Old fashioned slip joint pliers, maybe a thing of the past

[Nolatoolguy]

So at work we were just cleaning up the shop as we surprisingly had some extra time. Not really sure how it came up but we got to talking about pliers. It came up as who uses old school slip joint pliers?

We have the adjustale pump, need nose, diagonal cutting, lineman, etc. the list of specialty pliers goes on. With all those pliers we agreeded its rare we go for slip joint piers. Now the older guys all swear by them but agreeded there's tools that do the job better. The younger guys seem to think ahh it's something I have but don't use to often.

So it makes me wonder what do you guys think?

[Yadda]

I saw a similar post on the Toolguyd website this week.  There are better options, but I wouldn't go anywhere without a pair of pliers in my tool kit. 

[Papaw]

I still reach for them often, even though I have other options.

[Bill Houghton]

I still reach for them often, even though I have other options.

Hmmm...that may indicate you're an older guy, Papaw 

I'm an older guy, too, and went through a long period of not using them, reaching for the smaller versions of Channellock-type/waterpump-type pliers instead.  Of late, I've come to recognize their virtues for small work.  There are times when I need to come straight at the work, rather than at an angle, as Channellocks do.  And they're more compact; I have a pair on my carpenter's belt (back pocket of tool pouch, off side, which is the right in my southpaw case), chosen for their small size compared to other pliers.

If I had to select a desert island tool kit with a cap on the number of tools, I might leave them out; but I don't plan to move to a desert island anytime soon.  Although, unless our drought gets over this winter, the desert island may be moving to me/us.

But, to keep the conversation lively, the pliers whose necessity eludes me is linesman's pliers.  I can't figure out what they do that's not taken care of by the list Nola posted in his initial question.  I have some, but can't recall the last time I reached for them; and they don't live in the "go there first" drawer in the toolbox.

Bill, ducking and running but with a tub of popcorn in hand

[bill300d]

Never really thought about it before but after pondering a little I realized I will use other types before slip joints.

I still reach for them often, even though I have other options.

Hmmm...that may indicate you're an older guy, Papaw 

I'm an older guy, too, and went through a long period of not using them, reaching for the smaller versions of Channellock-type/waterpump-type pliers instead.  Of late, I've come to recognize their virtues for small work.  There are times when I need to come straight at the work, rather than at an angle, as Channellocks do.  And they're more compact; I have a pair on my carpenter's belt (back pocket of tool pouch, off side, which is the right in my southpaw case), chosen for their small size compared to other pliers.

If I had to select a desert island tool kit with a cap on the number of tools, I might leave them out; but I don't plan to move to a desert island anytime soon.  Although, unless our drought gets over this winter, the desert island may be moving to me/us.

But, to keep the conversation lively, the pliers whose necessity eludes me is linesman's pliers.  I can't figure out what they do that's not taken care of by the list Nola posted in his initial question.  I have some, but can't recall the last time I reached for them; and they don't live in the "go there first" drawer in the toolbox.

Bill, ducking and running but with a tub of popcorn in hand

I guess I'm just like you guys "Old"
As far as lineman pliers go I grab mine along with a pair of round nose when doing electrical around the house. They are great for cutting 12ga or 14ga wire

[bonneyman]

I saw a similar post on the Toolguyd website this week.  There are better options, but I wouldn't go anywhere without a pair of pliers in my tool kit.

What he said.

[Aunt Phil]

Well, KIDS; I know of 2 men who have a pair of 6" Chanellocks on their kitchen counters.  When Art Ritus stops by to help you, they quickly become the go to tool for everything from zipping your fly or pulling a jacket off, to say nothing of opening those damn "convenient cans" with the tab on top. 

Lineman pliers are the go to tool for men who came up in the electrical trade.  They perform half of the functions you need pliers for.

Now, if I could just convince that Nola kid to get himself a good pair of pump pliers and set them up proper for a weldor, my week would be good. 

[amecks]

Well I always include those small pliers ( like the ones from Honda mcy tool kits) in my bicycle and motorcycle tool kits.  Very compact and generally useful.
But in the shop I never used them until I found an old pair of 10" slip joint pliers.  For some reason these just feel right - lots of leverage in the handles for my arthritic hands and the jaws open pretty big.
At work I use a smaller pair but they are still larger than the average pair.
My household toolbox has an old regular size pair.

Al

[slip knot]

I keep a small pair in every vehicle. Work really well cutting hay bale wire. then twisting it back together as needed.

[Bus]

Just about every farmer around here has a pair of Cee Tee Slip Joint Pliers in their overall pocket and have had for has long as I can remember.

[Branson]

They still come in every, or just about every roadside auto tool kit.  I have a bunch of them, from no names that lived in a drawer in my grandfather's kitchen to a 10 inch Herbrand pair (near new condition) I found at a flea market.  I've got a very old pair that are marked simply AUTO in the tray on my work bench that are just the thing from time to time.  The ones I find most useful are the Victors and their ilk that have asymmetrical jaws.

[bunger]

...the pliers whose necessity eludes me is linesman's pliers.  I can't figure out what they do that's not taken care of by the list Nola posted in his initial question. 

Lineman's pliers, to my electrician friends, are the first tool out of the pouch.
It cuts, twists, squashes and is often used as a hammer.

[Twilight Fenrir]

I use my grandather's slip joint pliers a lot in my blacksmithing. They're just convenient grabbers for handling or flipping pieces to regrip them with my tongs. But, for mechanic work... I'd have to agree with the OP. The things they do well are so limited, and done better by other tools. Good for pulling spark plug wires, though.

[bird]

What are slip joint pliers?




Just kidding!!!!!!!!!  I thought I'd try to make everyone feel really old!!!!! :)  I have to remind my dad sometimes that you are only as old as you act (this, as he was walking out the door to go play ice hockey with a bunch of high school and college kids...some older...but not close to him, at the young age of 72) !

[amecks]

Slip joint pliers seem to be a tool I've never bought (new or used) yet I have at least a half dozen!