Electrician Tool Reviews & Buying Guides April 16, 2019 0

Channellock Insulated Pliers

3-minute read

Channellock Insulated Plier Line Rated Up To 1,000 VAC

Designed primarily for electricians and other Pros who need OSHA-compliant and rugged tools for the job site, Channellock Insulated Pliers are on their way to retailers carrying features that help get the job done quickly and safely. Best of all, they’re all be 100% made in the U.S.A.

10-Second Summary

Long nose pliers, diagonal cutters, and combination pliers available
100% Made in the USA
Tested to 10,000 VAC and rated for 1,000 VAC
Complies with IEC 60900-2012, ASTM F1505-16, and NFPA 70E standards
Insulation is impact resistant and flame retardant
Pricing: TBA

What’s the Story with New Channellock Insulated Pliers?

The new Channellock lineup includes an 8″ long nose pliers, 7″ and 8″ diagonal cutters, and 8″ combination pliers. All of these include insulation that is impact resistant and flame retardant. They all also comply with IEC 60900-2012, ASTM F1505-16, and NFPA 70E standards. Channellock has tested each to 10,000 VAC, and they’re rated for 1,000 VAC when working on live parts.

Aside from meeting safety standards for electricians, what else do the new Channellock Insulated Pliers bring to the table?

They all feature high carbon steel with laser heat-treated edges and streamlined designs for precision handling. Aside from the 7″ diagonal cutters, these tools feature XLT Xtreme Leverage technology that requires much less force to cut than traditional high leverage pliers. That basically means they place the rivet where it offers the best leverage.

Finally, all of the Channellock pliers are 100% Made in the U.S.A.

What’s Different?

Channellock insulated pliers are a new line for the brand. Despite being a 1st generation series, they share design concepts that some of the top names in the industry use as well.

It’s not so much that Channellock is doing things vastly different, but it does seem like they’re positioning these tools to go toe-to-toe with anyone else. One of the big keys for tradesmen is the cost and that’s information we don’t have yet.

Interestingly, we caught wind of these back in July of 2018.