Channellock: old vs. new
- Thread starter t100
- Start date
Shocker
Well-known member
Ya, at least there are still made here. 
manic_mechanic
Well-known member
Ya, at least there are still made here.
And it's quite possible that they are not.
I knew a guy that worked - name not mentioned - and his job was to grind off "MADE IN CHINA" on tools and slap a "MADE IN U.S.A." sticker on it...
TireTracks
Well-known member
I bought a set of channellocks at christmas time, and compaired to my grandpa's and dad's they fell cheap, they dont slide very well and they dont have that "solid" feel to them.
alamerang
Well-known member
Probably getting ready to move them overseas pretty soon since they changed the design from stamping to laser engraving. All they would need to do now is set up production in China and change one word.
TireTracks
Well-known member
tmiller
Well-known member
i really like the older ones but the these dont look as heavy duty.
expatriated
Well-known member
Are they both new? Cause only the smaller one has the laser, right? The top one is stamped. (and does look better)
They look as if they are an offspring of Channellock and Knipex.
Are the bolts the spring activated, one handed type like Knipex or is it just the fixed bolt like traditional channellocks? I can't tell from these pictures.
chevy302dz
Well-known member
Isn't that style actually manufactured by Wilde and supplied to Channellock?
I have that style and it doesn't compare well to other Channellock pliers. I ended up tossing them in the spare box and replacing them with Knipex. I like Channellocks other pliers but didn't care for that style....didn't seem the same quality.
I had the same impression as Tiretracks did in his post.
Maybe chevy302dz is on to something. They sure do feel like there not a typical Channellock and also the price is considerably less then other models.
I had the same impression as Tiretracks did in his post.
Maybe chevy302dz is on to something. They sure do feel like there not a typical Channellock and also the price is considerably less then other models.
They are not spring activated like knipex, more like standard channellocks. They also do not have as many adjustments and the knipex.
lbgradwell
Well-known member
looks european
They do look European. I think a certain famous design was "borrowed"...
Really? What makes you think so?
I've thought for years that these might be re-branded, but this is the first time I've seen a theory on the source.
Funny, but my experience is exactly opposite; I much prefer this style over the traditional Channellocks. I find the grip is much superior.
vssjim
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I don;'t think Channelock will be moving plier mfg, to china any time soon They still make the other early style of pliers but you have to broaden your line of tools if you want to stay alive. I'm sure they went to laser etching to keep production up and costs down plus they also private label for people like Cornwell and laser etching makes that alot more flexable
arkangel06
Banned
The stamping looks crappy For as long as ive been buying channel lock plyers they have been laser engraved.
My father has a really old pair that has the letters carved out.
Maybe its time to stock up like we did with vice grips?
My father has a really old pair that has the letters carved out.
Maybe its time to stock up like we did with vice grips?
vssjim
ALLIANCE MEMBER
My father has a really old pair that has the letters carved out.
Maybe its time to stock up like we did with vice grips?[/QUOTE]
I'm going to say it again I really don't look for the family owned Channelock people to move the plier production anytime soon. They are not some big corp. that doesn't care about the community they live in and only the bottom line.
Maybe its time to stock up like we did with vice grips?[/QUOTE]
I'm going to say it again I really don't look for the family owned Channelock people to move the plier production anytime soon. They are not some big corp. that doesn't care about the community they live in and only the bottom line.
back2class
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 7, 2009
- Messages
- 2,723
Those look like **** compaired to older channellocks. Look how rough ALL of the casting is! My older channellocks are all nice smoothe flat surfaces. This looks like some rough casting with no finish work.
old salvage
Well-known member
The engraving vs cast logo isn't a concern to me as much as the quality of the piece.
Notice the grooves are very rough looking, ( what back2class was saying) sort of rounded on top. That to me says that as pressure is applied a lot of the load tendency will be to force the two plier halves apart. The rivet that holds the halves together will take a lot of the pressure. Thats not how things are supposed to be.
Notice the grooves are very rough looking, ( what back2class was saying) sort of rounded on top. That to me says that as pressure is applied a lot of the load tendency will be to force the two plier halves apart. The rivet that holds the halves together will take a lot of the pressure. Thats not how things are supposed to be.
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this is the current production picture off channellock's website:
http://www.channellock.com/acb/stores/1/GL12_-_12_inch_GRIPLOCK_Tongu_P39C7.cfm
Art From De Leon
Well-known member
ChanneLLock has become another American company riding on its reputation. Knipex are so much better.
chevy302dz
Well-known member
It's just something I heard at one point that would seem to make sense when looking at the pliers.
I wouldn't say that. All of the regular Channelocks are as good as they ever were, which is quite good. Knipex Corbas and Alligators are a different design at a completly different price point.
alamerang
Well-known member
Not the fact that they are laser engraving alone. The fact that they are retooling the design so it can be laser engraved. That makes it easier to set up production somewhere else at a future date for a minimum of cost. I could be wrong, but the way things are going these days you just never know. Unless, god forbid an American company would ever pull up roots an move production to China to save a few bucks. That could never happen here in this country. Right???
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crewchief888
Well-known member
thats what i was thinking too, all my channellocks are smooth machined.
even the large pair of matco's are all machined, no rough casting at all.
maybe it's a good thing i dont have to buy tools anymore
woody 73
Well-known member
A long time ago one other member kind of jumped on me a little bit because I thought once the label wears off how do you prove who made the tool?
I lost the sticky label off my craftsman axe (no other markings on the axe) the good folks at sears would not take it back. I only got lucky because I found an old catalog picture to back up my claim.
I am not sure does the laser etch wear off in time?
I have a old channel lock from either the 30's or the 40's and it has very nice engraving on it not like the suff they make today.
I lost the sticky label off my craftsman axe (no other markings on the axe) the good folks at sears would not take it back. I only got lucky because I found an old catalog picture to back up my claim.
I am not sure does the laser etch wear off in time?
I have a old channel lock from either the 30's or the 40's and it has very nice engraving on it not like the suff they make today.
This thread is ******* me off. Those grip lock pliers cost what? $12 a pair? And made here in Pennsylvania. Sounds like a good value to me. Does laser etching cost less than having them embossed? I don't know. Does that mean they are going to move production to china. I don't think so.
to answer your question, laser engraving is waaay cheaper than stamping. not even close.
as for the cost, not changing is would be the cheapest way, do you agree? there's gotta be reason(s) for them to change it.
will they move to china? I don't know, but I wouldn't be surprised.
That's sad. After watching yet another pair of generic knock-offs bend I went and bought a genuine pair of Channellocks. I figured that since they invented them and they come highly recommended they must be alright. When I opened the package I found the jaws had so much side play that they were useless. Can't tighten them either due to the new and improved patented PermaLock pivot. When I returned them I tried a bunch of others and they were all the same. If they are as good now as they ever were, that would mean they've always been ****.
I ended up with a Knipex. Second choice was the Irwin GrooveLock. Both are light years ahead of Channellock. Well, Channellock does still make decent side cutters at least.
charlie_nj
Well-known member
Wouldn't those stamped letters just be part of the forming die? I would think that the laser etching would require an additional manufacturing process, whereas the raised lettering is just created when the plier halves are forged in the forming dies. Since it's one less process, I would think it would be less expensive.
Channellocks are great pliers and it's a company that proves you can make a quality, reasonably priced tool right here in the U.S. I have not tried those "Griplock" style yet though.
The reason i guess that they "laser them" is that is it easier to "rebadge" them so you could laser what ever the customer want into the pliers, if you forge it into the pliers you need one forging die for the Chanellock version , another forging die for brand "X" and another one for brand "Y"
ChinaLock must find way to reduce cost to stay competitive. If it reach the point where ChinaLock can no longer stay competitive with products produce in the US, it has no choice but to move production to China (like many other companies including Snap-On). If not, it can take the bankruptcy route.
Laser etching would reduce cost, but will that be enough to keep ChinaLock competitive in the long run.
charlie_nj
Well-known member
Yeah, that makes sense. I bet that is the reason for the laser etching vs. forged lettering.
As VP of sales and marketing for Channellock, Inc., I wanted to jump into the laser vs. forged “Made in the USA” discussion about our GL-10 Griplock® pliers in an attempt to set the record straight. The polished laser etched pad is an older version and the forged “Made in the USA” is the newer version. We take our "Made in the USA" designation very seriously, as is evident in our current “Fiercely Made in Meadville, Pa.” marketing campaign, and we will continue to proudly manufacture tools here.
Channellock, Inc. introduced the GL-10 in 1995. The GL-10 is a customized European design, like the Knipex, which we in fact manufacture in the USA. The GL-10 is less finished and less machined to provide a less expensive option for consumers, as compared to our 420 tongue-and-groove pliers... the original.
Thanks to everyone for the feedback – we appreciate it. If you’ve got additional questions for me, keep posting!
Channellock, Inc. introduced the GL-10 in 1995. The GL-10 is a customized European design, like the Knipex, which we in fact manufacture in the USA. The GL-10 is less finished and less machined to provide a less expensive option for consumers, as compared to our 420 tongue-and-groove pliers... the original.
Thanks to everyone for the feedback – we appreciate it. If you’ve got additional questions for me, keep posting!
Az Scooter
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2009
- Messages
- 1,500
I would say the man has spoken. As far as I am concerned, they are still my favorite brand of pliers. I will keep buying them.
@nutbuster:
Will Channellock introduce also screwdrivers/nutdrivers and adjustable wrenches “Fiercely Made in Meadville, Pa.” soon ??
(wrenches + screwdrivers ?? Is there a plant in the city of "China"/USA or "Spain"/USA ?)
A good ad campaign for the screwdrivers/nutdrivers would be: "work hard sweat red" or "work hard in the sweatshop"
Will Channellock introduce also screwdrivers/nutdrivers and adjustable wrenches “Fiercely Made in Meadville, Pa.” soon ??
(wrenches + screwdrivers ?? Is there a plant in the city of "China"/USA or "Spain"/USA ?)
A good ad campaign for the screwdrivers/nutdrivers would be: "work hard sweat red" or "work hard in the sweatshop"
Nutbuster,
first, thanks for your input and that's just made my day a little better knowing your company is sticking to "made in U.S.A.".
my question is, which one is the earlier version on the GL-12, the laser engraved or stamped? because when I was at the store(Wholesale Tool), there's no stamped GL-10, and there was only 1 stamped GL-12 which I bought out my me.
also, on your website, every picture is showing Laser engraved.
first, thanks for your input and that's just made my day a little better knowing your company is sticking to "made in U.S.A.".
my question is, which one is the earlier version on the GL-12, the laser engraved or stamped? because when I was at the store(Wholesale Tool), there's no stamped GL-10, and there was only 1 stamped GL-12 which I bought out my me.
also, on your website, every picture is showing Laser engraved.
dede2897234
Well-known member
Nutbuster,
I am glad to see that a man of your stature at Channellock is studying customer views and answering questions on the internet about your hand tool products! It is refreshing to see especially in these tough economic times unlike tool companies such as Cornwell, Stanley, and Danaher Tool Group. You will find that "The Garage Journal" discussion forum is the largest (in terms of hand tool knowledge, hand tool opinion, and member participation) of its kind on the internet! The members here are not only from the United States but all over the world.
Would you please answer this question?
Do you give visitor tours at your Meadville, PA manufacturing plant during tool production hours?
I have relatives that live 1 hour away from Meadville, PA in Conneaut, OH and would love to see in person how your pliers are made at your plant.
If you do not give plant tours, is it possible for you to make special arrangements at your company for a specific future day and time slot for interested "die hard do-it-yourself" Garage Journal members to visit your Meadville, PA plant?
Thanks,
Dave
I am glad to see that a man of your stature at Channellock is studying customer views and answering questions on the internet about your hand tool products! It is refreshing to see especially in these tough economic times unlike tool companies such as Cornwell, Stanley, and Danaher Tool Group. You will find that "The Garage Journal" discussion forum is the largest (in terms of hand tool knowledge, hand tool opinion, and member participation) of its kind on the internet! The members here are not only from the United States but all over the world.
Would you please answer this question?
Do you give visitor tours at your Meadville, PA manufacturing plant during tool production hours?
I have relatives that live 1 hour away from Meadville, PA in Conneaut, OH and would love to see in person how your pliers are made at your plant.
If you do not give plant tours, is it possible for you to make special arrangements at your company for a specific future day and time slot for interested "die hard do-it-yourself" Garage Journal members to visit your Meadville, PA plant?
Thanks,
Dave
rocco
Well-known member
i love the Channellock products and will keep buying them as long as the quality stays up there. for the price point - you won't find a better alternative.