Pliers and cutters

[shawndp]

Hello Everyone!
I am contemplating upgrading my pliers and cutters and was looking for suggestions please. My current ones are the sort you get at Canadian Tire / harbor Freight, so nothing to write home about... I do use Channellock T&G and am very impressed with those but have never seen the sort of long reach versions by them. I need something like these please... Cutters - I am looking for one diagonal and one end cutter please. Thanks
Shawn

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007QNWXRW/?tag=atomicindustr-21

 

[66HertzClone]

You should spend some time searching this forum, the leading favorite for pliers of high quality seems to be the Knipex brand. This vendor has a pretty good selection to view, the NWS brand also available from there also has some very nice pliers to choose from.

 

[ckadams00]

ANYTHING will feel and work better than the HF. If you upgrade to Channellock you will see a huge difference. If you upgrade from Channellock to Knipex you will see a huge difference. The quality really goes hand in hand with the price in my opinion.

. . .but I will say, other than a good impact driver, pliers are probably the tools I am most happy to have spent money on.

 

[Gmonkee]

Go ask a electrician in your area what he would buy if he needed one today.
You will get a brand available in your area and the moest durable one.
Most likely they won't be the most expensive. I am no pro and use Asain rebrands to a line like Stanley in quality. No complaints at all for my occasional weekend uses.

 

[bcradio]

They have HF and Canadian Tire in the UK?

 

[woody 73]

Hi you are going to get a lot of different replies, take for example channellock pliers you can see from one of my old posts that the design has not changed in over fifty years they are a tested design that works and the price point is not bad.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=363052

If you want the best of the best of the best and you have deep pockets then pick up a German Knipex, something like cry one time and be done with it.

I bought recently a pair of NWS (also German made) and I was not to crazy about them, although very nice they did not open up very far for my liking.

Snap on makes nice pliers but again you are going to pay out the wazoo.

Like others have said how much money do you want to spend, your location makes a big difference and what work will you be doing also makes a difference.

 

[DaVincisGarage]

Hello Everyone!
I am contemplating upgrading my pliers and cutters and was looking for suggestions please. My current ones are the sort you get at Canadian Tire / harbor Freight, so nothing to write home about... I do use Channellock T&G and am very impressed with those but have never seen the sort of long reach versions by them. I need something like these please... Cutters - I am looking for one diagonal and one end cutter please. Thanks
Shawn

Hey Shawn, i was in the same boat as you not too long ago. Its depending on your budget cash flow. Id suggest checking out Tekton.. I have done alot of research on them and the quality is AWESOME and for a low price. There groove and slip joint pliers are made in the USA and they are great.

For long reach look into Cresent double jointed ones. Amazon has good deals on these.

And cutter I have Klein and channellock side cutters they are MINT but expensive.

Long Reach :
https://www.amazon.com/Crescent-PSX204C-Reach-Plier-2-Piece/dp/B00N9ULHO6/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1498661936&sr=8-4&keywords=crescent+pliers

https://www.amazon.com/Klein-Tools-High-Leverage-Diagonal-Cutters-8-Inch/dp/B0000302VW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1498662015&sr=8-1&keywords=klein+cutters


I have a bunch of pliers and cutters for sale! But, if your not from Vancouver Canada they are cheaper where you are lol .

 

[shawndp]

I'm in Canada, but bounce across the border to the US (MI & NY) with some regularity, so anything that comes off Amazon or a website can be shipped to my US mailbox. As for price - I was hoping about USD 20 to 25 per piece, but don't know if that is realistic? If there is a really solid plier I would rather spend the money and buy them 1 at a time than keep buying $50 sets that need to be replaced. Thanks.

 

[shawndp]

Hey Shawn, i was in the same boat as you not too long ago. Its depending on your budget cash flow. Id suggest checking out Tekton.. I have done alot of research on them and the quality is AWESOME and for a low price. There groove and slip joint pliers are made in the USA and they are great.

For long reach look into Cresent double jointed ones. Amazon has good deals on these.

And cutter I have Klein and channellock side cutters they are MINT but expensive.

Long Reach :
https://www.amazon.com/Crescent-PSX204C-Reach-Plier-2-Piece/dp/B00N9ULHO6/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1498661936&sr=8-4&keywords=crescent+pliers

https://www.amazon.com/Klein-Tools-High-Leverage-Diagonal-Cutters-8-Inch/dp/B0000302VW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1498662015&sr=8-1&keywords=klein+cutters


I have a bunch of pliers and cutters for sale! But, if your not from Vancouver Canada they are cheaper where you are lol .

Wow! Those Crescent come up to $50 with same day shipping! Very tempting!!!

 

[kythri]

Wow! Those Crescent come up to $50 with same day shipping! Very tempting!!!

GearWrench's version is cheaper:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0014ZXWP0/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[upgrading]

Many on GJ have these or the 3 piece set which appears to be out of stock.
Excellent seller.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Blackhawk-b...ACH-PLIERS-PT-1300-T1310-/162083199507?epid=0

 

[davethorik]

Many on GJ have these or the 3 piece set which appears to be out of stock.
Excellent seller.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Blackhawk-b...ACH-PLIERS-PT-1300-T1310-/162083199507?epid=0

I have a pair of these. I don't need them super often but when i do, they do what i need. A good value at $15/ea

Channellock and Wilde both make good pliers, however if you need cutters I would recommend Klein 2000 series and Knipex. They are rated for cutting hardened materials.

I personally own a Klein D2000-48 angled side cutter and a Knipex 74-01-250 in diagonals. I feel they are about even. I also have a Knipex 68-01-200 end nippers and they are great. I also have a few of their other offerings (Cobra pliers, Plierswrench) and they are phenomenal.

 

[shawndp]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions! I defintiely have some reading to do... seems like Amazon / Ebay prices are far better south of the border on the Klein / Knipex. In the event of needing a warranty, how easy / difficult is that? Thanks once again!

 

[matthew]

Well, if it was me starting over again...

I have a very mixed set of pliers in general homeowner/DIY/tool enthusiast use. I started with Mastercraft, and have been upgrading over time. My original Mastercraft stuff was actually quite good. I don't like the overmolded handles in much of the more recent stuff, and the kits never have the right assortment in them.

Lee Valley carries NWS stuff. I bought a pair of NWS 6-3/4" long nose pliers from Lee Valley to replace my Channellock 317's, which are just a big too large in my hands. I really like the NWS, and would recommend, they're about the nicest long nose pliers I've ever used.

Canadian Tire has Channellock on 30% off a few times a year, and 40% off about twice a year (usually once mid-year and once before Christmas). My Channellock 420's are the other pair of pliers I use all the time, and a good value. My linesman pliers are Knipex, but I would probably also go for the Channellock 469 which are good and easier to find. Would also consider Channellock cutters (but haven't upgraded those yet, might also end up with Knipex or NWS).

I have Knipex Cobra 10" and 7" that I got a good deal on a few years ago, and they are awesome. Haven't seen them for cheap on either side of the border in a long time, though. You can get them at Home Depot and NAPA in Canada, but they are not cheap. Buy a 10" pair, though, and they'll probably become your favourites.

I also really like duckbill pliers. Channellock 718's off Amazon.com should be pretty affordable and really useful. Sadly don't carry those at the major hardware suppliers around here, just the specialty guys or online.

Amazon.ca has good deals on Gray branded locking pliers right now. They're orange epoxy coated, made by Grip-On in Spain. Probably a good place to start - a good deal right now, and you can never have too many locking pliers.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

For pliers and cutters I look to Klein, Knipex, and NWS.

 

[shawndp]

Amazon.ca has good deals on Gray branded locking pliers right now. They're orange epoxy coated, made by Grip-On in Spain. Probably a good place to start - a good deal right now, and you can never have too many locking pliers.

Thanks for the suggestions! I ordered a few and they are back-ordered but one came in and this is a massive improvement over the miserable Canadian tire one I was using!

 

[Tonyuk]

I use knipex since i bought a few packs of 3 when i started out. I recently bought a pair of tekton slip-jaw pliers, made in the US and nice for the price of them.

I also have some cheaper long reach thin nose pliers.

Whatever you buy invest in a bit of quality. I needed a pair of wire snips to finish a job years ago before i started as a tech. When i went to cut the wire they would barely dent it, and i ended up with chips the size of the wire on the blades.

 

[uncwstudent]

Knipex will change your world forever. I'd also suggest the Craftsman USA is if you can find them.

 

[cdeer001]

Craftsman (Western Forge branded) - they are 1/2 price now as Sears is trying to move them out.
Klein Tools - http://www.kleintools.com
Channel Lock - https://www.channellock.com/pliers.aspx

 

[JohnDeere1]

Here's a suggestion Irwin the ones made it Germany they are rebranded NWS. You can find them at Lowe's the compound cutters are fantastic you can't even feel the snap from the cut and the pistol grip pliers are awesome as well I have those and the combo/linesman pliers they were the only options at my local store. Knipex is also great I recently just got a pair of the long cutters and a pair of 12" alligators and a 6" pair of cobras/rebranded craftsman and they are awesome. Even having all these new German pliers I still think my Snap On talon grip series are still better in finish and looks but useability are all equal.

 

[mowkep]

The Knipex are good. I got the majority of my Knipex back when Lowe's was clearancing them. So the ouch wasn't too bad. I will say I bought their adjustable pliers from other places with a discount and it was still a big ouch. But they are invaluable. I still use the heck out of my Craftsman WF pliers. We have the Channelocks at work.

 

[kctyphoon]

Knipex and NWS are probably the best pliers money can buy. For home use, and even a pro not wanting to spend a lot of money, channellock is a good choice. Wilde tool company is another USA made less popular brand that has a lot of pliers to pick from.

Channellock is definitely a most for your money type brand.

 

[Tallpilot]

ANYTHING will feel and work better than the HF. If you upgrade to Channellock you will see a huge difference. If you upgrade from Channellock to Knipex you will see a huge difference. The quality really goes hand in hand with the price in my opinion.

. . .but I will say, other than a good impact driver, pliers are probably the tools I am most happy to have spent money on.

I agree with this. Replace most of your cheap junk with Channellock. Figure out what you use the most and replace it with Knipex. My first Knipex tool was dykes. I just ordered some smooth jaw duckbills. I am told I will wonder how I lived without them.

 

[californiaHank]

I also really like duckbill pliers. Channellock 718's off Amazon.com should be pretty affordable and really useful. Sadly don't carry those at the major hardware suppliers around here, just the specialty guys or online.

.

Agreed. I'd add the needlenose from the same family - Channellock 738. Long handles for reach and leverage, and a small head for tight spaces. They're useful for a lot of different jobs in a lot of places, and they're not very expensive.