When we introduced our improved 9.5” 369 high-leverage linemen’s plier in August, it was a proud moment for us here in Meadville. The 369, a staple of our lineup for years, was improved with an eye towards helping professional electricians, and DIYers, accomplish their jobs with greater ease and speed.

We knew that it was a great product, but we wanted to hear it from the pros. So, we sent samples to members of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) to test for a few months. The results are in:

• 100 percent of the electricians used a competing brand for everyday use prior to getting the sample

• 85.7 percent said the improved 9.5” 369 high-leverage linemen’s plier performed the same or better than the competing brand;

• 85.7 percent said they would recommend the improved plier to other electricians;

• After testing, 64.3 percent said the 9.5” 369 is their linemen’s plier of choice.

Additionally, the electricians said that they were most impressed by the improved 9.5” 369 high-leverage linemen’s plier’s clean cuts. They require minimal effort because we moved the rivet closer to the cutting head, creating greater leverage. A comprehensive evaluation by IMR Test Labs, an independent testing agency, verifies that the improved plier outperforms other professional-grade brands, requiring only 87 pounds per square inch (psi) of pressure to cut through 252,000 psi tensile strength fish tape – a drastic decrease in force required compared to the competition.

NECA members weren’t the only ones to find the improved 369 to be a superior tool. Check out this video of electricians from Atlas Industrial Electric using the plier in action: http://www.youtube.com/channellockblue#p/a/u/0/yCPsLawWR6s.

And, stay tuned to Channellock.com for more information about upcoming products, including an 8” version of the high-leverage linemen’s plier debuting in March.

Michele M. King

Communications & Training Manager

Channellock, Inc.