Epstein's Tool Gossip : Channellock's New Locking Pliers
- Thread starter jsackin
- Start date
nadogail
Well-known member
Very Interesting, I would like to get my hands on a pair.
2ndGearRubber
Well-known member
So would these just be grip-on rebrands then? Identical other than the blue handle? Or does channel lock plan on different styles and features?
toolenthusiast
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 21, 2017
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They’ve had those for a long time, though. They’re made by Grip-on and branded Channellock. The outside is black. The release lever and the bar in between the handles are Channellock blue.
KnurledNut
Well-known member
Not new. Just reintroduced.
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/grip-on-channellock-locking-pliers-made-in-spain.215805/
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/grip-on-channellock-locking-pliers-made-in-spain.215805/
CHI_Tool&Die
Well-known member
I'm good with that because I love Channellock blue and my Proto Grip-ons have been very good but were quite pricey.
four.cycle
Well-known member
dutchgray
Well-known member
I got a pair somewhere, I think they came in a set with a couple pairs of Channelocks, they were fairly cheap at the time.
Grip On is okay but not first class, but over here in the UK there is almost always a rebrand available for not to much money.
four.cycle
Well-known member
^ Considering the product that both Irega and Lobster are able to produce - currently - it doesn't seem that starting up a new production line for adjustables in the U.S. would be any more a viable plan than starting up production of a U.S. made pair of locking pliers.
Just my two cents, of course.
(And why would Martin, of all companies, want to jump into that ****-show with Channellock and Tekton right now?)
Just my two cents, of course.
(And why would Martin, of all companies, want to jump into that ****-show with Channellock and Tekton right now?)
four.cycle
Well-known member
^ It would be to somebody who wasn't hell-bent on trying to be all things to all people and was able to understand that acetate-handled screwdrivers are going the way of the oxcart. 
d42jeep
Well-known member
I love when history repeats itself. Maybe they can duplicate the tremendous success that they had with these. 
Some folks like these but I’m not one of them.
-Don
Some folks like these but I’m not one of them.-Don
d.mcfarland
Well-known member
Unfortunately, Channellock has chosen to license their name / rebrand other manufacturer products rather than innovate or improve.
It's a means of business expansion without production. This seems to be their goal in the last 15 years or so. They do the whole CODE BLUE thing and it's just about a flop. Just comfort grip on their normal pliers but the cost was twice as much. The SPEEDGRIP are inferior pliers to their normal tongue and groove pliers but again twice as much.
It's a means of business expansion without production. This seems to be their goal in the last 15 years or so. They do the whole CODE BLUE thing and it's just about a flop. Just comfort grip on their normal pliers but the cost was twice as much. The SPEEDGRIP are inferior pliers to their normal tongue and groove pliers but again twice as much.
slowtwitch73
Well-known member
This reminds me of the old David Spade movie reviews on SNL...
'These where great........ the first time around when they were called Vise Grips......'
'These where great........ the first time around when they were called Vise Grips......'
CHI_Tool&Die
Well-known member
I absolutely love my Proto/Craftsman adjustable pliers. I believe they are Western Forge made and I’d totally put them up against Irega.
It is possible. Remember what happened to Enderes tools?
Malco used to be the best work screwdriver. The pukey orange handled ones? They were polycarbonate - practically bulletproof. They've since dropped that style but I was fortunate enough to assemble a working set before they all dried up.
reader2580
Well-known member
There are a great many tool companies these days that manufacture little or nothing. They have contracts with other manufacturers to make most or all of their tools. My understanding is Sears never actually manufactured any Craftsman tools. They just contracted with tool manufacturers to make the tools.
KnurledNut
Well-known member
Klein seems to be sourcing theirs domestically for the spud wrench.
Sounds like they need to team up.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
have you heard anything about the new made in the USA Screwdrivers from Channellock or Mayhew?
neophyte
Well-known member
Martin makes “industrial” wrenches, and “specialist” hammers.
Most people, including people who regularly use tools, likely have no clue who or what the “Martin” brand is.
Those who have used tools by Martin are more likely to have used the tools rebranded as something else, like Proto.
As for adjustable wrenches, they’re a standard wrench style, that practically every tool company wants to offer.
It the tool company is based in the USA, then they likely want to offer a US made adjustable wrench.
Since most of the wrenches were made by one company before, Martin probably figured it might be possible to become the “New” US adjustable wrench manufacturer.
I think it was mentioned on GJ years ago that Klein was trained in the manufacture of adjustable wrenches by TOP of Japan, and in turn trained TOP how to manufacture pliers (or maybe something else).
But for some reason, Klein stopped manufacturing adjustable wrenches later.
Bubba Fett
Well-known member
I prefer acetate screwdrivers.^ It would be to somebody who wasn't hell-bent on trying to be all things to all people and was able to understand that acetate-handled screwdrivers are going the way of the oxcart.
Bubba Fett
Well-known member
Surely some company can figure out a way to automate some of the production in order to reduce overhead. Maybe SBD or Klein can do it.
jeffmoss26
Well-known member
Excellent
I would like to see Channellock make their own, but I don’t actually mind them reselling GripOn. It extends their line, and is a reasonable locking plier, and who knows, might even be a way to test the waters a bit. But I’d hope they offer a reasonable range and not just 7WR and 10WR style.
I don’t mind the Channellock Irega’s, either. Good quality, complements their offering. It’s the cheap socket sets that they’ve licensed their name to that don’t fit their lineup or customers, and that I question.
I don’t mind the Channellock Irega’s, either. Good quality, complements their offering. It’s the cheap socket sets that they’ve licensed their name to that don’t fit their lineup or customers, and that I question.
d.mcfarland
Well-known member
Well said.
Toolmaker51
Well-known member
Yes, more correctly one of the few.
The same few [us] morons who store them properly; in holes, upright, by type & bit size.
As unrepentant visitor to KCMO [because HJE, lol], I await worthy substitutes for what were best of all clamping pliers, from Nebraska. The leading price-point contender might be those by Milwaukee... I pulled carpet staples from oak floors, damn near flush, the casing nearby of course, with the long jaw ~6" versions. The tips are tweezer close to being flush, and slightly convex. It also looks like steps were taken the serration tips [peak] are set at the end, not the gap between.
Staples are what, .020-025 diameter? If that's not test, what is?
American Locomotive
Well-known member
Disappointed they didn't look into the Malco plant. While I can't speak from experience, I heard the Grip-On pliers are just average.
The knurled thumb wheel in the middle? Seriously? I know of a few screw machine shops in the North East U.S. that could make that for less than 50 cents/pc. Probably closer to 35-40 cents in quantity.
General Geoff
Well-known member
They're good, serviceable tools but nothing special IMO. Teeth aren't as hard or sharp as Facom or Malco
Toolmaker51
Well-known member
Before MALCO, I'd run it by Wilde, right next door in Kansas. Their available processes have sufficient capability. Volume? Not my call.
If we're talking same item, it isn't the knurl. The coarse deep Dardelet or breech type thread, in a small diameter part, while preserving straight pin hole, and subsequent heat treating is.
Still, a couple bucks added for USA, I'd not hesitate.
I have an 85 ton air cushion OBI punch press, maybe I should jump in. Many tools are formed these days, instead of forging. Won't be hundreds a day, that's for sure.
Let's see; uncoiler, air feeder, forming dies, punching dies (could be drilled instead), dies for logo and brand stamps, rivet headers, horizontal milling for teeth, lathe work for adjuster stem & nut, vibratory deburr tub, wash gear, plating or black oxide, out and inbound part handling, a couple assemblers, a forklift, boxes or hang cards, packaging, shipping crates.
Same elements that make onesey-twosey government items look expensive.
If we're talking same item, it isn't the knurl. The coarse deep Dardelet or breech type thread, in a small diameter part, while preserving straight pin hole, and subsequent heat treating is.
Still, a couple bucks added for USA, I'd not hesitate.
I have an 85 ton air cushion OBI punch press, maybe I should jump in. Many tools are formed these days, instead of forging. Won't be hundreds a day, that's for sure.
Let's see; uncoiler, air feeder, forming dies, punching dies (could be drilled instead), dies for logo and brand stamps, rivet headers, horizontal milling for teeth, lathe work for adjuster stem & nut, vibratory deburr tub, wash gear, plating or black oxide, out and inbound part handling, a couple assemblers, a forklift, boxes or hang cards, packaging, shipping crates.
Same elements that make onesey-twosey government items look expensive.
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2ndGearRubber
Well-known member
That's the issue I've found, heavy teeth wear and deformation. They're decent pliers otherwise, they just wear fast.
honcho
Well-known member
Channellock is still in business, presumably because they generate enough revenue to pay their bills and be a reasonable use of capital for their owners. I'm sure their management has a lot more knowledge about the success or failure of their products than us end users. The history of tool manufacturers in the USA is littered with companies that expanded their product lines using the production capabilities of other tool companies. We should be happy that Channellock is using a Spanish partner for at least some of the items that they don't produce in house.
d.mcfarland
Well-known member
What?
The only company expanding in this case is the capacity of locking pliers produced by Grip-On in Spain.
William Payne
Well-known member
I’d love to see more USA made tools, but they need to have a corporate cultural reset and realise why they can’t make domestic manufacturing work yet other high quality European and Japanese manufacturers can in their countries. I bet it will all point back to that street in NYC.
Regarding locking pliers and c-clamps and what not. Who without question makes the best of the best today? I know about Malco but if they aren’t producing purchasable product they aren’t worth mentioning.
Regarding locking pliers and c-clamps and what not. Who without question makes the best of the best today? I know about Malco but if they aren’t producing purchasable product they aren’t worth mentioning.
metaldad
Well-known member
and ANOTHER handle style for channey drivers. the 9th, it seems.
i dont have the wall space for another style!
i dont have the wall space for another style!
Attachments
Toolmaker51
Well-known member
'That street' is about 1/2 the issue. Government neglected pleas of many US manufacturers, pushing legislation through to conduct offshoring. I have the 2000 article from "Machine Tool Bluebook", written by concerned manufacturers, predictions of what they expected to occur. Despite those concerns, lobbyists representing greedy companies won out.
Counterfeiting of trademarks, patent theft, inadequate/ substandard/ inappropriate materials, lack of local repair services, same for parts, flooding market with underpriced goods, deepening of slave-like labor conditions, trade exchange issues........ 4 pages worth.
Every single detail occurred.
There is minimal if any compulsion for high quality manufacturers to infringe on the US companies, compared to those with lesser facilities, also predicted by the article.
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