Plastic Jawed Pliers for -finished fitings-

[mobiledynamics]

when tightening up a chrome/brass/etc plumbing fitting like a shower neck, what plastic jawed pliers do you guys like. Those strap wrenchs were even more of a PITA

I bought one eon's ago (forgot make) but it did not have much bite to it at all. I recall just wrapping a rag on it, used my adjustables and just used -common sense-

 

[sick467]

I cannot recommend a dedicated plastic jawed plier as I do not own any, but I am happy with a set of smooth jawed channel locks and protective jaw covers. A pack of ten should be break down to less than a dollar a piece...just match them to the pliers and your good for a while.

 

[billwood437]

Always ended up using a piece of bicycle inner tube i has laying around. Good grip and stopped any marring. And free.. [emoji57]

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

 

[rlitman]

I used to wrap my Channellock jaws in electrical tape, or use Cannon plug pliers on round parts.

Lately, I just use my Knipex Plierswrench without anything soft.

 

[mtnkid85]

If you are tightening something with flats then Ill second the plierswrench with its parallel jaws. Otherwise the bicycle inner tube offers good protection and sufficient grip.

 

[mslim]

I got a pair of these from Amazon + the replacement jaws. They seem well made. I use them primarily for attaching speedo cables and clutch and brake cable adjusters on motorcycles.

 

[darkzero]

Often I would just use a piece of heater hose slipped over the jaws.

I bought the vinyl covers for Knipex Cobras recently. Kind of expensive IMO but couldn't find anyone else that makes em. Have them for my old RoboGrips but obviously not available anymore.






They make em for the Knipex Pliers Wrench too, they're even more expensive. They're designed for the newer Pliers Wrench though. They don't fit the old generation which is what I have so I didn't buy any to try. Some say you can modify them to fit though, they just won't snap on.

 

[darkzero]

Also I believe these adjustable wrenches are made for decorative finish plumbing fittings. They're made of aluminum or something non-ferrous. I had no idea, ordered them from Amazon Japan but I believe they sell em here too.

 

[Steve_P]

Plier wrench for hex, knipex cannon plug pliers for round. I also have some of the cobra jaw covers.

 

[M6erfan]

Tsunoda and I.P.S. both make plastic jaw pliers, in several configurations.

 

[macgee]

I have these (Knipex Tools 81 11 250 SBA 10" Pipe and Connector Pliers) and not too impressed at all with them. They did change the soft jaws to better looking ones in this years model but I find these pretty useless unless your trying to collect dust. They would be better without those soft jaws

Like Dark Zero, I also have the disposable rubber cover jaws that I use way more often and find them much better for a variety of uses than the one in the pic. Scored mine cheap on Black Friday. Fathers Day they'll be on sale again.

Don't laugh, but I also use the Knipex disposable soft jaws on a pair of Craftsman Industrial Robogrip pipe pliers and it makes for a good combo otherwise they were going into the give away pile without them.

 

[tarmy]

I have several pairs of soft jaw pliers...they work OK...but in a pinch, wrap duct tape around the fitting several times and gently use a pipe wrench and you can get it done....

 

[darkzero]

Don't laugh, but I also use the Knipex disposable soft jaws on a pair of Craftsman Industrial Robogrip pipe pliers and it makes for a good combo otherwise they were going into the give away pile without them.

No laughing here, I actually did the opposite. I would use the RoboGrip covers on all sorts of pliers. I would even flip them to get double life out of them. The RoboGrip covers were useful to me cause the RoboGrips were flat jaws. The Knipex ones are curved so they have limited uses for me but are great for the Cobras. I wish they made in other sizes too though.

I kept my RoboGrips around just to use with those covers. Wish I had more of them.

Funny how so many of us got suckered into buying RoboGrips back in the day. By today's standards none of us would probably buy em. I was happy with them back then. Haha

 

[ChefRex]

I got a pair of these from Amazon + the replacement jaws. They seem well made. I use them primarily for attaching speedo cables and clutch and brake cable adjusters on motorcycles.

I bought a pair too, been very useful in the motorcycle trade.
Not sure if it's what the OP is looking for though.
Edit, or rereading, maybe it is?

 

[dodge610]

No laughing here, I actually did the opposite. I would use the RoboGrip covers on all sorts of pliers. I would even flip them to get double life out of them. The RoboGrip covers were useful to me cause the RoboGrips were flat jaws. The Knipex ones are curved so they have limited uses for me but are great for the Cobras. I wish they made in other sizes too though.

I kept my RoboGrips around just to use with those covers. Wish I had more of them.

Funny how so many of us got suckered into buying RoboGrips back in the day. By today's standards none of us would probably buy em. I was happy with them back then. Haha

Still have both sets of my robo grip pliers these pliers were just ahead of there time. A lot of guys do not like them i use mine all the time lol

 

[rlitman]

I have these (Knipex Tools 81 11 250 SBA 10" Pipe and Connector Pliers) and not too impressed at all with them. They did change the soft jaws to better looking ones in this years model but I find these pretty useless unless your trying to collect dust. They would be better without those soft jaws...

Cannon plug pliers are designed to turn round knurled fasteners that are just a little too hard to turn by hand.



I don't own the Knipex version, but they look to be heavier duty than the several I do own (SnapOn, and others), and also have both finer and a wider range of adjustment than mine, so looking at that picture, I'd recommend them over what I have (which I like BTW).

Still, no matter how well they're made, they're not designed to turn a chromed pipe into an NPT fitting. That's a job for an internal pipe wrench.

 

[Benito]

Why didn't I know about these? I've just been using a shop towel for this stuff for the last 20 years

 

[SRSemenza]

There is a new version of jaw inserts for the Knipex 81 13 250. The red ones are fairly hard plastic that doesn't always grip well. The new blue / red ones are very good. The blue portion is softer grabby material. They are interchangeable with the old. Wider surface too.

Most internet pics show the old style. The pictures may not have been updated. I think you would need to ask the seller to be sure you are going to get the new style if ordering the pliers since I am sure there are many old style still out there for sale.

Here are some pictures showing and comparing the jaw pads. The link is to the new style pads on amazon.de

https://www.amazon.de/dp/B08KG83MMR/

Seth

 

[Dustball]

How about Plasti-Dipping a pair of pliers?

 

[jimmyin3D]

Tsunoda PLA pliers are good, they have slip joint, needle nose, and water pump pliers.

IPS (Igarashi something) also make them in slip joint and water pump.

I have the IPS waterpump pliers and it comes with two styles of rubber covers, circular and a more angled version. They work great on pipes, faucets and the like where you don’t want scratches. I just picked up the Tsunoda 200mm slip joint non marring pliers, they seem good for smaller items, but probably returning them for the IPS slip joints. Quality seems a little bit better on them.

Also have a pair of needle nose vice grips with tubing on it, problem was that they didn’t always hold onto what I was trying to grab, it’s still good for pinching hoses though.

 

[mobiledynamics]

Thread Brump. I need to test more but a informal test on the Knipex with the supposed better version (red/blue) duromemter, it slips on anything smooth and round, which semi-defeats the purpose/goal of it's intended use.

 

[CGarage]

Also I believe these adjustable wrenches are made for decorative finish plumbing fittings. They're made of aluminum or something non-ferrous. I had no idea, ordered them from Amazon Japan but I believe they sell em here too.

Yes, this bad boy is a life saver.

 

[CGarage]

Igarashi / IPS Japan has plastic jaw options that work really well. I own a few sets in various sizes.

 

[mobiledynamics]

Buyers remorse on the Knipex so I guess I'll just repurpose them for the plastic caps of my coolant tanks....which are utterly tight.

Back to the drawing board. It's just mainly for round finishes in plumbing fixtures

 

[M6erfan]

Buyers remorse on the Knipex so I guess I'll just repurpose them on the plastic caps of my coolant tanks....which are utterly tight.

Back to the drawing board. It's just mainly for round finishes in plumbing fixtures

https://www.amazon.com/IPS-touch-water-pliers-Japan/dp/B001V7DXIC/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[toolmiser]

A nice piece of "shoe leather" works pretty well. I'm scared I will "bite through" an intertube.

 

[KnurledNut]

when tightening up a chrome/brass/etc plumbing fitting like a shower neck, what plastic jawed pliers do you guys like.

For a standard shower arm, just put one of your plier handles inside it and turn.

 

[WWheeler]

I have Kobalt Magnum Grip Pliers for flat sided items and Cannon Plug Pliers for round ones. They don't get used a lot, but are indispensable when I do need them.

 

[Pexto]

I've got a few plastic-jawed pliers.
1) The Uticas I inherited from my dad, they were included in his watch and clock repair tools. They come in handy occasionally, but the rubber is soft so they are only good for low torque.
2) The Plierswrench plastic jaws are hard and durable. They come in handy for plumbing and a lot of other things. I used them just today to straighten a brass strip that was bent and they worked great for that. The plastic jaws are pretty easy to pop on and off as needed. I recommend, based on adverse experience, that you remove them when using the Plierswrench to hold something up to the bench grinder. They do melt pretty easily. That's probably why they come in packages of 3 pair.
3) TheTsunoda (TTC) pliers I've only had for a few months, but I'd say they are keepers. They are inexpensive (like $12 or so) and the plastic is a little softer than the Knipex jaws. So far I've mostly used them on electrical connectors and they do pretty well with that.

 

[Qualitytools]

Still have both sets of my robo grip pliers these pliers were just ahead of there time. A lot of guys do not like them i use mine all the time lol

I have a set of those and their gold grips

 

[KnurledNut]

Not helpful for small plumbing fixtures, but for non-marring of longer pipes with 1”+ Ø, the parmelee wrench looks to be a superior tool.
I have never used one, but would consider paying up for a job where it was crucial.
https://www.mcmaster.com/products/nonmarring-wrenches/
https://parmeleewrench.com/

 

[lardy1]

Tsunoda offers different configurations at a very reasonable price. I have a couple for those infrequent times they come in handy.

 

[neophyte]

Not helpful for small plumbing fixtures, but for non-marring of longer pipes with 1”+ Ø, the parmelee wrench looks to be a superior tool.
I have never used one, but would consider paying up for a job where it was crucial.
https://www.mcmaster.com/products/nonmarring-wrenches/
https://parmeleewrench.com/

Those wrenches cost a fortune.

 

[KnurledNut]

Those wrenches cost a fortune.

Indeed. Thus why I said what I said about paying up.

 

[autobon7]

Proto J253G Proto 9-1/2" Soft Jaw about $30 if I remember (a few years ago).​

 

[Steve_P]

https://www.amazon.com/IPS-touch-water-pliers-Japan/dp/B001V7DXIC/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I have a couple of the IPS with plastic jaws, and they offer basically zero friction on something that's round- they're just hard plastic.

There's no perfect answer for this as if it's too soft, and therefore grippy, it won't last. Sometimes I'll use a thin piece of sheet rubber on something stubborn between the pliers and the tube.

 

[M6erfan]

I have a couple of the IPS with plastic jaws, and they offer basically zero friction on something that's round- they're just hard plastic.

There's no perfect answer for this as if it's too soft, and therefore grippy, it won't last. Sometimes I'll use a thin piece of sheet rubber on something stubborn between the pliers and the tube.

What about a rubber strap wrench?

 

[Nutria]

Proto J253G Proto 9-1/2" Soft Jaw about $30 if I remember (a few years ago).

I have those and use them-- a lot.

 

[mobiledynamics]

So I've got the pressure washer cleaning up the winter grit on the cars

On one of the wand extensions that came from the factory with a QD connect - it did not leak on the 1st 3X I've used it.
Just used it and it looks like a smidge is leaking off the fitting...

Riddle me this. For me to remove the QD connect on this SS extension, I would normally use a set of Cobras and for sure, will need to bite the pipe for proper grip in order to remove/install the fitting on getting it tight. How do they do this in the factory without marring the fitting......

Anyhow, going to have to remove, dope and put it back on. Just reminded me of this thread (the OP and use is more for bathroom fittings) but I can see a use case like this where one doesn't want to be put some bite marks if avoidable on rounded finishes being discussed

 

[dnschmidt]

How do you tell the difference between the "old" and the "new" pliers wrench. I'm trying to figure out which model I've got.