Plyer Set?

[skirk55]

I have Kobalt pliers at work and the handles fall off so I return them and they replace them. I never had a hard time returning them. The problem is I have returned them about 6 times. The handles are glued on and the solvents at work eats up the glue. I need to replace them. My question is by who? Snap On the most expensive. Mac a little better. Craftsman and then there is Gearwrench I no nothing about. I want good pliers but I don't want to spend $500 no a small set.

 

[-B-]

You are already there why not buy Channel lock or Kline from the store.

 

[krusty the clown]

+1 on the channellock

 

[skirk55]

I saw them at Home Depot. I will check them out Tuesday Night. Thank you for your help.

 

[voidifused]

+1 on the channellock

Another for channellock, I have almost all there pliers they make and they have never let me down.

As a side note i use them around thinner and acid i have burned the rubber but never had them just "slip off" on me. I bought some blue rubber dip to redo the handles i have ruined and i end up cutting most of the handles off.

 

[mickeyone]

Klein,crafty,channelocks are all readily available at box stores at discount prices.HD is closing out the Klein tools ..If you have flea markets Kraeuter,Utica,Proto are found at good prices and are good usable tools.Working around chemicals that eat handles put the Klein red tenite handles on them or co with plain handles.I use plain jane bare metal handles around messy jobs...easier clean up.

 

[Merkava_4]

Incidentally, the Lowes here in Clovis has a 3-plier pack of Channellocks and that is it!! Even their Klein selection is limited.

Not to worry though, this town is full of electric motor repair shops, HVAC supply shops, plumbing supply shops, contractor supply stores, Industrial supply stores, welding supply stores; and between all of them, I have access to the whole line of Klein, Channellock and Proto. Don't need no big box home improvement chain stores that sell chinese made junk.

 

[Scooterfish]

Incidentally, the Lowes here in Clovis has a 3-plier pack of Channellocks and that is it!! Even their Klein selection is limited.

Our Lowes is selling out Klien pliers and repalcing with "Ideal" made in China

 

[Merkava_4]

Our Lowes is selling out Klein pliers and replacing with "Ideal" made in China

You're right, thanks for reminding me; I won't buy the chinese made Ideal pliers.

 

[Fedwrench]

I've had the blue grips slide off of Channellock pliers. In their defense it was probably my own fault as they received regular baths in the cuda when greasy. If you work in a harsh environment perhaps all steel pliers maybe the answer. The Lowes in my area has their Klein stuff on sale too.

 

[MyChannellockTools]

Have you tried the Channellock Code Blue gripped pliers?

 

[FNFS2000]

I'm gonna get flogged, I'm ducking from the tomato throwing already, but why go slumming, Knipex makes the best pliers. I don't get why people are "happy" with second rate stuff.

 

[81Seca]

Sorry, but calling Channellock, Klein, or most of the other brands mentioned on this thread as "second rate" is just an uneducated opinion.

 

[eschoendorff]

+1 on the channellock

This answer is so obvious that it makes me wonder why people even ask...

 

[eschoendorff]

I'm gonna get flogged, I'm ducking from the tomato throwing already, but why go slumming, Knipex makes the best pliers. I don't get why people are "happy" with second rate stuff.

I have Knipex, Channellock many others in my collection. To this day I do not understand why people think that the Knipex are superior to the Channellocks. There is no empirical evidence that Knipex are any better or worse than any of the others. That just leaves personal anecdotes for opinions...

If you can get Knipex cheap, go for it. Otherwise, support the folks in PA who make the Channellocks right here in the USA...

While we're on personal opinions, my pre-Stanley Facom are my all time favorite pliers. Very precise.

 

[Mike83]

I was about to buy in to the whole superiority of Knipex. I have two Channellock pliers, 12" and 7", that are the exact same jaw type and overall shape of the Knipex Cobras, except with the regular "channel" adjustment. They grab on to pipes, bolts, square shapes, etc. and work with pressure to only the top handle (no squeezing needed), just like the Cobras. For less than $20 for the pair, I can't justify paying several times that much for just one of the German brand. Channellock all the way for budget minded people.

I do prefer Snap-On needle nose, slip-joint and cutters for my car tools. Klein for electrical (although I don't like the Journeyman grips so much - they feel slippery to me and my hands don't fit them well) and Channellock for my everday, workshop, go-to pliers.

 

[jerk_chicken]

I'm gonna get flogged, I'm ducking from the tomato throwing already, but why go slumming, Knipex makes the best pliers. I don't get why people are "happy" with second rate stuff.

+1

Not that I don't have CL's, but it's not only the construction, but the design is very advanced and useful.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Nuther vote for Channellocks here.

 

[FNFS2000]

+1

Not that I don't have CL's, but it's not only the construction, but the design is very advanced and useful.

I used to have Channellock and Klein tools... Then I saw the light.

 

[Uncle Buck]

I used to have Channellock and Klein tools... Then I saw the light.

They are not so much better than the Channellocks to justify the cost difference.

 

[FNFS2000]

They are not so much better than the Channellocks to justify the cost difference.

the only way that can honestly be said is if someone never actually used them. Or does not place any value of quality tools and how much easier they can be on your body and how much more efficiently you can work.

 

[garfunkle24]

They are not so much better than the Channellocks to justify the cost difference.

Exactly. I'm a big Knipex fan too, but performence per $ is actually higher on the Channellocks IMHO.

 

[autoace]

the only way that can honestly be said is if someone never actually used them. Or does not place any value of quality tools and how much easier they can be on your body and how much more efficiently you can work.

Easier on the body? I smacked a guy with a 20 inch pair of Channellocks, then I whacked him with a pair of 20 inch Knipex. They both seemed to work just fine! Neither were easier on the body. He placed more value on the quality of his words after though. Both brands are pretty damn good.

 

[myslow2002gt]

Easier on the body? I smacked a guy with a 20 inch pair of Channellocks, then I whacked him with a pair of 20 inch Knipex. They both seemed to work just fine!

HAHAHA

 

[FNFS2000]

I've got tired old hands and Knipex pliers grip like pipe wrenches making it so I do not have to squeeze at all and they will not slip. I can stand on the back handle if the need arises, and they don't budge.

 

[35mastr]

I also prefer the Knipex plyers.A little more money than the channel locks.But the handles will never fall off.

 

[Honda 1]

I was in HD yesterday, checking out a pair of 16 in. Channellocks. The price was about $21.00. Very reasonable for a very good pair of pliers.
I've owned a pair of the 12 in. Channellocks for many years and they have never let me down.

 

[jerk_chicken]

All I'm saying is when I got my Knipex pliers, reasonably priced at Sears (Alligator, and two cobras under the CM label), I stopped using my CL's.

 

[jerk_chicken]

No link, I walked in store and it looked cool and intelligent in the plier section, so I bought it. The alligator has a less precise pivot, but perhaps is good for strength.

 

[cruiser808]

Can anyone tell me the difference between the alligators and the cobras and the advantages/disadvantages of each? Thanks.

 

[FNFS2000]

Can anyone tell me the difference between the alligators and the cobras and the advantages/disadvantages of each? Thanks.

Alligator is the original "new" design from 1972

There have been a few design changes in the cobra since they have came out while the alligator has remained unchanged.

The cobra has more adjustments, for perfect ergonomic handle seperation. The adjustments lock with a pushbutton, so they don't change sizes everytime you pick them up. They grip better. The handles are shaped more comfortably.