Craftsman Pliers

[seber]

When Western Forge was still making them I kept picking up different styles at the Denver flea market from workers sho would bring them up from the springs to sell. I wound up with most of them. Other than lack of plating I thing they are as good as the best you can buy.

 

[Jtels85]

One more thought…

Even in the heavily used condition they’re in, they are still better quality and better looking pliers than the red handle Craftsman’s that Stanley currently has the audacity to sell at Lowe’s. I hate those things so much. They are absolute ****. ****. They are the largest tool manufacturer in the world and those are the best they can give us? Where’s the middle finger emoji…

 

[mrvm]

Hanging around the GJ has got me to step my plier game with bigger and better ones from Knipex and others. But the CM are not going anywhere. The CM are now my emergency trunk tools for each vehicle and allows me to discard, donate or repurpose the basic tools I used to carry.

 

[genog]

My Craftsman set was embarrassingly grungy.....
So, an overnight soak in Simple Green and steel wool got them decent looking.
I am not going to get obsessive about the cleaning..... Because, hey! They're tools.
They are not going to be displayed in the Living Room!
My favorite by far are the Duckbills

 

[mrvm]

My Craftsman set was embarrassingly grungy.....
So, overnight in Simple Green and steel wool got them decent looking.
I am not going to get obsessive about the cleaning..... Because, hey! They're tools.
They are not going to be displayed in the Living Room!
My favorite by far are the Duckbills

Good job cleaning them up. At least they have been used and not living the tool polishers life....lol

 

[SketchyBikes]

I bought that set brand new about 2000 when I got hired on as a CATV tech in college. Used them everyday for 8 years in the field and they were great!! I have since changed careers, and I still have them and use them around home now. Same finish on mine too! But great investment 22 years ago!

 

[Jtels85]

My Craftsman set was embarrassingly grungy.....
So, an overnight soak in Simple Green and steel wool got them decent looking.
I am not going to get obsessive about the cleaning..... Because, hey! They're tools.
They are not going to be displayed in the Living Room!
My favorite by far are the Duckbills

They look great. Good job on cleaning them up!

 

[IMCA38]

They were my go to for a long time before I started to acquire the blue handled brand in mass quantities. They still get use though. I rounded up my collection and snapped a photo.

 

[Rabid Badger]

I gave away my Western Forge-made Craftsman pliers years ago and still kick myself for it. The flush rivets gave that little bit of extra access.

 

[Junkdrawer Dog]

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.

What brand are the yellow handled pump pliers? They look similar to some my Dad bought years ago.

 

[genog]

Glad to see this thread renewed and refreshed

I found a set of Proto cutters that's very similar to my two Craftsman
Close.....but there's a subtle diff here and there

 

[qqzj]

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!

Glad I didn’t spend top dollars for evaporust. I used vinegar and all the rust, as well as logos, are gone now. I am not super happy about it. Never buy rusted stuff again.

After the rust is gone, the metal under it has a different finish from the new one. It will never be the same. If the purpose is using them, that’s fine. They just won’t look that nice again

 

[ibzepfan]

What brand are the yellow handled pump pliers? They look similar to some my Dad bought years ago.

They are Indestro Super pliers. They were actually my dad's and I've had them at least 40 years.