Southwire has come out with a new selection of USA-made pliers, cutters, wire strippers.
Thank you very much to Eric at @Mechanical-Hub for permission to use his photos. I have some press photos available to me, but I liked theirs better. I should also mention that Mechanical-Hub is one of my favorite Instagram channels to follow. Good stuff there, check ’em out!
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The new USA-made tool line will include 6 SKUs, at least to start:
- Cable Cutters
- Diagonal Cutters
- Crimper
- Side Cutters
- Wire Strippers with Straight Handle (10-20 AWG solid, 12-22 AWG stranded)
- Wire Strippers with Ergo Handle (10-18 AWG solid, 12-20 AWG stranded)
The new Southwire tools feature American-forged steel, induction-hardened blades, and hot-riveted joints.
The handle grips are double-dipped, with a shiny vinyl-like appearance on the outside.
Here’s a closeup of the diagonal cutters.
The 9″ side-cutting pliers features a fish tape puller, reaming head, and crimper.
I haven’t seen these in person yet, but I do have a sample request in with Southwire.
I asked them a question that I know some of you will ask, but I haven’t heard back yet.
Why buy these new USA-made Southwire tools over Klein/Stride/Imperial/Ideal/Channellock, or other popular brands?
I’m guessing that the pricing will be competitive, and it’s good to have another USA-made option at Lowes. Right now, there are some USA-made Ideal tools, but that’s about it in the electrical tool section.
I’m told that these new USA-made Southwire tools will be on shelves alongside the current imported ones.
Pricing information is not available. I was told that pricing can vary based on the distributor, and so we’re going to have to wait until these are available to get an idea as to how competitive they will be with existing USA-made electrical tool options.
The tools are available at some Lowes locations, and will start popping up at other stores soon. They’re not available online yet. I checked, and they’re not yet at any of the Lowes stores near me.
Photos by: @Mechanical-Hub, used with permission.
First Thoughts
This 6-tool lineup might be an experiment, with sales data determining whether Southwire will expand the USA-made tool selection or not.
It’s definitely good to see.
Personally, I’m a little underwhelmed with the launch, but I suppose that’s better than having high expectations that might not be met.
Why buy these tools? Southwire didn’t answer the question when I asked. Maybe they missed the question, or couldn’t answer it immediately. To me, the answer seems to be: “because you might be at Lowes in need of an electrical tool, and prefer USA manufacturing.”
Why choose these over Klein? Stride? Imperial? Ideal? Channellock? All of these brands have USA-made electrical pliers, cutters, and wire strippers, and top-quality ones at that.
I was told that:
These tools were designed in-housed and manufactured by a partner of ours.
And that’s very good to hear. It suggests that they’re not just slapping their colors and branding on tools you can already buy from other brands. Not that doing so would be bad either, if it made certain tools easier to find and buy.
News of USA-made tools from Southwire is definitely worthy of a thumbs-up. Are they worthy of a spot in your tool bag, and a line item in your business expense report? To be frank, I’d lean a lot closer to “yes” than with their imported electrical tools.
I have not handled any of the new Southwire hand tools yet, but I’m hopeful. Knowing that the tools are manufactured by an OEM partner, the tools are all but guaranteed to be good. Or at least, they should be able to meet or exceed the standard of quality I would expect from USA-made cutters, pliers, and wire strippers.
Thank you again to @Mechanical-Hub for permission to use his photos! Eric’s posts are entertaining, informational, and he’s a nice guy in real life.
Michael says
it will be interesting to see these in hand. the pictures are not impressive.
Jerrick says
These look pretty rough.
Brian says
Yeah,the grinding isn’t great and there appears to be a thick lacquer over them.
Yay for USA, but it’s not a quality product. Would have to see what the pricing is like on these….
Brian says
They look like Pro America made…Pro America makes really nice pliers.
fred says
Stuart did a piece on Pro America pliers – if that is indeed the OEM:
https://toolguyd.com/pro-america-pliers/
Whiskey and wood says
I’ve been a bit underwhelmed by my channellock tools, but maybe that’s a good thing, simple tools that work well and don’t do anything fancy?
jec6613 says
I’m quite fond of my channellocks for that reason exactly – they just work, are cost effective, and I never have to question their durability as they never seem to complain no matter what I do to them. These don’t look as nice, but maybe that’s the pre-production or first production run issues that invariably crop up.
ca says
Channellock makes the best fencing pliers. I beat the hell out of them and they work just as well as when they are new.
Russ says
The wire strippers look like a twin of a Klein that I own.
Toolfreak says
Yeah, the two stripping tools look like the same ones sold under a few other brands.
I’m guessing those are made by their “partner” and the wire strippers are just the same ones available elsewhere, “designed” by just having the handle colors match the pliers. Pretty obvious the handle material is different.
It’s good to see Southwire responding to consumer demand, and to have USA-made tools back in Lowe’s.
I’ll be looking to see how these do against Kleins, Channellock, and Knipex.
Tool of the trade says
Lowes doesn’t sell Klein. Knipex is only available online. Southwire isn’t sold at HD. Ideal and channellock are really the only usa made brand Lowes offers in stores. Most of Lowes trade focused electrical tools that are in stores are Southwire(imported). I think it will be a good thing for Lowes as long as they are reasonably priced. And it’s always good to see more usa made brands on shelves, right? More competition makes better prices. Mr. Stuart, is there any news on when craftsman is going to be available in stores or online?
KIF says
These look like something I would buy at Dollar General. Somebody explain why I should feel obligated to buy an inferior product because it has a crooked “USA” stamp on it. This makes this site look line another merchandiser, and a lousy one at that.
Stuart says
You are criticizing the new product line because the branding is crooked? Are you sure they’re not just angled when the handles are opened and the jaws spread apart?
I’m sorry that you’re not happy with our new tool news.
The yeti says
How could anyone be offended by a tool write up. Unreal.
LordByron says
Wow, what a grouch!
I have NWS cutters and Knipex pliers and these do not look nearly as nice as the tools from Germany, but I doubt that these will cost nearly as much.
I also have a pair of pliers from Dollar General and these do not look nearly as bad as those Chinese pliers that literally can’t cut wire (I bought them out of curiosity to see how bad they really could be.).
I am using a solid pair of Ideal crimpers (American Made) that I bought about 25 years ago that I plan on using until I die.
I have liked the pair of imported Southwire pliers that I own and have found them to be very well made.
These Southewire pliers don’t look like “lifetime tools”, I don’t think that I would be ashamed to use these.
I would, however, be ashamed to spew forth like you did.
Anyhow, I need to “Post A KIF” real bad.
I promise to flush and wash my hands afterwards.
Nathan says
I’m intrigued – if nothing else i might by the crimper to try out. I don’t have one so might as well.
Big Rob says
I bought the crimper right after Christmas. It doubles as a cutter, and it snips through 10-12 AWG easily. It’s got some weight to it, but it feels well-balanced and pretty good in my hand. So far, so good. No complaints.
Ken Cambier says
I have been hood-winked by too many manufacturers (USA as well as imported) to just rely on PR. Even so called “good” products Craftsman USA and Xcelite, are just 2 examples. That’s why when it comes to cutters it’s Klein, Knipex, or Gardner Bender. All cutters need a chart like the one that comes with Knipex, giving Cutting Capacity in Medium-Hard, Hard, and Piano Wire at least. Especially piano wire and stainless welding rod. I have a spool of stainless welding rod that has destroyed more cutters than I can remember. Hows about you fellas at ToolGuyD make that a standard for all cutters you review?
Stuart says
What kind of ToolGuyd wire cutting standard would you like to see?
Scott says
These look like the USA made Craftsman products. Probably the same OEM.