Channellock Quality...

[woody 73]

First off you better trust the source a first GJ post or someone that you can trust, only you guys and gals can make that call.

Second you better be asking for pictures something like this...

Third, if someone starts complaining and they did not take the time to call the company in question you better be asking why this did not happen in the first place end of story.

So many times I hear the cry "The sky is falling, the sky is falling" , when all it takes is a simple phone call first before the crucifying posts starts".

Today I spent 20 minutes on the phone withy a nice lady from the Channellock company asking questions and this is a few parts of the phone call.

If you buy a product save the sales ticket if possible, if the tool fails you, say after a few months of use and lets say the teeth on a pliers fails send it back, because they want to know about it asap. If you are going through a pair of cutters in only two weeks, send it back they want to know why this is happening.

In other words they are not monsters, they want to make things right.

Now if you are being a jerk and abusing a tool then you are out of luck; so lets look at a few special notes:

1) Channellock does not and I repeat this have different lines of tools, as in a lower line and a higher end line of tools. In other words the pair you bought from wally world is the same thing at a contractor store.

2) Wear and tear as the result of faithful use.. In other words after a few years things wear out, teeth will be very rounded,joint will wobble causing the cutting edges to pass,or the nose tips to close improperly. Cutting tips will be rounded, cutting edges can wear or be abused.

3) Damage resulting from alterations or tampering... reground edges, drilled holes,or welded surfaces, both tips bent or broken, hammer marks on the head, joint or handles.

4) Damage from contact with hot wires... Which tend to leave a copper residue or a scorched appearance.

5) Breakage from abuse or overload... Pliers are deformed from improper use, pry marks on the head, evidence of a cheater bar being used.

So there you have it, the quality has not gone down, but if you feel it has then do not buy their tools, end of story. On the other hand if you feel wronged somehow just a simple phone call is all it takes and if the tool is not that old they will work with you.

A few pictures of channellock pliers that I have been using for many years without any complaints and before I forget the nice lady wanted the GJ information should they ever want to help us out in the future.

 

[Vantastic]

 

[mikebaker1129]

Nice work !

 

[Interceptor]

So there you have it, the quality has not gone down, but if you feel it has then do not buy their tools, end of story. On the other hand if you feel wronged somehow just a simple phone call is all it takes and if the tool is not that old they will work with you.

A few pictures of channellock pliers that I have been using for many years without any complaints and before I forget the nice lady wanted the GJ information should they ever want to help us out in the future.

I'm not even sure why I'm replying, I'm new here so obviously anything I say is irrelevant. But I feel like I need to defend myself so here goes.
I do feel the quality has gone down, or at least that the pieces I recently purchased are not made to the same standards that I've come to expect.
I started the other thread to see if it was just my imagination or if others had noticed the same thing. It helps me figure out if I just got a few bad pieces or if there's more to it. It turns out I'm not the only one.
I did not bash the company in any way whatsoever, I only shared my recent experience with their products.
I did not contact Channellock because I do not feel they owe me anything, the tools are very reasonably priced, they cost about what they are worth. If I had tried to get reimbursement you would be trashing me for trying to warranty tools that I abused... I can't win.

I also have a large collection of Channellocks that I've used for years without any complaints. One of the best/favorite tools in my box is a Channellock 337. It's because of these great tools that I was so surprised by the poor performance of the three newest one's I've got.

 

[kythri]

I did not contact Channellock because I do not feel they owe me anything, the tools are very reasonably priced, they cost about what they are worth. If I had tried to get reimbursement you would be trashing me for trying to warranty tools that I abused... I can't win.

1> That's pure speculation

2> Channellock wants to know about this, so they can address a potential QC issue.

Call them, report your issue.

 

[yjWrangler]

This totally warranted another thread

 

[PFSard]

Woody

Good job on the summation. Companies usually want to know about how satisfied people are with their products. No company does everything perfectly. If I have an issue with any company's product or service, I make sure the company knows about my dissatisfaction. And likewise, I try to invest some time in praising companies that I believe to have an item I like.

 

[Parrothead]

This doesn’t appear to be a new issue

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum...256&highlight=Cburnscrx+Channellock&showall=1

 

[hoye0017]

OP, I'm struggling with your logic. The original topic was whether or not channellock quality has gone down from where it was at a time that their products were considered high quality. Inherently, this means that we are comparing new channellock products to old channelock products.

I see that you provided a number of pictures of "pliers that you have been using for many years without any complaints." This tells me 2 things must be true:
1. They are old stock because you have used them "many" years.
2. None of them can be new stock because that means you would have needed to replace the old ones, meaning that you would have in fact, experienced problems.

Your large quantity of pliers of every type also suggests that you ONLY purchase channellock pliers and probably have limited experience with other brands.

If you only own old stock channellock, how could you be qualified to compare new stock channellock to old stock or any other competing product?

There are probably things that I don't know but the only evidence you have submitted is that you love old channellock products. Given the quantity that you own, one could suggest that you are a fan who is being irrationally defensive of an attack on your brand.

Personally, I would say that my 18 yr old channellock pliers are still top quality pliers. But when I went searching for new channellock needle nose pliers, I found the final grinds, jaw alignment, and pivot play to be wildly inconsistent. I finally found a pair that looked good and bought them. I was terribly disappointed after one use. Now they live in a bag of tools that collects dust while my new snap-on needle nose sits in my main tool box right next to my 18 yr. old channellock groove joints.

 

[four.cycle]

But when I went searching for new channellock needle nose pliers, I found the final grinds, jaw alignment, and pivot play to be wildly inconsistent. I finally found a pair that looked good and bought them. I was terribly disappointed after one use.

Perhaps, as suggested above, if you felt that strongly about it, you should have brought it to the attention of Channellock. There's nothing anyone on an internet forum can do to remedy that issue.
It's quite possible what you got was anomalous - one out of a run of 10,000 pairs.
It's also possible that perhaps Channellock isn't the best source for needle-nose pliers. It's possible that another brand might be a better choice.
Channellock's big claim to fame is their tongue-and-groove pliers. They have become so well known and are so ubiquitous that their brand name has become the generic term used for any brand of tongue-and-groove pliers (similar to "Kleenex" or "Band-Aid".)

Your own experiences notwithstanding, the bottom line is that Channellock continues to maintain an overwhelming market share and a price-point advantage over their competitors.
That the product receives overwhelmingly positive reviews from users should be clearly evident from reading through a few posts in the thread Parrothead cited just above.

It flies in the face of logic to maintain that a given manufacturer's products are sub-par because of an isolated incident.
Far too often on this website a user will dismiss a given brand based on one isolated instance. One bad pair of pliers does not support the argument that a manufacturer's products are of poor quality.
(FTR: I am not even thinking about Channellock at the moment, but comments that were made by another member about a different brand of pliers over a year ago in one of the "Hot Deal" threads; negative comments made repeatedly which have never been supported by any other member here to my knowledge.)

Moreover, in a comment I made to Woody earlier today in a private message, I mentioned to him my own personal experience with "warranty" (a story I've probably repeated too many times here already.)
I personally handled all of the warranty returns for a chain of retail auto parts stores and an independent warehouse for almost two decades. After that, as part of my responsibilities as an independent manufacturer's representative, I dealt with the warranty returns of our accounts (a few of which were high-volume mass-merchandiser retailers.)

Well over 95% of what I saw returned as "warranty" was misuse; abuse; parts bolted on the wrong application; parts installed that weren't needed; items where pieces had been robbed from the package (i.e., carburetor kits); and items which had been deliberately or accidentally broken.
Less than 5% of the total warranty returns were actually "defective" (in materials or workmanship.)

Consumers in the current era have completely unrealistic expectations about products they purchase. (see also: Costco Christmas Tree lady.)

I sold a lot of tools. I sold a lot of tools for years.
I had never even heard of anybody asking for a "warranty" on a drill bit until I joined this website.
I still laugh every time I read it here: a warranty on a drill bit?
Seriously? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

The Channellock model 317 7-1/2" needle-nose pliers sell for $19.97 all day long at Home Depot. You can find them for less from online sellers.
When a loaf of bread is $3 bucks, and a gallon of gas is $3 bucks, and a candy bar is a buck-and-a-half, how much pliers can you reasonably expect for your $20 bucks?

You could always try the 5018 Proamerica for $18.05:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Pro-Americ...e-Wire-Cutter-8-MADE-IN-USA-5018/131836870698

Or Wilde's G6160 (only available in 6-1/2") for $21.20:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Wilde-6-1-...h-Side-Cutters-Made-in-USA-G6160/132297701885

Or go big and try one of Klein's offerings...

...or bend over and wait for a guy in a big white truck to pull up to the curb.

YMMV

(* FTR: I do not own any Channellock products. I do not like baby-blue handles. *)

 

[Jim c]

I agree on that bending over and waiting for the big white truck. Those too, trucks will empty out the paychecks of most guys working at shops, keeping them on long term credit.. every guy can do better than that. Channelock is ok for most usage . Also, don’t forget about xerox copy, crescent wrench, vice grips,

 

[Jim c]

Woody73. That is a very nice set of all blue handled channelock pliers. Nice American made tools!

 

[Yarpo]

I still laugh every time I read it here: a warranty on a drill bit?
Seriously? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Wait is this a thing? I can get warranties on my drill bits? Who the hell warranties a consumable? Can I get warranties on my P2 Phillips bits I use in my impact too?

 

[WittHay]

Personally, I would say that my 18 yr old channellock pliers are still top quality pliers. But when I went searching for new channellock needle nose pliers, I found the final grinds, jaw alignment, and pivot play to be wildly inconsistent. I finally found a pair that looked good and bought them. I was terribly disappointed after one use. Now they live in a bag of tools that collects dust while my new snap-on needle nose sits in my main tool box right next to my 18 yr. old channellock groove joints.

I am wondering what was so wrong with the Channellock, that you quit using them after one use. I am a relatively new Channellock user, but I really like the 317 needle nose plier. I have a bunch of Channellock pliers bought in the last 3 to 4 years.

The worst plier I have for poor quality machining is a Gray bent needle nose plier made by a German company called Orbis. Similar to the one in the picture

The pliers I have used over the years are Klein and Snap-on. Even Snap-on long nose are not indestructible. I have a two year old $49 Talon Grip with bent tips in the service truck

 

[hoye0017]

Sorry guys, I'm still just hearing a bunch of defensive rhetoric. Does anyone here besides Parrothead and Myself have any experience with channellock products purchased in the last year? If you can't say that you have, you are also just speculating. We both have had great experiences with channellock in the past and our recent experiences have made us wonder is quality control is declining. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't but you're not bringing much to the conversation unless you have some relevant and recent experience with new channellock products.

Also, can we please try not to turn this into another snap-on bashing thread? It has nothing to do with the topic.

 

[tonyciambrone]

Channellock appears to be like SK around here, as in, beyond reproach. The user is wrong, Channellock/SK is amazing.
You didn't use it right.
You didn't use it enough to say.
You should have contacted the Manufacturer before posting to alert other members of your concern.
Even though there is no quality issue if you bring this up to the manufacturer they will fix all the other non-existent quality issues.

 

[WittHay]

Sorry guys, I'm still just hearing a bunch of defensive rhetoric. Does anyone here besides Parrothead and Myself have any experience with channellock products purchased in the last year? If you can't say that you have, you are also just speculating. We both have had great experiences with channellock in the past and our recent experiences have made us wonder is quality control is declining. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't but you're not bringing much to the conversation unless you have some relevant and recent experience with new channellock products.

Also, can we please try not to turn this into another snap-on bashing thread? It has nothing to do with the topic.

Purchased a new 447 curved diagonal last year. It was fine. Channellocks are made by the thousands to be sold at a reasonable price. The quality matches the price.

The only tool I have ever returned because of bad machining was a $46 Snap-on 6" rolling head prybar last December The second worst purchase last year was a German made Gray plier. Also really bad machining.

Talking about SK, what was with the bad pear head ratchets that were sent out by the hundreds last year. The problem got fixed but it shouldn't have happened in the fist place.

 

[MaverickDMD]

Woody, those pictures are of old Channellocks notable due to the stamping into the steel. Today's iterations are laser etched weak steel with some magical coating on it. This may have been a good quality product at one time, certainly when the tools in those pics were made. Just not now. It's the same story with many tool companies. Many were once good but not now.

Great comments hoye0017.

 

[scubadoober]

I had to pick up a pair of diagonal cutters today and skipped the Channellocks for these made in Taiwan Irwins. The Channellocks felt rough and the heat treat on the cutting edge looked inconsistent. I am not generally a fan on Irwin products, but these surprised me. Very smooth and comfortable, we will see on durability.

 

[kythri]

Does anyone here besides Parrothead and Myself have any xperience with channellock products purchased in the last year?

Right here.

In the past 12 months, from Amazon alone, I have purchased:

215
463
483
911
369
369CRFT
E50S
524
E41S
449

That's just what I can accurately/easily claim (from April 2017 until now) - I know I've purchased at least another 4-6 of various models from other sources, and probably another 6-8 of various models to give as gifts to family/friends.

While I haven't gotten so ****-retentive as to bust out the calipers and measure every one, I can tell you that I haven't seen any issues with any of them. No jaw alignment issues, no grinding/machining/forging issues, etc.

I won't blow smoke and claim that I've used all of these recent purchases hyper-extensively, but they've been used, and they haven't broken or misperformed in any way.

Edited to add: And, no, I haven't seen the quality go down from what I bought last year, what I bought 5-10 years ago, and what I've bought used that is 20-30 years old.

 

[Yarpo]

Sorry guys, I'm still just hearing a bunch of defensive rhetoric. Does anyone here besides Parrothead and Myself have any experience with channellock products purchased in the last year? If you can't say that you have, you are also just speculating. We both have had great experiences with channellock in the past and our recent experiences have made us wonder is quality control is declining. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't but you're not bringing much to the conversation unless you have some relevant and recent experience with new channellock products.

Purchased less than a year ago, no issues. I haven't used the cutters but a few times tho, I'm still using my old ****** Chinese no name ones around the house. You can see a few blemishes with whatever they must dip or finish these in, its pooled in a few spots that are noticeable. Cosmetic blemish if anything.

The Channellock channel locks where purchased a little over a year ago (Christmas) and they've been used a ton. No issues, teeth are in great shape, but the lower jaw seems to be smaller than the upper, not sure if that's a feature or a bug. Again with a few cosmetic "blemishes"

Examine the pics yourselves, I'm curious if I need to be outraged at my 12 dollar pliers

 

[hoye0017]

Thank you Yarpo. Do you have similar channellock products from 5+ yrs ago that you can compare them to?

Again, guys, the question is not, "Are these bad quality for the money?" I doubt anyone will argue that, especially given their low price point.

The question is, "has the quality gone down over time?"

The answer could certainly be "yes, quality has gone down, but so has the price." That would be a fine answer but it would still be acknowledging that quality has declined...

...Which I'm not even saying is true. No one is trying to bash Channellock or pass final judgment. The only thing Parrothead did was raise the question. He was looking for supporting and counter arguments. All he got was a bunch of fans, apologists, and possible shills trying to discredit him for even asking.

 

[Yarpo]

Thank you Yarpo. Do you have similar channellock products from 5+ yrs ago that you can compare them to?

Again, guys, the question is not, "Are these bad quality for the money?" I doubt anyone will argue that, especially given their low price point.

The question is, "has the quality gone down over time?"

The answer could certainly be "yes, quality has gone down, but so has the price." That would be a fine answer but it would still be acknowledging that quality has declined...

...Which I'm not even saying is true. No one is trying to bash Channellock or pass final judgment. The only thing Parrothead did was raise the question. He was looking for supporting and counter arguments. All he got was a bunch of fans, apologists, and possible shills trying to discredit him for even asking.

Kind of, yes. Most my tools at work are not channellock, but I do have two older pair of pliers from them, the only one I use extensively is a regular slip joint pliers (528) so I can't compare directly as they are different products. The pair I have at work work fine and these two pairs I have at home also work fine. Haven't stressed my old nor new ones enough to tell you if they **** really. That said they're pliers, I'm still confused on what tasks some of you guys are tackling with them to snap tips off and such.

Not an apologist or shill unfortunately, sorry to let you down. I just find these threads humorous to a degree and wanted in. Very few people here on the forums have purchased a new product within the last year as you pointed out. So how are we going to take a sample size of 1, or 3, or 10 when they sell millions of products? For shits and giggles I checked through some amazon reviews, and little/no complaints within the last year on the 4 or 5 products I selected. Go check there, you can see the date's of reviews and sort by them in fact. Otherwise at 12 dollars a pair people should cut them open and do some metallurgy tests and compare with their old ones....? Or would all of that make to much sense?

https://www.amazon.com/Channellock-...erType=all_reviews&sortBy=recent&pageNumber=1

Now look at the needle nose, lots of good reviews, but there are a few people pointing out imperfections, overall a small minority tho.

https://www.amazon.com/Channellock-...erType=all_reviews&sortBy=recent&pageNumber=2

 

[hoye0017]

Good point. Looking at historical review trends seems like a reasonable approach to collecting more data. The only problem with that is most people will only be applying the perspective of what they just bought, not what they just bought in comparison to the same product they bought years ago. The other problem is that most of those are reviews for a tool they just unboxed and has seen no use.

Still, it seems like a better data set than any we're likely to get here. I'm going to look at those reviews too.

 

[Yarpo]

The only problem with that is most people will only be applying the perspective of what they just bought, not what they just bought in comparison to the same product they bought years ago.

True, but you can see a few people in the reviews do compare to their old ones.

Still, it seems like a better data set than any we're likely to get here. I'm going to look at those reviews too.

Yeah much better idea than the 5 or so of us here that have commented, enjoy!

 

[woody 73]

Just to reiterate here again let me remind everyone if you feel the quality has gone down you are free to not buy any channellock products.

Just keep in mind that the number of tools that at one time were made in the USA are going by way of overseas factories, not the other way around.

 

[joebachor]

I've been wrenching professionally since 1989 and I have old and new Channellocks, I only notice a difference of quality in the finish, otherwise Channellock pliers are excellent, not on par with Snap-On or Knipex in my opinion but Channellock and Tekton are the best pliers for the money that you can buy today, and of those two I would pick Tekton (USA made by Wilde) because warranty is amazingly easy and the quality is supurb.

 

[B_Bimmer]

I have used channellock products my whole life, went on a buying binge about two years ago and got everything I had done without and have used them hard since, additionally a relative bought a fairly complete set and has used them professionally in a shop for a year or so now, all with only one complaint. That being, the joint on my 6" slip joint pliers is a tad sticky. I also own plenty of snap on pliers (very nice, not "worth" the price difference over channellock in my opinion), and knipex (totally overated), as well as at least a representative of most other major brands.

 

[kctyphoon]

I upgraded all my cheap pliers at home to Channellock. They are great for that.. pro use it's hit or miss. Channellock is not known for using super hard steel, but for most pro's they will work great.

 

[visionguru]

I own 8 Channellocks acquired in a span of 10 years. I think Channellock remains very consistent in design and quality.

Comparing with recent China/Taiwan made pliers (Gearwrench, Weise), the fit and finish of Channellock is definitely on the crude side, but that's what they have been since forever: utilitarian tools with good quality.

 

[jeffmoss26]

I've been buying and using Channellock tools my whole life...never had an issue!

 

[FlyBy]

I had the opportunity to have a private tour of their facilities in Meadville, PA when I was in college. Very cool to be able to see their tools go from blanks, to forged parts and then all the way through finishing. Was able to have the time to do some photo work as well when I was there.

The image below is of racks of tools after having their handles dipped in their signature blue rubber.

 

[M6erfan]

@hoye0017, I think your barking up a tall tree here. You aren't likely to get any real evidence from the members here about wether CL's quality has changed over time for better or worse. Even Woody's initial post directly from Channellock didn't answer it. Some info about warranty, return policy and the fact that they don't have two lines of tools, but nothing that answers your question about their quality over time.

As others have pointed out, if your not happy with them vote with your pocketbook and move to another brand.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

OP, I'm struggling with your logic. The original topic was whether or not channellock quality has gone down from where it was at a time that their products were considered high quality. Inherently, this means that we are comparing new channellock products to old channelock products.

I see that you provided a number of pictures of "pliers that you have been using for many years without any complaints." This tells me 2 things must be true:
1. They are old stock because you have used them "many" years.
2. None of them can be new stock because that means you would have needed to replace the old ones, meaning that you would have in fact, experienced problems.

Your large quantity of pliers of every type also suggests that you ONLY purchase channellock pliers and probably have limited experience with other brands.

If you only own old stock channellock, how could you be qualified to compare new stock channellock to old stock or any other competing product?

There are probably things that I don't know but the only evidence you have submitted is that you love old channellock products. Given the quantity that you own, one could suggest that you are a fan who is being irrationally defensive of an attack on your brand.

Personally, I would say that my 18 yr old channellock pliers are still top quality pliers. But when I went searching for new channellock needle nose pliers, I found the final grinds, jaw alignment, and pivot play to be wildly inconsistent. I finally found a pair that looked good and bought them. I was terribly disappointed after one use. Now they live in a bag of tools that collects dust while my new snap-on needle nose sits in my main tool box right next to my 18 yr. old channellock groove joints.

Old vs New with pictures and testimonials of years of use with no complaints.
But; People have different ideas of what old really is.
My Older ChannelLock groove joint pliers have a nut and bolt that allow Me to adjust the play in the joint. My assortment of newer ones use a rivet rather than the bolt and nut.. My 40+ year old 16" pliers are adjusted the way I like them. The newer ChannelLock 6" pliers that had minimal use are sloppy loose in comparison.. I have at least a dozen different brands of pliers, and at least a dozen ChannelLock pliers of different types. The tools that are a total disappointment or fail go into My scrap bin; but any ChannelLock have yet to be tossed. The $17 needle nose at Walmart may be one of the best buys in the store. Woody 73 brings up a good point about ChannelLock not building two grades of tools. Why would they prostitute their name by doing so? This thread is no exception as to someone attempting to drag top dog SnapOn thru the mud.. That $17 is not going to buy a top dog SnapOn needle nose. ChannelLock falls into the mid range.. They get public exposure on the tool racks of one of the nation's most popular stores. I look at this as a smart move for WalMart and ChannelLock.

So; I have a preference for groove joint pliers with an adjustable bolt and nut, and favor SnapOn needle nose pliers. My preferences do not mean I think everything else is junk.. I simply like My 40+ year old ChannelLock slip joint pliers better than My newer ones...

 

[metaldad]

i guess i gotta chime in. i have a collection of channey, various ages, just the blue dipped.
i do not have an issue over quality, nor of it waning over time.
the riveted joint is superior to the old not/bolt they used to use.
a few of the newer adjustable jaw, 426, 420, 430, 440, 460, are a little sloppy, can't easily glide thru the range of adjustment and get in the 'groove'. seems they hang up.
did have one 7'' new needle nose, i forget which one, one tip busted off during what i consider normal use. no big deal, i didnt cry for warranty replacement. pliers are a consumable to me, built into the price of the job.
also had an older pair of 430's let loose wrenching out a pipe ******. im happy i wasnt using alot of force, or i would have fell off the ladder. this pair were overheated, over colded, beaten the snot out of.
this is an old outdated pic of my 'collection'. many have since been added.

 

[hoye0017]

@hoye0017, I think your barking up a tall tree here. You aren't likely to get any real evidence from the members here about wether CL's quality has changed over time for better or worse. Even Woody's initial post directly from Channellock didn't answer it. Some info about warranty, return policy and the fact that they don't have two lines of tools, but nothing that answers your question about their quality over time.

As others have pointed out, if your not happy with them vote with your pocketbook and move to another brand.

I think you're saying what I'm saying. The topic would be basically impossible to prove via an Internet forum. But that doesn't mean someone can't ask the question and hope for a relevant discussion. Instead, most replies to the original thread we're irrelevant and oddly defensive as if they have a personal investment in the brand.

For the record, I did vote with my pocket book. I didn't return the last set of pliers, I just bought something else instead, and of course I will likely avoid the brand in the future.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

i guess i gotta chime in. i have a collection of channey, various ages, just the blue dipped.
i do not have an issue over quality, nor of it waning over time.
the riveted joint is superior to the old not/bolt they used to use.
a few of the newer adjustable jaw, 426, 420, 430, 440, 460, are a little sloppy, can't easily glide thru the range of adjustment and get in the 'groove'. seems they hang up.

The sloppiness and hanging up when attempting to adjust the range that You observed are the reasons I favor the nut and bolt design. But; Neglect in keeping the nut properly adjusted, thus becoming excessively loose, and even falling apart, would justify the rivet. Ever notice the pliers at auction, estate,and flea markets that are separated due to a missing bolt and nut?
Try going into a local hardware store and asking for a bolt and nut for a plier.
Wonder how many pliers were sent in for warranty due to a missing nut and bolt..? Not that a rivet may only be a cheaper way to fasten a pliers together, but I wouldn't overlook the other reasons.

 

[3baygarage]

You guys made me stop and examine Channelocks while at Walmart yesterday.

My only conclusion, Walmart is aggravating as heck on a Saturday around dinner time.

Other than that, what more could people want. A two pack of brand new pliers for 19.99.

 

[pgilmore7]

I just recently bought a pair of channel lock wire cutters to replace the ones I misplaced. I have lots of Channel Lock pliers and have used them for many years. I’ve always been real happy with them but the pair of cutters I just got broke the first time I used them. The rivet holding them together broke and I was just cutting some wire. Maybe it’s just a bad one, I’ll exchange them and see.


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[redwrench60]

I have bunches of Channellock and in general I like them all pretty well. I do note however that I tend to see various CL pliers in my collection that spans 25 years that my old and older specimens have more uniform machining and grinding than my newer ones. Not a dealbreaker just things you notice. Here’s an example from some I bought about 3 years ago. A pair of 318’s with some wonky machining. These are a heavy duty needle nose model but that thin jaw looks like it’d snap right off if you got at all rough with them.