Professional Tool Reviews for Pros

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Plier & Cutting Tool Reviews & Buying Guides

Having spent countless hours testing various types of pliers and plier sets, we really have an appreciation for these particular hand tools. Nearly everyone has used slip joint pliers, however some offer a much better grip and opening than others. Tongue-and-groove (or waterpump) pliers (Channellocks) tend to find their way into most plumbers’ tool bags. We also rounded up our favorite locking pliers (Vise Grips) and linesman’s pliers which might equally share our most-used designation around the shop. Testing cutting pliers lets us see which of these tools offers the highest cutting capacity, strength, and ergonomics. Of the more common pliers we use, wire cutters and needle nose pliers might top the list. Our reviews take a very hands-on approach to looking at these products and discerning the top performers from the run-of-the-mill copycats. You only want to buy one set of hand tools. We want to help you make the right choices.

Milwaukee 6 IN 1 Long Nose Pliers 48-22-3068 Review
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Milwaukee 6 IN 1 Long Nose Pliers 48-22-3068 Review

by Ben Parker

Having just taken a look at Milwaukee’s 6 IN 1 Combination Pliers, we weren’t too thrown off guard by the 6 IN 1 Long Nose Pliers, which are a different tool, but similar in many ways. If anything, the 6 IN 1 Long Nose Pliers feel like they are meant for things that are a bit more heavy duty. These pliers are 1/4″ thicker than the combination pliers, which is good since they can be used to pull nails. We found that the design – particularly, the head of the tool which is squared off – does a pretty decent job at pulling nails out of wood. This really is a good tool if you are an electrician and need something heavy duty in the field. I really enjoy having it in my tool pouch at work and have recommended to other electricians to go buy one as well.

Klein J2000 Side-Cutting Lineman's Pliers Review
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Klein J2000 Side-Cutting Linemans Pliers Review

by Ben Parker

If you ask ten electricians which company makes the best lineman’s pliers, all ten would say ‘Klein’ (trust me, I actually asked ten… and I’m an electrician). In fact, most electricians call any lineman’s pliers “Kleins” – though they probably shouldn’t. They have set the standard for lineman’s pliers in the way that Xerox set the standard for copying machines back in the day, or Kleenex did for tissues. Klein tools are on the top of the list for electrician’s tools because it’s their specialty – and when that’s all you do, you tend to get good at it. The Klein lineman’s pliers are said to be the best made. With all of the recent competition, and years of other manufacturers crafting competing products, we were curious to see if they still held the title.

Milwaukee Pliers, Snips, and PEX Cutting Hand Tools Preview
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Milwaukee Hand Tools – Pliers, Snips, and PEX Cutting

by Clint DeBoer

When we attended the Milwaukee New Tools Event this year, Tim Albrecht showed us some of the new hand tools that fall into three basic categories: Pliers, Snips, and PEX Cutting. At the time, the info was under NDA, but now that has been lifted and we an bring you all of the first impressions and info we learned first-hand about the new tools. First up was a focus on build quality. First off, the new hand tools are all drop forged, machined for maximum precision, and treated to resist rust. In fact, using chrome plating instead of nickel, Milwaukee demonstrated the advanced corrosion resistance of their new tools by leaving two new aviation snips left in salt water overnight and then in the sun. Milwaukee’s tool showed considerable resistance to rust while the other brand had a ton of rust around the hinge points and across the blade.

C.H. Hanson Automatic Locking Pliers Review
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C.H. Hanson Automatic Locking Pliers Review

by Thomas Gaige

C.H. Hanson is a company that’s been around for a while, so we keep an eye out for innovations when their name pops up. This week the company announced they redesigned their locking jaw pliers to work faster and have a better grip. The new model is re-engineered to automatically lock onto your workpiece, without adjusting – regardless of size (provided it fits within the jaws, of course). Hone is the adjustment screw at the handle bottom. Now, a pressure setting screw is located within the mechanism features a Set & Forget method of operation. You just set the optimal clamping pressure (it can be very light to full force), and then the tool’s jaws will adjust on their own to whatever size object you need.

Channellock 412 pliers
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Channellock 412 V-Jaw Pliers Preview

by Clint DeBoer

The new Channellock 6.5″ 412 V-Jaw tongue and groove pliers offer professionals and DIYers the same quality design and right-angle, maximum-bite grip as the larger V-Jaw pliers – only in a more compact frame making it easier to work with smaller piping and tubing.

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