Klien Needle Nose Pliers

[BolognaBlake]

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but I need needle new needle nose pliers. The Knipex I ordered to replace my Chinesium ones aren't any better. I haven't been impressed with current Channel Lock. I don't have access to tool truck with the exception of Snap-On, but I'm not willing to pay the Snap-On tax.

There's a 20% off coupon code for Klien at Home Depot currently, so I'm thinking of taking advantage of it.

Thanks!

 

[Rabid Badger]

Nothing wrong with Klein. The D203-8 is nice and strong.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Klein-Tools-8-in-Heavy-Duty-Long-Nose-Side-Cutting-Pliers-D203-8/100647939

 

[measuredtwice]

Klein makes good pliers. 20% off is a good deal. Channellock is good also. You didn't mention your intended use for the pliers, whether you want a side cutter or not, or what the problem was with the Knipex pliers... but here are a few differences...

Klein side cutters are dual blade cutters whereas Channellock are knife and anvil style. Both styles have pros and cons.

Klein sererations are angled whereas Channellock serrations are cross hatched

Klein has blackened and bare steel finish whereas the bare steel on Channellock is varnished to inhibit rust.

 

[Paul_The_Builder]

The knipex needle nose pliers are built very differently from the US needle nose pliers (Klein et al). They're much thinner and more flexible, designed for more precision type stuff and not as big and heavy duty. Knipex advertises the tips as being flexible for maximum grip.

The Klein needle nose pliers are very nice, obviously. If I were in the market for USA made needle nose, I would probably go for Channellock E318s. I like the crosshatched grips and the universal style round jaws.

 

[JBH]

If you’re looking for something meatier than Knipex - a needlenose/combi tweeter - Klein is very good. If you don’t want comfort grips consider Tsunoda as well. Less expensive and at least as good as Klein.

 

[Ton ton]

Just make sure you spell Klein properly.

 

[ForrestT]

Klein D203-7. My favorite needle nose pliers ever. Highly recommend.


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[KnurledNut]

The knipex needle nose pliers are built very differently from the US needle nose pliers (Klein et al). They're much thinner and more flexible, designed for more precision type stuff and not as big and heavy duty. Knipex advertises the tips as being flexible for maximum grip.

The Klein needle nose pliers are very nice, obviously. If I were in the market for USA made needle nose, I would probably go for Channellock E318s. I like the crosshatched grips and the universal style round jaws.

Thanks for addressing this.
Knipex gets hate here for their long nose pliers because they are expected to perform as heavy duty pliers, when in fact they were never designed as such.
These pliers work amazingly well and are top performers for their intended use.
It seems the flaming is actually user ignorance.
I use SO, Klein, and Knipex. They all excel in their own ways.

I think the OP would be well satisfied with Klein. As mentioned, the D203s are bulletproof.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

If I’m buying, I’m buying Klein

 

[kngelv]

I love Klein but am not a fan of their needle nose. I broke half of one jaw off holding a 10mm bolt head in place on my truck. Mind you - I was just holding the head while hand threading a nut so I was barely squeezing it at all.

James

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

James did you try for warranty. Never had a warranty problem with needle nose. I have clipped many a copper wire with side cutters. If you drop them often enough sooner or later you might fracture the jaw area. Then one day it will simply break. I’ve probably warranted 3 or 4 side cutters. Maybe the same has happened to your pliers.
Next time on those nasty 10mm use your lineman pliers.

 

[measuredtwice]

Since the OP mentioned Snap-On was out of budget, I'll mention that the discontinued Channellock slipjoints have aggressive teeth and might be considered as a poor man's Talon Grip. The 10" Channellock 5410 is very strong and will give you some good reach. It won't have a fine point like a needle nose so the suitability will depend on the use and that was undisclosed.

5410, 548, 546, 537, and 516. I don't have the 537.

Here's a comparison of the 546/8/10. The 546 and 548 are very similar except for the handle length.

The 546 and 516 are similar except the 516 is narrower.

 

[qqzj]

Why not try harbor freight Doyle? Should work just fine.

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[Davefr]

Klein are excellent needle nose pliers and they have a good selection of styles. You won't go wrong. They're just a notch below SO and Swanstrom IMHO and a much better choice then Knipex.

Their opposing diagonal serration pattern provides an excellent grip at all angles.

 

[Avenging Bankroll]

nothing

 

[measuredtwice]

Here's a little one that was bought recently.

Comparison photo of Klein, Channellock, and Knipex needle nose.

Dug up some photos in old posts.

Here's a side by side photo of Knipex, Channellock, and Klein.

Here’s a pic of my own Klein Journeyman’s, Channellock 318’s and Knipex 26 series. All are intended for electrical use having a side cutter...

 

[toddmorr]

Tsunoda RP-200,,,,,typical Japanese precision and attention to detail.

 

[Davefr]

Tsunoda RP-200,,,,,typical Japanese precision and attention to detail.

^^Those have the straight serration pattern which only grips in one direction. I would never get a pair of needle nose pliers that aren't either cross hatch, diamond or opposing diagonal serration. (unless of course one needs smooth jaw faces)

This Knipex ad illustrates why straight serrations are ineffective. There's no way that plier jaw will grip and pull that spring since the serrations are in the same direction of the force.

 

[kngelv]

I love Klein but am not a fan of their needle nose. I broke half of one jaw off holding a 10mm bolt head in place on my truck. Mind you - I was just holding the head while hand threading a nut so I was barely squeezing it at all.

James

No I have not. I so rarely break tools that I just never go through the hassle of using the warranty. I mostly just wear tools out and feel I got my money's worth so I'm not comfortable trying to warranty them. Funny thing is I'm an industrial electrician and have plenty of Klein stuff that works great. Other than the occasional screwdriver tip this was the first thing from them that ever broke. It had to be a defective in the manufacturing process. I carry three different needle nose pliers in my tool bag. They have different tip sizes and so work better for certain things. My main pair is a set of U.S. made Crescents that fits my hand perfectly. I will hate it when those give up the ghost because they are no longer made.

James

 

[measuredtwice]

No I have not. I so rarely break tools that I just never go through the hassle of using the warranty. I mostly just wear tools out and feel I got my money's worth so I'm not comfortable trying to warranty them. Funny thing is I'm an industrial electrician and have plenty of Klein stuff that works great. Other than the occasional screwdriver tip this was the first thing from them that ever broke. It had to be a defective in the manufacturing process. I carry three different needle nose pliers in my tool bag. They have different tip sizes and so work better for certain things. My main pair is a set of U.S. made Crescents that fits my hand perfectly. I will hate it when those give up the ghost because they are no longer made.

James

There are still tons of new in packaging Made in USA Crescent pliers on Ebay. You might pick up a spare if you like them. I prefer Klein but the Crescents are okay. In my experience Crescent are nice in appearance but the pivot is not as strong as Klein or Channellock or Knipex.

It sounds like the broken Klein was an isolated incident. The 8" needle nose from Klein is beefy and shouldn't break easily.

 

[Ton ton]

Tsunoda RP-200,,,,,typical Japanese precision and attention to detail.

Could you please post a picture?

 

[Steve_P]

NWS are top quality and are beefier at the tip than Knipex. I have both, and also Channellock (meh), Craftsman /WF, etc. I don't have Klein

 

[jeffmoss26]

Klein! I use my D203-6 daily.

 

[toddmorr]

Tsunoda RP-200, about 2 months old

 

[ovilla]

I’d seriously consider a nice pair of used Snapon pliers from eBay. The Snappy needle nose with the 90 degree bend are my all time favorites - just so damn handy. The straight ones are nice too and long AND strong with great talon tips too. I have the Klein ones as well and they’re great. Stay away from Knipex needle nose pliers. I used mine once to pull a clevis pin and literally bent them so badly that I stopped using them after that. Just too damn delicate for any type of use.

 

[PugetDude]

Thanks for addressing this.
Knipex gets hate here for their long nose pliers because they are expected to perform as heavy duty pliers, when in fact they were never designed as such.
These pliers work amazingly well and are top performers for their intended use.
It seems the flaming is actually user ignorance.
I use SO, Klein, and Knipex. They all excel in their own ways.

I think the OP would be well satisfied with Klein. As mentioned, the D203s are bulletproof.

Could you post a list of "intended uses" for Knipex Needle Nose Pliers to alleviate your assertion of user ignorance?

Seriously, I've been using many different brands of needle nose pliers for over 50 years and didn't realize I needed to read a benutzerhandbuch to use them.

 

[WittHay]

It seems Knipex is not meant for dummkopfs like myself. I still dont quite understand the purpose of the elastic tips on mechanics pliers.

The most common Knipex around here is the 2611200sba sold at KMS, Napa, Home Depot and most industrial type places. Mac's version on the truck is a P13.

Should be the perfect plier for the OP in this thread but its not quite right. I find its a backup type plier to a Snap-on for certain tasks like pulling c-clips of shafts. Very specialized lighter duty type work

Craftsman black handles made in USA or Canadian Tire Maximum are skookum for most tasks. Channellock 317 for finer work. Klein D203's for electrical work

 

[seber]

I have an old Knipex around here somewhere that is a dead ringer for the San-on that I use regularly. The Snap-on is a joy to use. The Knipex are essentially unusable. Sorry, Knipex lovers but this one is a dud. It isn't the design, it's the heat treat.

 

[Davefr]

It seems Knipex is not meant for dummkopfs like myself. I still dont quite understand the purpose of the elastic tips on mechanics pliers.

The most common Knipex around here is the 2611200sba sold at KMS, Napa, Home Depot and most industrial type places. Mac's version on the truck is a P13.

^^That's what I don't understand. Knipex apparently makes mechanic's needle nose pliers. (ie Series 38-*** with diamond serration).
https://www.knipex.com/index.php?id=1216&L=1&page=group_detail&parentID=1336&groupID=1340

So why does NAPA and most other suppliers only carry the light duty 26-200 series.

Has anyone ever seen or used the 38-200 "Mechanics Pliers"?? Are they the same flimsy pliers but with diamond serrations?

 

[Ton ton]

Tsunoda RP-200, about 2 months old

Thanks, todd morr.

 

[Ton ton]

My favorite are duralast from AutoZone. $10 and garranteed for life.

 

[Slednut]

Have had these for at least 25 years, use them almost every day.

 

[CR888]

Just bought some NOS pliers under the Minimax brand that are Japan made. Minimax was a Aussie tool company which most of their tools were Japanese or German. Looks familiars to the Tsunodas posted above...

 

[measuredtwice]

...........Has anyone ever seen or used the 38-200 "Mechanics Pliers"?? Are they the same flimsy pliers but with diamond serrations?

Here are some comparison photos of the 26 and 38 -->

Here are some side by side photos of the Knipex 26 Long nose and Knipex 38 Mechanics. It's not an ideal comparison because I only have the angled 38 but the photos give an idea of the proportions. They are very similar except the 38 has cross hatch serrations and lacks a cutter.

 

[metaldad]

kleins, channeys, great tools, both in my multiple tool set ups.
someone here turned me onto vampliers. wow. very nicely made.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vampire-Pr...033718&hash=item2882203471:g:4hoAAOSwZ6ddQKoj

 

[jeffmoss26]

correction, mine are the D203-7 that I use at work.

 

[Davefr]

Here are some comparison photos of the 26 and 38 -->

Thanks for the comparison. They sure don't look that much different.

 

[Avenging Bankroll]

nothing

 

[Handyandy23]

I like the cost to performance ratio of the Channellocks, but I'm not a pro either. They work well, I can get them locally, and they're less than half the price of Knipex or truck brands (for me at least).

I don't feel bad if I have to use them used or misuse them (gasp), but they perform how I need them to.

I have no experience with the Klein so can't really comment there.

 

[Davefr]

I like the cost to performance ratio of the Channellocks, but I'm not a pro either.

The 8" Tekton PGF10008 and HF Doyles (identical pliers) are also very good for the money. (Taiwan) Both have crosscut teeth.