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Difference between Knipex Cobra vs. Alligator ?

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kctyphoon

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Either.. the only real difference is one has the quick adjust feature, and one is a manual adjust. Lots of people prefer the cobras, but I like the alligator myself.. the quick adjust has a spring loaded button the protrudes out just a bit. One less thing to get caught on without it.. there are no mechanical parts on the alligators.. they are much better then standard channellocks..
 
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IndyGarage

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I haven't owned alligators, but I assume, possibly incorrect, that they are similar to channel locks in that you open them and slip the joint to a new location.

Cobras adjust by pushing a button and slipping the joint to a new location. You don't have to open the tool to move it.

Personally I like the Cobras much better than any slip joint.

If you want to try something similar, both Irwin and Milwaukee make button lock pliers that are considerably less expensive than Knipex Cobras. I personally think the Irwins are nearly as good and cost about 1/3.
 
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71goldss

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IndyGarage said:
If you want to try something similar, both Irwin and Milwaukee make button lock pliers that are considerably less expensive than Knipex Cobras. I personally think the Irwins are nearly as good and cost about 1/3.
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+1

I have both the Cobras and the Irwins and I reach for the Irwins much more often when space isn't an issue. My Cobras get used in tighter spaces because they are narrower than the Irwins. I'm very happy with both, but the Irwins just fit my hands better. I bought the Irwins in a 3-pak two or three years ago at HD during a Black Friday sale for something like $20 or less if I remember correctly? Great purchase!
 
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unbridled_id

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71goldss said:
+1

I have both the Cobras and the Irwins and I reach for the Irwins much more often when space isn't an issue. My Cobras get used in tighter spaces because they are narrower than the Irwins. I'm very happy with both, but the Irwins just fit my hands better. I bought the Irwins in a 3-pak two or three years ago at HD during a Black Friday sale for something like $20 or less if I remember correctly? Great purchase!
Click to expand...

I see the Irwins at sears all the time. They used to be mfg in Taiwan, but now are made in China. Price is the same and I assume quality is about the same ?
 
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winlinmac

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RealToolReviews has a comparison video on YouTube showcasing the Irwin's and Knipex's

unbridled_id said:
I see the Irwins at sears all the time. They used to be mfg in Taiwan, but now are made in China. Price is the same and I assume quality is about the same ?
Click to expand...
 
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Art From De Leon

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I prefer the Knipex WITHOUT the little push button adjuster.

I have gotten rid of ALL my Channellocks, with the exception of the tiny one that is with my ignition wrench set and their oil filter pliers.
 
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FMC1959

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Cobras, no chance of the size changing because of the spring button. Alligators are similar idea to channelocks to adjust size, but have their own unique system...I saw another German brand use this system (Wiha?).

Cheap slide lock pliers can easily change size while you use them, Alligators hold very good. One thing I like very much about Alligators, you can 1 hand operate and change size with them, when you get the feel for them, they are "better" than Cobras.

Irwin and Channel lock, for DIY or just anyone that does not constantly use water pump pliers would prabaly not get any benifit from the Knipex. There are many small design differences within these 3 popular brands, the big thing about Knipex is there hardness - HRC. The jaws will grip the hardest and keep there edge longer, but again, most people can get by with the Irwin and CL for years and not have problems.

Not to be mistaken, Knipex are fantastic, but there are other worthy water pumps out there. On the job and you need a quality tool, Knipex
 
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Adam.C

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I don't love either for automotive work. Can't think of a time when I used them. Only time I use pliers is to man handle springs on brakes. The old style non talon Snap On 47ACP are probably my favorite automotive pliers. The offset jaws aren't as big of an advantage in automotive where grabbing and twisting is concerned. IMHO. I avoid using pliers in general.
 
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Jacobson

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Adam,
It's funny you say that. I do light hobby caliber automotive and have never used pliers except to hold shocks from spinning. In my other thread, people acted like I was cra cra for not constantly using pliers. I have no clue why you'd use pliers when I use wrenches and sockets on nuts and bolts. I have bolt extractor sockets for rounded nuts, which I've used once or twice. Never pliers. I've used slip joint pliers for home plumbing, but not auto.
 
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Adam.C

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Jacobson said:
Adam,
It's funny you say that. I do light hobby caliber automotive and have never used pliers except to hold shocks from spinning. In my other thread, people acted like I was cra cra for not constantly using pliers. I have no clue why you'd use pliers when I use wrenches and sockets on nuts and bolts. I have bolt extractor sockets for rounded nuts, which I've used once or twice. Never pliers. I've used slip joint pliers for home plumbing, but not auto.
Click to expand...

Favorite automotive pliers are duck bills. Only others I use with any regularity are the tiny electronics pliers for electrical work. I have the worlds best needle nose. They are good to have, but they're just big tweezers to me. HF long reach do just as well for picking dropped hardware out of my plastic under engine shield.
 
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rice rocket

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Jacobson said:
Adam,
It's funny you say that. I do light hobby caliber automotive and have never used pliers except to hold shocks from spinning.
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...so why did you make a thread beginning with "Which are more suited for automotive situations?"
 
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BFHtime

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Knipex pliers wrench is what you want. Everything is just ok IMO. The water pump pliers flex too much for me. I am afraid they are going to break when twist with them. I prefer the rigidity of Channelock much better. The Channelock are bigger though.

When it comes to knipex get the pliers wrench. They some decent cutters too. Everything else is hype in my opinion.

Pliers wrench is great for custom hoses and AN fittings too! As well as many other things.
 
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M6erfan

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Knipex Cobra's and Alligators are great to have around but not really used in auto repair, IMO. At least I never use them for auto repair. Around the shop/yard, yeah they're good to have...
 
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T45

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They both have the simialr super-hard jaws, it doesn't really matter. Since OP you are asking, the cobra is probably a luxury tool purchase.
 
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T45

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Although if you go with irwin for price/convenience try to get the 10in smooth jaw.
 
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rice rocket

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The Irwins ****.

<iframe width="853" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/N4v4tJmtiik?rel=0&showinfo=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
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T45

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rice rocket said:
The Irwins ****.:lol::lol::lol:
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The OP is debating between tekton and harbor freight :spit:

Also, the smooth jaw irwins do not ****.

They are decent, they are different than PWs but very utilitarian--as pliers. They don't mark stuff, the jaws dont dent, the grips are good, they have faster adjustment, wider range, and much larger open jaw (per unit of handle movement). They also work better on hoseclamps.

I was planning on retiring the irwins when I got knipex, and I reach for the irwins first.

If you have the budget to get 4-6 pairs of knipex---yes they are better. But you neeed a 250 PW $45 the and the hoseclamp cobra $55 , for example to replace the GV10s...which is 100 vs 16 dollars investment.

So the irwin is 85% cheaper, and does 90-95% of the work. To be clear, its not better made, it just has some useful features that still the knipex design doesn't lend itself towards without using a mixture of pw and cobra (which requies alot more capital be put to work).
 
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IndyGarage

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rice rocket said:
The Irwins ****.
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No, the Irwins don't ****. They are very good.

The Cobras are better, but cost 5X as much - I can tell you they aren't 5x better.

I think he was overly critical of the Irwins on the video.

For one thing the button on the Irwins is better - he hardly even mentions it. The Irwins have had a ratcheting close since they first came out - which clearly better - Looks like Knipex has finally copied that feature. He says the Irwin spring isn't replaceable and the Knipex is - The Irwin doesn't even have an exposed spring, so how is that a fair criticism? He says the Cobras open "considerably wider"; looks like a tiny bit wider to me.

He is dead wrong on his estimation of clamping force - the force spread over a larger area of the Irwins would give more grip than over a smaller area of the Cobras (unless you are wanting to dig into the clamped object)- having wider tires on your car gives you better traction with the same weight, rather than less traction. The only legitimate claim he has is that the Irwin teeth are not a hard as the Cobra teeth. That's what you are paying for with 5x the money.

If you are a professional and use them every day buy the Cobras, if you are a DIYer on a budget - the Irwins are a good product.
 
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AJ.

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IndyGarage said:
The Cobras are better, but cost 5X as much - I can tell you they aren't 5x better.
Click to expand...

That is not the case here, Cobras are only around 30% more.

I am pretty sure my selection of Knipex pliers is going to grow, I really like the look of those Cobras, and the Raptors, and the pliers wrenches :)

Cheers Andrew
 
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Jacobson

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That video made the Irwins look like junk.
Those teeth were mangled.
 
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gdpolk

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I prefer the Alligators over the Cobras. I don't need as fine of an adjustment as the Cobra's offer on a pair of pliers which is the main benefit to the Cobras vs Aligators in my opinion. I feel the joints in the Aligators subjectively feel stronger and more secure to me (though I've never had one slip yet on either plier) and I like the fact that they don't have the button exposed to bang into stuff.

As for the Irwin vs Knipex argument, I honestly feel that both are good pliers. The Irwins are softer and have wider jaws which CAN be a benefit to reducing pressure on things like chrome plated stuff or brass fittings that you may want to not tear up. However, you should note that both styles of pliers will leave marks on most fasteners so really neither are ideal for when you want to keep the hardware looking good. The Knipex are thinner and harder which makes them reach in tighter places and hold up better to hardened bolts (grades 5/8) better. They also tend to bite better into rusty hardware in my experience. The difference in quality of manufacturing between Knipex and Irwin is noticeable with a nod to Knipex but neither tool is made to be cheap, disposable junk.
 
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