KNIPEX PLIERS - Cobra OR Alligator?
- Thread starter ssentt
- Start date
Firestarter Fred
Well-known member
Cobra, easier to use, 1 hand operation at times.
COBRA's all the way, I personally love the spring loaded locking button on the side. They are both lightweigh,t and have tremendous gripping power due to their semi circular jaws. I picked up a couple of sizes in the alligator series and only one in the cobra series(last one left) when Lowes had their clearance sale. I wish I was able to buy more of the cobra in different sizes. Either way you go, I'm sure your son will be very happy come Christmas!!! Merry Christmas to you and your family!
scaron
Well-known member
cobras for sure!! they have a unique feature in the pushbutton and they are super smooth. i am personally not a big fan of alligators at all, to me they are really just more a standard pump plier, nothing new, and if you're going for that, channellock is hard to beat. i prefer the joint mechanism of the channellock to that of the knipex alligators.
allinon72
Well-known member
I have both, Cobra
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Alligators. Slightly thicker jaws, no buttons to push, stronger, meaner, tougher, last forever.
redwrench60
Well-known member
Cobra. More adjustments and once you set them they stay set. Good for repetitive work.
Midnight_America
Well-known member
I have both and don't even use the Alligators anymore...Cobra's all the way, for all the reasons already listed by others!
allinon72
Well-known member
Alligators. Slightly thicker jaws, no buttons to push, stronger, meaner, tougher, last forever.
Excellent, I was hoping we'd have at least 1 dissenter
byoungblood
Well-known member
I have both, definitely Cobra. Alligators are in a spare toolbox.
parnass
Well-known member
The 5 inch (125 mm) Knipex Cobra pliers (87 01 125) are excellent and small enough to fit in a pocket or small belt sheath.
Syntax_Error
Well-known member
I Also have the alligators and personally love them. I tried the cobra but took them back when they just wouldn't cooperate while working on a roman tub. The alligators were my go to choice because I use them for a wide array of applications not just automotive. If I was a full time mechanic I definitely would have kept the cobras. Either one you choose will serve you well for a life time. Knipex is the best plier I have ever used. I have yet to come to a fastener that it will fit on that it cant remove.
I'm curious if in tight confined areas the adjustment button gets pushed accidently on the cobra causing adjustment to slip. Any set I get for my son will be used in a tech aspect at a dealership....possibly in tight quarters at some point.
rshadd
Well-known member
It's no contest, the Cobras are superior because of ease of use.
Save yourself some dough and get the Craftsman branded Cobras. They're still made by Knipex but you get the convenience of the Craftsman warranty at a better price.
Save yourself some dough and get the Craftsman branded Cobras. They're still made by Knipex but you get the convenience of the Craftsman warranty at a better price.
spooled180
Member
- Joined
- Nov 4, 2013
- Messages
- 12
It's no contest, the Cobras are superior because of ease of use.
Save yourself some dough and get the Craftsman branded Cobras. They're still made by Knipex but you get the convenience of the Craftsman warranty at a better price.
This is what I did. Save money on re-branded knipex. Cobras are great in every way.
What good is the Craftsman warranty on a rebadged product?
I guess they could give you a store credit when/if they break and they no longer carry them.
I also debated the Cobra or Alligator pliers and ended up with the Plierswrench. The Plierswrench (due to the unique lever design) allows much more force to be applied. I can use it as a pliers, a wrench and it does not mark soft surfaces that I frequently turn/adjust. I also really like the MultiGrip handles. I just wish that Cobra or Plierswrench could be converted for left-hand operation.
Mrmanface3
Active member
Get the Cobras. I bought Alligators, which are still great, but I wish I had gotten the Cobras instead.
tjmonsen5
Well-known member
I love the alligator. The are the meanest pliers around, I would just buy whatever is cheaper. They both have the same jaws. These pliers seriously almost grip as hard as a pipe wrench on round pipes.
I don't see the 12" at sears, only the 7" & 10". My closest sears is 30 and 35miles away and the 35mile away one is set to be closed, and the other store....well who knows when/if they'll close that one. So I'll stick with knipex which is sold at my local farm store and has them on sale right now. I can get the 7", 10", & 12" cobras for $93.84 out the door. The sears set (7 & 10" ) is $46 plus shipping or gas to get there and knipex locally is $51 for the same sizes....I'd spend more than $5 on the gas to get there or the shipping.
Anyone know what the warranty is for the coating on the handles for the knipex? I've had ****** fluid make channel lock handles come loose before, so wondering on that.
Anyone know what the warranty is for the coating on the handles for the knipex? I've had ****** fluid make channel lock handles come loose before, so wondering on that.
steveo3002
Well-known member
cobra , plierswrench would be a great gift too
I know there's a time difference in England to Iowa but this question was asked in 2013
giants
Banned
I can't find the Sears versions. Anyone have part numbers handy for the various sizes (8", 10", 12")?
Thanks
Thanks
6 years and 2 days? Sounds right.
LB-1911
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Sears
Item # 00945433000P Model # 45433
Knipex Pliers @
https://www.mobiledistributorsupply.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=Knipex+Alligator
https://www.mobiledistributorsupply.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=Knipex+cobra
steveo3002
Well-known member
strange it was up there with the active topics
Empty Pockets
Well-known member
I have alligator, cobra and plierswrench. All are great tools but I'd take conras over alligator just based on ease of use
Sent from my SM-J727V using The Garage Journal mobile app
Sent from my SM-J727V using The Garage Journal mobile app
bob from indiana
Well-known member
I have both but like the alligator best. They are simple and rugged. The 7 inch is my favorite.
giants
Banned
Thanks. What is it about the Cobras that you like better over the Alligators?
I find the button on Cobras to be a bit finickity but the comparatively fine adjustment compared to Alligators can be an advantage depending on the size of the object you are gripping. The advantage of the finer adjustment is that you can keep the handles closer together which makes gripping them easier.
Pics show Cobra compared to VBW (Alligator Style).
The other advantage of Cobra pliers is that when you set them they stay set so if you keeping putting them down and then reusing them you don't need to keep readjusting them. I didn't keep the VBW pliers but use Channellocks regularly and find that every time I put them down they flop open and need to be adjusted every time I pick them up again.
Pics show Cobra compared to VBW (Alligator Style).
The other advantage of Cobra pliers is that when you set them they stay set so if you keeping putting them down and then reusing them you don't need to keep readjusting them. I didn't keep the VBW pliers but use Channellocks regularly and find that every time I put them down they flop open and need to be adjusted every time I pick them up again.
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