Who makes the best Lineman pliers and Diagonal cutters?
- Thread starter Bill G
- Start date
Help Support Arborist Forum:
I generally stick with Kline for these specific tools.
Channel Locks for performance and price plus USA made.
Ummm...I guess if I was cutting wire for a skyscraper.
Just putting it out there, IDK how much stuff he has to cut.
A good set of lineman pliers would serve you well. I have a 7.5" set of Klein's and an 8.5" set of Channellocks and I'm confident you'd be well served with either brand. The younger guys I work with run Knipex stuff and I wouldn't be afraid to endorse their products either.
Better be a ton for that price but I can see them for big commercial building I guess
LuDookie
ArboristSite Guru
30 years ago no one competed with Klein for lineman’s, but these days there are some good options. The Klein are still good but I like knipex for most of their cutting tools. Knipex are harder and will chip if you do too much horsing around on them or twisting. Klein are pretty tough but softer. Channel Lock are really good now, too but I don’t have any real experience with their lineman’s.
35 years a lineman for Cl&P - retired 18 years now, still have the same Klein lineman's pliers in my tool pouch - #1 in my opinion.
LuDookie
ArboristSite Guru
I never had a pair last me more than a few years. Always ended up cutting into something hot and ended up beading them up. That was just from carelessness though but being an electrician in the 80’s was a lot different. Lol
ning
ArboristSite Lurker
I use smaller bolt cutters on high-tensile 9ga wire, it was painful trying to use anything else I had to cut it.
I recently took down a bunch of chain link fence, half of it used some fat aluminum wire for tying up, it felt like playdough compared to steel.
For those cutting fence wire nipping pliers are meant for it.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-7-in-Nipping-Pliers-48-22-6407/206636905
My favorite linesman’s pliers are Craftsman professional series. I don’t think they are still made. When they were, they were made in the USA.
2nd choice are Klein J213-9NE still made and in the USA.
For diagonal cutters, I like the “plain old” black handle Craftsman brand.
I agree with others who think that personal preference matters.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-7-in-Nipping-Pliers-48-22-6407/206636905
My favorite linesman’s pliers are Craftsman professional series. I don’t think they are still made. When they were, they were made in the USA.
2nd choice are Klein J213-9NE still made and in the USA.
For diagonal cutters, I like the “plain old” black handle Craftsman brand.
I agree with others who think that personal preference matters.
Klein - blue handles. Bought in 2009 on advice from master electrician, built my house with them and finished out many basements since then. Just breaking em in.
Aw No
There is no chain link fence here. I work with real fence and tear out old fence.
I will probably buy a pair of Klein and see how long they last. I was leaning toward Knipex but that test showed they damage too easily
What do you guys use to cut old 7200 volt lines put in in the 1940's? My nephew in-law is a lineman so I guess should ask him,,,,,,
The Channellok 349 is a box joint lineman piler. That is the one that should be rated best but it seems dropped off their website. Quite available still. well maybe takes some patience if you want new on ebay or similar.
Depended on the wire Bill - You could cut up to #2 copper with those Klein pliers, bigger than that like 2/0 or 4/0 you had to go to bolt cutters or ratchet wire cutter if you needed a nice clean cut for an automatic splice. The aluminum was all ACSR, which means aluminum conductor steel reinforced - you had to use bolt cutters on it.What do you guys use to cut old 7200 volt lines put in in the 1940's? My nephew in-law is a lineman so I guess should ask him,,,,,,
