long reach pliers recommendations

[bchee]

I've had some basic, cheap HF long reach needle nose pliers, just like shown on the left. I don't like how much they flex when you squeeze really hard.

If I upgrade to an expensive brand will I get the same flex?

I think if I get the Craftsman ones, which have the much thicker shaft (and different orientation), there will be less flex. I never see them in the stores to play with them.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00945497000P

Do you guys know anybody else that sells the style similar to Craftsman?

 

[kartracer55]

Depending on how much you want to spend, I have the 4 piece sunex set, around $30 IIRC. Def good for the price but they aren't snap on's. And yes, you will still have the flex, at least so I have noticed. One thing I find interesting is the shape of the handles on the craftsman's, they may prove to not have much flex because of the shape.

 

[Fedwrench]

I think the Craftsman wide handle long nose is unique to Craftsman. I think most if not all, long reach pliers flex regardless of the brand. You may want to give these a try.

http://www.kalprotools.com/11needlenosepliers45degreebentnose-1-1-1.aspx

They're not needlenose but, they're pretty stout I have the Mac version of these and I like them.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Don't have any yet, but the Gearwrench double jointed long pliers look like a good idea.

Charles

 

[Merkava_4]

http://www.kalprotools.com/

 

[krusty the clown]

the CMAN's are western forge and i can't remember ever seeing them labeled for anyone but CMAN. the KAL's are labeled for most of the truck brands.

 

[bchee]

the CMAN's are western forge and i can't remember ever seeing them labeled for anyone but CMAN. the KAL's are labeled for most of the truck brands.

speaking of western forge I was in Sears yesterday and saw a box labelled western forge. I guess they were stocking the shelves. I didn't see what was inside though.

 

[bchee]

I think the Craftsman wide handle long nose is unique to Craftsman. I think most if not all, long reach pliers flex regardless of the brand. You may want to give these a try.

http://www.kalprotools.com/11needlenosepliers45degreebentnose-1-1-1.aspx

They're not needlenose but, they're pretty stout I have the Mac version of these and I like them.

How is the flex on those? That's basically what I'm looking for, but without a slip joint.

I'm sure you must have some standard long reach pliers to compare them to - where the shaft is more tubular.

It makes more sense to me that a wide, rectangular shaft is harder to bend than a round rod, no?

 

[bchee]

channellock has a more rectangular shaft too , but it's only 8 inches.
http://www.channellock.com/acb/stores/1/738_-_8_inch_Needle_Nose_Long__P49C16.cfm

 

[Stuey]

I believe that the design of the Cman pliers was intended for space-saving purposes.

Let's think about things for a moment, okay? (thinking aloud here now) Where are the pliers flexing? Say you grip onto a piece of solid steel with the pliers, and then you squeeze. Well, the jaws won't move closer together since the steel won't use, so the handles inch closer to gether. Well, they milli-inch together, but you get the idea. The way I see it, the flex will be exactly at the pivot.

The handle's width of the Cman pliers is the least at the pivot. Taking a look at those slip-joint long-reach pliers, the pivot is offset a bit. I may be wrong, but the way I visualize it, the "top" of the handle (at the pivot) will be stretched a bit as the handles are brought closer and closer together. At the same time, the "bottom" of the handle will be compressed as the jaws are immobile and pressure is applied to the handles. The handle cannot flex unless there is both tension at the top and compression at the bottom of the handle, with respect to the pivot.

I'm going to think about this for a bit more, but based on my above assumptions/theories, I would believe those Kal pliers to flex less.

 

[Danglerb]

HF has a set of cutters with that flat overlapping style of handles, so I don't think its just one company with a patent or something.

Before I buy anything else I want to play with a set of the Knipex Plier wrenches.

 

[bchee]

HF has a set of cutters with that flat overlapping style of handles, so I don't think its just one company with a patent or something.

I saw those but didn't see where I would need long reach cutters.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=37837

 

[autoace]

http://www.kalprotools.com/

Kal pliers are very good, I'll give an honorable mention to Gearwrench (double X) long pliers, and I'm not a Taiwan tool FAN. You will get flex in all brands, I have some of those Harbor Freight ones, in my junkyard tool set, they are not bad per say, they have never failed out in the trenches.

 

[autoace]

I saw those but didn't see where I would need long reach cutters.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=37837

I have those long reach cutters in my junkyard box too (bought them all at the same time one day). I have use them HARD as hell, and they work fine, cutting edges still fine. They look just like the KAL's except for the grip material. I paid 3.99 for them go figure, they are 5 years old and counting. I have the KAL version also, they are good, but if I did not use my tools to make a living, the HF ones would be adequate.

 

[bchee]

i'm still trying to imagine scenarios where you need long reach cutters. What kind of stuff have you cut with them?

 

[speed bump]

i'm still trying to imagine scenarios where you need long reach cutters. What kind of stuff have you cut with them?

I had one the other day where I would of really liked to have had a set of them. That was the clutch linkage cotter pin on a 67-72 Ford truck. Its underneath the dash and would of saved me probably 20 minutes if I could of got in there and snipped it snug rather than the little bit that caught with 8" dykes.

Its one of those tools that you might not need a lot but once you do you need it.

 

[mkdive]

Don't have any yet, but the Gearwrench double jointed long pliers look like a good idea.

Charles

I have the HF & cmans... I like my gear wrench the best! But I seem to use all of them depending on the task.

 

[nissan_crawler]

I have the 4 piece sunex set, they have far less flex than the cheapo's I had before. The Craftsman needlenose pliers are ok, but I've found the width causes a problem 90% of the time I want a pair, so I got rid of them. The Sunex's work better, and the minor flex isn't a problem.

 

[eschoendorff]

Don't have any yet, but the Gearwrench double jointed long pliers look like a good idea.

Charles

I have a few pair and the GW are the ones I like best. They can open and close in tighter areas...

 

[hossmwp]

I would try the Gearwrench ones if I was in the market. I think they have a great idea with the way they are able to fully open with little effort. I have a mixed bag of long pliers. I have a Snap On pair that I really like that has a bend in the jaws I typically use them. I also have a few from Channel Lock and Craftsman. I dont use them often but they all work fine.

When and if any of them break I would buy the ones from Gearwrench it appears to be a very inovative design and one that would work well.

I havent tried the Kal pliers but who knows they make pliers for other companies I could have them for all I know.

 

[Merkava_4]

Check out these Armstrong needle nose -
http://armstrongtools.com/catalog/products.jsp?groupID=169

They'd be at the top of my list if I was in the market for long needle nose. One feature I like about Armstrong pliers is their double coated grips - they're sweet.

 

[Fedwrench]

How is the flex on those?

There's little flex on the long slip joints. As I mentioned before, everyone's long nose pliers flex a little when gripping something. From Snap on to those Gearwrench double X versions, the handles flex when they're squeezed hard. I never thought it was that big of a deal and just the result of squeezing the long handle. That's the good thing about the long slip joints. They are a beefier pair of pliers compared to regular long nose type. You can grip and twist without damaging the jaws. The slip joint is a handy feature for larger items.

 

[bchee]

I found some Chinese imitations of the Craftsman ones, made by Titan.
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200310885_200310885

 

[back2class]

Never used the craftsmans but I have big Cornwell long handles and they are perhaps slightly less flexy than the big orange handle Harbor Freight ones (they look exatcly the same) I have handled in the store. Honestly, they are not a hight torque or compression tool. I would DEFINATELY get the HF ones if I had to do it again. I thought this was one of those tools like needle nose where quality makes all the difference. But the design is so limited that you can not abuse them....they will just no go there. On this limited use tool used properly from my experience your best bet is the HF ones. I can't believe I siad that????

 

[Uncle Buck]

i'm still trying to imagine scenarios where you need long reach cutters. What kind of stuff have you cut with them?

For the price of the HF long reach cutters they are cheap enough you can add them to your box and figure out when to use them later. I have a set and they are great, very handy.

 

[nissan_crawler]

i'm still trying to imagine scenarios where you need long reach cutters. What kind of stuff have you cut with them?

it's not just the reach. ever try cutting 3/16" cotter pins with a regular pair? That leverage starts looking realllllllly nice.

 

[Senorpablo]

it's not just the reach. ever try cutting 3/16" cotter pins with a regular pair? That leverage starts looking realllllllly nice.

Do you have the Sunex 11" or 16" needle nose set?

 

[Vinko]

One feature I like about Armstrong pliers is their double coated grips - they're sweet.

I just picked up a pair of Armstrong needle-nose (6") from Harry Epstein. They are nice

 

[nissan_crawler]

Do you have the Sunex 11" or 16" needle nose set?

11", I wouldn't mind getting the 16" set, either. I have the Craftsmans, and to be honest, I rarely use them over the Sunex. Yeah, they're stronger, but the Sunex are much stronger than the low-grade import versions I had, and 95% of the time, I want the added clearance of the Sunex pliers over the strength of the Craftsman ones.

 

[bchee]

You may want to give these a try.
http://www.kalprotools.com/11needlenosepliers45degreebentnose-1-1-1.aspx
They're not needlenose but, they're pretty stout I have the Mac version of these and I like them.

In case anybody is interested, tooltopia has a similar set of long slip joints, made by Mountain, I'm sure imported, but a little cheaper.
http://www.tooltopia.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=30213