its alot harder than i thought

I've used channel locks once. Now I use the chainbreaker to squeeze the plate at each end half a turn; each end, switching back and forth.

If you mean the side plates, vice grips work pretty well.

If you mean staking the heads of a master link's rivet of a  rivet type chain, then you need a chain rivet tool, nothing else will work properly.

NO Im smart....i got a 'C' clamp and cut off the round part that looks like a school desk foot....and the nub thats left works just like a chain presser...