For my pair of pliers, I went the more fireman budget friendly route and recycled an old pair of pliers my grandpa had in his junkyard. Not only was I able to recycle an old tool and give it new life, but it means something more to me knowing my hero busted his knuckles with these pliers at some point in his life.
Most guys are getting the Channel lock brand because they are known for their durability and stout design. However I believe any pair will work. One word of advice though, and that is to measure your bunker pockets before getting yourself a pair. My set is rather long and I have a tough time fitting them in my pocket.
To make your own pair I would recommend following this step by step walkthrough from the guys at ironsandladders.com
I didnt follow the guide exactly but im quite content with the outcome. Especially considering the pliers themselves wouldnt even open when I first found them. When making mine I ground the tip down until it successfully manipulated the lock on my good friend Dave Werners' Through the lock prop
I finished my pair off with a spiral weave wrap of friction tape to increase grip when breaking the cylinder loose.
For a quick video demonstrating how these pliers are used check out this video from Nick Martin Pliers in use
Having a set of these pliers is a great addition to any set of bunker gear. It allows entry to storefronts with Adams Rite style locks while avoiding breaking large amounts of glass and creating excess ventilation areas. Also for alarms with no key or keyholder present the lock can be locked back and the cylinder screwed back in as a temporary fix.
The pliers when I first found them were so rusted they wouldnt even open. After a liberal soaking in WD-40, a little elbow grease and steel wool, they operate good as new.
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