Channellock 369 Linesmans

[rick carpenter]

Just got these this evening. My old trusty pair has apparently been donated. What is the "step" ground into one side of the jaws? What is the electronic coating on them?

 

[Polynikes]

Hello, 1st post.

No idea about the coating but I'm pretty sure the nose is ground like that so it'll measure under 1/2" wide at the tip (and fit inside 1/2" conduit when used as a reamer.)

 

[rick carpenter]

Thanks for replying and welcome to GJ. The sides are ground convex but have a slight edge transition to flat. The step's edges are somewhat sharper, and it's base is wider than 1/2". The tip thickness is 1/2", but the step is not parallel to the main thickness which is slightly over 1/2".

 

[Loscaldazar]

The electronic coating is just a rust preventative. Works pretty well in my experience.

 

[shawhite]

I would say the nose is ground like that to fit in tight places.

 

[rick carpenter]

This is hilarious! I contacted Channellock about this and they said...

"Hello Rick -

Thank you for contacting us about the 369 linesman plier.

This plier is designed as per Klein's original linesman plier - the "step" has always been there, and if it serves a purpose, we do not know what it is, but it is an expected feature.

Sorry we did not have more information for you.

Have a nice day.

Channellock, Inc."

 

[Southernbuild]

This is hilarious! I contacted Channellock about this and they said...

"Hello Rick -

Thank you for contacting us about the 369 linesman plier.

This plier is designed as per Klein's original linesman plier - the "step" has always been there, and if it serves a purpose, we do not know what it is, but it is an expected feature.

Sorry we did not have more information for you.

Have a nice day.

Channellock, Inc."

That is awesome!

 

[rick carpenter]

I just fired off a request to Klein about that feature.

 

[kjbenner]

Very interesting! Here's a bit from Klein's website:

Perhaps the only job Mathias Klein ever did "halfway" involved the first tool he ever made, which was — in fact — one half pair of pliers. A broken side-cutting pliers was brought to his forge shop by a telegraph lineman. Mathias Klein forged and finished a new half for the tool, riveted it to the old, and the lineman went on his way. Shortly thereafter the lineman returned. The other original half of the tool had now broken and Mathias Klein forged the second pliers half, producing the first complete Klein pliers.

So perhaps Channellock puts the step there because Klein does, and Klein puts it there because the first ones had it, and the first ones had it because he was matching a broken pair made by some other smith.

 

[sberry]

It offsets the side cutter.

 

[shampoop]

Hello, 1st post.

No idea about the coating but I'm pretty sure the nose is ground like that so it'll measure under 1/2" wide at the tip (and fit inside 1/2" conduit when used as a reamer.)

My bet this is the answer.

 

[jontar]

I have these as my garage pair, as an industrial electrician, I only use Klein Linemans at work. The channellock pair I bought well on sale, at cdn tire, and they are slimmer then the Kleins. Both have the "step".

Any good electrician uses a proper reamer for EMT. http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B000CER0T8/?tag=atomicindus04-20

The thinner nose is most likely so the pliers can be use similar to needle nose. Most Resi and commercial electricians don't carry needle nose in their smaller pouches, so the lineman pliers can double up that function. Industrial guys do, because we, use carryalls instead of pouches, and have extra room for more tools.

 

[jontar]

another more likely function is the slimmer nose and plier is to save weight and in the end save costs.

 

[jdoe213]

How did your other pair get donated? To someone elses tool box?

 

[rick carpenter]

How did your other pair get donated? To someone elses tool box?

They're in one of two places. In early June I spent a week in Oklahoma rebuilding after their tornadoes of last year. I remember packing them for that trip. Later, I worked out in the country putting in a door/etc. But I don't remember which time my old pair did not make the trip back home. Either way, I can safely assume they are now being put to good use! Though I do try to pack up all my stuff, I don't mind donating tools in such situations.

 

[Brownsfan]

I just checked my Klein's and Snap Ons. The all have the step machined in. Obviously my Channellocks have it as well. I will say this. The Channellocks have the most narrow nose. That can be useful in some situations. My Klein 2000 series with the Journeyman handles are my favorites. They will cut anything while being comfy in my hand.

 

[rick carpenter]

After I emailed Channellock and they said they didn't know what the step was for but they copied the Klein design, that wasn't good enough for me. I emailed Klein and sure enough they said their step was for reaming. Back to the round nose 369's... the tip geometry is .055" at C and .028" at F per their drawing.

Anyhow, I like them for what I bought them for, amateur electrical stuff.

 

[redwrench60]

After I emailed Channellock and they said they didn't know what the step was for but they copied the Klein design, that wasn't good enough for me. I emailed Klein and sure enough they said their step was for reaming. Back to the round nose 369's... the tip geometry is .055" at C and .028" at F per their drawing.

Anyhow, I like them for what I bought them for, amateur electrical stuff.

Cool. I always wondered what it was for too. I thought like sberry that it offset the cutter.