Milwaukee Made In USA Pliers

[kngelv]

I was at Home Depot today and took a look at the Milwaukee hand tools in the electrical aisle. It looks like they still are carrying some Klein but there were a bunch of different Milwaukee items too. I decide to pick up the USA made 8" diagonal cutters and USA made needle nose pliers. They also had USA linesman and a 4-pack of USA screwdrivers. I currently use Klein diagonals at work and Knipex at home. My main needle nose are Snap-On at work and an older USA made Crescent at home. I'm going to put these in my work bag tomorrow and try and give them a good test over the next week. My apprentice is going to terminate a lot of wire this weekend so I might have him use the new diagonals to give them a good workout. My initial thoughts: they are as smooth as Knipex as far as operation out of the package. The tips and jaws are nicely aligned and I'm looking forward to trying the reamer built into the outside of the needle nose jaws. I was reluctant for Milwaukee being in the hand tool category but after SBD crapped the bed with Craftsman I'll give any USA made tool a try.

James

 

[boom_bap]

I found it that the hole they put un the grips and tool handle for a landyard uncomfortable. They do feel pretty nice otherwise. Comfort grip options would be great to see too

 

[kngelv]

I found it that the hole they put un the grips and tool handle for a landyard uncomfortable. They do feel pretty nice otherwise. Comfort grip options would be great to see too

I do not like comfort grip. I can't fit as many tools in a bag when using them.

James

 

[FMC1959]

I saw them a week ago at HD in the electrical department, hanging next to the Klein stuff. It is about 40% Milwaukee, 40% Klein and 20% Commercial Electric.

I couldn't really try them as they were hanging in their package. But the pliers and a couple of other made in the USA Milwaukee's (not all the Milwaukee they had were made in the USA) were priced the same as the Klein's, some a dollar or two more, some a dollar less. Considering Klein's are usually USA made, and they have quite the reputation, I am curious to see how well the do.

 

[kngelv]

So have been using these both for a little over a month and am very happy with them. The needle nose are particularly useful.

James

 

[Steve_P]

Does anyone know who makes these for Milwaukee? Pro America?

 

[dnschmidt]

Does anyone know who makes these for Milwaukee? Pro America?

They are made by Milwaukee in a brand new plant they made in Wisconsin. No subcontractor involved.

 

[four.cycle]

^ those do not look at all like Proamerica product. That's a new die they're using there: wedge-shaped indent on the shoulder, "USA" on the other shoulder - that's brand new production.

 

[kngelv]

I like that they open and close easily and don't need much of a break in.

James

 

[bcradio]

They are made by Milwaukee in a brand new plant they made in Wisconsin. No subcontractor involved.

Nice to hear they are doing it themselves

 

[lardy1]

If I needed more pliers in those configurations, I'd try them. I got my first look at them today at the locl lumberyard and I was pretty impressed. Particularly with the 8" needle nose.

I bailed on Milwaukee many, many years ago when they first started mass offshore production. Seems silly now that everybody else has too but at the time it was my conviction and I've avoided Milwaukee (for the most part) since then. I guess I owe it to them to spring for a pair of pliers that don't fit my reasoning for dumping them.

I'm 70. I know most of you won't relate.

 

[Southernbuild]

I looked at them at Home Depot; they look well made. Klien has been my go too electrical pliers / tools brand for years, but as they continue to offshore SKUs, I'm disappointed.

I'll probably buy the new Milwaukee USA products mainly to reward them (in a small way), for bringing an American made product like that to market.

 

[Steve_P]

^ those do not look at all like Proamerica product. That's a new die they're using there: wedge-shaped indent on the shoulder, "USA" on the other shoulder - that's brand new production.

Yes, I know it's a unique product, and not like current ProAmerica production. But that doesn't mean that if someone (Milwaukee) bought their own unique forging dies, and supplied them to PA, that PA wouldn't produce that product for them on a contract if it was worth the $ for them, and they had the capacity to do it. There would be nothing out of the ordinary for an arrangement like that.

 

[lardy1]

I wasn't aware they were offering these. I'm almost positive those are NWS sourced.

 

[KnurledNut]

I wasn't aware they were offering these. I'm almost positive those are NWS sourced.

Those have been available for years. I believe in the european market.

 

[lardy1]

I have that NWS pair with dipped handles. Excellent pliers.

 

[KnurledNut]

I have that NWS pair with dipped handles. Excellent pliers.

Linemans? Length?

 

[JeepYJ]

I bailed on Milwaukee many, many years ago when they first started mass offshore production. Seems silly now that everybody else has too but at the time it was my conviction and I've avoided Milwaukee (for the most part) since then. I guess I owe it to them to spring for a pair of pliers that don't fit my reasoning for dumping them.

The Milwaukee Tool company is foreign owned by TTI, based in Hong Kong.

 

[lardy1]

I'm not sure what others consider "lineman's". I call them combination pliers but you read the lineman pliers thread also.

I mostly use them to cut romex and to twist ground wires inside my junction boxes. I'm untrained so I sometimes don't even know if there are better methods/tools so I can't speak to anyone else's usage.

 

[KnurledNut]

@lardy1
My bad. Those are combination pliers. They look superb. Thanks for pics.
Back in the day when Irwin rebranded them, I wish they had went with plain dipped grips. I never cared for the ergonomics of the comfort grip.

 

[Ton ton]

I wonder if these Milwaukee pliers made in USA will ever make it to my industrial supply house? I have been stopping at hardware stores and the Milwaukee hand tools are made in Vietnam/ China for me so far.

 

[lardy1]

Try Do It Best Hardwares if you have them there. The lumberyard where I saw them is a Do It Best hardware as well as an independent lumberyard.

 

[Ton ton]

Try Do It Best Hardwares if you have them there. The lumberyard where I saw them is a Do It Best hardware as well as an independent lumberyard.

We do have a doit best close by.

 

[dcg1]

Bumping this to check on people's recent experiences. Grabbed a set of 7" cutters yesterday and they close at the tip, but have a gap most of the cutting edge to the pivot and don't cut well. Have tried two sets of linemans and while they open easily, it's at the expense of a sloppy pivot having play right out of the packaging (one set more than the other).

Curious if I'm just unlucky or if others have seen the same. The tools like nice, but QC isn't there on the small sample size I've seen.

 

[lardy1]

I bought a pair of the 8" long nose pliers and I like them alright. Fairly robust. I gave the Knipex equivalent to my nephew because I like the Milwaukee quite a bit more.

 

[FMC1959]

Bumping this to check on people's recent experiences. Grabbed a set of 7" cutters yesterday and they close at the tip, but have a gap most of the cutting edge to the pivot and don't cut well. Have tried two sets of linemans and while they open easily, it's at the expense of a sloppy pivot having play right out of the packaging (one set more than the other).

Curious if I'm just unlucky or if others have seen the same. The tools like nice, but QC isn't there on the small sample size I've seen.

That does not sound good. Considering they cost more and made in the USA, your 3 out 3 not being top notch is very disappointing.

Interesting that this thread started in 2023 and today, how much has changed with wanting to bring all MFR'ing back to the USA

 

[NoahG]

So far I’ve picked up a pair of the 8” needle nose the 8” diagonals and the 6” diagonals. Been very happy with them.

 

[65k10]

I recently bought one of the 8" needle nose to keep in a vehicle kit. Initial impressions have been mostly good. The joint is smooth, but no play. The tips have good symmetry and are pretty stout and I like the cross hatching. The negative is there is a slight gap in the wire cutter. This is a tough one for me because while that means the wire cutter is not going to work as well as I would like, that does mean the pliers tips touch. For my use that is more important.

In the past I have have needle nose pliers with a wire cutter where they prioritized the cutter meeting first, leaving a very minor gap in the pliers tips. It's so minor that it wouldn't affect most people, but I deal with hay bale net wrap getting stuck on stuff. It was pretty disappointing when my expensive Snap-On 196ancf pliers couldn't grip the thin net wrap ribbons to pull them out of a roller and I had to resort to my Leatherman. That kind of left me biased towards preferring needle nose pliers where the tips do meet over a properly functioning wire cutter.

 

[dcg1]

So far I’ve picked up a pair of the 8” needle nose the 8” diagonals and the 6” diagonals. Been very happy with them.

Sounds like maybe the 7” are the problem!

 

[1982fxr]

I'd expect them to be pretty good assuming they have all modern machinery making them.

 

[dcg1]

I recently bought one of the 8" needle nose to keep in a vehicle kit. Initial impressions have been mostly good. The joint is smooth, but no play. The tips have good symmetry and are pretty stout and I like the cross hatching. The negative is there is a slight gap in the wire cutter. This is a tough one for me because while that means the wire cutter is not going to work as well as I would like, that does mean the pliers tips touch. For my use that is more important.

In the past I have have needle nose pliers with a wire cutter where they prioritized the cutter meeting first, leaving a very minor gap in the pliers tips. It's so minor that it wouldn't affect most people, but I deal with hay bale net wrap getting stuck on stuff. It was pretty disappointing when my expensive Snap-On 196ancf pliers couldn't grip the thin net wrap ribbons to pull them out of a roller and I had to resort to my Leatherman. That kind of left me biased towards preferring needle nose pliers where the tips do meet over a properly functioning wire cutter.

For the price of snap on, I expect both - but fair point illustrating the potential downsides of combo tools

 

[Ohio Andy]

I have been very happy with the diagonals that I own and I also like the MT505 8" Long Nose Dipped Grip Pliers (USA),

For Long Nose, I am not discussing my old Craftsman USA made that you can no longer purchase, but I own some of them.

My Snap-On have the most comfortable handles and are the only ones I own that do not have wire cutters. I do not often cut wire with my needle nose pliers, but sometimes I do. (96ACF) 240 grams. A little stiff, as are the ChannelLocks, but much nicer than when I purchased them; they really wore in well.

My Tekton pliers are my only pair made in Taiwan, all my others are made in the USA. These work fine, but have the smallest and least comfortable handle (because of size). They are not awful to use and if I did not say anything, you would probably not have given it a thought unless you spend all your time using Snap-On; and then everything feels not as nice probably. (https://www.tekton.com/8-inch-long-nose-pliers-pgf10008) 175 grams. Very easy to manipulate with one hand.

I own a couple pairs of Channellock 317 long nose pliers. These are the only ones whose tips do not touch, so, if you want to grab something very thin (like a piece of paper), don't bother. The handle is about the same as the Snap-on for length, but with just a dip rather than a more comfortable handle. I have not had any complaints with them, which is why I own more than one pair. 240 grams. A little stiff like the Snap-On.

My Milwaukee MT505 set is the heaviest set at 265 grams. (https://www.milwaukeetool.com/Products/MT505). I find them comfortable in my hand. They touch only at the tip as do all the others except for the ChannelLock. Probably the easiest to manipulate with one hand. This adds a Reaming Head good for conduit from 1/2" to 1" and in the back end they have a fish tape puller (you squeeze the handles down and it can grip fish tape). This is the only set that is tether ready. I have only tried the Dipped, not the Comfort version (MT555). I have considered replacing my ChannelLocks with these.

As a side note, I really like their USA made screwdrivers as well. I have a set of 13 of them. I had to assemble these individually since they do not sell a 13 piece set of which I am aware. One of the few people who sell an ECX bit.

 

[NoahG]

Oh yes, the USA made screwdrivers are incredibly good. The Milwaukee Phillips 2 is the only thing I reach for these days besides my Vessels.

 

[dcg1]

Oh yes, the USA made screwdrivers are incredibly good. The Milwaukee Phillips 2 is the only thing I reach for these days besides my Vessels.

I agree the USA screwdrivers are good. I only have a couple as I probably have enough screwdrivers around for a few lifetimes, but every once in a while HD has random driver on deep discount that I've been able to pick up for $3. No brainer at that price.

I ordered two more of the 7" diagonals, and found I could shine a flashlight above the tips to check alignment in the packaging. Both better than the first pair, one more than the other, but neither perfect. My local store had four left in stock, and I found that two of them closed completely flush. So, add it up an my experience is that 2 out of 7 had perfectly aligned jaws. Opinions may differ on the need for perfect alignment on a pair of diagonal cutters, but if Milwaukee spun up new tooling for a made in USA product, I'd have expected better tolerances. I'm happy with the pair I ended up with and appreciate to USA manufacturing, but in my experience I can order a pair of Knipex and not have to worry about the QC.

Did find one pair of linemans at HD and the pivot was tight. Cutter alignment not perfect, but I think I will prioritize the tight joint vs perfect cutters for those.

I would buy more of these tools, but probably only if I find them on sale locally and am able to inspect them first.