One Tool or a Lesser Set?

[ToolJoe]

 I am going after a set of lineman pliers and have it narrowed down to this scenario. Do I get one pair of decent quality of lineman pliers or get a set of maybe a little lesser quality pliers in a set with other tools. With a coupon, I can get the pair of Craftsman pliers as the same price as the set from Lowes of Kobalt ones:

http://www.craftsman.com/craftsman-7-in-pliers-linesman/p-00945093000P?prdNo=30&blockNo=30&blockType=G30

or

http://www.lowes.com/pd_464614-16878-55754___

Which should I go with?

[captain spaulding]

I would stear WAY clear of the Kobalt set. I bought a set similar, but with Linemans pliers. Everything was crap. I have not used them once since purchase.

I am hooked on Knipex for all hand tools as they are very well made and top notch. The Knipex are worth the extra and will last a lifetime. Just my suggestion. Take it for what it is. 


http://www.amazon.com/Knipex-0901240SBA-4-Inch-Leverage-Linemans/dp/B000X4J1CQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1452882341&sr=8-2&keywords=knipex+linesman+pliers


A lot of people like Klein for hand tools as well.

[SteveC]

Go with the Craftsman pliers, good price made in the US and lifetime warranty

[balvenie]

What about Channelock's quality? For is in Italy is unknown brand

[Ryo Saeba]

Channellocks are good but you can probably find a euro made tool for cheaper over there

[ToolJoe]

Channel Lock's are good quality. They are made at the other end of the state I live in (Pennsylvania)..

[ToolJoe]

I ended up getting the pair of Craftsman lineman pliers. They just seemed better put together than the Kobalt ones..

[captain spaulding]

I would say that was a good decision.

[ToolJoe]

I looked around for the Kobalt set all over the place and everybody was sold out. I wouldn't buy all the Kobalt pieces separately for what they were selling for.

[ThundahBeagle]

Mind if I revive this thread? I know it's long said and done, so please give us an update as to how this Craftsman has held up.

A lot of my hand tools are older Craftsman, I use them for my personal shade tree mechanic work. I love them, and seek out older, quality hand tools over New, whenever possible.

If I am working on something and "need it now", I hit Sears for new Craftsman or the auto parts store for their mid-range tools.

If I am perusing Craigslist or something when I am home in the evening, that's when I seek out vintage. They are usually better quality and lower priced than new ones.

My really old Crescent brand New England tipped 9" linesman's plyers:

[ThundahBeagle]

They predate the special logo-style scripted stamping "Crescent." It is just simple block letters/Arial font or something. They are marked " Bell System" on the other side so I believe they were actually issued  to a linesman at some point. I think I got them as part of a purchase of a toolbox full of tools. These themselves may have amounted to about $5US.

Similar pair New today is between $50 and $100USD

And they are beastly. Robust. Side-cutting, blunt-nosed, beasts. There is some evidence that the sides were used as a hammer, but these things keep calm and carry on through anything I throw at them

[ThundahBeagle]

Bell System

[ThundahBeagle]

Old Crescent markings

[ThundahBeagle]

Sorry. Wrong pic. Here's the old Crescent markings

[LoopCutter]

I know this was revised from a couple years ago, yet the Lowe’s Cobalt set is now available again for the same price mentioned. 
As for quality, it is there with these tools, and they are a good value as a set.
My set is part of my work tools, the linesman, the diagonals, needle nose are USED every day and have been for at least 4 years. No issues at all. Just keep clean and wipe down with light oil if they have been used in the wet weather. (I work outside year around)

These also have a lifetime replacement warranty at any Lowe’s store.
you can see some of the tools scattered across the outside pockets of the bag;)


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[ThundahBeagle]

Nice set of work tools, Loop.

I see your red Craftsman toolbox and I raise you a hammer-finish, vintage grey one, model 6512.

(With an intake manifold in it, looking kind of like the rack of ribs on the side of Fred Flintstone' s car)

[LoopCutter]

+10, nice!
Is that a black Craftsman to the left?

I have a grey Craftsman w/o drawer at home, about 40 yrs old.  As well as a Kennedy machinists tool chest on work bench. 


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[ThundahBeagle]

Yes it is. It's a Rally Box, from the 80's or 90's I think. Full of sockets, plyers of various types, 1/2 inch ratchet drivers crescent and box-ended wrenches, extensions, breaker bars, a couple of torque wrenches. Three drawers and an integrated tray in the top. Very heavy when full. Got another grey one - they mainly hold screw drivers, wrenches and c clamps and the odd tie rod seperater. There's a plastic 94 piece set with 1/4 and 3/8 ratchets and sockets behind the Rally Box

Sounds like you have quite a collection. I still don't have an old Kennedy. What do you do for work?

[LoopCutter]

~
Sounds like you have quite a collection. I still don't have an old Kennedy. What do you do for work?

Several tool boxes, each for a special purpose. 
Nothing like yours, which I would name a gear head collection.
I have worked in the computer industry since 1973, most as a field service engineer on small computers to the large main frames plus peripheral gear and data communications. 
For last several years, I am still doing field service work, plus construction install for parking revenue and traffic control systems.   
But, my home setup involves a lot of bicycle restoration and maintance work. 
Really, I am just an old guy that likes quality tools that I can depend on for getting a job done.


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[Yadda]

Hard to beat Klein lineman's pliers. IMO.

[ThundahBeagle]

LOOP-
Ah So that's why you have the tools you do, and spend so much time outside. I'm in computer applications, servers and networking. But I've done all this other stuff on the side for myself and the little lady

One of these days I'll find an old Kennedy or SK machinist toolbox. I'm no machinist, but I like the drawers for organizing little stuff

[LoopCutter]

Hard to beat Klein lineman's pliers. IMO.

I agree, if you are a electrician, or a lineman, the Kleins work great on the larger gauge wires like 10 to 6 and for solid wire 14 & 12.  Cutting and twisting they do the job. 
When in college I worked for a Mill Supplier and we report Klein tools along with SK.  I can see these being favorites when the employer was buying very frequently. 

For me, the largest wire I typical cut and connect is 12 gauge stranded, my cobalt and Irwin branded tools serve me well.


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[LoopCutter]

~
One of these days I'll find an old Kennedy or SK machinist toolbox. I'm no machinist, but I like the drawers for organizing little stuff

Yes, the drawers are nice. Have my eye on one at a Pawn shop in town. 
Was upset when my father in law passed, is daughters sold his tools and chest to a coworker for about .05 on the $.  He was a tool and die man for a piston manufacture in town here. 



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