Channellock Griplock finish question...

[gt eunuch]

Just picked up a set of these Griplock pliers for a Christmas gift, and I noticed that they have a much different finish on them. Regular Channellocks seem to have a "bare metal" finish, and from my expierence are very rust prone. These have a darker finish (similar to finish that Knipex Cobras have, but shinier). Does anyone know if these are more resistant to rusting than the others?

Link so you can see the difference: http://www.channellock.com/Category.aspx?zcid=91

 

[Notwerk]

I think that, regardless of the finish of the metal itself, Channellock applies a clear coat to their pliers. Mine haven't rusted in any way. Great pliers.

 

[lynam]

I love my Channellock Griplock pliers when car wiper arms are seized and wont pull off i use them to squeeze them off works every time even better/faster them the pullers they make for the job.

 

[lbgradwell]

Does anyone know if these are more resistant to rusting than the others?

I like those GripLock pliers, but they rust just as fast as the other Channellocks.

 

[HandyManny]

It's the exact same charcoal gray finish that the regular pliers have before they are machined on two sides. Notice that regular Channellock pliers have the same dark grey (sometimes almost black) finish on the inner sides. It looks to be some type of oxide coating, not sure, maybe even a phosphate, don't know. Knipex also used two types of finish (black-oxide and another grayish coating like phosphate). The GL GripLock is a great tool and like all Channellocks made of high carbon tool steel, so it will rust if left in extended wet conditions, but their clear coat stalls that rusting until it wears off.

Minor surface rust harms nothing, it actually adds to the tools character. Even when plain finished carbon steel doesn't rust it will eventually patina with use and handling and just from being exposed to the air over time. It's the corrosion you have to worry about, more so in salt water environments.

 

[HandyManny]

Also one more thing. It's worth saying again that those industrial black-oxide finishes are actually a form of rust....controlled rusting. That's what oxide is. Same goes for the hot blueing and salt blueing that is used in commercial firearms, better known as gun blueing. It's all rust, just controlled rusting. The idea is that you allow the surface to oxidize and that will offer a minor amount of protection from the bad iron-oxide.

Also keep in mind that rough/matte finished oxide coating are often mistaken for phosphate parkerizing which they are NOT. Parkerizing is actually a much better protective finish than oxidation finishes. It's an etched phosphate surface conversion as opposed to a coating. It often appears anywhere from shades of light grey to a very dark charcoal gray (almost flat black). Over time with aging, exposure to handling, and lubricants it turns a slight greyish/olive hue. It can be seen on older or vintage phosphate finished hand tools, also more frequently on older military firearms.

 

[gt eunuch]

Cool thanks guys, that is kind of what I figured. Any advise as to how to keep rust at bay with these things? Regular wd40 spray downs? Keep them dirty?

 

[HandyManny]

Cool thanks guys, that is kind of what I figured. Any advise as to how to keep rust at bay with these things? Regular wd40 spray downs? Keep them dirty?

I wouldn't worry about a little surface rust. Actually the more often you use and handle a tool the less rust is going to accumulate on it. Ever see an episide of Ask This Old House? Just take a look at the Channellock #430s that Richard Trethewy uses from time to time, those things look like they've sat in a bucket of salt water for years, completely rusted over and they still work fine for him. But the worst I've actually seen in person is simple grayish patina develop with slight browning surface rust spots on most of those older non-coated Channellocks. Unless it's really bad rusting leading to corrosion I would not worry too much about it, that's just a characteristic of high carbon tool steel, it oxidizes. People have owned and used tools/cutlery made of carbon steel for centuries without much of a problem.

I lived in the pacific northwest for almost a decade and had my older Channellock pliers and black-oxide finished adjustabe wrenches sat in my cool damp garage all that time and they never really developed all that much rust during the wet winter time. Just keep them stored indoors when not in use and they should be fine.

 

[thetreshon]

Just picked up a set of these Griplock pliers for a Christmas gift, and I noticed that they have a much different finish on them. Regular Channellocks seem to have a "bare metal" finish, and from my expierence are very rust prone. These have a darker finish (similar to finish that Knipex Cobras have, but shinier).

One thing that I noticed after getting the 12 and 10 inch versions in a set together, that there is noticable 'pitting' or whatever in the metal, more noticable on the 12". Anyone else have this on their sets? Mine have "USA" stamped in to the metal, my dad's pair that I bought him years ago have the laser etching on them...weird, cause mine are a brand new set, newer card/packaging, but I thought they got rid of the stampings in the metal years ago...

This shouldn't affect the usablity of these pliers (unless it's a bad batch of metal), but never noticed this type of pitting on any of the other Channellocks I've ever seen.