Do any Cobra owners still use Channellocks?

[monomach]

Since getting a few pairs of Knipex Cobras, I haven't touched any of my Channellocks. It's gotten so bad that my father-in-law borrowed two pairs from my home box and forgot to give them back for almost two months...I never even noticed. I can't think of anything to use them for, at work or home.

Have you guys run across applications in which they manage to beat out Cobras?

I'm leaning toward selling all of them off at the moment.

 

[Adam.C]

Between cobras and the KNIPEX plier wrench, I have no more use for channel locks. I DO still use slip joint pliers however.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

Between cobras and the KNIPEX plier wrench, I have no more use for channel locks. I DO still use slip joint pliers however.

Same here. I threw the channel locks in the plumbing bag, work truck box, trailer box, etc.

The Knipex pliers wrench is a god send. I do a lot of finish work so the smooth jaws are awesome. Before that I was grinding channellocks smooth

 

[97tbird]

I thought you were talking about the 60's or 03/04 cobra's

 

[jim1987]

I can't find anywhere to use the water pump type channel locks that I have...

 

[kythri]

The Knipex pliers wrench is a god send. I do a lot of finish work so the smooth jaws are awesome. Before that I was grinding channellocks smooth

Dumb question - did a pair of 415's not meet your needs?

https://www.channellock.com/415-Smooth-Jaw-Plier.aspx

 

[J.A.Varela]

The adjustment on the cobra is finer. That being said I still own the 415 but my neighbor is a Knipex ***** and they are damn nice in the hand.

 

[-Brent-]

I still use them, not as much, though.

 

[bobcatdan]

I only own a king cobra. As much as I like it, I still like my 20" channellock too. The cobra has not done anything above and beyond my comparable channellock to make me want to add smaller ones when my channellock do just fine. The plierwrench is a wonderful tool, but I don't compair it too channellock. Now the SO/bahco pipe wrench pliers, those put both cobra and channellock locks to shame when it comes to bite.

 

[zkling]

Yes. The knipex have much different jaw profile, that really seems to dig into the work piece. My favorite T&G pliers are still my flush joint black handle craftsman. Honestly I like the alligators better than the cobras. On the fly adjustment is much faster with the alligators.

 

[SASORacing]

Cobras are much more advanced with the push button. I'm not really a fan of then unless it's plumbing work or a stuck bolt, reason is that it mars the **** out of nice pretty bolts.

 

[zkling]

Cobras are much more advanced with the push button. I'm not really a fan of then unless it's plumbing work or a stuck bolt, reason is that it mars the **** out of nice pretty bolts.

You consider a push button activated lock to be "much more advanced"? Agree though, they are awesome for removing rounded fasteners, but for general work where a bolt is to be reused the sharp, fine teeth seem to tear the item up.

 

[Fcvapor05]

You consider a push button activated lock to be "much more advanced"? Agree though, they are awesome for removing rounded fasteners, but for general work where a bolt is to be reused the sharp, fine teeth seem to tear the item up.

Yeah... that's why I don't use pliers on bolts.

 

[SASORacing]

You consider a push button activated lock to be "much more advanced"? Agree though, they are awesome for removing rounded fasteners, but for general work where a bolt is to be reused the sharp, fine teeth seem to tear the item up.

In the world of simple pliers? Don't you? They are also self locking, that sounds light years ahead of a basic 420 channellock. Right?

 

[owenst7]

I don't use my alligators/cobras for demo work. I frequently have to grab something with the pliers and then hit the pliers with a hammer. I think the channel locks hold up better to that abuse. My mechanic tools are box joints though because they work so much better under torque.

 

[davesnothere]

I dont use channellocks any more, no.

 

[bcradio]

Yeah for the massive version of the Channelock... not sure if Knipex makes a cobra that big, but it'll be pricy if so.

 

[SASORacing]

Yeah for the massive version of the Channelock... not sure if Knipex makes a cobra that big, but it'll be pricy if so.

for sure! I have more Channellocks than i do Knipex for that very reason..... there cheaper!!!!

 

[Fcvapor05]

Yeah for the massive version of the Channelock... not sure if Knipex makes a cobra that big, but it'll be pricy if so.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000SOVRNC/?tag=atomicindus08-20

vs

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000IJR77W/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[chadster1]

What are channel locks?

 

[Coach James]

http://www.brewgene.com/sites/default/files/beer_images/user13073_65936.jpg ??

Coach

 

[Fcvapor05]

What are channel locks?

****** pliers that people worship because they're made in the USA

 

[rtole]

I prefer the channelock gl 10 and 12 to the cobra. Its not like cobras are out of my price range. I just get more life out of the jaws. In fact I never wore out the jaws on a gl channelock. I have done this to 2 cobras. Not that I didnt like the cobras......they were a quality tool, just prefer the gl series of the channelocks. I dont use these types of tools on good nuts or bolts, only for bending, round stuff, or rounded fasteners. No the standard t & g pliers will not come close in grip.......not in any brand, but channelock makes a comparable product. The adjustment is not quite as fine as the cobras, but the jaws last longer.

 

[chipper]

I use both...since I have them I might as well use them same with ratchets I try to spread the love around a lil bit.

 

[Farmall450]

Yeah... that's why I don't use pliers on bolts.

My thoughts exactly....

And if it's rusty, a pair of vice grip nut busters will be better than anything!

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Do any Cobra owners still use Channellocks?

Without reading anything other than the title........... Yes. I like channellocks or other similar pliers. Cobras don't open very wide, so you have to have the adjustment spot on or stop and re-adjust. Channel locks have only three or four grooves, and with the jaws opening wider, you are more likely to get it right the first try. I use them alot for bending cotter pins over tight (squeezing the head and tail) and Cobras just don't do it.

Charles

 

[kiatech]

Nah, not really

 

[92integra]

im cheep i just use irwin groove lock's ..................... same thing to me

 

[Coolguy83]

Don't use them anymore....I am starting a new collection with knipex pliers.

 

[supersteve]

****** pliers that people worship because they're made in the USA

It's not that Channel Locks are really ****** pliers, it's just that the Knipex stuff is just really that much better than just about everything else.

But yes, most of my daily use pliers stuff is Knipex or Snap-on. At this point the Channel Locks live in the junkyard box or the emergency bag for the Klown Kar.

 

[GTO]

****** pliers that people worship because they're made in the USA

125 years in the business,making ****** pliers.
Okay troll

 

[ADSR]

I really like the channellock nutbusters.

 

[atwageman]

I've got both Channellock and Knipex. Recently added a Knipex raptor to compliment my Channellock nut busters.

 

[Jswain]

****** pliers that people worship because they're made in the USA

Woah that may be a bit of a stretch. Very well priced for a pair of pliers that even when abused last a lifetime

Knipex to me is a bit on the overpriced side considering you can get a pair of Irwins for ten bucks regular priced and they are damn near identical?

Whatever you like to waste money on though

 

[Fcvapor05]

Heeeeeeere we go.

The channel lock comment was a joke.

If you think looks the same = performs the same... well... good luck with that.

 

[abvw]

125 years in the business,making ****** pliers.
Okay troll

****** is an understatement.

My $3 Chinese side cutter doesn't get blunt from cutting nylon zipties and cotter pins. WTF?!

My $4 Chinese needle nose tip doesn't spread from relieving bearing circlips.

My $35 7" Knipex Cobra opens wider than the 10" Channellock. The teeths are also sharper and harder.

No other pliers have had their grips change colour either. Do you know how disgusting the green grips look?

 

[Mohawk Dave]

Woah that may be a bit of a stretch. Very well priced for a pair of pliers that even when abused last a lifetime

Knipex to me is a bit on the overpriced side considering you can get a pair of Irwins for ten bucks regular priced and they are damn near identical?

Whatever you like to waste money on though

I have both. The Knipex teeth are WAY harder = lasts longer.

I got a **** load of the Irwins when on sell at ACE, and threw them all around the house and property. I def. like them more than channellocks (the handles and adjustment), but the channellocks have harder teeth as well.

 

[abvw]

Woah that may be a bit of a stretch. Very well priced for a pair of pliers that even when abused last a lifetime

Knipex to me is a bit on the overpriced side considering you can get a pair of Irwins for ten bucks regular priced and they are damn near identical?

Whatever you like to waste money on though

Buying cheap tools is a waste of money, especially if you work with them. Upgrade when they break? Why not just buy the better stuff to begin with?

 

[monomach]

Woah that may be a bit of a stretch. Very well priced for a pair of pliers that even when abused last a lifetime

Knipex to me is a bit on the overpriced side considering you can get a pair of Irwins for ten bucks regular priced and they are damn near identical?

Whatever you like to waste money on though

Dude. As someone who has used both, they are definitely not identical. The Groovelocks don't hold a candle to the Cobras.

That's kind of like saying that a Craftsman raised panel and a Snap-On Dual 80 are damned near identical because they're both pear head ratchets.

My $35 7" Knipex Cobra opens wider than the 10" Channellock. The teeths are also sharper and harder.

Yep, and the 10" Cobra's opening absolutely dwarfs the 10" Channellock's. It's a heck of a lot wider. I don't know what on earth he was talking about when he said Channellocks open wider.

 

[Gmonkee]

I have a 12" Klien and Sons, old as the hills and still going strong. Then I have various 10" channel-lock clones and a geniune 6" Crescent of the style.

The vise grip never sees daylight, the 10" cheapos see plumbing jobs and lots of water where the big Klien gets the brute force jobs.
Each has a specialty and performs well in it.

I did use the Knipex offerings for about 5 years but was never impressed enough by their 'superiority' factor to buy some of my own. For sure not enough to offset the price difference.
I prefer the sub $10 Bellota 10" curved jaws as my general purpose pliers over all the rest. And they are Asain made to very high standards.