I hated slip joints for a very long time. Mainly due to sloppy side to side movements on cheap tools that made it very difficult to torque. But I just rediscovered them a couple of months ago and now I really appreciate them. Without them, you need a whole bunch of sockets or wrenches to be able to accommodate different size fasteners. One slip joint will handle all of that.
The reason I like and use slip pliers is because the handles are parallel with the jaws unlike pump pliers. When I need to reach into something they do excel. Especially the knipex because they have a longer neck. Slip pliers also have a larger jaw and that is why I prefer them over needle noses, in certain situations. Slip pliers are now a essential part of my tool kit.
Yea man that’s why I like them too. They give you more control and they fit in different places than angled pliers do a lot of the time. That’s especially why I like that yellow handled Bonney pair. The thin jaws on those get in a lot of tight spots.
In the automotive field slip joints still have a versatile role and many techs use them. I personally recommend the newer snap on needle nose style slip joints for this role if you want only one pair. It’s just more versatile. But own many myself and use them all at times. As a home repair and carpenter as far DIY goes, I don’t see as big of a need for slip joints. Still useful at times but much more limited. I do like the knipex twin grip more for this role.
I just got into slip joint pliers recently. Love them because most of them are pretty inexpensive, but versatile. I 've had the knipex twin grips for a while now and have came in real handy for what could have been messy situations. After watching Project Farm's video on SJ pliers I bought the Engineer brand ones and want to get the Crescent and Tsunoda pliers as well. I like the simplicity and old school aesthetic of them as well. Reminds me of my dad or grandfather's toolbox.
Knipex twin grip extractors are awesome and my Icon three hole Snap On knockoffs are my favorite all around pliers. For some reason if it is plumbing, I always use channelock slipjoints. Back when I worked on rental houses decades ago it was always channelocks so its kind of a confort zone nostalgia thing when I do the occasional diy plumbing job.
Recently picked up about 6 pair of older US made slip joints as well as a pair of the blue handled channel locks at Estate sales. Love the jaw design on the channel locks and the unique handle designs on the old US pliers.
Yea man those channel lock ones are really cool. I love getting slip joint pliers at estate sales. There are so many cool ones lying around just waiting to be bought for next to nothing
I love old school pliers particularly with the designed handles I used to not like slip joints but I'm warming up to them (my twin grips helped with that)
Yea man they are some seriously nice pliers. I paid 15 bucks for them at an antique shop, which is a lot for me if you’ve seen what I usually pay for stuff like that. Worth every penny though!
I was on the lookout for a pair of Channellock 548s for years. One day I walked into an industrial supply house that I have been going to since I was a kid. I looked up and zip tied to a vintage CL display that was nailed to the rafters, was a whole line up of NOS pliers. I asked if they were for sale and the owner said "everything is for sale" and was happy to sell them to me. The pliers weren't in the computer system anymore because they are discontinued so he sold them to me for the price he got them for when they were in stock. So I finally got my NOS 548's for only a few bucks. I was going to buy the whole line up and display but the kid he sent up there on a ladder was really struggling lmao
I have that same pair of slip joints (your Utica's) but branded Williams and they are by far my favorite, use them for hose clamps mostly but they are amazing and have held up super well and the inside teeth are perfect for clamps.
The Diamond ones are what my grandpa has carried on him for decades now on his belt. I was a fan of the CreeTee Co ones the old good ones actually just picked up one today at a estate sale for $1 but my all time favorite slip joints are the newer snapon made ones with 3 positions joint and the same front grip style as the ones you like.
I definitely still love slipjoint pliers, and I even carry a little Snapon 44acf in my pocket quite often. I probably have about 12 pairs that I can think of off the top of my head. I'm going to have to check out a pair of those Channellock 548 here soon ( they were already on my list anyway), they don't have the same kind of cutters these days but they do still make this model. Bonney made great tools, surprisingly they're still in business but no longer make tools. I think they make industrial hardware and stuff like that.
I’m definitely going to get me some 44 and 46 acf snap on ones. I didn’t know they still made the 548 channellock pliers. I couldn’t find them anywhere when I was looking for some.
the last pliers you showed where Electrical plyers the notch was for bending wire ends the Grove in the nose is for grabbing wire and twisting and the strange shape is for nuts and I would place them at 1965-1970
I have the Kleins bigger version of those pliers (slip joint pliers) and I like them, channellocks slip joint, cee tee (crescent) version and my Stanley's. I use them for tightening nuts and bolts and grabbing hot screws after pulling them out of wood. Or pulling nails out.
My favorite is by far the Knipex double grip comfort handles. For the simple reason they have five different positions they can lock into. And they are far easier to operate than the vampires. I use he's far more often than I would have ever thought I would ever use a pair of slip joint pliers. I am going to pick up a Snap-On 9 inch, triple slip joint pair of pliers as well
They don’t really excel at any one thing but they’re serviceable for everything. I like the gearwrench pitbull slipjoints. They have a flush fitting nut, razor sharp teeth, and the cutters actually cut which is more than some brands can say.
Yea most of the cutters on slip joints are major junk I have to agree. That’s why I like those uticas they have good ones. I’ve never used any gear wrench pliers I bet they are good though. Every I’ve used from gearwrench is pretty solid.
Absolutely! They're one of those all-rounder tools. May not be great at any one thing but they're good or at least decent for many things. Having the slip joint part just enhances their functionality to grip a wider range of stuff. You got a nice collection there. I have some Tsunodas that I like, checking out some weird Igarashi like pistol-grip kind of slip joints, and got some Wilde angle nose ones. The Wilde's shape and size for their smaller ones make them perfect for a pocket. Oh and the TwinGrip of course, I personally like the button.
Count me in the hate camp. I just don't like the sloppy joint. I would prefer non-slip joint pliers like duck bill pliers. I only have one or two slip joints and I never reach for them unless they are conveniently there. I think the Knipex design is the closest thing I would consider buying except I prefer a flat tip. Im waiting for them to come out with one. Screw extraction is very limiting.
I use the twin grips quite a lot. Bought a pair of fujiya’s and a pair of tsunofas recently. Going to try the snap on, but honestly I don’t grab slip joints that often. I do keep a pair in the console of my truck and like the hack I am use them to disconnect batteries and such. And the Klein VACO multibit 4 in 1 showed up. It’s the same insert as the klein 5 in 1 (so two 5/16 double end bits) with the acetate handle which is very nice and bigger than the 5 in 1 rubber grip handle. Not sure it’s worth the price but it is to me. PS the VACO screwdriver set you have says “no longer in production” on Klein’s website so I bought another set of the remaining stock. :-(
Damn that’s sad if they are stopping making the Vacos! I hate to hear that. I wish that 5 in 1 was a 6 in 1 also. I hate when they only have the 5/16. I want some snap on ones too. Those are next!
Slip joints are not my most used pliers; needle noses are, but I do still use slip joints. Like you, I have a real mixed bag; most would be considered vintage. Some of my most used ones are, on my bench I have a 6" craftsman flush joint pliers.in my big box I usually grab my channel lock 6 or 8 inch, from a set that I received as a gift in the early 80s, there is also a pair of Fullers with a finer tip that I may grab. In my personal to go box, I have some Snap Ons. In my work box, I have some Harbor Freight stuff. As my boss and coworkers like walking off with them, Their Doyle line seems OK. I'm really surprised by their lowest priced Pittsburgh wire cutters; they have been used hard, and they keep cutting. In my tool pouch, I carry old Protos, or I have some smaller Japanese Kliens that I'll swap out when I'm working at height and lighten my pouch. I also have some pliers stamped Ford (that i inherited from my grandfather)in the automotive tool kit that I keep in my truck. I have a bunch of other pliers scattered about in junk drawers, cabinets, and boxes under the bench. I do have a pretty good collection of pot metal pliers from motorcycle tool kits, too. A pair that I recommend is Snap Ons needle nose slip joints (LN47ACF) like the twin grips; there is nothing else out there like them.
I forgot I have a pair of those craftsman flush joint ones. They are one of my favorites and I forgot all about them for the video! I keep them in my carpentry bag.
I won’t leave the house with out my holster and pliers on me. New holsters and pliers in the tool chest ready to ride, if I lose or wear out the ones I’m carrying. One think I will never do is buy a pair that is not a heavy river connection between the two. Hate.. I mean hate the ones with the nut on the axle. Always needs attention. Just personal preference. EDC is a pocket knife and pliers. My work suffers without them. Great video…
I prefer the fixed rivet as well. I have had good luck heating up the ones with the bolt and nut and peening so it doesn’t back off though. I got the snap on slip joints after this and I’ll never look back. They are the absolute best I’ve ever used. Thanks bud!
I do remodeling every now and then and slip joints are perfect for that type of stuff. You can pull old baseboard nails, pull rusty metal framing, turn old nuts/bolts, and cut old wires. That first one you showed off with the cutters are my favorite type too. I managed to find a brand new pair recently for around $15 bucks. Came in its original box and everything. Normally you only find them used. The more recent ones don't look or feel as nice in the hand as the old school ones.
I’m with you 100%. I love old school slip joints. I’d love to find a pair like that in the original box. That sounds awesome. If you feel like blowing 50 bucks on some pliers, get some snap ons. They are fantastic. I got some after making this video.
I picked up a pair of 6'' Wilde Slip Joint with the flush fastener. Do you have a pair of Wilde Slip Joints too? I am very impressed with the quality. I was going to get the current Channellock Slip Joints 6'' but decided to go with the Wilde's. I really like your videos by the way. Thank you for the Slip Joint line up! Its a classic :D
I actually do not have a pair of Wilde slip joints. They made some flush fastener ones for SK for a while with green handles. I want a pair of those. Thanks for watching. I’m glad you enjoy the vids!
I only have 3 slip joint pliers that I know of one of them is made in Taiwan but I’m not sure what brand they are because whenever I bought them I bought them at Goodwill and most of the writing on them was worn off
I have the twin grips and their so good but I HATE the push button. I don't mind it on the cobra but I really wish they just went with the classic pinned design.
@@realworldtoolreviews Nah, gotta have the screw extractor in there. You should checkout their high leverage combination pliers. PN 02 01 200. They're like a baby linesman and I use those the most.
@@rjsprojects I’ve been thinking about getting those for a while now. I have the smaller version of them not the high leverage ones and they are good, but a little bit too small.
I’ve never had any, but I’ve seen a bunch of them at estate sales. I’ll pick up a pair if I see them. Most of the fuller pliers I’ve seen are made in Japan. Are the ones you have made in Japan?
@@realworldtoolreviews yes mine are also made in Japan. The older they are the better but I would stay away from the slip joint pliers. They're nothing special. I also was lucky to find a 10" fuller Japan adjustable wrench and that thing is great!
Well, as you said - they are still usable in so many applications, but a bit obsolete. They have served well the mankind for centuries. But today - the combination / lineman's pliers - are much better general purpose, the channel lock type - are far superior for pipes and nuts, the long and thin nozzle - to grab and twist delicate stuff. But those new twin grip Knipex are magical!
Not really a fan. The new knipex are pretty nice, but I avoid at all costs. When you mention liking the triangle more than the rounded head, it's almost like you're moving towards a combination plier.
@@plsreleasethekraken the combination pliers definitely have their place though. I’ve got a small knipex pair that I keep in my hvac bag that I love for general purpose stuff lol cutting and twisting wires as well as just grabbing stuff. They are great and not even that expensive either. I think they were 20 bucks.
