Knipex needlenose- twisty, mushy, bendy

[Itsjustdirt]

I've bought a LOT of Knipex pliers since joining this site. I admit, I like the way they look, heard the hype on here, and jumped on board with no further research. Anyhow.... I've noticed the following so far

1. They aren't these finely machined pieces of art that people make them out to be. They are nice, surely, but I've had to return a few for being less than perfect (unevenly grinded/shaped), but nothing horrible. For the most part, they appear to be well made tools.

2. The needle-nose pliers are soft. They like to bend, flex, and twist. I have the 160, 180, and 190 length needle-nose with cutters and they are all a little on the flexible side. Is this why people pay for snap-on stuff? Not a huge deal, just not what I expected.

 

[redwrench60]

Knipex needle nose pliers aren’t for heavy duty use. They work great when you need to do fine work but won’t tolerate much twisting, pulling and growling. Think of them like heavy duty tweezers and you’ll be happy. Use Klein, Channellock or Snap-on for the gorilla work. No single plier company has the best of every single type.

 

[woody 73]

Knipex needle nose pliers aren’t for heavy duty use. They work great when you need to do fine work but won’t tolerate much twisting, pulling and growling. Think of them like heavy duty tweezers and you’ll be happy. Use Klein, Channellock or Snap-on for the gorilla work. No single plier company has the best of every single type.

^ This but then having heard some posters not liking the brand new channellock pliers, I would go with that snap on needle nose pliers.

 

[Dimitriy]

Knipex needlenose pliers are not meant for mechanics. I own a couple of long reach and they're built well and good for electrical or other delicate tasks.

For heavier tasks, snap on needle and duckbill pliers are hard to beat, plus the talon grips provide superior comfort when cranking down on your work.

 

[chrisnazzy]

Snap-on needle nose pliers will stand up to just about anything you can envision using a needle nose plier for. Of course they will replace them if the joint ever becomes loose but I've never had that happen and a couple of mine are approaching 20 years old.

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

 

[Spacey_G]

I haven't had any issues with my Knipex needle nose, but I may not be asking as much of them. When I really need to twist or pull or grip hard, I go for the duckbills.

 

[PugetDude]

I drank the Knipex Kool-Aid a couple of years ago. Never again. Their needle-nose pliers are a joke, apparently made out of a semi-metallic cheese-like substance.

 

[JBH]

Klein needlenose are more of a stretched combi than a real needlenose. They may be more suitable for your needs.

 

[woody 73]

I found this article that might interest the op:

https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-needle-nose-pliers/

 

[Itsjustdirt]

I found this article that might interest the op:

https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-needle-nose-pliers/

THIS is the reason I'm on this damn forum so often. Useful, helpful, knowledgeable people! THANKS! Just ordered some Kleins

 

[rlitman]

Knipex needle nose pliers aren’t for heavy duty use. They work great when you need to do fine work but won’t tolerate much twisting, pulling and growling. Think of them like heavy duty tweezers and you’ll be happy. Use Klein, Channellock or Snap-on for the gorilla work. No single plier company has the best of every single type.

Very true. A friend was complaining to me about how flexible the jaws were on his fine tip needle nose pliers, and that he could hardly get any clamping force on them. I explained that with such pliers, I've had the best luck bending them inwards on a gentle parabolic path, such that the tips meet first, and as you keep squeezing the handles, the rest of the jaws slowly come together. The net effect is the same as you get with the shape of watchmaker's tweezers.

To bend them to this shape I'll stick a nickel (or two dimes if I need a little more bending) all the way in the throat of the jaws. Then close the handle, and use other pliers to force the tips together.

 

[Sal Bandini]

Knipex needlenose pliers are not meant for mechanics. I own a couple of long reach and they're built well and good for electrical or other delicate tasks.

For heavier tasks, snap on needle and duckbill pliers are hard to beat, plus the talon grips provide superior comfort when cranking down on your work.

Knipex makes mechanics needlenose. Check out 38 11 200 for example. I own those and they are not for delicate tasks.

People complaining about the Knipex needlenose are using the wrong ones for the task.

 

[JBH]

THIS is the reason I'm on this damn forum so often. Useful, helpful, knowledgeable people! THANKS! Just ordered some Kleins

One thing to note is that the Klein needlenoses, like traditional German combis, have a box joint. Knipex, NWS, and the like mostly make lap joint needlenose pliers. Exception: Knipex’s Orbis line and their long-reach needlenoses that appear to use the Orbis jaws are box joint.

Box joints usually have a smaller opening angle. Here’s a picture I posted in the Old World thread comparing the opening angle of a box joint (Will - Knipex subsidiary) and a lap joint (VBW - Stahlwille subsidiary).

I can do the same for Klein and Knipex, as I have both. In practice I have never found the smaller range of motion to be a problem. My most used needlenoses are Orbis EvoTel with box joint.


If the jaw is an issue, VBW (easier to get here branded Stahlwille) make a lap joint needlenose that seems to be a little more rigid than Knipex’s.

 

[woody 73]

Knipex makes mechanics needlenose. Check out 38 11 200 for example. I own those and they are not for delicate tasks.

People complaining about the Knipex needlenose are using the wrong ones for the task.

Very interesting it does indeed look like the right plier for mechanics work.

http://www.crawfordtool.com/knipex_3811200.html

 

[bwringer]

People complaining about the Knipex needlenose are using the wrong ones for the task.

Yep.

Menards has a nice selection of Knipex stuff, but the needle nose plier models they stock are very slim and obviously delicate. It's pretty obvious you wouldn't be able to put much twist on things with them. They seem more like jeweler's tools than something you'd use to grab hose clamps or 12 gauge wire.

The model you mentioned is more appropriate for the stuff you really need to reef on.


Peronally, I hate bulky overmolded handles. I much prefer the slim, minimal layer of vinyl found on Knipex, some Channel-Lock, etc.

 

[Davefr]

Knipex needle nose pliers are total garbage. Knipex makes some excellent products but needle nose pliers aren't one of them and are an embarresment.

The damn things won't even grip a tiny wire because the cutters close before the jaws:

These are brand new pliers!!

Knipex still uses the primitive straight serration pattern that only grips in one direction. Meanwhile Klein used opposite diagonals and SO uses talon grip. The later two are far superior for gripping at any angle.

Even for tiny delicate work, I prefer to use the hunkier SO Talon Grips. The beveled jaw tips allow access into some tight spaces and the grip is superior. They're solid as a rock with no slop.

 

[sweet victory]

Knipex makes mechanics needlenose. Check out 38 11 200 for example. I own those and they are not for delicate tasks.

People complaining about the Knipex needlenose are using the wrong ones for the task.

Agreed 100%. Knipex does not make generic pliers; their products are application specific.

OP is probably using snipe nose pliers, which Knipex states are elastic tips.

You want the mechanic's pliers.

/Thread

 

[sreeb]

If I need to abuse long nose pliers, I use these:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0001IW518/?tag=atomicindus08-20

If I mangle them, I'll shed no tears and just buy another pair. But they are surprisingly durable.

 

[jsmeece]

I have really good luck with the USA made Craftsman models, now sadly made in China. When the local Sears was clearing them out late last year, I think I bought ten pair, ranging from slip-joint pliers, needle nose, and some duckbills. Most were less than $8 a piece.

The Craftsman models will likely not work for a pro, but for home use, hard to beat for $8 a pair.

I do not own any Knipex, so I cannot comment on them.
I do own one pair of Snap-on 6 inch slip-joint pliers, which I have had over 30 years, great pliers, but I cannot see paying Snap-on prices for home especially at today's Snap-on prices.

 

[ovilla]

I bought a new set of Knipex needle nose pliers and bent them simply by trying to remove a cotter pin - during their FIRST and only use by me.

Note that the cotter pin had already been straightened out with another tool. Simply grabbing on to the cotter pin and pulling/twisting a bit was enough to permanently bend the tip and make the tool useless after that. I ended up giving them to my daughter for light craft work.

 

[Sal Bandini]

It would be useful instead of just saying the pliers bent to actually list which model you were using.

 

[Spacey_G]

I have the 38 11 200 mechanics needle nose and I was under the impression they were identical to the 26 11 200 except with no cutter and cross-hatching instead of straight serrations. The dimensions are the same, but are they tempered differently? How else would they be less prone to bending?

 

[Sal Bandini]

I have the 38 11 200 mechanics needle nose and I was under the impression they were identical to the 26 11 200 except with no cutter and cross-hatching instead of straight serrations. The dimensions are the same, but are they tempered differently? How else would they be less prone to bending?

See post #18 and also read the descriptions of the two.

 

[Spacey_G]

See post #18 and also read the descriptions of the two.

It's not clear whether those descriptions suggest an actual difference in heat treating or if the marketing folks just wrote different descriptions for different target customers.

That would be neat if the 38 series actually are heat treated differently, and it would be consistent with my experience.

 

[cheechi]

so like many here i have many many pliers. a job the knipex are ideal to use isnt a job thr snap on are ideal and vice versa. the knipex are for much finer work even while not being 'precision' sized basicaly what they are. for a good medium klein are best folowed by channellock and similar.

i really like the knipex for bending & twisting 12-14ga replacing outlets and switches in boxes since space is tighter and they are long and narrow, but for new ones the klein is better if you have more room to work.

i dont like the knipex for automotive work at sll.

 

[Wamsutta]

I drank the Knipex Kool-Aid a couple of years ago. Never again. Their needle-nose pliers are a joke, apparently made out of a semi-metallic cheese-like substance.

OK ... That's funny right there.

 

[L.Cheapo]

OK ... That's funny right there.

x2.

I tried the Knipex stuff after seeing how many people here liked them. I'd call them "meh". They aren't particularly bad or good, just meh.

My next pliers will be Snap On. I've held them in my hand, and they're nice. Really nice.

 

[Itsjustdirt]

Thanks for all the great replies!

YES, I was using the side cut versions! I just ordered the mechanics version listed above and will see how they compare to the kleins I just ordered as well. Thanks!

 

[plinker]

The 6" Snap-on talon grip needle nose are worth the premium they charge. Very strong pliers.

 

[davethorik]

One thing to note is that the Klein needlenoses, like traditional German combis, have a box joint. Knipex, NWS, and the like mostly make lap joint needlenose pliers. Exception: Knipex’s Orbis line and their long-reach needlenoses that appear to use the Orbis jaws are box joint.

Box joints usually have a smaller opening angle. Here’s a picture I posted in the Old World thread comparing the opening angle of a box joint (Will - Knipex subsidiary) and a lap joint (VBW - Stahlwille subsidiary).

I can do the same for Klein and Knipex, as I have both. In practice I have never found the smaller range of motion to be a problem. My most used needlenoses are Orbis EvoTel with box joint.


If the jaw is an issue, VBW (easier to get here branded Stahlwille) make a lap joint needlenose that seems to be a little more rigid than Knipex’s.

I don't know if you are referring to older Klein's or what but their common needle nose are not box joint. At least the 3 I have, are lap joint. D203-7, D203-8, and D302-6. That last pair (6" bent needle nose w/o cutter) I bought used and are older, stamped, the others laser etched I have bought new past 2 years.

Knipex Cobras are box joint.

All 3 of my Kleins are excellent and I prefer them to Channellock. Prices are not much more, either. Have never tried Knipex after reading here theirs aren't good. I do have a pair of Irwin-NWS ErgoMulti and they are very good, as well.

 

[JBH]

Here's an illustration specifically of the difference in jaw opening angle caused by the box vs. lap joint between Klein and Knipex. I thought I had straight 200mm Knipex needlenoses in my junk/lending drawer with the Kleins, but they must've walked away. So I pulled the bent nose Knipex equivalent out of my pliers drawer.

The Klein opens just as much as my most-used needlenose pliers, the angled-jaw Orbis EvoTel.

Speaking of which, it seems that Amazon has had a bunch of Orbis deals lately. If you can grab a pair of EvoTels, I highly recommend them. The angled jaw makes them more comfortable to use, they are very sturdy, and the three wire-pulling grooves are so useful I'm surprised more Knipex pliers don't have them.

In use I'm not sure the extra wide jaw opening is useful, but it is a difference. Maybe it helps if you're cutting thick wire? I don't think I've ever used needlenose pliers to cut anything. That's what side-cutters and cable shears are for.

 

[davethorik]

I think this is a case of 6 one way, half dozen the other way.

I know box joints where one jaw goes thru a slot in other jaw at joint. Like Knipex Cobra example.

 

[SRSemenza]

Really depends on the model of pliers, what they are being used for etc. I have a mix of Knipex (needle nose and others), Snap On (8" needle nose plus others) , and Channellock. It's all about picking the right one for the job.

Knipex makes quite a few different long nose and needle nose. And several different serrations. I have Knipex needle nose with cross hatch not straight serrations.

Seth

 

[redwrench60]

Klein makes some really good long nose pliers. Beefy and comfortable to use for all occasions. I also really like the modern Snap-on long and extra long nose pliers. The flat beam type construction of the handles makes them rock solid during abusive use. You really have to try them to understand. Truly one of Snap-on's best offerings.

 

[SRSemenza]

Some pics and a little more info.

Knipex 29 25 160 6 1/2" straight

Knipex 38 25 200 8" Bent

SO 97cf

Probably the Knipex are available with or without chrome, with regular or comfort grips. Most / many of their pliers have this choice available.

The tips on my Knipex close perfectly. I wonder if the tips on the versions with cutters don't quite touch to ensure that the cutters do touch?

The Knipex multi component (comfort style) grips are about the same dimensions as the Snap On comfort grips.


Seth

 

[ItsNemo]

I've had the run of the mill channellock 317 needle nose for the longest time...even they have weak jaws and I've actually gotten to the point where I needed to bend them back in the vice a time or two.

A little while ago I got Gearwrench Pivot Force needle nose pliers...these things are the beats of gripping stuff and you can squeeze as hard as you would ever want on them. They do need a wider handle opening for the same amount of jaw opening as normal pliers and the joints aren't as buttery smooth as Channellocks, but at least they're solid.

 

[cheechi]

the joints aren't as buttery smooth as Channellocks, but at least they're solid.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DM8JK2G/?tag=atomicindus08-20

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GC54OC2/?tag=atomicindus08-20

take your pick.

 

[ItsNemo]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DM8JK2G/?tag=atomicindus08-20

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GC54OC2/?tag=atomicindus08-20

take your pick.

Yeah, I already oiled mine up...made quite a difference but out of the box they are stiff.

 

[BMack37]

Knipex makes mechanics needlenose. Check out 38 11 200 for example. I own those and they are not for delicate tasks.

People complaining about the Knipex needlenose are using the wrong ones for the task.

This is where this thread should have stopped. All these experts on this forum and only a few people will read a tool's description. Somehow they think Knipex makes soo many variations for the hell of it, read the damn catalog...it's posted on several sites.

 

[zktk01]

Even for tiny delicate work, I prefer to use the hunkier SO Talon Grips. The beveled jaw tips allow access into some tight spaces and the grip is superior. They're solid as a rock with no slop.

I usually use Utica, and Klien, but I had a pair of Snap on that had the bevel jaw allowed me to access something I was trying with many other pairs. I have been a Snap on pliers fan since. I now have picked up about 4 pair on ebay in various lengths.