Which Channellocks for around the house?

[ptgarcia]

My wife needs gift ideas for Father's Day, and since I need tongue & groove pliers for around the house I'm compiling a list of Channellocks for her to choose from. My question is, which jaws would you all choose for rebuilding/replacing hose bibs, fixing sprinklers, holding and turning pipe and pipe fittings, and other typical plumbing repairs around the house? She'll probably get me two, so which should I steer her to?

I have these on my list:

#415 10" Smooth Straight Jaw
#430 10" Serrated Straight Jaw
#432 10" Serrated V-Jaw
GL10 & GL12 Combo - 9.5" & 12.5" Griplock set

 

[earlthegoat2]

I use my 12" and 15" most around the house. Mostly plumbing type jobs but the occasional jar that needs opening or solvent can.

I actually rarely even use 10" size. I skip over it from my 12" to my 8".

And I have found the smooth jaw ones to be quite useless for the type of work I do. I got a pair for free once and never noticed the smooth jaws until I tried to use it and it failed miserably. I set them in the save for later drawer and have not touched them in 6 years. They were the 12" size.

 

[Stevenn1]

All those. Plus add the 440, 460, 480.....

 

[ptgarcia]

Would the 12" sizes be better to have around than the 10"?

 

[jakemac]

My 420's get the most use. The larger ones, sometimes but not often.

 

[Sharky]

10 or 12" just depends on how hard you want to pull. Definitely serrated jaw, I prefer straight, but curved have their place too.

Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk

 

[Buster21]

Agree with others, the 420 is by far the most common.

 

[kctyphoon]

If it mostly pipe, and round objects - the v jaw.. for more general stuff, straight jaws.. or, you can just show her this and say - all of these..

 

[PJNJ]

Put a 410 "Nutbuster" on the list.

 

[ganymede]

My 420's get the most use. The larger ones, sometimes but not often.

Agree with others, the 420 is by far the most common.

Yup.
You can stuff them in your back pocket and they're long enough to give good leverage. Used mine on outdoor faucet that hadn't been touched in decades.

 

[Empty Pockets]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000189GSI/?tag=atomicindus08-20

and

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000189GSI/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Would be a good place to start

 

[sberry]

430 and 440 for plumbing.

 

[Cope]

The 410 is another good choice. I use mine for plumbing work. The 420 is my go to size followed by the 430.

 

[sberry]

I can skip the V jaw. I got 4 of them would trade for 2 440's.

 

[M_George]

This looks like a nice set for around the house.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Channellock-431KB-Pliers-Set-in-Kit-Bag-5-Piece/16487701

 

[compunaut]

If it mostly pipe, and round objects - the v jaw.. for more general stuff, straight jaws.. or, you can just show her this and say - all of these..

I would like all of those, too!
I use the first three shown the most, by far.

 

[Infinia]

Consider a 10" (250mm) Cobra instead https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000X4J2H0/?tag=atomicindus08-20
From your list without a doubt
430 10" Serrated Straight Jaw
.
for an average mans hands & between a 420 and 440

 

[Jim C.]

I use the #422 often. I also like the #718 duckbills.

 

[gmwelder86]

Pipefitter by trade and typically have 430s near me at all times. 440s are better suited for pipe while the space on 430s works good for hardware. Also 426s probably won't find any less than 10 sets between work and around the house the most handy size I've come across. Also a set of 460s is capable of doing a lot of things.

 

[oldwino]

#426 a lot. Easy to stuff in pocket and big enough for a lot of around the house tasks

 

[ryan20021982]

I grab for the Grip Lock GL12 more than anything since I got them, just like they way they feel I guess.

 

[Robinson1]

420 and 440 are must haves

 

[Rarified27]

The 440 may be the one tool I've used more than any other, for any reason.

Yes, even more than screwdrivers. I believe in them, in their specific 12" size, so much I have at least one pair in every tool box/bag I own.

They've also never let me down and while I'm not a pro, I can tell you the pairs I own have had the stuffing beaten out of them and never failed. Sure, some teeth wear and the blue handles get chewed, but I've never killed a pair.

I even keep a pair in each vehicle.

The curved jaw (442) is nice when you have a round item, but their a PITA when you have anything but a round item.

 

[mires]

I would definitely skip the Griplock set. I'm a plumber and bought the set a couple years ago. I was honestly glad when I finally lost both pairs. The smaller pair weren't terrible but the larger pair were sized awful. Not enough adjustment. One setting too small. The next setting too big. Hated those stupid things. You probably don't want to hear it but I would choose one pair of Knipex over a dozen pair of Channellocks. It's honestly almost funny how much better they are.

 

[ptgarcia]

Everyone, thanks for the opinions. I have put together a nice selection for her to choose from, and the models I don't get.....well, I'll just have to buy those myself at a later time.

Regarding the Knipex; I just can't justify the relative cost for a tool that will only occasionally get used. One day, however, I am going to splurge on the Knipex Pliers Wrenches.

 

[Gbannish]

Just bought a Milwaukee set of 6 and 10 inch straight jawed, with weird reamer points at the end of the handle, to replace a craftsman 10 inch pair I had used for 20 years and lost. Not thrilled at all with the difficulty/stiffness with which to adjust the jaws to different sizes. Maybe they need breaking in? Next time I'll try channel locks I think. But was quite surprised at the number of choices in brands at the stores...

 

[CJ7VFR]

I recently bought a set of Cresent brand "groove" pliers at Home Depot, which is basically the same as the Channel lock "V" jaw type.

They came in a two pack with a 10 inch and 12 inch size. I bought them for doing exactly the same type of plumbing jobs around the house and they work great. They also have a flat "blade" on the end of the handles you can use to open cans of paint or use as a small pry bar, and they also have an extra jaw in the handle to use on round pipe or round fittings.

Just another choice for you to consider. Here is a picture of what I have:

Jim

 

[sberry]

The problem with others is that they mess with the geometry, I am so used to them that I can feel when its off a little and they never work right. They even contract make other models but they don't give away the perfect same thing, they aint the same.