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Show me your dikes.

roketa36

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Jan 14, 2014
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84
Ok guys I'm looking for a nice sharp pair of dikes. My bargain set is just not doing it. What do you all have and how do you like them.

My main use for them will be trimming ballast after replacement and I need something that would bruise my palm when trying to use.

So I don't need something crazy expensive. But I also don't mind spending a few extra bucks on something that will last me for years.
 
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Hpozzuoli

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Dec 11, 2013
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Rhode Island
Red is snap on. Blue is channellock. Greens are sk. I prefer the larger sk over the snap on. The head is a little bigger and angled so sometimes I need the snap on for clearance issues or just a smaller set of sk.
 

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aka Larry

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th
 

Hpozzuoli

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Hpozzuoli, do you know who makes the SK cutters?

I am going to assume sk does in house, but not positive. The needle nose in the pic were just sent to me by sk as a warranty for the pair I broke. Both say USA
 

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ihrescue

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Dec 30, 2013
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Olney, MD
Red is snap on. Blue is channellock. Greens are sk. I prefer the larger sk over the snap on. The head is a little bigger and angled so sometimes I need the snap on for clearance issues or just a smaller set of sk.

I agree the S-K is a good size and shape.

To the question about where S-K tools are made I haven't found where they are manufactured but they were acquired by Ideal Industries the long time maker of wire nuts and other electrical materials. In Wikipedia they said "By 1949, Ideal Industries had become the United States' leading producer of wire nuts.
In 2010, Ideal acquired three American hand tool manufacturers: Western Forge in January, Pratt-Read in March, and SK Hand Tools in August."
 
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Davefr

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Jan 7, 2010
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OR
Lindstrom, Klein, Swanstrom, SO, and old Diamond.

P1030002.jpg


Dykes:

flat,550x550,075,f.jpg
 
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3rdgen

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Jan 26, 2013
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144
Location
London Ont
Klein journeyman, the j228-8 are 34 bucks on amazon, use them everyday and i found them to be the best. I've tried channel locks, kimpex and a bunch of cheap ones and the klein seem to cut the best .
 

fatfillup

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Jan 17, 2009
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Location
Finksburg, Md
Why did I know this was coming. :lol_hitti

Heck, the OP knew it was coming, that's why he titled it that way:lol_hitti

Show me your side cutters just wouldn't get much attention:dunno:

The best was the pics of the Van Dykes brothers:rocker:

If I had to buy new and money wasn't a concern, I think I would buy knipex.

If money was a concern, I would buy Channellock. Note, I have used any late model Channellock dykes so I don't know about current quality.

Kleins would be a good choice as would be most of the US brands mentioned.

I personally have Cornwell, SO and Channellock as my users. The Cornwells have held up well. Have no idea if cornwell made them
 

Brownsfan

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Apr 16, 2012
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Cleveland Ohio
If they say USA on them the Cornwells were made by channellock. If not they are imports and made by a company called professional tool products. I have no idea who they are
 

NoahG

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Feb 24, 2013
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Location
Detroit, MI
Channellocks are ok, not a fan of the "knife and anvil" cutters, I think they take more force to cut.

My go to are Kleins, great leverage, and they have a decently fine tip, unlike some other brands that are blunter.
 

quattroJoe

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Jan 9, 2014
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586
Location
FL
My vote is for Knipex. Price isn't much different from Channellock or Klein if buying at a retail store. Sears carries Knipex, FYI.
 
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