Good MIG welding pliers?

[rmack898]

I'm looking for a good quality MIG welding plier.

I have tried the cheap HF one and it lasted a few months. I have a pair form Inweld and they are a little bit better but still junk.

I didn't see any on the Knipex web sight but there has to be a good quality tool out there somewhere.

Who has a good one?

 

[Logante]

I have a pair of Welpers. Bought them when I was in school and have used them for the last 9 years no issues. I believe mine are made by Anchor.

 

[archirelic]

https://www.channellock.com/360-welders-pliers.aspx?

 

[davewo]

Check out the Channellock version: https://www.amazon.com/Channellock-360-Welders-Pliers/dp/B009OHH4FO?SubscriptionId=AKIAILSHYYTFIVPWUY6Q&tag=duckduckgo-d-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B009OHH4FO

 

[welder4956]

I have the Channellock version and am not impressed. I will grab the HF or Hobart versions out of my box before the Channellocks.

 

[kkroger]

Japanese Pearson the original welpers or channelok.....

 

[Ign]

I've got the Lincolns. Not bad.

The cutters on the Forneys ****

 

[ChrisLS8]

You could go back to HF and get the new Bremen versions? Their new Taiwan made pliers are really nice.

I also noticed that Vise Grip pliers are now being made in Taiwan as well when I was at Lowe's. They have a similar handle design to NWS

 

[plinker]

I've got the Welpers and Channellock pliers, Have not used the Channellocks as much as they are at home.

 

[sberry]

I use a pair of worn or damaged diags.

 

[lis2323]

Im retired and can weld but am NO pro....

BUT I have a variety of them including Channelocks. They may vary a bit in quality(and price) but THEY'RE ALL ****. IMHO of course. [emoji3]

 

[Jawn]

I have the Channellock version and am not impressed. I will grab the HF or Hobart versions out of my box before the Channellocks.

What's wrong with the Channellocks?

 

[Bellaireroad]

Japanese Pearson the original welpers or channelok.....

Yep the Pearson welpers...made in Japan, pricey but you get what you pay for


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[NedNorton]

Yep the Pearson welpers...made in Japan, pricey but you get what you pay for


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Mack,
This would be my recommendation also. My vote goes for skipping the frustration and getting the Pearson tool. I think I paid about $50 for the current pair but I only needed to replace the last set because they were "borrowed" by someone and not returned.

Cheers,
Chris

Oh ya... What are you using for a TIG torch cooler? I'm thinking of going the water cooled torch route on the HOBART.

 

[rmack898]

Mack,
This would be my recommendation also. My vote goes for skipping the frustration and getting the Pearson tool. I think I paid about $50 for the current pair but I only need to replace the last set because they were "borrowed" by someone and not returned.

Cheers,
Chris

Oh ya... What are you using for a TIG torch cooler? I'm thinking of going the water cooled torch route on the HOBART.

I just put the Pearson tool in my Amazon cart. In a few days I'll toss my Inweld pliers in the trash.

Chris, I'm running a miller coolmate 4 on my TIG. Water cooled is the way to go. I have an air cooled torch on my mobile TIG rig and my hand reaches the duty cycle on holding the torch really quick. Water cooed is so much better.

 

[earlthegoat2]

Any of them.

 

[Musicinabottle]

I have 3 of the Welpers made in Japan.

 

[tarbellb]

Like others have said, I liked my Welpers a little more then my Channellock versions.

But the Channellocks are a great deal and still a excellent set.

I used a set of HF ones laying around once, pure dogshit.

 

[ishiboo]

I have the Channellocks and have never had a complaint of them. That said, MIG welding pliers seem REALLY simple and I think even the cheap ones probably work just as well.

 

[tarbellb]

......That said, MIG welding pliers seem REALLY simple and I think even the cheap ones probably work just as well.

Exactly, so if they cant cut wire and the grips are falling off then they arent worth buying.

 

[achirdo]

Never had a problem with my channellock mig pliers being used professionally.

 

[kkroger]

I've got Pearsons and Channels I use the pearsons a LOT more, at the shop I have a pair of Hobarts... they don't close tight enough to cut .035... withoutt wiggling... Had a buddy with the Harbor Freight ones (also incapable of snapping wire you can see light between the cutters) and a guy with a set of Lincoln branded ones with similar issues, my Pearsons and Channels will cut every time, the tips will ream a nozzle, and they will grip a tip, and so on. do what they are designed to do. I paid the same for the Pearson's that I did for the Channels... the Channeloks may have been a little higher...

 

[nczo6]

Just picked up a set of pearsons on eBay for $14 shipped, been wanting a good set as well.

 

[Wamsutta]

Do the Japanese Pearson Welpers have hard plastic handles or are they a little bit softer like rubber? From the pictures on ebay, it looks like they're slightly see-thru which would indicate a softer grip.

 

[dr_clyde]

Pearson welpers are the best. I have the channelock version and the Japanese welpers are better.

 

[zmotorsports]

I have the Pearson Welpers and although they are a nice combo MIG plier, I don't use them as often as I once did. I generally have a pair of diagonal cutters either in my pocket or on my welding table that I use to snip the end of the wire at an angle. The pair I am currently using is just a plain pair of Carlyle diagonal cutters.

 

[Coach James]

When I needed a pair, the only place within 30 miles that had any was Fastenal. So I paid too much for a pair of Jonesway. They work ok, but Fastenal pricing is terrible for off the street buyers.

Coach

 

[ive]

Hi.

Channellock hands down. Make sure to get the larger size ones, the code blue ones.

Support domestic manufacturing good man.

 

[Wamsutta]

Pearson welpers are the best. I have the channelock version and the Japanese welpers are better.

Do you happen to know what kind of grips are on the Pearson handles whether they be hard plastic or vinyl?

 

[dr_clyde]

Do you happen to know what kind of grips are on the Pearson handles whether they be hard plastic or vinyl?

They are fairly hard, but not like a phenolic. They are not squishy. I would compare them to a set of aviation snips perhaps, but with some texture.

 

[Engine]

Welpers... Don't make a ******* move like I did and lay a hot piece of steel down on them and melt the rubber grips.

 

[Wamsutta]

They are fairly hard, but not like a phenolic. They are not squishy. I would compare them to a set of aviation snips perhaps, but with some texture.

Thank you I appreciate it.

 

[bczygan]

All these comments about various ones being "****"..............in what ways exactly?

And be very specific. What actions or functions will they not be adequate in? And how? And to what degree?

Bill

 

[sberry]

I have used them in other shops, never owned a pair. Dont really see anything some other old plier cant do. Since some seem to "be ****" its a couple less pieces of junk laying around.

 

[rmack898]

All these comments about various ones being "****"..............in what ways exactly?

And be very specific. What actions or functions will they not be adequate in? And how? And to what degree?

Bill

The cutter section is about .5" -.75" long. On the 2 pliers I have the cutting section will only work in a small portion of the cutter. The plastic handle covers broke loose from the handle and make it difficult to use with a gloved hand.

 

[kkroger]

All these comments about various ones being "****"..............in what ways exactly?

And be very specific. What actions or functions will they not be adequate in? And how? And to what degree?

Bill

I was very specific, the wire cutter portion doesn't cut wire... Simple enough,
the part that grips the contact tip to thread it out or in works on all of them, the part that grips the nozzle works on all of them the part that reams the **** out of the nozzle on some versions is a bit clunky won't fit in some of the smaller diameter nozzles might work OK on a 400 Amp gun... the hammer part works on all of them. the biggest issue is the cutter. which I use far more than the other stuff... I have a nice nozzle reamer that I use more than the pliers, but it is a unitasker! it can't cut wire either. a small set of Diagonals will do almost what the Mig Pliers do... they are nice to get the nozzle off when it is hot, and to wrench the contact tip out when hot...

 

[MoonRise]

Hmmm, my Harbor Freight welding pliers work OK. They grip the contact tip to remove and replace it, they grip the copper nozzle to remove it so that I can remove and replace the contact tip, they let me grip small hot pieces of metal, they scrape off spatter and flux residue from inside the gas nozzle, and they cut wire OK. But I did look at the cutter section before buying them to make sure that they lined up OK.

Not great, but mine have been more than adequate for the tasks. And a whopping $10 or so, a bargain.

Only main complaint is that they are just plain black oxide and have gotten some surface rust in places.

Picked up a pair of the Lincoln pliers. Haven't used them yet though. They seem to be plated/coated with a nickel type coating, hopefully that will prevent any surface rusting.

 

[dr_clyde]

I have used them in other shops, never owned a pair. Dont really see anything some other old plier cant do. Since some seem to "be ****" its a couple less pieces of junk laying around.

This is somewhat true in the sense that mig pliers are just a combination of about 3 or 4 tools into one. You can absolutely get by with just a set of diagonal cutters and some regular slip joints. But I'd rather not.

One of my favorite features of the welper is the square jaws on the needle nose tips. They work great for removing the spatter on the inside of the nozzle. Most pliers have a rounded jaw and don't work half as fast.

I also really like the round nozzle recess. Sure, a pair of channelocks will take that puppy off. But when it's hot, and the tip is buggered, it's very nice to be able to pull off the hot nozzle, unscrew the contact tip, snip the wire and reverse the process all with one plier. That's the point of welpers. Speed and efficiency. One tool does the job of 3 or 4.

With any tool, it's all about the subtle differences that set the good ones apart from the cheapies. The fit of the jaws. Durability of the cutting blades. Spring strength. Leverage points. Handle grips. These things are more refined in the Pearson welpers. I have used most brands of these. None of them are what I would consider un-usable. Some just aren't as nice.

 

[Fender1325]

I've been welding about 3 years or so and I've never owned a pair. I just use my DeWalt needle nose. Snips wire, if I need to clean out slag I open the needle nose pliers, jam one side of them in and twist. Tap it on the floor and slags gone. They've never fallen short for my needs so I never bought welding pliers.