Pliers & Adjustable Wrenches: What am I missing?

[Dzmax77]

Any recommendations on which pliers and adjustable wrenches I should have in my collection? Items on these pics is what I have currently.

 

[Bogie1632]

What type of work and/or hobbies do you have? There are a great many different types, many best suited to a particular type of work.

Or you could just collect. In that case, some larger curved jaw pliers, larger adjustable wrenches, some long reach needle nose, some more curved jaw needle nose, and some locking pliers would be good additions to what you have.

V/R
Bogie

 

[ooba tooba]

I’ve used these enough to justify buying a second pair

 

[Gotcha640]

Re: Pliers & Adjustable Wrenches: What am I missing?

Locking, long reach, snap ring, hog ring (ag and marine), aviation snips, wire spinners, big channel lock, big crescent.

And hose clamp.

 

[KnurledNut]

Since this thread will end up naming every iteration of pliers known to man, ill contribute a few more...



End nippers can be handy.
Oil filter pliers possibly.
Ring nose hose grip pliers.
Pinch off pliers.
Cable cutters.
Wire rope cutters.

 

[aggiegrads]

Knipex Pliers wrench.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Pliers & Adjustable Wrenches: What am I missing?

Looks good on the pliers except you need some Vise Grips. Might want to add a smaller and bigger adjustable wrench. And of course have regular sets of wrenches too I only use adjustable as a last resort.


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[Dumber than lumber]

Knipex Pliers wrench.

^^^^^^
What he said. Or maybe someone makes a copycat or equivalent.

 

[nynexit]

Knipex Pliers wrench.

^^ This has been my favorite purchase of the year along side my Knipex Cobra’s.

My advise , besides the above is to buy once & buy quality. (Good ones aren’t much more), Ask dad what he’s got ![emoji4]

It Would be nice to know what your doing with them .

Fair warning , this forum has expanded my pliers rack considerably [emoji12]

 

[Dzmax77]

What type of work and/or hobbies do you have? There are a great many different types, many best suited to a particular type of work.

Or you could just collect. In that case, some larger curved jaw pliers, larger adjustable wrenches, some long reach needle nose, some more curved jaw needle nose, and some locking pliers would be good additions to what you have.

V/R
Bogie

I want to do something with my tools, just haven’t figured out what.

I noticed that I didn’t have many good tools so then I started doing research on tools, the tool industry, how Home Depot, Lowes and Menards are just selling ****, and lately started buying better quality stuff. Im just buying tools I think I should have. I think I have the basics but maybe there’s something else Im missing thats a must have for any home owner DIY’er.

 

[Dzmax77]

Re: Pliers & Adjustable Wrenches: What am I missing?

Looks good on the pliers except you need some Vise Grips. Might want to add a smaller and bigger adjustable wrench. And of course have regular sets of wrenches too I only use adjustable as a last resort.


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I bought a set of NOS Craftsman USA metric and SAE. I also put together a Wright SAE set and half a Wright Metric set (only up to 10mm); purchased new wrenches one buy one off of ebay. It was a little cheaper doing it that way but its a mix of new Wright 1.0 and 2.0 chrome finish. I like them.

I have several ratchet wrenches.

1/4” - Williams, Craftsman USA and Kobalt USA (both made by Denahar)
3/8” - Williams, Craftsman USA, Kobalt USA, Stanley (older Taiwanese model)
1/2” - Kobalt USA

I have the following socket sets:

1/4” Armstrong USA MM & SAE
1/4” Craftsman USA MM & SAE
3/8” Craftsman USA MM & SAE
3/8” Stanley 12 point MM & SAE (Taiwan I believe, no markings)

General bit ratchet with Phillips and slotted.
2- Armstrong 1/4” Spinner Handles USA

Id like to find a reasonably priced 1/2” socket set. I really like Tsunoda and Engineer pliers from Japan, I’d like to add more of them to my collection. I also like anything made by Wright and SnapOn, especially their ratchets. But I cant justify spending that kind of $ when I won’t use them more than a few times a year.

 

[youinreverse]

My most used pliers are Knipex pliers wrench, Knipex Cobras, and Snap-on Talon Grip needle nose pliers. All are definitely worth the high prices.

 

[Dzmax77]

^^ This has been my favorite purchase of the year along side my Knipex Cobra’s.

My advise , besides the above is to buy once & buy quality. (Good ones aren’t much more), Ask dad what he’s got ![emoji4]

It Would be nice to know what your doing with them .

Fair warning , this forum has expanded my pliers rack considerably [emoji12]

Yes, I agree. I have Milwaukee, husky, tools and theyve served my purposes just fine but after knowing how crappy a lot of these store brands are, Ive become more of a tool snob. And if you’re patient and know where to look and what brands to buy, you can find better tools from the US and Japan for not much more $. For example, Tsunoda is a great bang for the $. And there are still NOS Armstrong, Craftsman and Kobalt Denahar tools out there you can still buy.

 

[Dzmax77]

I see Knipex Pliers Wrench mentioned more than once. Looks like thats now on my list.

I need another adjustable wrench. I have a 6” stanley and 8” Proto. I really like the 200mm Lobsters. Just not sure if I should get Lobster or an SK, Wright or another Proto instead.

I wish I had those SnapOn Talon’s. Maybe one day.

 

[Kuma601]

About 20 years ago after stripping out the cheap plastic oil filter cap wrenches I picked up some of the Channellock 209 9" slip joint versions. They can mangle the filter a bit though. They manage to curve around the protrusions of my cars so they work well for me.

I still have the metal band and rubber straps types.

 

[lardy1]

I've found that, as a home gamer, "in case I ever need it" is a very deep and expensive rabbit hole.

I'd suggest waiting until you're planning a project to buy more tools that you don't have an immediate need for. There are certainly things that every homeowner should have for general maintenance. And I'm guilty as hell of buying tools before I needed them. So....this isn't a lecture. Just friendly advice if money is any kind of an issue. Buy what you need and buy the highest quality your budget allows at the time of purchase.

The list is going to get very long by posing that question in here. Asking "What do I need?" in Garage Journal is like taking your **** out in the henhouse.

 

[KnurledNut]

I see Knipex Pliers Wrench mentioned more than once. Looks like thats now on my list.

I need another adjustable wrench. I have a 6” stanley and 8” Proto. I really like the 200mm Lobsters. Just not sure if I should get Lobster or an SK, Wright or another Proto instead.

I wish I had those SnapOn Talon’s. Maybe one day.

Any of the Irega rebrands will treat you well.
I.E. Channellock, Klein.
Look for the “Spain” marking.

 

[Rarified27]

A larger pair of tongue and groove pliers are indispensable.

While I've said it a few times before on GJ, I've likely fixed more things with a pair of Channellock 440's (the 12") than any other tool.

 

[logical]

Re: Pliers & Adjustable Wrenches: What am I missing?

Vise grips, end cutters, tiny stuff, huge stuff.

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[slowxj]

Knipex wrench for sure... Also I like every size adjustable... Yes I use an actual wrench most of the time, but adjustables are handy for certain things .. leverage in bending, also they can cut down on tools you"take with you" when you're not working in your garage.

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[seber]

Engineer pliers and long bent nose pliers.

 

[Ton ton]

Mega adjustable wrenches .

 

[BTJHP]

Channellock 410, 421, 430, 440, 432, 460
Channellock E318, E338, E348
Wilde G263FP.NP
SK 7208
Knipex 87 01 180 and 87 01 250
Diamond Calk adjustable wrenches
Proto 708 and 710
Irega/Channellock adjustable wrenches with reversible jaw
Irega/Channellock adjustable wrenches with thin jaw
Klein wire strippers
Klein D2000-9NE

 

[Bogie1632]

Lots of good suggestuons. Don't forget a basin wrench.

V/R
Bogie

 

[Dave455]

What about a pair of combination pliers?

If you have only used slip joints, these are way nicer to use.

And of course another vote for the pliers wrench. You don’t realise how good these are till you own them!

 

[nynexit]

Don’t forget a nice rack for ‘em [emoji4] skip the plastic ones.

I’ll second the suggestion of getting the set of channellock 440 etc as noted above
- not expensive and take abuse.

Another favorite recent buy of mine is
Knipex 22-01-160 6.3" Round Nose Pliers
- if you ever swap an outlet , or need to bend wire into a loop, they work great .

Also , for the 3 times you need it but it saves your but - hose clamp pliers. So you don’t mangle up your hands [emoji4]

 

[dnschmidt]

First of all anything that says K-Knee-pex is definitely in order. Secondly, Harbor Freight Doyle makes a combination plier for electrical work that's the absolute bomb. Here's the link: https://www.harborfreight.com/electricians-multi-purpose-pliers-64868.html It is flat out great.

 

[jgromada]

it looks like there are no Knipex Cobras, the vise grip ones i have as well but definitely not as good

Also as mentioned no real locking pliers (like Vise Grip) and you need a variety of those (curved, straight, sizes) . And i would want some long handle pliers as well

 

[Dzmax77]

What about a pair of combination pliers?

If you have only used slip joints, these are way nicer to use.

And of course another vote for the pliers wrench. You don’t realise how good these are till you own them!

I have the newer Kleins, Engineer and an older Craftsman (I believe are made by Great Star or Chervon in China) multi purpose/linesman pliers. You can see them on my pic. All are decent. Even the Craftsman pair, its not too bad except they don’t open wide all the way due to a design flaw.

 

[GirchyGirchy]

I see Knipex Pliers Wrench mentioned more than once. Looks like thats now on my list.

And Knipex Cobras. They each have their uses.

For adjustables, I have Klein and Proto...Proto's good for the price. Note that Harry Epstein sells a bunch of well priced US-made adjustables, they'd probably be fine.

 

[Dave455]

I have the newer Kleins, Engineer and an older Craftsman (I believe are made by Great Star or Chervon in China) multi purpose/linesman pliers. You can see them on my pic. All are decent. Even the Craftsman pair, its not too bad except they don’t open wide all the way due to a design flaw.

Combination pliers are subtly different from Lineman’s, they can grip round things, which I use often.

The craftsman’s looked like they included strippers or crimpers so I thought an electrical tool. My bad.

 

[BTJHP]

Re: Pliers & Adjustable Wrenches: What am I missing?

Hit me up if you are looking for some Tsunoda tools. I have some I've never used and might sell.

 

[metaldad]

i just have a couple in blue
olde out dated pic.
probably have 2x as many now.
and 3x as many, in diamond green

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Re: Pliers & Adjustable Wrenches: What am I missing?

I bought a set of NOS Craftsman USA metric and SAE. I also put together a Wright SAE set and half a Wright Metric set (only up to 10mm); purchased new wrenches one buy one off of ebay. It was a little cheaper doing it that way but its a mix of new Wright 1.0 and 2.0 chrome finish. I like them.



I have several ratchet wrenches.



1/4” - Williams, Craftsman USA and Kobalt USA (both made by Denahar)

3/8” - Williams, Craftsman USA, Kobalt USA, Stanley (older Taiwanese model)

1/2” - Kobalt USA



I have the following socket sets:



1/4” Armstrong USA MM & SAE

1/4” Craftsman USA MM & SAE

3/8” Craftsman USA MM & SAE

3/8” Stanley 12 point MM & SAE (Taiwan I believe, no markings)



General bit ratchet with Phillips and slotted.

2- Armstrong 1/4” Spinner Handles USA



Id like to find a reasonably priced 1/2” socket set. I really like Tsunoda and Engineer pliers from Japan, I’d like to add more of them to my collection. I also like anything made by Wright and SnapOn, especially their ratchets. But I cant justify spending that kind of $ when I won’t use them more than a few times a year.

Those are great tools. If you got any pictures of the Danaher made stuff post it in the Danaher thread we love seeing everyone’s stuff over there we are trying to get it going more. Wright, Williams, Proto would be good for 1/2 or if you can find it Armstrong since they aren’t made anymore.


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[Qualitytools]

Invest in Plierwrench and Cobra both made by KNIPEX.

 

[Dzmax77]

I think Knipex Pliers wrench are next on my list but they’re pricey. I’ll try and keep a lookout and see if someone has a deal going on.

I do want some USA made 1/2” SAE and Metric sockets. Can’t find any non pro-level makes. I know Williams/SnapOn made sockets for Kobalt. I wish I could find a NOS of that.

 

[Qualitytools]

For sockets take a look at KOKEN made in Japan

 

[theoldwizard1]

Extra long needle nose, straight and 90 degree.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Did you check on Epstein for the old stock of those I know they usually have tons of Craftsman and sometimes other brands too. I’ve found new ones at the pawn shop before too so might check yours to see.


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[jeffmoss26]

NOS Crescent adjustables!