r/Tools • u/Hmb42 • 2d ago

Still regularly use these very old... Lineman's pliers, I inherited from my grandpop

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Gallery image

186 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

18 comments sorted by

38

u/Jstpsntym 2d ago

With the old fashioned 1,000 volt insulation.

7

u/bert1589 2d ago

I was literally coming here to say: wow, I have a pair of these. except they’re missing a huge chunk from when I cut a live wire that was supposedly “dead”. I had the same insulation on mine. Keep em in the drawer to remind me to triple check next time…

17

u/vanman1065 2d ago

I have an identical set from Utica tools.

15

u/drphrednuke 2d ago

I lived behind the Kelsey-Hayes factory that made Utica tools while I was growing up. I would hear these loud booms from the drop forge stamping out pliers. All day long. I never owned a Utica tool until recently, after I watched Ballinator on YouTube describe the company. I went on eBay and bought everything I could afford. When I was a kid, it would have been fascinating to see. It’s gone now, like most American tool factories. Sad

8

u/bonemonkey12 2d ago

My old Klein from the 90s still in use... and also wrapped in electrical tape lol

7

u/CopyWeak 2d ago edited 2d ago

A double wrap of quality heat shrink on the handles works pretty good 😉👍

3

u/Fixerguy 2d ago

I second this. More durable than the tape, too.

3

u/subjectiveoddity 2d ago

I was thinking Plasti-Dip but your idea is way better, cheaper too I think. I'm gonna try it on my old pliers.

1

u/idrivehookers 1d ago

New red klein grips were only $8 last time I replaced mine

5

u/saxonprice 2d ago

They (linemen) call these 9’s because they’re 9” long and used on poles to determine where hardware goes.

8

u/joesquatchnow 2d ago edited 2d ago

Gems, hang onto, first alloy tool from Cresent made for the US Army air corps (pre Airforce)

4

u/Billybob_Bojangles2 2d ago

those things will pinch the shit outa you

1

u/BadGirlfriendTOAD 2d ago

How did they get nicknames “Klines”

1

u/workswithpipe 2d ago

Made by Klein

1

u/ImJoogle 2d ago

you can get some replacement handles

2

u/GoblinLoblaw 2d ago

Or just Plasti Dip em

1

u/Bladesnake_______ 1d ago

a little bit of rust removal and plasti-dip the handles and they will be like new

1

u/nak00010101 1d ago

My 70’s linesman pliers still have the red grips, but they are getting pretty brittle. You can still cut nails and 22 gauge stranded.