Can anyone recommend a good brand of pliers?

Klein tools, available at the big box stores. 

Picture center is a very old Utica tool, 8" Lineman's pliers, the plastic handles were added. 

Klein Tools, Inc.     American made.  High quality.

I'll put a plug in for Xcelite brand.

What type of pliers? Needle nosed, small/large, slip joint, etc? Channel Lock pliers are made here, I don't know if they have small tools if that is what you want, but they are made in the US. 

@bigkid posted:

What type of pliers? Needle nosed, small/large, slip joint, etc? 

Yes.  Might narrow that down a bit. I keep maybe 20 different styles and sizes in a rack/stand on my one bench, and then more larger ones on the wall.

Hi Guys,

Smaller ones for use in our hobby.  Not sure of the nomenclature of them....but I'm looking for a set.  Most of them that I see are from overseas and are from China and India.  No thanks!  I have those and they are garbage.

Steve

Can't beat Klein for the price and quality. I've been an electrician for over 30 years. I've blown holes in a few but never had one break.

@Mike CT- I have an old pair of Kleins with the same red handles.

SNAPON OR CRAFTSMAN

Channellock , Meadville, Pennsylvania.  

Try Googling  Jewelry Pliers. You will be surprised as the availability of nice small pliers for modeling. Otherwise, SnapOn offers the best, with a life time guarantee. 

Just remember, you get what you pay for, so the really good ones are NOT cheap.  I have found some really good, OLD (from the 1940s or 1950s), U.S.A. made needle-nose pliers at garage sales.

I'm a hopeless tool junkie. My go to precision pliers are made by Knipex (Germany),Gedore (Germany) and Lindstrom (Swiss). I bought mine on business trips to Europe. You can now find these on Amazon. These will last for generations. 

I own quite a few Knipex from Germany.  They’re great but I don’t think they make the tiny jewelry sized models.  I like Klein and Channellock too but you might run into the same issue: size.  Their pliers are made for tradesmen.

@Ricky Tanner posted:

I'm a hopeless tool junkie. My go to precision pliers are made by Knipex (Germany),Gedore (Germany) and Lindstrom (Swiss). I bought mine on business trips to Europe. You can now find these on Amazon. These will last for generations. 

Also check KC Tool for all these great European brands.

Check Micro Mark, too.

Not sure what brands they carry, but they have a large selection of hobby sized pliers and other hand tools.

@RONALD ALLIEGRO posted:

SNAPON OR CRAFTSMAN

When Stanley bought Craftsmen from Sears they started sourcing their tools from China.  I can't speak to the quality of recent Craftsmen tools (I think they still have the lifetime warranty, surprised Stanley kept that), but if you want made in the US Craftsmen right now may be problematic. They supposedly are building a factory in this country to build the tools, remains to be seen if it happens and if they are any good (if they are sourcing components from overseas, and the components are poor quality, where it is made doesn't matter in terms of quality). 

Did not know that.  I have a broken Craftsman ratchet, and was getting ready to stick it in the recycling bin.

Klein Tools will be the last ones you buy for your around the home projects, but might be a little large for your hobby tasks depending on what you mean by hobby size. Ricky listed some exceptional high quality tools worth checking out and as been stated, you get what you pay for.

For very small, tight spaces my goto is Xuron, but honestly, I have never compared to another micro plier so I don't really know if they are worse, equal or better then what else is available on the market, but they are made in the US if that is important to you.

Charlie

@Hot Water posted:

 I have found some really good, OLD (from the 1940s or 1950s), U.S.A. made needle-nose pliers at garage sales.

Most of mine were my grandfather's, father's or father-in-law's. Old and quite a few specialized.

The one thing I've bought in the last decade or 2 was a Xuron sprue nipper to replace the one that I somehow managed to shatter one of the jaws on with an exceptionally hard bit of wire.

I just took a closer look at some of my pliers.  Below is a picture of three pairs. 

The pair on the left with the red/black handle are CHP marked "Made In Italy".  I got them from Amazon around $12 (link). 

The middle pair with the blue handles are Xuron (that Charlie mentioned above).  They are indeed marked "Made In USA" also from Amazon about $15 (link). 

And finally, the bigger pliers on the right are Knipex Made in Germany.  These are a standard needle-nose with a bit more elongated jaws.  I got them on Amazon but they're considerably more expensive now.  They should sell closer to $25 (link). 

I looked around and Knipex does make smaller jewelry sized pliers like these.  The Knipex tend to be twice the price of the CHP or Xuron though.

One of my kids makes jewelry and we're always on the lookout for little pliers for her.  As you can see, there are lots of options. 

@bob2 posted:

Did not know that.  I have a broken Craftsman ratchet, and was getting ready to stick it in the recycling bin.

If it is a standard one it has a lifetime warrantee on it (craftsmen through Sears started selling a cheaper line, made in China, that didn't have the lifetime warranty). I don't know these days how you can get a replacement, might need to check Craftsmen's website, it used to be when Sears owned them that you could bring it to any sears store and they would replace it, no questions asked, I don't know what it is like now with the new ownership (or new to me). I don't know if you can take it to any craftsmen dealer, or if you have to ship it to them. Epilogue; Their website says contact the original retailer where you bought it, which means likely it would be a sears store (if you can find one these days!) if you bought it there before 2017, or hoping Stanley won't make you go through hoops. To be honest, if you have to go through the hurdle of remember the original retailer years later, that you can't return it to anyone who carries craftsment tools, it is about as valuable as those tv products advertising 'lifetime warranty' when you know they will be gone  in a year or two.

Lowes took over the Craftsman line from Sears. They (Craftsman) also have a website:

https://www.craftsman.com/

I have quite a bit of "Husky" tools which is Home Depot's answer to Craftsman which I also have.

Both have a lifetime warranty.

The finish (cosmetic wise) on the Husky Line looks a bit better than the Craftsman stuff

Simon

Lowe's now has the Craftsman line.

Years ago when we had tool reps making the rounds a common inside comment was that no one tool mfg. makes their whole line.  Different types of tools were made by a particular mfg. according to the style, finish and branding of the end brand retailer.  Not sure if that format continues to today.

Having been in and out of rehab for tool addiction I would say my biggest problem is the ever increasing need for more magnetic bars, peg boards, holsters,  pocket aprons and tool chests.  Haven't met a tool I would not want.

@Tom Tee posted:

Years ago when we had tool reps making the rounds a common inside comment was that no one tool mfg. makes their whole line.  Different types of tools were made by a particular mfg. according to the style, finish and branding of the end brand retailer.  Not sure if that format continues to today.

This is still true Tom and maybe even more so. The above mentioned Snap-On, Mac, and others, outsource many of the tools (to their specifications of course). 

Charlie

Charlie,   That stands to reason when you see the extensive line of product many tool companies have.

Hi

I would like to thanks everyone who contributed to this topic.  A lot of very helpful information here.

I will be sorting through a lot of website and such looking at product information and availability.  For my hobby needs it now appears that Xuron offers what I am looking for although CHP and Knipex are in the running.

Again, many thanks!

Steve