four.cycle]

Wilde G270P.NP 7" groove-joint angle-nose pliers 01 by four.cycle, on Flickr

Wilde G270P.NP 7" groove-joint angle-nose pliers 02 by four.cycle, on Flickr

Wilde G6360P.NP 9" linemans pliers 01 by four.cycle, on Flickr

Wilde G6360P.NP 9" linemans pliers 02 by four.cycle, on Flickr

 

[winlinmac]

Awesome photos
I'm looking forward to my pair of Linesman. How are these groove joints compared to Channellocks?

Wilde G270P.NP 7" groove-joint angle-nose pliers 01 by four.cycle, on Flickr

Wilde G270P.NP 7" groove-joint angle-nose pliers 02 by four.cycle, on Flickr

Wilde G6360P.NP 9" linemans pliers 01 by four.cycle, on Flickr

Wilde G6360P.NP 9" linemans pliers 02 by four.cycle, on Flickr

 

[John in OH]

Has the "Crescent" name been sold?

Winlinmac says above that "Crescent" is now part of Apex so I assume he is correct. Crescent used to be a good USA tool line, but many of their products are now made off-shore. I quit buying Crescent because there are equally good/better USA-made tools available .... so why send my dollars to China??

Awesome photos
I'm looking forward to my pair of Linesman. How are these groove joints compared to Channellocks?

I have both Channellock and Wilde groove-joint pliers in several sizes and, so far, I've found them to be dead-on equal. I like both brands and they are both reasonably priced.

 

[four.cycle]

How are these groove joints compared to Channellocks?

I don't own any Channellock pliers so I cannot answer that question, BUT: note that Wilde uses a nut-and-bolt type fastener design, as opposed to the fixed rivet used on Channellock (and Proamerica).
As John says, Channellock - Wilde are pretty close on price. I don't believe Proamerica is much different (on price) on the groove-joint models.

The $15 linemans pliers are really quite nice for the price. The brown stuff inside the jaws isn't rust - it's dust from the paper they were wrapped in when shipped. They appear to be some fairly serious pliers, although they'll take a bit of breaking in to loosen up a bit.

 

[winlinmac]

Thanks, I hear a nut-and-bolt is usually better, can be adjusted if ever loosened up. The fixed rivets on the Channellocks eventually rust up (but that depends on how we care for the tools

 

[four.cycle]

^ I tossed that question out in another thread here:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=315019

I think it really boils down more to a matter of personal preference.
I prefer nut-and-bolt.

I don't let my pliers get rusty.

 

[rick carpenter]

I prefer tongue-and-groove/groove-joint adjustable pliers no matter the pivot mechanism over the Alligator and Cobra style any day. I dunno, I seem to trust them more and I don't have to look down at them to use them. But I really like my Knipex Pliers Wrench which has a Cobra-type action.

Alligator style adjustables would be my last choice. But the regular ol' two-position slip joints (I guess they're where the Alligator action came from) that everyone seems to have several pairs of are very useful for grip and rip work, and I wouldn't ever want to be without mine.

Channellock and Crescent have v-jaw t-n-g pliers that I like for light pipe work, but WoodstockVA has an impressive review of Knipex Cobras.

 

[uart]

They're probably cheaper
The pliers are made out of laminated steel rather than a single piece.

...is there an easy way to tell if something is laminated steel? Does it say on the package, or is it something you can tell by looking at it?

The laminated construction is just the easiest way of producing the "box joint" part of the design. Basically this means that the piece containing the upper jaw forms a hollow "box" through which the piece containing the lower jaw passes. You can see the action pretty clearly in the attached image (which are "Knipex 88-1180 Steel Water Pump Alligator Pliers" btw).

While I agree that the channel (tongue and groove) style are better, these "alligator box" ones are definitely an improvement compared with the regular "alligator" (half round rivet/bolt slip joint) design.

For a start they have the "half round" pin supporting the load symmetrically on both sides of the box. So theoretically twice as strong as regular slip joint pliers where the bolt (or rivet) only holds against the "alligator" holes on one side of the pliers.

Secondly, because this shear load is supported symmetrically, you don't get the bending moment that a regular "two sided" slip joint pliers experience when you're really cranking down on them. And this really does make them feel a lot stronger!

I've got one very similar to the one in the image and to be honest it's not that bad. Like all slip joint pliers, they're a lot stronger (less likely to slip) if you adjust them so that the handles are nearly fully closed before they engage on the fastener.