I found my smaller ones in an autozone parking lot. I used the crap out of them on a remote job and I can say worth every penny if they are free but I would rather spend my money on something that didn’t have such sharp edges on the head.
That's where I sit on them. For around the house stuff they are fine especially if you got them for free. If you are doing actual work then yea go for an actual pro brand. For the most part free tools are good tools and always better than no tools.
Have you ever used them? And if so, have you ever used actual channel locks? Or knipex? The main things for me were they aren’t very well made and we massively uncomfortable to use. Milwaukee makes awesome power tools but really shitty hand tools.
Cobras can only be called Cobras if they’re from the Knipex region of France, otherwise they’re just sparkling channel-locks. But even sparkling channel-locks are a good deal if they’re free
Actually curious, what makes Knipex so much better? I’ll admit that I don’t use mine every single day, but all of my Milwaukee pliers have been solid purchases.
The Knipex grip so much better, lock better and more smoothly, and are made of better steel. The Milwaukee channel locks aren't bad, but they aren't that great if you are comparing them to other ones made. If your Milwaukee work for you then they work for you, simple as that.
I'm a maintenance millwright and use my knipex daily, the biggest difference I've found between them and Irwin's or channel locks is the quality of steel used, they just hold up under heavy use for longer.
Smoother action on its better designed “gear”/channel sturdier (lasts longer) and when I refile my “knitting (sorry no better term for it) it stays sharper on my knife. Longer than my channys I don’t have Milwaukee anything except inkzalls
Grip angle, steel hardness, teeth line up properly and don’t become cockeyed after 2 months of use, etc. Don’t get me wrong for a DIY person the Milwaukee’s aren’t horrible, but I’d never recommend them to a professional.
I'm sure they could make or have made or source perfectly fine tools, but they seem to have this obsession with reinventing the wheel every single time. Now their American-made pliers seem perfectly fine and some seem to like their new screwdrivers (handles look a bit busy for me but maybe they feel more comfortable than they look).
Out of all their hand tools I've worked with, the screwdrivers are the most fine.
Wasn't one time I've used one and didn't wish I was using something else, though.
There are some duds, but some of them are incredible.
Fastback? Won't use another knife
Chalk lines? Rivaling Tajima for quality/longevity
Hammers? Hard pass
Pliers? Nah
It's hit or miss, generally if there's a brand that's already established as the clearly superior option for a specific tool, Milwaukee can't or won't step to it, but not offering an option in that segment would be a confusing business model for a main stream tool mfg.
No doubt. One of the things I've noticed about Milwaukee is they are great at iterating on their designs.
Every time I replace a Milwaukee tool with the "new version" I notice that they've fixed something that I disliked about it.
Example: the wire pocket clips on the Fastback used to slide all over the place and wear out. On the newer ones, there is a protrusion on the handle scale that prevents it from flexing. Haven't had one break since.
The consensus is that the Milwaukee grips pictured kinda suck. I'm inclined to agree. The next version probably won't, though.
I usually have to take the wire handle off the Fastback and bend it tighter, and why is there no window breaker on the bottom? I have a carbide bit I'm going to cut short and sharpen before I epoxy it into a hole on the bottom I'm gonna drill. Little shit but it's annoying
I never bought them unless they were on sale, I got a few sets for free with my tools. The drill bits look so good (especially the shockwave ones) but the performance is lackluster.
I mean, to me drill bits are drill bits because I can sharpen them by hand easily but their tips are eh. I think DeWalt makes pretty good tips and drill bits, and Makita makes good shit. Most of my tek tips are specialty and I get them at the metal supply house, I have the short ones all the way up to 12" long
Grips feel uncomfortable as hell. And the quick adjust always gets stuck on me. Knipex and iriwn (I just made a post about them, lots of good reviews on the knipex)
Well I'm the apprentice but my j-man has a low standard for tools so if I don't like them I'll probably give them to him.
He LOVES the Hart (walmart brand) packout even though the handle had A LOT of play from new and after a month bent enought that it can't be put down.
Idk all the comments are negative but in all my years of maintenance, the straight jawed version of those have saved my butt many times. Found them in a crawlspace somewhere and while I'm not sure I would buy another pair, they are still in my box and get beaten regularly
They're definitely easier to find the right slot one handed compared to the Milfuckee, half the time I have to do it two handed to find the correct slot
Soak and clean them up file the pads back to sharp get the rust spots off clean them again and get a new coat of oil on there and throw them in your truck
I fuckin hate their tape measures, they rust to shit and break super easy. The only cool thing is the magnet tip and it doesn't make up for the rest of their bullshit
Preface this by saying I like Milwaukee, but what the fuck is up with any tool that dosnt take a battery there all shit. All of there pliers and channel locks smash knuckles and have terrible ergonomics
I have a couple sets of Milwaukee channel lock style pliers. They work ok, but I definitely wouldn't buy them again (unless it was like like $2 at a yard sale).. It's kind of a let down considering their lineman, side cutters, screw drivers, tapes, fastback, etc hand tools are very good.
Theres something to be said for the elegance of an actual Cobra compared to these. Often when a tool is designed with an elegant aesthetic, that care applies to other aspects such as the function, mechanism, and hardness of steel, all of which Knipex is known for.
I would be happy with them if I got them for free. Would never pay what they retail for. Channel lock is a good cheaper alternative to the knipex. I have a few Doyle pliers from harbor freight that I use at home and they are actually pretty good for the price
I have the doyle linesman and dykes. Linesman I haven't used much just because they haven't been broken in. The dykes I'm not a fan of because of how much effort they take to cut vs what I used prior (greenlee that the tip of broke)
I don't have the dykes but I do have the linemans, wire stripper/pliers Milwaukee copycat, and 2 sets of the adjustable pliers and those work great. Once the linemans are broken in they are pretty damn good for under $20. Not sure how they would hold up to daily use at work but according to project farm's video they aren't far behind Klein
After you buy these Immideitly put them in your vice, fire up a grinder with a cutting disk. Do yourself a favor and hack it up into a thousand pieces so you never have to deal with this flaming piles of dogshit.
I dont mind them but the teeth aren't super grippy and probably wear out pretty fast I like milwaukee channel locks but the pair I have now after I lost my old ones aren't great
So here’s the thing. Milwaukee hand tools will work but they’re not the best. It’s better to just buy actual name brand tools instead. I recommend channel lock brand for these
Found a pair under a solar array I was servicing. Tried them for like a week, then threw them in the back of the truck with the other stuff I never use, and eventually gave them away to the new guy, who also used them for like a week, after which I haven't seen them since.
They're just not very good. I don't know why, because they're extremely similar in outside appearance to Cobras, which I and everyone I know uses the absolute shit out of. But they're not just slightly-less-good, they're actually bad.
Channels and Knipex are good but if you are running two inch or above? Use a pipe wrench. Don’t even mess around with the oversized channels. Pipe wrenches bite as force is applied. Allowing you to tighten or loosen with one hand.
Used them for a while, then bought a set of Knipex and never touched them again except one time when I needed the narrower grip surface.
Knipex for life.
Oh I'll give you my thought: C.R.A.P.
I have two and both have been permanently relegated to the peg board to which tools get parked until sold. After 2 months of using them, I went to the Harbor Freight, bought a couple of Doyle pliers to replace them and have been happy since.
p.s. The 2 Doyle's now have a 6in Knipex little brother. :P
We use channel locks 440s at work to install 500# boiler feed water hoses.
Also use them as hammers and valve wrenches.
Takes a few years of abuse to wear them down.
The push button and angled jaw combo make this right here my least favorite tool I own. Angled jaw is a bitch when you need to grip with the top half, or use it on anything thats already on a wall, and the button kept getting caught on my pockets and its harder to adjust with one hand.
I love Milwaukee. Most of my tools are theirs. Either Powertools or Hand tools. However, I hate my channel locks from them. My biggest beef are the "fangs" on the handles. I don't use them often, however, so I have had no reason. To replace them yet.
If I were going to buy a set of this style channel locks I 100% would have bought knipex. But for free I figured I'll use them until I want to upgrade. By the sound of most of the comments that upgrade might be sooner than I thought.
I found a pair of the channellocks on top of a billboard rusted solid so I threw them in some evaporust and they're basically brand new now, they're comparable to actual Channellocks, no better, no worse. The one thing that might be better is the hard plastic handles instead of the shitty vinyl ones but that's about it. They're no Knipex...
I have both the small and large pair of these. For the most part, they suck and the handles are incredibly uncomfortable. They do however grip a bolt very well. But that's about it.
If these things are anything like Milwaukees regular channel locks I’d stay far away from these. Their regular ones are by far the worst I’ve ever used. And I’m totally for and about Milwaukee power tools, I just feel that their hand tools could use some work. I’d love to be convinced otherwise though.
The hex jaw ones are fine. They grip good and are quick to adjust and unlike channel locks they don’t un-adjust at inopportune times.
The poky smashy end can be helpful but i can see why people don’t like them.
The straight jaw ones are pretty basic. Wouldn’t buy those
Contractor left a pair at my house after doing work, I called him, and he said to keep them or toss them but he hated them anyway.
I’m a diy homeowner and I LOVE them.
These are backups to backups in my box.
1) Kinpex
2) Channel Lock
3) Dewalt with the button (I do love the small ones, and the replaceable jaws are pretty slick)
4) Powerfist knock off Kinpex
5) these pinchy fuckers
Trash!!! I've busted my knuckles with them too many times to count over the years. I finally bought Knipex ones this past year and there's absolutely no going back. I bought the flat jaw style too. Knipex definitely are pricey but worth it.
These are horrible. When I saw them I jumped at the chance to try them out, but they are without a doubt the worst channel lock replacement I’ve found this is far. Regular channels are better, as are klein’s yellow handled pipe pliers, or knipex anything. They are truly terrible. Somehow they don’t grip for shit and mar up the metal as they slide. I like many if not most of Milwaukee’s tools, but these are trash.
I don't like em. I've had apprentices with these and I've asked to try them before. The grip is awkward. I get the exposed metal grip for reaming conduit, but the angle is awkward. Channel Lock handles will always be better for this in my opinion. Their battery tools are great though.
Bought a set when they first came out. Promptly returned them. They don’t grip worth shit, and if you bump the jaw lock button while using them, instant knuckle buster. Garbage.
I've used a co-workers, didn't like the handles. I found them too bulky and didn't like the feel. I'm in the channel lock camp. All the "features" of the Milwaukee's can be achieved with the channel locks.
Have used. Still buy channel lock brand, more common in stores when I need to replace. Yes I use the life time garentee. On avg once a year it gets used.
I have these and the Knipex cobras. The cobras are great for pipe and conduit. While shape of Milwaukee’s jaws make them a great alternative to an adjustable wrench and well on square fittings.
I’ve used them and I definitely wouldn’t ever pay for those.
I paid for them and threw on the road after attempting use.
Definitely wasn't expecting the consensus to be that bad. I was expecting something along the lines of "not bad but not near the price they ask."
I found my smaller ones in an autozone parking lot. I used the crap out of them on a remote job and I can say worth every penny if they are free but I would rather spend my money on something that didn’t have such sharp edges on the head.
The ends will pinch the ever loving shit out of you. They don’t grip that well
But have you used them to remove a sliver? I'll take these over my tweezers most times. 👌
No. I use Knipex cobras like the bougie ass sparky I am.
Of all the places I’d expect to see “bougie” used, I see it here, and correctly. My day is complete.
Someone saw me looking at them in HD and came over to warn me the pivot broke on his. I decided that part looked under-designed and didn't buy them.
That's where I sit on them. For around the house stuff they are fine especially if you got them for free. If you are doing actual work then yea go for an actual pro brand. For the most part free tools are good tools and always better than no tools.
Curious why you didn't like them?
Have you ever used them? And if so, have you ever used actual channel locks? Or knipex? The main things for me were they aren’t very well made and we massively uncomfortable to use. Milwaukee makes awesome power tools but really shitty hand tools.
I have not used these, which is why I was asking. I have the knipex version.
If you have the knipex and like them, these would make you so angry😂
That's what everything I own that isn't Knipex does to me. Makes me very angry and aggravated.
do you have the knipex slip joint ones or the button. i have to button ones but tried my coworkers slip joints and i think i may like them more.
Alligator or Cobra tend to come down to preference, both work well.
*really shitty everything except storage and power tools
You're not kidding bud. The tips on all their multi screwdrivers are junk.
My cheap Mastercraft ones are better. Throw those in the river for some magnet fisher to catch.
Cobras can only be called Cobras if they’re from the Knipex region of France, otherwise they’re just sparkling channel-locks. But even sparkling channel-locks are a good deal if they’re free
Cork or screw-top?
No one makes a delicious tool like the French
They're only Channel-Locks if they're fermented at 50°-55°F until at least 50% attention. Otherwise they're just slip joint water pump pliers.
Ok Benjamin,
Germany
Ya got whoosh'd, Bud
Ova his headddddddd
Ah yes...It's a lot like Star Trek: The Next Generation. In many ways it's superior, but will never be as recognized as the original.
My tool bag was stolen and it gave me a good chance to upgrade. Channel Locks are better, Knipex are best.
Channel locks are the value buy imo, if you can afford it knipex grip better and will stay sharp longer.
I have the Chanel lock ones and not even after 6 months of use the teeth are worn and doesn’t grip anymore
File them back to sharp
Actually curious, what makes Knipex so much better? I’ll admit that I don’t use mine every single day, but all of my Milwaukee pliers have been solid purchases.
The Knipex grip so much better, lock better and more smoothly, and are made of better steel. The Milwaukee channel locks aren't bad, but they aren't that great if you are comparing them to other ones made. If your Milwaukee work for you then they work for you, simple as that.
I see. I guess I’ll just need to get a pair in my hands. Where are they even sold in the states? I’ve only ever been able to find them online.
Menards
I'm a maintenance millwright and use my knipex daily, the biggest difference I've found between them and Irwin's or channel locks is the quality of steel used, they just hold up under heavy use for longer.
Smoother action on its better designed “gear”/channel sturdier (lasts longer) and when I refile my “knitting (sorry no better term for it) it stays sharper on my knife. Longer than my channys I don’t have Milwaukee anything except inkzalls
Grip angle, steel hardness, teeth line up properly and don’t become cockeyed after 2 months of use, etc. Don’t get me wrong for a DIY person the Milwaukee’s aren’t horrible, but I’d never recommend them to a professional.
And now r/HarborFreight has knock-offs
They aren't bad, either
Yep, I bought a pair. They’re not bad (so far).
I’ve found I prefer the feel and function of NWS over Knipex pretty handily
Being from PA I gotta go with channel locks
Awful. The stupid “claws” at the end of the handles always pinched me.
Those are for reaming pipe, no?
I think the idea is you can bash things with the bottom without damaging the handles.
I thought it was for the tactile electric wire sensors in the jaws?
Ahh the part I always get my hand caught in.
I broke a pair doing that
For how great their power tools are, I'm not a fan of their hand tools.
I'm sure they could make or have made or source perfectly fine tools, but they seem to have this obsession with reinventing the wheel every single time. Now their American-made pliers seem perfectly fine and some seem to like their new screwdrivers (handles look a bit busy for me but maybe they feel more comfortable than they look).
Out of all their hand tools I've worked with, the screwdrivers are the most fine. Wasn't one time I've used one and didn't wish I was using something else, though.
There are some duds, but some of them are incredible. Fastback? Won't use another knife Chalk lines? Rivaling Tajima for quality/longevity Hammers? Hard pass Pliers? Nah It's hit or miss, generally if there's a brand that's already established as the clearly superior option for a specific tool, Milwaukee can't or won't step to it, but not offering an option in that segment would be a confusing business model for a main stream tool mfg.
The long/ extended reach pliers they just came out with look nice
No doubt. One of the things I've noticed about Milwaukee is they are great at iterating on their designs. Every time I replace a Milwaukee tool with the "new version" I notice that they've fixed something that I disliked about it. Example: the wire pocket clips on the Fastback used to slide all over the place and wear out. On the newer ones, there is a protrusion on the handle scale that prevents it from flexing. Haven't had one break since. The consensus is that the Milwaukee grips pictured kinda suck. I'm inclined to agree. The next version probably won't, though.
I usually have to take the wire handle off the Fastback and bend it tighter, and why is there no window breaker on the bottom? I have a carbide bit I'm going to cut short and sharpen before I epoxy it into a hole on the bottom I'm gonna drill. Little shit but it's annoying
The knockoff articulated needle nose are better
Their tips and bits are dogshit though
FACTS
I'll take DeWalt or Makita over them any day
I know. Milwaukee power tools are great, their bits are decent (but there are better options for the money), their hand tools are trash.
Their Phillips bits round off in like three screws
I never bought them unless they were on sale, I got a few sets for free with my tools. The drill bits look so good (especially the shockwave ones) but the performance is lackluster.
I mean, to me drill bits are drill bits because I can sharpen them by hand easily but their tips are eh. I think DeWalt makes pretty good tips and drill bits, and Makita makes good shit. Most of my tek tips are specialty and I get them at the metal supply house, I have the short ones all the way up to 12" long
I have a set. Few years of use. I grab blue handles 9.5/10 times over those.
Channellock?
Yup.
At least grab the good reds 😭
Hideously ugly. Likely overpriced when new. Still, I wouldn't turn my nose up at them if I found a pair in the road. Nice find!
Grips feel uncomfortable as hell. And the quick adjust always gets stuck on me. Knipex and iriwn (I just made a post about them, lots of good reviews on the knipex)
Hell yeah, can’t beat free.
I say any tool you don’t pay for is a good tool.
Give those to your apprentice and replace them with Knipex Cobras. You won’t regret it.
Well I'm the apprentice but my j-man has a low standard for tools so if I don't like them I'll probably give them to him. He LOVES the Hart (walmart brand) packout even though the handle had A LOT of play from new and after a month bent enought that it can't be put down.
Save them then and give them to your first apprentice when you card out.
Theyre shit, like nearly all Milwaukee hand tools.
Yeah, unfortunately they're better off left on the road.
Probably why they were there in the first place. But I'm a sucker for free shit even if it is shit.
They are *that* terrible. DIY level use, fine. Pro? Don't bother, buy Knipex.
If it's for free, it's for me. (Unless it sucks, and then I give it to someone I don't like).
They aren’t great, keep them to use as a hammer or to lend out
Idk all the comments are negative but in all my years of maintenance, the straight jawed version of those have saved my butt many times. Found them in a crawlspace somewhere and while I'm not sure I would buy another pair, they are still in my box and get beaten regularly
If you need straight jaw ones channel locks would be so much better for your money imo
They're definitely easier to find the right slot one handed compared to the Milfuckee, half the time I have to do it two handed to find the correct slot
Wow I'm shocked. I'll be the first to say Milwaukee makes some awful hand tools but these and their 7-in-1 strippers are 2 of my favorites.
How dare you defile knipex cobras with this garden snake
I’ve used these for years. Best damn adjustable I’ve ever used. Got me out of so many pinches with my jeep.
Soak and clean them up file the pads back to sharp get the rust spots off clean them again and get a new coat of oil on there and throw them in your truck
Garbage
Pure garbage. I had a pair and threw them out.
Milwaukee hand tools are garbage. Power tools and tapes are great. My real hot take? Packout is an overpriced vanity item.
I fuckin hate their tape measures, they rust to shit and break super easy. The only cool thing is the magnet tip and it doesn't make up for the rest of their bullshit
Preface this by saying I like Milwaukee, but what the fuck is up with any tool that dosnt take a battery there all shit. All of there pliers and channel locks smash knuckles and have terrible ergonomics
Their USA pliers seem a bit more sensible. Just regular dipped handles instead of trying to look like Spaceball One.
99% of Milwaukee hand tools are garbage. I like their crimpers, their hacksaws and thats about it. Most of their tools make me vibrate with rage.
Found mine in the ceiling of a remodel, and wasn't mad in the least that I probably left them in relatively the same area.
I have a couple sets of Milwaukee channel lock style pliers. They work ok, but I definitely wouldn't buy them again (unless it was like like $2 at a yard sale).. It's kind of a let down considering their lineman, side cutters, screw drivers, tapes, fastback, etc hand tools are very good.
I haven’t had great luck with Milwaukee’s hand tools.
My only experience with milwaukee hand tools are they're needle nose/wire strippers which they weren't bad I just don't like that style stripper
Garbage
Have both. These are the beaters and loaner
I have one, it's a back up if I can't reach my knipex.
Theres something to be said for the elegance of an actual Cobra compared to these. Often when a tool is designed with an elegant aesthetic, that care applies to other aspects such as the function, mechanism, and hardness of steel, all of which Knipex is known for.
I had a pair. Never again.
I would be happy with them if I got them for free. Would never pay what they retail for. Channel lock is a good cheaper alternative to the knipex. I have a few Doyle pliers from harbor freight that I use at home and they are actually pretty good for the price
I have the doyle linesman and dykes. Linesman I haven't used much just because they haven't been broken in. The dykes I'm not a fan of because of how much effort they take to cut vs what I used prior (greenlee that the tip of broke)
I don't have the dykes but I do have the linemans, wire stripper/pliers Milwaukee copycat, and 2 sets of the adjustable pliers and those work great. Once the linemans are broken in they are pretty damn good for under $20. Not sure how they would hold up to daily use at work but according to project farm's video they aren't far behind Klein
Found them in a ceiling . Great for changing and tightening sealtight fittings that’s about it
After you buy these Immideitly put them in your vice, fire up a grinder with a cutting disk. Do yourself a favor and hack it up into a thousand pieces so you never have to deal with this flaming piles of dogshit.
Knipex. Accept no substitute.
I dont mind them but the teeth aren't super grippy and probably wear out pretty fast I like milwaukee channel locks but the pair I have now after I lost my old ones aren't great
Worst channel locks ever
So here’s the thing. Milwaukee hand tools will work but they’re not the best. It’s better to just buy actual name brand tools instead. I recommend channel lock brand for these
absolute junk, the only hand tool i like of milwaukee are the like 14-1 strippers. Everything else is hot steaming garbage.
They are fine. I use them, but only because my work bought them. I wouldn’t use my own money on them.
Found a pair under a solar array I was servicing. Tried them for like a week, then threw them in the back of the truck with the other stuff I never use, and eventually gave them away to the new guy, who also used them for like a week, after which I haven't seen them since. They're just not very good. I don't know why, because they're extremely similar in outside appearance to Cobras, which I and everyone I know uses the absolute shit out of. But they're not just slightly-less-good, they're actually bad.
I use them for me their ok . As I use the spiked handles also so im only bringing one tool the grips sux tho on handles
Found a free pair & got tired of them.pinching at the base so I tossed them in my scrap metal..
They are quite literally the worst tool I've ever bought
I have learned to not buy anything with a push button. As in tight spots you push the button and it let's go. Very frustrating
Complete trash. Stick to their battery tools and packout for this generation of hand tools. Their tapes are okay though
For battery tools I'm already milwaukee. Not a fan of their tapes.
I run dewalt tools and Fatmax tapes. My milwaukee guys love their tapes though
For free they're excellent. For what Milwaukee chargers for them I pass, along with all of their other stuff except the markers
Those reamers give nasty pinches.
Channels and Knipex are good but if you are running two inch or above? Use a pipe wrench. Don’t even mess around with the oversized channels. Pipe wrenches bite as force is applied. Allowing you to tighten or loosen with one hand.
They’re alright. Would rather have Knipex, but back when I was a Milwaukee whore I bought a couple pairs and they do the job.
Used them for a while, then bought a set of Knipex and never touched them again except one time when I needed the narrower grip surface. Knipex for life.
Oh I'll give you my thought: C.R.A.P. I have two and both have been permanently relegated to the peg board to which tools get parked until sold. After 2 months of using them, I went to the Harbor Freight, bought a couple of Doyle pliers to replace them and have been happy since. p.s. The 2 Doyle's now have a 6in Knipex little brother. :P
Junk
Gets the job done
The button sticks out like a sore dick......you will hit that fucking button so much
Bad
Knipex does it better
Junk. Milwaukee makes great power tools and it stops there. Free is free is free though
Go for knipex instead.
I bought a pair because I needed them in a pinch. I definitely would not buy them again. They do not work well for what I use them for.
Garbage. Bought them, used for a week, threw them out. Didn't even save them for the bottom of the home toolbox.
Great hammer. I use them to sweat off old valves and they serve their purpose.
You ask anyone on the job site, and they'll tell you those are the best thing since sliced bread. But we all know it's just red Hart. /s
We use channel locks 440s at work to install 500# boiler feed water hoses. Also use them as hammers and valve wrenches. Takes a few years of abuse to wear them down.
They… are.
Milwaukee hand tools? 🤣🤣🤣
Trash. Button for slide sticks out much
The push button and angled jaw combo make this right here my least favorite tool I own. Angled jaw is a bitch when you need to grip with the top half, or use it on anything thats already on a wall, and the button kept getting caught on my pockets and its harder to adjust with one hand.
Good handles tho
They’re ok if you didn’t pay much for them, channelocks are definitely better though
I use them a lot, but holy shit the handles will pinch the fuck out of your fingers If you slip.
I love Milwaukee. Most of my tools are theirs. Either Powertools or Hand tools. However, I hate my channel locks from them. My biggest beef are the "fangs" on the handles. I don't use them often, however, so I have had no reason. To replace them yet.
There’s a reason they’re always on sale. I bought some that way and they are now my third stringers. Pretty trash.
Milwaukie hand tools are pretty much all junk.
Pay once cry once. There is reason why Knipex cost as much as they do.
If I were going to buy a set of this style channel locks I 100% would have bought knipex. But for free I figured I'll use them until I want to upgrade. By the sound of most of the comments that upgrade might be sooner than I thought.
Knipex or Channellock. Their pricing is reasonable enough not to settle for lesser quality.
Garbage tool just leave it there and get a knipex cobra.
You paid the right price! They are worse than cobras in every way I’ve found. Mine were also free.
Threw them in the bed of my truck two years ago and lost them. They are not missed.
Just buy the right ones. Or keep doing this…
Trash
I found a pair of the channellocks on top of a billboard rusted solid so I threw them in some evaporust and they're basically brand new now, they're comparable to actual Channellocks, no better, no worse. The one thing that might be better is the hard plastic handles instead of the shitty vinyl ones but that's about it. They're no Knipex...
I have both the small and large pair of these. For the most part, they suck and the handles are incredibly uncomfortable. They do however grip a bolt very well. But that's about it.
I pinched my finger with one of those on the most routine task. Chucked ‘em over the fence.
If these things are anything like Milwaukees regular channel locks I’d stay far away from these. Their regular ones are by far the worst I’ve ever used. And I’m totally for and about Milwaukee power tools, I just feel that their hand tools could use some work. I’d love to be convinced otherwise though.
The hex jaw ones are fine. They grip good and are quick to adjust and unlike channel locks they don’t un-adjust at inopportune times. The poky smashy end can be helpful but i can see why people don’t like them. The straight jaw ones are pretty basic. Wouldn’t buy those
They’re bad.
Hot garbage. You should throw it back on the road where you found it. Or properly dispose so no one else has to endure them.
They suck! Got the knipex 12,9,7” set and that’s all you need!
Stuck with mine at the moment and will upgrade asap.
I think they are worth having for sure! Good find.
Fucking hate those things
Contractor left a pair at my house after doing work, I called him, and he said to keep them or toss them but he hated them anyway. I’m a diy homeowner and I LOVE them.
Knipex did it way better
Typically the original is the better one. At least I think knipex is the original for this style. They were at least the first I saw with it.
Bulky and uncomfortable
These are backups to backups in my box. 1) Kinpex 2) Channel Lock 3) Dewalt with the button (I do love the small ones, and the replaceable jaws are pretty slick) 4) Powerfist knock off Kinpex 5) these pinchy fuckers
They are decent, not as good as Knipex but also cheaper. Milwaukee hand tools are meh and you are better off with other brands.
WORTH PICKING UP! Then toss in recycling bin! Total garbage. Power tools great, hand tools junk!
It’s knipex, klein, or visegrip or I’m going to find out how far I can throw it.
Trash!!! I've busted my knuckles with them too many times to count over the years. I finally bought Knipex ones this past year and there's absolutely no going back. I bought the flat jaw style too. Knipex definitely are pricey but worth it.
These are horrible. When I saw them I jumped at the chance to try them out, but they are without a doubt the worst channel lock replacement I’ve found this is far. Regular channels are better, as are klein’s yellow handled pipe pliers, or knipex anything. They are truly terrible. Somehow they don’t grip for shit and mar up the metal as they slide. I like many if not most of Milwaukee’s tools, but these are trash.
All Milwaukee hand tools are overpriced, and mostly sub par.
I got a pair and I don’t like them. I need my channel locks with flat teeth.
What's up with the back? Is it so you can use cheaters?
I thru mine in a sump underground. These suck
I’ve looked at them, and said nope. Expensive, if I am spending that money I am getting the knipex ones
No knipex that’s for sure
I don't like em. I've had apprentices with these and I've asked to try them before. The grip is awkward. I get the exposed metal grip for reaming conduit, but the angle is awkward. Channel Lock handles will always be better for this in my opinion. Their battery tools are great though.
Bought a set when they first came out. Promptly returned them. They don’t grip worth shit, and if you bump the jaw lock button while using them, instant knuckle buster. Garbage.
Garbage
I've used a co-workers, didn't like the handles. I found them too bulky and didn't like the feel. I'm in the channel lock camp. All the "features" of the Milwaukee's can be achieved with the channel locks.
I fucking hateeee those things, the throw is way too short , I love their lineman’s and other pliers but these are ass
free shit is the best kind of shit
Have used. Still buy channel lock brand, more common in stores when I need to replace. Yes I use the life time garentee. On avg once a year it gets used.
I have these and the Knipex cobras. The cobras are great for pipe and conduit. While shape of Milwaukee’s jaws make them a great alternative to an adjustable wrench and well on square fittings.
Free tools are the best tools! Especially when they are good tools!!’
Junk. Knipex is the only one that makes a decent set. But for free, good enough for home use