Klein Tools D213-9NE-CR Lineman's Crimping Pliers, Made in USA, Streamlined High-Leverage Design Made of Induction Hardened Steel, 9-Inch

Klein has always been a well trusted brand. Investing in a pair of lineman’s for your tool box is a solid choice. This style is perfect for softer metals. The crimping notch and tape pulling grip are perfect for snipping and crimping, twisting or pulling, It’s the right tool for the job! I love them.

These are just great pliers...with these you get high quality tool steel that will hold up, a basic rugged design ready for your toughest jobs, and a fine grip added to the handles. They are very comfortable in my hand and they were an excellent addition to my toolbox without completely breaking the bank on Snap-On or Matco tools. The pliers were extremely stiff out of the box, but have loosened up nicely without much trouble.It seems that these days people usually go with one of the three brands for quality pliers: Knipex, Klein, or Channellock...all make excellent pliers, but have their pros and cons that you might want to consider. I've done a little research and it's all boiled down to this:Take note that Klein pliers generally do not have as much rust resistance as the Channellock pliers do. Most Channellock pliers are electronically coated to resist rust, and Klein and many Knipex pliers do not have this useful feature. If you live in somewhere tropical or by the coast where moisture is common, this might be the best option. Because I live in a desert, it's not too much of a concern here. Channellock pliers are also one of the cheaper options, though only by a little.Knipex pliers are made in Germany and have outstanding quality. They, like Channellock and Klein, make tools designed for professionals as well as the serious DIYer. Their tool steel is incredibly strong, and the tempering and hardening process that they use is probably the best there is. I have heard of people who have bent their Knipex tools and how the tempering in the tool causes them to revert to their original shape over time. I don't know of another brand that will do that...though these are one of the most expensive options, and since the company is located in Germany, customer service might be a little more difficult if you end up getting a lemon.Klein's tool steel just seems to hold up better on rougher jobs in comparison to Channellock, like cutting metal screws or cables. Knipex also has comparable quality in their steel, but I find that Channellocks tend to be a little softer in the long run.Channellock pretty much has a plier for everything. If you can imagine a plier, chances are they have it. Very good variety.Both Klein and Channellock pliers are made with fierce pride in the good o'l U.S.A. Nice to see.Knipex has some pretty slick designs in their pliers that I haven't seen with Klein or Channellock.Hope this helps.

The weight is perfecto it cut great. It function great the size is perfecto

When you open the package, you can see the reason the pliers are stiff--notice the black carbon dust that is on the tool. That is because the iron particles become charged during the grinding process and attaches itself to the pliers from static. This grinding dust is also inside the rivet between the halves of the pliers.Firstly, you want to wipe it all off or blow it with air.Then, get some Break Free CLP and apply a liberal amount (dripping is ok) to the following points: both sides of the rivet head, top hinge below the cutters, bottom hinge opposite of that, and to the left and right sides.When it is thoroughly saturated, work the handles open and closed for a good minute in all angles to let gravity bring the CLP oil into the inner workings of the hinge. Then without wiping it, let it sit for a few hours. When you get back to it, work it a few more times and wipe dry. You should have a fully broken in plier where the handles fall free on its own.As far as the pliers go, it's the best plier I own and I like it even more than my Knipex. It is not too big or heavy and I'm a 5'6" 125 lbs size small gloved stick-nerd. An 8" might be more comfortable but then you lose the leverage and length to use as a hammer. Concerning that, it's pretty much only meant for hammering small nails such as NM/Romex staples which it does beautifully and as well as an actual hammer. It has two milled flats on the plier jaws for this specific purpose.The gap on the head is spaced perfectly with cross-hatched teeth on the jaws for grabbing parallel and perpendicularly. The gap on linemans pliers have several purposes--it is so that the cutters still cut flush as it is worn down and sharpened multiple times. Additionally, it is to allow the ability to twist soft copper wires together without too much damage to the wires. Lastly, many electricians use the linemans to strip wire as well, scoring the insulation with soft pressure on the cutters and then pulling the jacket with the plier head.All in all, Kleins are a must have and it's the essence of high quality at an affordable price.

Well made (square, tight jaw). Good balance too.

worked great

I don't understand how people praise this kind of pliers! I'm not american that could be the reason am not used to these type of heavy and large pliers, I mean these aren't even 9" they are 9.5" but oh man these are so hefty and not comfortable to use, also very stiff. I also have KTC Japanese brand 8" pliers and they are lighter, have better grips and insulation rubbers, very smooth and comfortable to use. These Kleins, I can't hold for a long time specially when working above the shoulder level.The build quality seems very fine no doubt, but what is use of pliers when they can't hold pieces smaller than 1mm fact that there is a gap in between the grabbing part? I think I expected too much because of the positive reviews, and I still believe these could be better if:1. They weren't so heavy.2. a little bit shorter, 8" may be.3. handle rubber was fuller, softer and thicker with insulation.4. there wasn't any gap between grabbing part.5. smooth to open and close (like Knipex)by the way, I love "made in USA" tools, with historical background. There is some satisfaction in owning them.

These pliers will last a lifetime.