Slip-Joint or Linesman Pliers?
- Thread starter CobraRed
- Start date
bob15
Well-known member
Slip joint would be more useful.
619DioFan
Well-known member
Between the two slipjoint is far more useful. love my 16'' chanell locks.
astroracer
Well-known member
They both have their uses. I would say I use slip-joints more then the linesman but I do use both so having them is nice.
Mark
Mark
Sevenhills1952
Well-known member
sberry
Banned
A pair of linemans is standard equipment in a decent tool set. I rarely use slips but they can be found cheap. 440 and 430 Channelok are also standard equipment. The lineman are for cutting and bending wire. A pair of 8 inch diagonal are also precious. As a matter of fact I own a dozen slips, most were given or come with sets, I dont think I even carry them in my road set. 7 and 10R Vise Grips are also standard, curved jaw not so much.
9 inch in the linemans which are also called side cutters too, smaller ones, 7 are girls tools. I was demolishing something and my MIL happened to watch, said, I would have every tool out and had no idea one tool could do so much.
9 inch in the linemans which are also called side cutters too, smaller ones, 7 are girls tools. I was demolishing something and my MIL happened to watch, said, I would have every tool out and had no idea one tool could do so much.
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Sticky Grips
Well-known member
- Joined
- Aug 13, 2014
- Messages
- 92
i don't think I've ever used a slip joint plier, ever.
I use linemans for electric work, all other grabby stuff, i use waterpump pliers aka "channel locks" depending on where you are.
I use linemans for electric work, all other grabby stuff, i use waterpump pliers aka "channel locks" depending on where you are.
Doug Arthurs
Well-known member
Channelock over linesmen in a heartbeat for me. I hardly ever use the linesmen but am always grabbing the 420's
PelicanPines
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Slip Joint... provided it has a wire cutter like the one you show.
I have well over 100 pliers... so... I was so tempted to say both but... hey you asked for one.
I have well over 100 pliers... so... I was so tempted to say both but... hey you asked for one.
Negen
Well-known member
These are my favorite pliers the ones with slip joint but also have a side cutter. I also like the kebia high grade model of linesmen pliers. Kline is a favorite lineamen although I don't own a pair. I prefer Wilde over channel locks for most pliers. I also just bought a bunch of Nos proto pliers I like. The new proto seem too similar to channel lock or Wilde to justify the extra cost.
Sent from my G8141 using The Garage Journal mobile app
Sent from my G8141 using The Garage Journal mobile app
kelpaso1
MEMBER EMERITUS
I have a set of linesman pliers in my tool box and I have never used them in 30 years.
Rarified27
Well-known member
I never did either, until I found the Channellock 548.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004SBDA/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Regular slip joints were really only used for holding things, but the 548's have been much more useful, particularly in a place were my beloved 440 jaws or the handle angle wont quite work.
I'm with you, there is nothing slip joints do that another tool can't do better. I'm not sure why they are ubiquitous in the automotive world.
PelicanPines
ALLIANCE MEMBER
four.cycle
Well-known member
You can have a great pair of 6-inch slip-joint pliers for $10 bucks:
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=7540383&highlight=slip-joint#post7540383
A decent pair of 8-inch linesman pliers will set you back $13 bucks:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/8-Inch-Lin...eavy-Duty-Cross-Cut-Tekton-34503/223232264867
The Tekton linesman is an imported model. US made Klein or Wilde will be considerably more - in the range of $35 - $40.
The small (7-inch) Channellock 347 is $20 bucks from Harry Epstein.
I have at least a half a dozen pairs of both slip-joints and linesman pliers, and I use them both frequently. I cannot imagine having only one style.
YMMV
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=7540383&highlight=slip-joint#post7540383
A decent pair of 8-inch linesman pliers will set you back $13 bucks:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/8-Inch-Lin...eavy-Duty-Cross-Cut-Tekton-34503/223232264867
The Tekton linesman is an imported model. US made Klein or Wilde will be considerably more - in the range of $35 - $40.
The small (7-inch) Channellock 347 is $20 bucks from Harry Epstein.
I have at least a half a dozen pairs of both slip-joints and linesman pliers, and I use them both frequently. I cannot imagine having only one style.
YMMV
four.cycle
Well-known member
JBH said:
Wilde, Channellock, PROTO, Proamerica, Klein, S-K, and others all offer conventional slip-joint pliers.
Are you suggesting the industry leaders among US pliers manufacturers are not the "good" ones?
don't forget the beloved snap-on!
i prefer to carry/use slip joint for the simple reason that it opens farther than a linesman allowing one to grab ahold of larger things. most of my tool kits have four pairs of pliers. needle nose, side cutting, slip joint. and groove joint or channellock about 9-10 inches in size. that pretty much sets you up to do almost anything that needs to be done with a plier.
oh, almost forgot i also carry a good old fashioned us made vice-grip plier.
sberry
Banned
I will agree that I don't need every one they ever invent. I would trade the slips for dykes though for the most part. I don't care for the 7 inch lineman style, too small and I did buy a pair on sale, channels, didn't take long to ruin them, just not tough enough as I am used to 9's.
I found some 9 clones and dykes at a retool store which in the long run have been at least as good as the Kliens, stayed sharper and I might have treated them a little better had I known how good they really were.
I have tried the house stuff, Kobalt etc and the first pair of dykes, Kobalt and some 9's were pretty good. The dykes were really sharp and it was a world of difference from worn out "good" ones but returned some master force stuff to Menards, the cutters were dull right out of the package. I don't think the cutters on Channels are as good either, do not seem to hold up as well as the Diamond or Klein.
I found some 9 clones and dykes at a retool store which in the long run have been at least as good as the Kliens, stayed sharper and I might have treated them a little better had I known how good they really were.
I have tried the house stuff, Kobalt etc and the first pair of dykes, Kobalt and some 9's were pretty good. The dykes were really sharp and it was a world of difference from worn out "good" ones but returned some master force stuff to Menards, the cutters were dull right out of the package. I don't think the cutters on Channels are as good either, do not seem to hold up as well as the Diamond or Klein.
WittHay
Well-known member
We have always used 7" lineman for baling or hay wire. Right length for twisting and its got the cutters. Also use lineman for plastic twine, good for pulling the string when it gets wrapped around knotters
For real mechanics work., always used slip-joint plers. Dont have linesman in the mechanics tool boxes. I like the Snap-on and Wilde slip-joints.
For real mechanics work., always used slip-joint plers. Dont have linesman in the mechanics tool boxes. I like the Snap-on and Wilde slip-joints.
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
I am surprised you did not mention the following. The face of the jaws on linesman pliers are such that when you grab multiple strands of solid copper wire you can twist them together with the jaws purposely sliding when the torque reaches a certain point. Great for starting four #14s or three #12s before applying the wire nut and fully torque the joint together.
Also, for us non-professional electricians, it is often easier to leave extra exposed copper, get the joint partially twisted together, trim to length and then apply the nut.
For the average DIYer, you will use slip joints more often, but for any electrical work you will want some linesmen pliers. DIYer also need a couple of sizes of arc joint pliers, a couple of set of locking pliers and at least one set of needle nose. One of my best tool purchases in the past 10 year are a pair of extended reach needle nose, one straight, one bent 90°. Cheap at HF.
I'd get the linesman pliers first, but I'd round out the set and add in all style of pliers. Pliers are so cheap -- even if it's not a fancy brand I'd still get all the types. They are a must and each have their uses. Also, various sizes of each come in handy for different jobs.
linesman
slip
needle nose
side cutters
tongue and groove
locking pliers
linesman
slip
needle nose
side cutters
tongue and groove
locking pliers
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Klein seems to sell one, I just learned. According to Zoro they’re made in Mexico. They are lot cheaper than their own-make needlenose and linesman, or their NWS made waterpump pliers.
Channellock quality is not world standard, sorry. I’m either not familiar with the other companies you mention generally, or not familiar with their pliers specifically. But being US made does not automatically make something world class, any more than being German made or Chinese made or Indian made or Congolese made does.
davethorik
Well-known member
Familiar? A little. Impressed? Not at all. In fact the snapper pliers I bought due to the crazy hype on this forum are the worst tools I own.
sberry
Banned
Yes, a lot I didn't mention. You can grab hex head screws with the nose, they are super nail pullers and also do a fair job of pounding nails and staples. I am not a pre twister though although I do see it done. I rather see the wires lay along side each other in an orderly fashion and have the nut squeeze them together.
A sharp pair of the hi lev ones have no problem cutting number 9 steel wire or 16 nails and in strong hands also cut 1/4 soft bolts.
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sberry
Banned
There are obviously special pliers for special work but these we talk about are the ones that do the most with the least. When I am limited to a few basics this is pretty much it, if I think I have to wire or do some special bolts grab a pair of strippers and small wrenches.
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davethorik
Well-known member
Negen
Well-known member
Proto has a pair too not sure if still in production though.
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Wamsutta
Well-known member
Here's the best of both worlds. Slip joint pliers that have handles shaped like linesman pliers.
WILDE 10 inch slip joint pliers #G264P
WILDE 10 inch slip joint pliers #G264P
I can honestly say that I haven't used slip-joint pliers in probably 20 years. I don't think linesman pliers are too useful for auto repair, but they can be very useful for other tasks. If I was buying one or the other for a young kid just starting out on cars I guess I would buy them the slip-joint.
Ole Slewfoot
Well-known member
Because like spark plug sockets, one came in every 'tool kit'?
I have an automotive service truck, and don't think there are any slip joints in there. I do have a 10" Barcalo pair I like though, and a pair of Vacuum Grips ride in my non tool go bag along with a knife.
four.cycle
Well-known member
JBH said:
I suppose that depends upon what you're comparing them to.
As one of the very few members here who does not own a single pair of Channellocks, I cannot attest to their quality.
Most of my pliers are 40+ year old Indestro, and I've added a smattering of Wilde and Proamerica to that.
Wilde is top shelf stuff. I don't believe anyone can legitimately argue that point. I own several pairs and am quite impressed with them. I bought my buddy a pair of their 8-inch slip-joints (G263P) a couple years ago, and he's literally beat the hell out of them and loves them.
The Proamerica models that I have are mostly their miniature pliers, which simply are not designed for heavy use. They serve their purpose quite well for small hobby and craft work - the purpose for which they're designed.
I prefer the Wilde over the Proamerica for slip-joint and linesman pliers.
It's difficult to legitimately come up with any negative reviews of Channellock in light of the fact that they inarguably have the largest market share for good reason: the men who own and use them can't seem to praise them enough, and they continue to be competitive on price point (as a US manufacturer) without making too many compromises in product quality.
That said, I'd put the Wilde or Proamerica up against the Channellock groove-joint angle-jaw models any day - they're both up to the task.
davethorik said:
Wilde's original 6N (6-inch) and 8N (8-inch) angle-nose slip-joint pliers are a three-position model. The design allows far more force to be applied to the object being held than a conventional slip-joint.
Unfortunately I'm not seeing them listed on Wilde's website, which I find rather odd, as it's the design that launched Otto Froeschl's company.
There are plenty of them available (cheap) from Cripe Distributing on Ebay:
6-inch $9.00 + $3.00 shipping: https://www.ebay.com/itm/401137000977
8-inch $9.00 + $4.00 shipping: https://www.ebay.com/itm/401475332579
Thanks for bringing that up - I wasn't aware that Wilde wasn't offering them any longer in their catalog. (Maybe I'm not looking in the right place.) I'll have to grab another pair of the 8-inch model before they're gone.
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