Channellock GL6 Grip Lock Pliers: Similar but different. Simple, but effective. Made in USA.

[@msp753nwa]

Love the griplocks, particularly the gl6 always has a spot in my bag.

[@jshulch]

I've had the GL6 for years and really like. So much so, I bought one of the larger versions too.

[@michaelabbott6566]

Living in a small town in Northern Ontario, I use alot of Channel Lock pliers. They are the happy medium in price and quality that are available at Canadian Tire. Ill be the first to say they are no Knipex pliers but for the price, they are hard to compare with. I do agree that the Grip Lock are handy pliers, I use mine often!

[@avernvrey7422]

I like them, especially with the Code Blue handles. They're cheap because they don't seem to sell well and go on sale often, and they're useful enough.

[@AToolWithTools]

They're cheap because they were designed to be economical, per a rep. - The grooves are forged in rather than machined, cutting down on machine time. - No polishing process. Again cuts down on machine time, and cuts out a laborer having to take the time to do the polishing and they don't really bother flattening out the forging flashing either, just leaving it mostly the way the cutout die does. - A bit lighter weight. Less material, less cost. - Info printed on the handle rather than lasered on. Goes more quickly. They get forged much the same way as anything else but skip a bunch of the steps after, pretty much.

[@WilliamBrown-bg7vm]

Those don't get the love they deserve. I'm not ripping apart an oily, broken air line thats now scrap metal with any of my many knipex Cobra pliers. Cobra pliers compliment the CL pliers

[@aussiehardwood6196]

I bought some Chanelocks and while a fairly decent pair of slipjoint pliers, they just fall way short compared to similar Knipex designs.

[@georgebonney90]

I just got the 9.5inch for $10 at rural king

[@ToolsandTime]

Cool discussion on the various Channellocks. Definitely looks similar to the Knipex Cobras.

[@westllen1]

Love your videos, true I never see those on the shelves for sale. Have a Happy Thanksgiving !

[@fuloplehel]

Interesting pliers, maybe they are not very popular and you don't find them easily. But from my experience knipex cobras and alligators are the best when it comes to this kind of pliers. They offer the best grip and great capacity and the most durable teeths. They are expensive but worth the price. Channellock is making good tools but they need to diversify the product lines and improve on the design. The pinchguard is a nice addition on this pliers. But they need to try another jaw geometry to come closer to knipex.

[@rwbishop]

Indeed.

[@TylerSnyder305]

" diversify " ? Have you seen their digital catalog, they offer a ton of different pliers.

[@fuloplehel]

@@TylerSnyder305 Maybe diversify is not the best, how about innovate. They need more engineering in their tools.

[@markm0000]

They need innovation.

[@TylerSnyder305]

@@markm0000 They're selling plenty of pliers, internet hype over fancy new stuff isn't really indicative of the entire market because the majority of people who buy their tools probably aren't consuming tool related content on the internet.

[@user-ki3dj9pu9y]

Bought the griplock set when it came out. They are decent but ive found I like the traditional straight jaws better, they do tend to slip. But hey ill never regret buying a set of Channellock pliers 😂

[@georgebonney90]

Channellock just came out with a new quick adjust,atleast thats what ive seen online

[@lastbesttool]

I have a new quick adjust Crescent here in that Cobra form. Video coming soon.

[@markm0000]

Wow they sure did. Scalpers are already doing what they do best. I’ll get a pair after the holidays. I always wanted the straight jaw version of the Knipex but they’re real pricy. I’ll get these instead.

[@morgizmo87]

Would love to see a review on the new channellock locking pliers

[@AToolWithTools]

They're just Grip-On rebrands. Plenty of reviews of Grip-On out there already. Even Snapon was using them as an OEM.

[@hardlyb]

It's a little odd that these are 'deep in the Channellock' line, while the Cobras are often the gateway tool to Knipex. They're the first Knipex tool I bought, but not the last.

[@Lazy943]

Channellock for the win all day everyday ya herd me

[@aguycalledlucas]

I like it

[@thatisrob]

got 12 inch set of cobras and griplocks in my bag, i always grab the griplocks first

[@tatsngrass]

You’re moving the jaw backwards. It’s not supposed to bite that way.

[@bendummitt888]

'Merica. Dig it.

[@One.eye.Willy.]

I really liked them but the teeth rolled on the second time I used them.

[@TylerSnyder305]

I had a large pair and hated them , I liked the V jaw variant of the 460 to be a better tool. The GL's were thinner and less rigid feeling. I have not tried the GL6 yet though, and this seems like the GL design could work out very well in this size.

[@rwbishop]

Sorry, but what I've seen of Channellock's offerings in the past decade or so have all been disappointing. Knipex now has the plier market cornered; with the exception being the long nose Snap-On slip joints.

[@TylerSnyder305]

What you've seen ? You mean they weren't fancy so you never even tried them ? Their pliers are well priced and there's few of them that don't work very well.

[@natebreeo23]

Exactly right

[@rwbishop]

@@TylerSnyder305 Yes, from what I've seen. You don't need to purchase an item/s in order to observe and hear of it's foibles in the hands of others.

[@AToolWithTools]

Not really. It's not just pros looking for the absolute top tier thing buying tools. Lots of people put lots of factors on their buying decisions. - Price. Here's the big one, and Knipex is usually worth their price but a lot of people aren't looking for value versus money paid with a willingness to pay more if they get more. They just want something that'll do the job and can't or don't want to spend more. - COO. People have their reasons for COO, and some people are hard-core about American-made. Not just anti-China but specifically pro-American when it comes to COO. Channellock would win out by default for being American made. - Brand recognition. Everyone knows the name, the tongue and groove pliers are often called Channellocks no matter the brand. The average person walking into a hardware store just wanting a pair of pliers for their home DIY project will know the Channelock name but might not know Knipex. Brand recognition is a strong seller and that's why companies blow so much money on marketing. - Channellock has offerings that Knipex doesn't. For example, plain old fashioned simple cheap slip joints. You get name brand American-made slip joints for cheap, like $13, instead of the TwinGrip which will run you over $35 and are available in only one size instead of 4. They also don't have Ironworkers or the oil filter pliers. - Not everyone likes the button. Knipex also has the Alligators and classic T&G pliers for button-dislikers but a cursory search online makes it seem like the Cobra is all they have since so many people won't shut up about them. And this is just talking between Knipex and Channy. Then you can add in the Pipe Wrench Pliers and angle nose slip joints from Wilde, slip joint long reaches and the triple position pistol grips from Igarashi, the X2 long reaches from Crescent, all manner of screw removal pliers from Japan (Engineer is the most well-known but a bunch of companies have them), the superior snipe noses and vast assortment of mini pliers from Tsunoda, the Merry Y75 semi-long noses, Lobtex TriGrip, 3.Peaks locking pliers designed for hex heads and screws, Eagle Grips with their chart-topping performance (yes I know they closed down, rumor is Snap-on bought the equipment and their expectation of filling backorders next spring backs that up)... Lots of other stuff out there.

[@sammiches6859]

​@rwbishop My Code Blue Grip Locks are fantastic. I use them to carry commercial refrigerator coils, control copper tubes when brazing, saw through PVC when I forget my PVC cutter, and of course, bite into steel conduit when I need it turned or handled. I have several Knipex pliers, as well as several from Snap-On, and the Channellocks are unique in that I actually want to use them hard. As a result, they get more abuse and take a godly amount of wrath that I wouldn't want to put on my $60+ pliers, yet they hold up just fine. I can get an entire set of Channellocks for the price of a single larger Knipex Cobra, and I don't think there's enough difference to warrant the cost of the Cobra. I bought Knipex for the Raptor, their bolt cutter, and the small 150 Cobra, and will likely indulge in the plier's wrench set, but these Channellocks are a fantastic alternative without buying a typical Asian (Chinese most specifically) knockoff. This is a good example of cheaper at 95% the same reliability, capability, and effectiveness of a more expensive tool. You can knock Channellock for rumors and whispers you see online. That's ridiculous.

[@austinbridge]

Knipex simply does things better... I feel like Channellock is falling behind the times. Their SPEEDGRIP pliers are so bulky and don't work as well as Knipex Cobras. They also don't offer them in smaller sizes. only 8", 10" & 12". And only 10" & 12" with V-Jaw. Basically the 424 is their ONLY offering

[@NP-rh3dt]

Channellock beats Knipex in one huge category; Longevity. Channellocks are simple and incredibly durable, the first Channellock pliers I've bought will last me the rest of my life. Can't tell you how many times I've seen coworkers bent and break knipex pliers. The jaws are particularly prone to bending and I've seen the lock mechanism blow out more than once. Another issue I find is people seem to treat pliers like they're multi tools when they're not. I carry around a crescent wrench and 10" pair of Channellocks because each tool does their job very well instead of having 1 tool that is mediocre at everything.

[@austinbridge]

@NP-rh3dt I've never had a Knipex never fail. People who break those tools are using them wrong. Channellock is also durable, but that doesn't mean Kinpex isn't. And yes, using the right tool for the job is good practice.

[@user_19]

there’s a reason these don’t sell lol

[@narutobroken]

No reason to get this over Knipex

[@NP-rh3dt]

Wrong there are multiple reasons. Channellocks are cheaper for one. They're also made in the USA by USW 1917-3 members. They are also way more durable than knipex. If you use the pliers for what they're intended for they work excellently. People try to use them as wrenches and of course they don't work as good because they're not designed to be wrenches.