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If you could only buy 6 Knipex tools, which would you choose?

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bmwpowere36m3

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No reason not too... but as far as "great" Knipex products, the Cobras and Pliers Wrench are resounding favorites.

I have Snap-On and Proto needle-nose, combo and circlip pliers.
 

FigureItOut

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I'll second the pliers wrench and add mini bolt cutters to the list. I have the offset version, love them.

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tonyciambrone

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I think knipex needle nose are among their worst products. I like channelock's. I tried NWS too but don't think the teeth hold up well enough

The pliers wrenches, cobras, 10" hi-leverage diagonal cutters (any of their diagonal cutters) and american style strippers are my favorite so far.
 

rlitman

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I think knipex needle nose are among their worst products...

If you want to be impressed by needle nose pliers, check out Snap On's offerings.

Back to Knipex, I've got the following:
Insulated linesman pliers: I highly recommend these!
Pliers wrench in 5", 6", 7", 10" and 12" (actually the metric equivalents of those sizes). The 5" is so small it looks like a toy, but the thin jaws are actually useful for places where wider jaws don't fit.
 

Olafur

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If you have to deal with retaining rings.
45 21 200
KN4521200_600.gif


Retaining-Ring-Applications.jpg


Here is another version of their retaining ring pliers, also quite good.
images



And if you do any electrical work - get this one.
# 9511165A
2030244


Fantastic cutters that double as wire strippers. Every (yes every one of them) electrician around here carries one. They are also great for cutting cable ties. My side cutter use dropped 95%+ after I got this type of pliers, others make them too, One example "Bost" in France, just as good.
 
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ishiboo

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Oshkosh, WI
Pliers wrench, mini bolt cutter, cobra are a must have.

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This. The pliers wrench and mini bolt cutter with notch are two tools that have not really been duplicated to any level of equivalence by any other major manufacturer.
 

Qualitytools

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I can't think of 6 BUT...here is what i have and LOVE!

12" Plier Wrench
12" Cobra
Mini Bolt Cutters.

I would Love a set of inner and outer C clamp removals.
 

bobcatdan

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Plierwrench and the 22" king cobra. The rest hasn't really excited me. I don't know if I even own six knipex products. I think four, the side cutter ***** and the cobra based hose clamp pliers slightly less *****.
 
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Fedwrench

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I would get their smallest set of Cobras/alligators. They're quite handy.
I might be in the minority here but, I really like their needle nose pliers, hose grip pliers, dykes, hose clamp pliers, & their offset bent nose pliers. In fact, I really can't think of a pair of Knipex pliers I don't like.:thumbup:
 

Claluja

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Mini bolt cutters with the notch to hold the bolt when cutting it. They are great.
 

kctyphoon

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I carry the Knipex 8" diagonals, 10" alligators, lineman pliers, and mini bolt cutters on my belt at work. I wouldn't replace them with anything, and I've bought and tried most popular brands.
 
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I am a first time home owner and only occasional car maintenance/repair. I do dream of buying a used BMW 2002 and restore it. If I can only have one pliers wrench, should I get the 10 or 7 1/4? My brain says 7 1/4 but my heart is screaming 10. These things are pricy but the fiscal conservative in me is holding me back from buying both since I have a new born to save for.

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bmwpowere36m3

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I am a first time home owner and only occasional car maintenance/repair. I do dream of buying a used BMW 2002 and restore it. If I can only have one pliers wrench, should I get the 10 or 7 1/4? My brain says 7 1/4 but my heart is screaming 10. These things are pricy but the fiscal conservative in me is holding me back from buying both since I have a new born to save for.

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If you think these pliers are expense... get back to us once you start restoring that car :lol_hitti

Hope to got some more tools that just a pliers wrench. I'd start with the 10", more versatile.
 

bmwpowere36m3

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^Dream Killer:lol_hitti
Indeed a few Euro car parts will def. dwarf total tool costs.

Not just euro... any car. Their money pits, plain and simple. You'll never recoup your money and/or time. I do it for personal satisfaction, interest, hobby.
 

kctyphoon

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I am a first time home owner and only occasional car maintenance/repair. I do dream of buying a used BMW 2002 and restore it. If I can only have one pliers wrench, should I get the 10 or 7 1/4? My brain says 7 1/4 but my heart is screaming 10. These things are pricy but the fiscal conservative in me is holding me back from buying both since I have a new born to save for.

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I see channellock in your future. For the money it's a good buy. Their diagonals aren't the best but everything else is pretty decent. A lot of pro's use em exclusively, I have a bunch of em for home and they work just fine.
 

FMC1959

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I got these and they were fantastic, I bought 2nd pair
https://www.amazon.com/product-revi...gh Leverage Diagonal Cutters&showViewpoints=1

I have many cobras and alligators. The 22" I do not use as often, but when you need them, they are great. I use the smaller 6" Cobras much more than I thought I would; after a 10", I would recommend a 5 or 6 inch as the next most used. My number one go to's are these self adjusting ones
http://www.knipex.com/index.php?id=1216&L=1&page=group_detail&parentID=1368&groupID=1499

I have a pair of Wihas similar to the above Knipex, they are nice but the self adjusting action on the Knipex is better.

If you look at this Knipex page on Cobras & similar models, models that only come in one size, always 10".
http://www.knipex.com/index.php?id=1216&L=1&page=groups&parentID=1298&groupID=1368
For most people, if you get one size, 10 should work best, then the second size I find useful are minis like 5&6...only an inch bigger, but 7 are less useful to me.
 

FMC1959

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I see channellock in your future. For the money it's a good buy. Their diagonals aren't the best but everything else is pretty decent. A lot of pro's use em exclusively, I have a bunch of em for home and they work just fine.

I agree on the Channelocks great for much less. I think right now there is an Amazon special on the NWS rebadged Irwins, also great. Knipex are great, but don't sell your soul on them, many other top notch pliers out there.

I always found this 9 pc NWS to be a great value with 2 different high leverage cutters, they even have free shipping now http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?p=71977&cat=1,43456,43400,71969
 

FMC1959

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I am a first time home owner and only occasional car maintenance/repair. I do dream of buying a used BMW 2002 and restore it. If I can only have one pliers wrench, should I get the 10 or 7 1/4? My brain says 7 1/4 but my heart is screaming 10. These things are pricy but the fiscal conservative in me is holding me back from buying both since I have a new born to save for.

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Definitely 10", then personally I find the 5" would serve you better than the 7"s.
 

kctyphoon

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I agree on the Channelocks great for much less. I think right now there is an Amazon special on the NWS rebadged Irwins, also great. Knipex are great, but don't sell your soul on them, many other top notch pliers out there.

I always found this 9 pc NWS to be a great value with 2 different high leverage cutters, they even have free shipping now http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?p=71977&cat=1,43456,43400,71969
I have the rebranded NWS fantastico cutters - I feel like they are only good if you have a specific need to cut something really hard, that's really thin.. your hands need to do so much more moving to cut general items, and most require two cuts anyway since the jaws don't open very wide, and you need to reposition the item deeper into the jaw to finish the cut.. I much rather use the standard high leverage knipex over the fantastico cutters. But that's just me.

I'd like to get the regular NWS cutters, pump pliers, and lineman pliers with the thin grips to play with. It's the only brand I wanted that I didn't just go out and buy.. hard to keep spending money on the same 3 tools over and over again just to compare them all.
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Kiwi Canuck

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Dec 13, 2014
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Langley BC
I just bought a few Knipex products from Home Depot Canada online.

https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/se...rodcat?q=knipex:relevance#!q=knipex:relevance

10" Plier Wrench 86 03 250 SBA for $54.98 CND shipping extra.
10" Plier Wrench 86 03 250 for $115.98 CND with free shipping
My choice was shipping extra or free shipping, I chose shipping extra.

Also the 10" Cobra Pliers are $39.98 CND which seems like a good deal.

https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.10-inch-cobra-pliers.1001001415.html


Also got the 7 1/4" Plier Wrench as well.

https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/se...rodcat?q=knipex:relevance#!q=knipex:relevance

I got a set of revolving hole punch pliers, very good quality and the anvil and cutter line up perfectly on all the sizes.
https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.revolving-punch-pliers.1000683068.html
 

bobcatdan

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How so? These have been on my list.

The little pads on the jaw are too small and look to be made to fit wire style clamps instead of flat ones. I don't care for the adjustment, can take several guesses to find the right one and if the lock button isn't perfectly seated, it slips threw the sizes. My simple as dirt blue point clamp pliers is so much better.
 

winlinmac

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I have yet to come across a Knipex needle nose plier that aligns perfectly. Even their S-shaped plier doesn't align, the gap is quite visible. Whereas the Channellock Needle Nose pliers are probably the closest I'll get to perfect alignment at a budget price.

I would get their smallest set of Cobras/alligators. They're quite handy.
I might be in the minority here but, I really like their needle nose pliers, hose grip pliers, dykes, hose clamp pliers, & their offset bent nose pliers. In fact, I really can't think of a pair of Knipex pliers I don't like.:thumbup:
 
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Adam.C

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Jan 29, 2013
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Easy answer for me:
2 Cobras
Pliers wrench
Snap ring plier set
Auto wire stripper
 

winlinmac

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Its been getting pretty difficult to get quality Klein pliers lately. A lot of them are being made overseas lately and getting pricey at the same time. Has the quality dipped? :dunno:

It pretty much Knipex and Channellocks in my books.

Made it this far with Channelock and some Klein pliers.
 
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