ICON slip joint plier
- Thread starter bryant 24
- Start date
d.mcfarland
Well-known member
Needle nose version would be more useful than the wider jaw version.
dnschmidt
Well-known member
The long nose Snap-On copy is the bomb. Regular pliers just don't fit modern cars very well. Too fat and too short.
four.cycle
Well-known member
.... and if you're going to blow money on conventional slip-joint pliers, go for the best one on the market.
Skyman
Well-known member
rooster59
Well-known member
10 inch slip joints get used by me all the time. Lots of farm machinery though. Common for pawn shops to have pairs of 6-8” old USA in the dollar bucket, need some oil and wire brush.
Get the 7" SO LN46ACF. I also have the 9" Icon but the SO gets used 90% of the time. I just find 7" to be the sweet spot. YMMV.
absolutely great pliers. another example of buy the original. a better plier than the version tekton sells with the exposed joint rivet.Yep. Still made in the USA. Very, very nice. And at a reasonable price point.
the better product at a similar or possibly lower price point
Bubba Fett
Well-known member
I love Wilde pliers. They are probably my favorite, other than the Ideal/Craftsan pliers, but the small ones are nearly useless in the wide position. The handle shape prevents them from closing well.Yep. Still made in the USA. Very, very nice. And at a reasonable price point.
I also have some Truecraft spring-loaded adjustable pliers that are quite handy.
four.cycle
Well-known member
Interesting observation.
From the comments in the "ICON long nose pliers" thread, it would seem that more than a few members here would have preferred it had been offered in a 7-inch length. I bought two pairs. Gave one to my buddy, who said he liked them but actually uses them infrequently.
Mine are still in the package - I found them to be a bit on the unwieldy side - overly large. I hope my "Secret Santa" recipient likes them.
I like the Knipex, but I didn't pay full price. Icon has a version, but when I checked it out the rubber on the handles seemed like they were just a tiny bit loose. I didn't see them getting tighter over time. Nice the way the front is gapped...very useful.
I agree. HF has a habit of making "the big one" first (their 10" pliers wrench).
Two of my most-used pliers are the LN-46ACF and my 180mm Knipex Pliers Wrench
dnschmidt
Well-known member
The ICON is excellent for the price but as others have noted it would be nice if they made a 7" version. Hell, if HF can copy one why not copy the other.
KnurledNut
Well-known member
I've said it before, but I'll say it again, HF should have made the ICON long nose 8". Snap-on already does 7" and 9" which I personally find too short and too long.
Bubba Fett
Well-known member
I keep looking at the 10" version, and it's nice, but a 7" version would be more useful IMO. I recently bought the Workpro version, which is nowhere near as good, so I'll be giving it away.
Also, Channellock needs to start making these again.
Also, Channellock needs to start making these again.
dnschmidt
Well-known member
Channellock needs to start doing a lot of things considering what Knipex, NWS, Engineer and other plier manufacturers are doing. One thing they definitely should do is make a good version of Vice Grips. No need for Eagle Grip quality or pricing but something better than the current Irwin would be nice. The made in America thing would provide a significant marketing advantage if they were decent and priced right.
I'm sure they're working on it, but it seems like it takes them about two years by the time they start on it, and it hits the stores.
They copied the 9" because that's what SO introduced first. It would've never occurred to them to do something different from SO, because then how can you "compare to Snap On"? It's like why is the roll stamping on the Icon sockets "upside down" and Pittsburg sockets are "right side up"? Well, because SO also has the roll stamping "upside down"; you can't compare to SO unless you have the roll stamping in the same direction. Apparently.
I keep looking at the 10" version, and it's nice, but a 7" version would be more useful IMO. I recently bought the Workpro version, which is nowhere near as good, so I'll be giving it away.
Also, Channellock needs to start making these again.
People rave about these, and I didn't understand why they would be better in many situations, but I bought some at a reasonable price. I can't explain it, but they just work really well. Channellock/Wilde/someone should bring them back.
HF around here never has the long nose ones in stock. I got the workpro ones, and so far they seem ok.
Bubba Fett
Well-known member
A lot of it is the cross-hatching. They grip like lineman pliers, but can also grip really round stock in the mid area. Plus they can fit where regular slip-joints can't. Just a good design, IMO.
CHI_Tool&Die
Well-known member
Yep, I use my Wilde slip joints way more than my Snap-on slip joints. It’s one of the few pliers from Snap-on that I wish didn’t have the talon grip cross-hatching on the jaws. It’s difficult to grab a lot of stuff because of it.
I see those same style pliers all the time on the Matco truck and at Napa. Always caught my eye but I never pulled the trigger. I may have to since everyone raves about them.I keep looking at the 10" version, and it's nice, but a 7" version would be more useful IMO. I recently bought the Workpro version, which is nowhere near as good, so I'll be giving it away.
Also, Channellock needs to start making these again.
I don’t think we will see anything new or innovative from Channellock for a bit. They have problems, both good and bad, and I think that stuff will hinder any growth into new products.
dnschmidt
Well-known member
I've actually been to their factory in Meadville, PA. To paraphrase Todd from Project Farm "NOT Very Impressive." Looks like the building was built during WWII.
Wamsutta
Well-known member
The 10 inch Wildes are my favorite slip joint pliers. The handles are shaped like lineman pliers. Very comfy.
KnurledNut
Well-known member
dnschmidt
Well-known member
If its and butts were candies and nuts what a Merry Christmas we'd all have. Believe me Nut I tried my best to get them to make a go of it in the American market but to no avail. The ideal time would have been after Sears took a **** and before Tekton and Capri got their acts together. They just didn't have the balls to do it.
Yep. Still made in the USA. Very, very nice. And at a reasonable price point.
I have something similar.... the craftsman version made by I think western forge FW? They are around 8" and one of my favorites. I borrowed them from a coworker and after a few uses bought my own!!...this is obviously many years ago....always wanted a smaller version....maybe larger too!!! I don't remember really researching purchasing more.....thanks for the info...looks like Wilde is the way to go. thanks four.cycle and skyman
Sweet!!! what's the part number?Love my new set. Extremely smooth slip joint with absolutely no play in the two arms of the pliers. Very impressed.
PL3LNSJCFHV
Thanks,in what situation do you use a 5inch one? i also noticed they have a 4inch mini one,but not long nose type
Yep. Still made in the USA. Very, very nice. And at a reasonable price point.
I have a set of the smaller Wilde slip joints. I really like those pliers, super well made and the flush fastener is nice. Something is "off" with the handles for me though and I don't use them because of it. They just don't feel right and it makes them hard to use. Very well made though, I otherwise think they are awesome.
powertrip
Well-known member
Gearwrench made a version like this a few years ago. Pretty much like the toptul but with different color grips.I keep looking at the 10" version, and it's nice, but a 7" version would be more useful IMO. I recently bought the Workpro version, which is nowhere near as good, so I'll be giving it away.
Also, Channellock needs to start making these again.
Do you have the tip thickness of the 5inch one?Love my new set. Extremely smooth slip joint with absolutely no play in the two arms of the pliers. Very impressed.