Kobalt pliers?

[Matrazzo]

I am looking at a set of kobalt pliers and want some GJ reviews on how they hold up. Do the dykes last or do they chip? Does the young and groove slide easy or too easily? Ect. Ect. This is the set I'm looking at
http://m.lowes.com/product?langId=-...2409&store=0560&view=detail&nValue=4294778736

 

[tweedlestan]

Consensus on these is that they're horrible.

 

[mech-tech]

Don't do it! The groove joint pliers are complete junk. The grips keep sliding off, the pivot bolt loosens and they jump teeth causing the pliers to lock up. JUNK!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Go channelock...trust me!

 

[MJB24]

Don't do it! The groove joint pliers are complete junk. The grips keep sliding off, the pivot bolt loosens and they jump teeth causing the pliers to lock up. JUNK!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Go channelock...trust me!

Try finding knipex discounted at lowes. See hot deals section

 

[cburnscrx]

I have a dissenting opinion...I think they're fine, especially for the price...I used the old school versions in a professional environment. Are they Snap On, no. Are they decent for the $20 or less you'll pay...sure go for it. Let's keep in mind the price point, and who and what they'll be used for. I think it's become popular to bash Kobalt pliers, but I have certainly not had issues.

Old school
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cburnscrx/9002683779/" title=><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8133/9002683779_7cbd82e6df.jpg" width="374" height="500" alt="image"></a>

Road Box - cheap and plentiful
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Home Box - Knipex, Craftsman Pro, Proto, Channellock, Wilde, Utica, Crescent USA, Pittsburgh, USA Vise Grips, and Stanley.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cburnscrx/9959969526/" title=><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7329/9959969526_cde2cc64dd.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="Untitled"></a>

 

[jjjrmx5]

Don't do it! The groove joint pliers are complete junk.

Please explain to me what groove joint pliers are???

I know slip joint pliers.

I know arc-joint aka tounge and groove pliers.

Groove joint?
Not so much.

Please tell me more.
Especailly what they are.

 

[cheechi]

Please explain to me what groove joint pliers are???

Channellocks

Kobalts aren't bad for the money. I have a few of them and none have broken catastrophically, and in fact I don't think I have ever had a chip or break on the business end, and only one of them has ever had issues with the grip or handle (bent, not broken).

 

[mech-tech]

groove joint
arc joint
tongue and groove

all generic terms for channellock style pliers

slips joints are the "regular" style of pliers

 

[zkling]

I better put my flame suit on for this one, but....

I have, a few task force pliers that came in a box of tools I bought so I did not specifically purchase them. However, I am extremely impressed of their quality for the name they bear. What is your ultimate budget and what all pliers do you need? I'd personally look at craftsman if you are wanting at "set" on a budget.

A few other options.
-Clearance Knipex and Channellock at Lowes, my area is dry of said deals, but YMMV depending on location.
-My first and main set of pliers was a cman 5 piece set. Honestly the craftsman slip joint are my favorite pliers.
-Used USA garage sales, ebay or classifieds on here
-Old USA NOS from ebay

 

[Coach James]

I have several pair of Kobalt pliers in my filing cabinet at school for use in my classroom/lab and they work fine. I prefer other brands for home use, but for a cheap set to use sparingly, the Kobalts are fine.


zkling, I have a set of Task Force linesman pliers I bought 7 or 8 years ago and they have held up pretty well.


Coach

 

[zkling]

zkling, I have a set of Task Force linesman pliers I bought 7 or 8 years ago and they have held up pretty well.

Heck yea man, we'll stand together with pride. Yea I have 2 pairs of those, a kinda goofy pair of needle nose, a regular size pair of needle nose, and I think a pair of T&G that I gave to a friend. The linemans seem really hefty, I keep them in the shed for cutting trimmer line for the spool rewind. I was really impressed considering the reputation of the Task Force line.

 

[cburnscrx]

Heck yea man, we'll stand together with pride. Yea I have 2 pairs of those, a kinda goofy pair of needle nose, a regular size pair of needle nose, and I think a pair of T&G that I gave to a friend. The linemans seem really hefty, I keep them in the shed for cutting trimmer line for the spool rewind. I was really impressed considering the reputation of the Task Force line.

Not to get too far off topic, but I have some USA made Task Force nut drivers and the ratchets I have were made in Tiawan not China. They've held up very well, especially what I paid for them. Problem with TF, it was too hard for most to distinguish them as a good value for some tools, because some of it was real ****.

I would put Kobalt in that same catagory now. The pliers the OP is looking at will likely serve him very well in most applications. The Kobalt mini bolt cutters? Junk! Only useful if you're cutting coat hangers and even that is iffy at best.

 

[Matrazzo]

I better put my flame suit on for this one, but....

I have, a few task force pliers that came in a box of tools I bought so I did not specifically purchase them. However, I am extremely impressed of their quality for the name they bear. What is your ultimate budget and what all pliers do you need? I'd personally look at craftsman if you are wanting at "set"...

I'll Start with my budget right now which is about $35 give or take a little depending on how much I make from this load of scrap(that's where tool money comes from). I really need a pair of dykes(cutters) I hate using my dads no name that just chip and bend when I try to cut like 12 gauge solid copper wire. I could also use a set of linesmans

 

[Spudland_Dave]

I've got a pair of the Blue & Gray handled dykes in the truck...they were on sale once so I bought a pair and chucked em under the seat.. I've also got a pair of the "high leverage" Kobalt Dykes, again...cheap...Both have been good to me for the money.

 

[CWP1616L]

Sometimes people need to use cheap tools in order to gain an appreciation for fine tools; but the money they spent on cheap tools could've gone towards the better tools.

 

[Hootbro]

Sometimes people need to use cheap tools in order to gain an appreciation for fine tools; but the money they spent on cheap tools could've gone towards the better tools.

True, but not everybody is in a financial position to buy the more expensive tools. In this case, they have to find the balance of "value" and "quality" to get them through the task at hand.

Pricing is also not on a linear scale when it comes to performance and quality.

 

[dandan111]

I just bought some old logo v craftsman. I like to buy old quality stuff when I can. Those kobalt may be fine for you,they look nice but I'm more of a old tool hunter anymore.

 

[mrjaw14]

I have a pair of linesmans pliers and i wouldn't buy them again. too short. I have a set of compounding dykes that aren't bad though, but I just cut wires and zip ties, not nails, or other hard parts with them.

Pliers on the other hand I'd say stay away from unless you just need cheap. After having groove joint pliers with a nut rather than a rivit I can say the nut always comes loose, it's hard to find a good balance of tightness and retention of the nut.

The long needle nose pliers aren't machined well, the jaws don't line up well, and are overly bendy when you squeeze them. I ended up buying some blackhawk long needle nose off ebay and they are leaps and bounds better. I'd buy channellock or knipex for pliers, and klien for dykes and linesman pliers...that's my $0.02

 

[Davefr]

My advise is to buy top shelf pliers like Klein, SO or Channelock. Nothing worse then pliers that don't grip, don't cut well and/or distort under pressure.

These Kobalts are generic low end Chinese pliers.

 

[Loscaldazar]

Channellock truly are affordable and good quality. So are Craftsman (Western Forge) Pliers.

 

[cburnscrx]

I think I am a pretty good case study here. I've had/have both. I also understand shopping on a limited budget. There are people here who have spent more on a tool box than I've ever spent on any car I've ever owned since I've been driving (20+ years). Would I love a drawer full of Knipex or similar quality pliers? Sure, but I've got to pick and choose my spots.

The Kobalts will do the job, and of that set the OP is looking at, the best thing about them is the cutters. If most of what you're cutting is 12ga copper...have at it; you won't be disappointed.

In the pictures above, I have Craftsman Pro's, Stanley (japan), Kobalts old, Kobalts new, and a pair of HF that are all just cutters. It's really a toss up between the Old Kobalts and the Craftsman Pro's on what are my favorite the handle on the old Kobalts just fit my hand better, or maybe it's just they're more familiar. Who knows. Either way, they've more than served their purpose, and if they burst into flames tomorrow I've got my monies worth and then some.

One thing to keep in mind is to use the right tool for the job. If you're trying to cut gutter spikes with 6" cutters, you're in trouble. (*mini bolt cutters are awesome for this!) Just be sensible and realistic when you're picking your tools and you'll do fine.

 

[allinon72]

The blue and yellow handled ones are OK but the blue and gray handled ones are awful. I mean bad, dollar store bad. Not even worth being in your junkyard box.