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Tool Talk Discussion Forum

CHANNEL LOCKS

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EIL

09-01-2003 23:09:27

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OK. Yesterday I had went to sears and got me a set of punches and chisels, a set of large screwdrivers, a flex 1/2" drive ratchet and flex 3/8" drive ratchet all for $70!!!! I saw a 16" pair of craftsman brand channel lock pliers for $38. I had saw a similar 16" pair of channel lock brand pliers at harbor freight and lowes for only $20. My question is, which one is better? Do channel lock pliers have a litetime warrenty like craftsman? I had read a post about how one guy had returned a pair of channel locks to lows for new ones. I had also read that most people prefer the channel lock, but why? I know the price is hard to beat but do they hold up as good as expensive brand tools? Thanks for the advice!!!!!

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Dale in Ar

09-04-2003 08:50:10

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Re: CHANNEL LOCKS in reply to EIL, 09-01-2003 23:09:27

Yes,the Channel Lock brand of pliers hold up better that the others.I've used Channel Lock pliers for 13 years in maintenance work and carry a pair of 6 inch in my pocket for fast repairs.I have broken a pair or two but should have used a pipe wrench or not used a hammer(down time make you do stupid things)The only fault I have about Channel Locks,they keep getting lost(don't want to say stolen but they probaly were).get a pair of 426(6 inch) and a pair of 460 and you won't need any other slip wrenches.

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wdTom

09-03-2003 18:15:16

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Re: CHANNEL LOCKS in reply to EIL, 09-01-2003 23:09:27

Chanel lock and Vise Grip are two brands to buy and stick with.

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Chris-se-ILL

09-03-2003 09:27:30

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Re: CHANNEL LOCKS in reply to EIL, 09-01-2003 23:09:27

EIL, go with the "brand name" Channel Lock or Klein for your pliers purchases. They cost a little more money, but there are tools that you really don't want to be cheaply made! No question about the quality of those tools!!! My Dad used to buy the generic stuff to save some money. I can't tell you how many times the cheapo-adjustable pliers have slipped the channels, and then the handles closed on my "pinky" finger.... :(

BTW, If someone offers to give you a pair of those "Robo-Pliers" ...say "Thanks, but NO THANKS!" Those things are a JOKE... a bad joke!

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cadillac

09-02-2003 19:24:22

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Re: CHANNEL LOCKS in reply to EIL, 09-01-2003 23:09:27

Channellock pliers are engineered to give you the best grip and the most leverage. In my opinion they are THE BEST. I've tried others but can't seem to grip as well.

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Robert in W. Mi

09-02-2003 16:30:51

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Re: CHANNEL LOCKS in reply to EIL, 09-01-2003 23:09:27

There's a reason why they are generically called "Channel locks" and NOT craftsman locks!!

BTW, to the bob villa post, i've asked the workers at SEVERAL Sears stores if "they" like him, and i can't even find a Sears person who likes bob Vila!!

Robert

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thurlow

09-02-2003 10:52:08

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Re: CHANNEL LOCKS in reply to EIL, 09-01-2003 23:09:27

Off topic; don't you just "love" Sear's spokesman Bob V***? Refuse to buy anything from them as long as he's on board. They obviously don't know or care what I think; but they don't get another dime of my money. Have asked dozens of people (woodworkers and such) what they thought. Every single one (that I've polled) agrees..... ..

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John in MA

09-02-2003 09:17:01

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Re: CHANNEL LOCKS in reply to EIL, 09-01-2003 23:09:27

Genuine Channellock-brand pliers are the best. The ones Sears sells are inferior and way overpriced. It's a little easier to return a broken Craftsman tool, but I don't think it's possible to break a pair of Channellocks.

For years I had used a couple pairs of large Sears slipjoint water pump pliers (different from what we're talking about, but still). Then one of them, well, slipped and pinched my hand. Went out and bought some Channellocks. Wow. Nice pliers.

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Carol Martin

09-02-2003 08:17:23

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Re: CHANNEL LOCKS in reply to EIL, 09-01-2003 23:09:27

I would return the Ratchets too.. I have an old ratchet from them that is great.. and a couple of new ones that are a piece of Crap.. Sure they warranty them. But now they dont even want to gove you a new one. They hand you a repair kit and you have to install it yourself. ( it isn't easy to do either) I don"t think they have any intention of correcting the problem. Just keep giving out the kits, with the same lousy parts..

Carol

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Chris-se-ILL

09-03-2003 09:16:46

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Re: Re: CHANNEL LOCKS in reply to Carol Martin, 09-02-2003 08:17:23

Carol Martin, I do like the older flex-head ratchets from Craftsman (bought them back in the early '80s), but as you have said the new flex heads were crap for a while!!! I kept loosing the pivot pin out of the 1/2" flex-head breakerbar and ratchets. I would take them back to Sears and they would "reach under the counter" and hand me a rebuilt one {I thought to myself, "Why would they have a box load of that very wrench just setting under the counter?"} Well the third time the ratchet lost the pin... I demanded that they go pull a brand new one off the shelf. They seemed to not understand why I wouldn't take a "rebuilt! I called the management and flat told him that if anyone ever tried to pawn a rebuilt anything off on me for a replacement... I just might toss it across the store at him! I have not had any problem with the flex-heads since I had them replace it with a "BRAND NEW" one!!!

My guess is that Craftsman screwed up for a time period on those wrenches, and was trying to sneak by with pacifying the customer with a "shiney rebuilt" instead of warrantying millions of flex-heads!!!

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Indydirtfarmer

09-02-2003 08:16:13

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Re: CHANNEL LOCKS in reply to EIL, 09-01-2003 23:09:27

Usually, they get lost, or get so rusted they won't move before I wear them out. I have Channel-lock brand, sears, Klien, and a pair of Snap-on's. The Channel-lock are as good or better than all of them. Sometimes it's tough to beat the original.

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09-02-2003 07:04:06

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Re: CHANNEL LOCKS in reply to EIL, 09-01-2003 23:09:27

use them for a living.[plumber] tried others. buy the channel lock.

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09-02-2003 04:56:15

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Re: CHANNEL LOCKS in reply to EIL, 09-01-2003 23:09:27

Channel lock is my favorite brand of hand tool. I have no idea how many pairs I own in many many different sizes. They also make side cutters, linesmans pliers, etc. The cheap types you buy at Harbor Freight Northern etc will NOT hold up long. I have Channel locks that are twice my age and they are still in great shape.

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Trevor

09-02-2003 04:45:17

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Re: CHANNEL LOCKS in reply to EIL, 09-01-2003 23:09:27

I owned a few off name pliers first then I got a real pair of Channel Lock brand pliers. They are the only channel lock pliers I will ever use now.

I also buy Channel Lock or Klien (same pliers just differnt colour handles) brand other pliers (i.e. linesman, needle nose, sidecutters, wire cutters, T stripper, crimper). They are by far the best brands in pliers you will find. They are made of good qaulity steel that holds an edge on the cutting sections and have excellent ergonomics that require less effort to produce gripping force. They are what professional electrical workers (Electricians and Linesman) use and swear by.

Just thoought you should know.

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John

09-02-2003 04:42:07

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Re: CHANNEL LOCKS in reply to EIL, 09-01-2003 23:09:27

Nothing is quite as good as quality expensive tools. But you will not find Craftsman quite up in that category. Once you have tried Snap-on, Mac or one of those high quality tools you will not go back. If you can afford them that is.

I use only lifetime warranty tools unless I figure I lose them in the near future or they are of a specific purpose.

I have some 30 year old Channel Locks and they still work like new.

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Travis

09-02-2003 04:26:26

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Re: CHANNEL LOCKS in reply to EIL, 09-01-2003 23:09:27

As far as the lifetime warranty--Yes, I try not to buy anything w/o it. I actually broke my last pair of Channellocks(bending sheetmetal?) and took them to the local Farm and Home store that carries them, they told me that they will warranty Channellocks, but mine were old and used enough that you couldn't read the "Channellock" name, so they wouldn't do it--oh well, I'm actually surprised they even tried, hard to find someone there that even cares.

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MarkB

09-02-2003 03:14:57

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Re: CHANNEL LOCKS in reply to EIL, 09-01-2003 23:09:27

I have a set of large Craftsman "channel lock" style pliers that I bought fifteen years ago. They are of better than average quality, but they aren't as good as genuine Channelocks.

Genuine Channelocks have undercut grooves, which give them a very tight fit between the channels. They have a patent on this, which is why you don't see it on other brands.

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Slowpoke

09-02-2003 01:11:36

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Re: CHANNEL LOCKS in reply to EIL, 09-01-2003 23:09:27

If you mean Channel Lock brand name, they are very good pliers. If you mean generic channel lock type of pliers, they could be any quality.
I have a pair from India that jumps the channel because the pivot bolt won't stay tight. They're junk. Unless you have non-flex 3/8" & 1/2" ratchet handles, I suggest you return the flex head handles and get the straight, non-flex ones.
The flex head are difficult to use as they have no way to lock in any of the several positions, so any force down to hold it against the bolt/nut will result in unwanted flexing.
Remove the 'Z' for email.

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sparky

09-11-2003 11:53:41

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Re: Re: CHANNEL LOCKS in reply to Slowpoke, 09-02-2003 01:11:36

"Channel Lock" pliers are the real deal. I broke the jaw on a pair of 16" taking the starter clutch off a small engine and they were replaced.

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Trevor

09-02-2003 04:37:17

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Re: Re: CHANNEL LOCKS in reply to Slowpoke, 09-02-2003 01:11:36

Slowpoke,

I would disagree with your "hard to use" comment regarding flex head ratchets. I have a 3/8 flex head and love it, don't know how I ever got along without one. Yes if you are in a hard to reach spot sometime the flex can be a pain and yes you should own a straight/standard ratchet. But a felx head is a great tool.

Just thought I should stick up for my favourite ratchet, not a slam or not trying to start something.

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EIL

09-02-2003 03:33:10

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Re: Re: CHANNEL LOCKS in reply to Slowpoke, 09-02-2003 01:11:36

I do have regular non-flex ratchets in 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2".

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