Craftsman Pliers

[ste6168]

Just out of curiosity, more than anything... What was the general consensus on these older, US made, Craftsman pliers? This is one of the older tools I own, my parents got me this set for Christmas sometime in high school, probably around 20ish years old. As primarily a 'knipex guy' now, these still reside in my home use/general purpose tool box and I have always personally thought they where great. At one point I even scoured eBay trying to find a NOS set, without luck at the time... Maybe its more a nostalgia thing for me? What's the Garage Journal consensus on these?

Thinking about giving them an evaporust bath and cleaning them up a bit, they deserve it! LOL

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Not bad pliers. I found some NOS ones at Ollie’s last year or the year before and use them at work when I need them or whenever I feel like using something a little different lol. Don’t really like the grips on them as much as I do the Snap-on grips but still nice. Good USA made pliers in their day.

 

[JoeMcGov]

I've got all 4 of those in my tool box. They're between 25 and 35 years old. Have always done what I asked.

 

[captain14]

I have that set. I believe I picked up 2-3 sets at Kmart during sales and using all those SYWR points. I’m sure I got more than one set at Sears during one of their 1/2 off sales

 

[ibzepfan]

I've had my Craftsman pliers for over 25 years. They are used almost daily and still work fine. I haven't really had a good reason to replace them yet, although I have considered buying some shiny new ones as of late.

 

[Kscardsfan]

Bought the pro set in 2001/02 and they’ve never failed me. They’re nothing fancy, but they always work.

 

[JeepYJ]

I have that set with black handles and a set with orange handles. I used one set professionally for awhile. They’re 35ish years old. They all work just fine. The flush rivets are nice.

 

[ste6168]

Glad I am not the only one that agrees, good pliers! Just put mine into an evaporust bath, well see what they look like tomorrow.

 

[bobg03]

Glad I am not the only one that agrees, good pliers! Just put mine into an evaporust bath, well see what they look like tomorrow.

If you could, I would like to see what they look like after.

 

[Jtels85]

I have mine from the mid 2000’s and they’re still going strong. I prefer the flush rivets on the slip and arc joints.

You can still find basically the same pliers at Lowe’s under the Ideal brand in the electrical aisle.

 

[PugetDude]

I have a dozen or so pairs of these in different configurations., I really like them. They're my go-to set that lives on the pegboard. I hide my noodle-nose Knipex in a drawer with all the other mis-matched pliers

 

[Fedwrench]

I still have some from when I was a kid. I think of them as simple, no frills, get the job done tools that when purchased on sale, offered a lot of bang for the buck. Wilde still makes some of them but, Western Forge closed up shop awhile ago.

 

[Kscardsfan]

I still have some from when I was a kid. I think of them as simple, no frills, get the job done tools that when purchased on sale, offered a lot of bang for the buck. Wilde still makes some of them but, Western Forge closed up shop awhile ago.

Western Forge closing down is still a little depressing to me.

 

[3baygarage]

I'm curious what Evaporust would do to the markings and grips.

I know what use, rust and neglect do to the markings. Sometimes they're hardly visible.

 

[3baygarage]

Western Forge closing down is still a little depressing to me.

More than a little.

 

[FredWanaker]

glass bead on light pressure, dip in bluing, and oil. Will look new again.

 

[jives]

Have that set, about 25 years old. Lost the slip joint and tongue/groove set years ago. Chipped the point on the dykes, the needlenose jaw serrations getting worn. Decided to buy a new set of Kobalts. Terrible. Went back to the Craftsman. Used a gift card to get some Kleins. Kleins are nice, but would not say any better than the Craftsmans when new.

 

[Renegade1LI]

Still using mine, just picked up a nos set on ebay, they work fine.

 

[RTM]

i have that set from 25+ years ago, and gifted one to a friend about 20 years ago. Recently rediscovered two of them, which had been left in less than ideal storage conditions, so a bit of rust. I used a SandFlex block to bring them back to halfway tolerable.

 

[PugetDude]

Here are mine- might have one or two that aren’t Craftsman but they ended up here. Still need NOS straight needle nose.

 

[RonnieC]

I have the same four piece set from 20-25 years back. Same rust condition too.

 

[nh_yota]

I bought the same set 15-20 years ago and they have the same amount of rust, except for the needle nose pliers which I broke 5 years ago and Sears replaced under warranty while they were still open.

 

[stonesfan68]

SK had the same pliers, made in the same plant, just with green handles. I still have my Craftsman set and have used them for 25-odd years. You can pick up replacements at estate sales for about $3-5 a piece.

 

[rlitman]

Those are Wilde made, and are excellent. My favorites are the 3rd from the left in PugetDude's picture, and the duckbills.

 

[genog]

I too have a set of those Craftsman in daily use.
Thought that it was more than 30 years ago, but......
Ok
Probably so

Now, after seeing all of PugetDude's pliers in his post that's 5 above this one, I decided that I had better clean mine up!
It's embarrassing to have them looking the way that mine do......!

 

[rd65]

I've had my Craftsman pliers for over 25 years. They are used almost daily and still work fine. I haven't really had a good reason to replace them yet, although I have considered buying some shiny new ones as of late.

Nice duckbills. Didnt know they offered those. I like the thinner ends vs my channel locks. My SnapOn pair have the thin ends like the Craftsman.

 

[Bubba Fett]

Those were great pliers. Not the fanciest or prettiest, but they get the job done.

 

[Steve_P]

I still have a few by WF, black textured handles. They are better than Channellock IMO.

 

[ste6168]

Well, unfortunately the Evaporust bath didn't make a ton of difference, as I somewhat expected. Removed some of the rust, but they still don't look pretty... Oh well, they look like they've done work. I will have to keep my eyes open for a few more pair!

 

[89MustangGX]

I also have the same pliers (acquired multiple sets over the years and have a drawer full of them), in mostly the same condition. I like them. Been using them for probably 25+ years. I've tried others and have them (Knipex, etc.) but these seem to get most of my use. Not too long ago I stumbled on and bought what I believe is 4 NOS Armstrong sets on eBay - they look identical except the color of the handle and I believe they are the same. Not sure why I got them except that I hoard things I like and am afraid I won't be able to get anymore.

 

[yrly]

They’re decent. I think I still have a NOS set in my garage. I got a bunch when fast Eddie was switching to Chinese suppliers. Some of the Chinese ones though aren‘t fundamentally worse.

 

[Jtels85]

Well, unfortunately the Evaporust bath didn't make a ton of difference, as I somewhat expected. Removed some of the rust, but they still don't look pretty... Oh well, they look like they've done work. I will have to keep my eyes open for a few more pair!

Considering the use you’ve got out of them, I’d say they look really good for the age!

 

[yrly]

oh and about cleaning If you don’t worry about the logo you can polish them up with a Dremel using a light brush to get the surface rust off and some solvent oil.

 

[ste6168]

Considering the use you’ve got out of them, I’d say they look really good for the age!

Yeah, certainly not complaining! I am fairly certain I could hand these down to my boy in about 10 years and they'll still be working fine. More than likely I will own these for the remainder of my days (which, with any luck will be about 60 years, LOL).

 

[Rinspeed]

Well, unfortunately the Evaporust bath didn't make a ton of difference, as I somewhat expected. Removed some of the rust, but they still don't look pretty...

Die grinder with a buffing pad works really well.

 

[FMB4]

I've had a slip joint and a tongue groove since the very early '89s (w/o the 'rubber' handles). Still use the s/j regularly to this day. Had to replace the pivot bolt and nut on the t/g which now is part of my lawn sprinkler system tool kit.

 

[Iridium rand]

Well, unfortunately the Evaporust bath didn't make a ton of difference, as I somewhat expected. Removed some of the rust, but they still don't look pretty... Oh well, they look like they've done work. I will have to keep my eyes open for a few more pair!

Evaporust often leaves that black coating on the metal especially when it’s well used, give em a good steel/brass brushing to get it off and they’ll look nice and fresh

 

[Iridium rand]

Like most craftsman tools from that era, good tools that work well for a good price, nothing more nothing less

 

[Sumboodie]

I traded mine for newer ones. The black rubber handles kept coming off.

 

[joshmodelskidoo]

Dad had some and I always liked them