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One Knipex Pump Plier or 3 Channellocks for the same price at Lowes

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Eric Commarato

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I've been shopping for a new set of pump pliers. I love the quailty and feel of the Knipex pump pliers, I think they are the ones everybody refers to as the alligator type. At Lowes today I noted they ran about 22 bucks. Then I saw a set of three Channellocks (10",12" and 14" set) with a free 9 in 1 changable bit screwdriver. Lowe's "new low price" for the Channellock set was 29 bucks. So in short, you can buy three fine USA made Channellocks with a free screwdriver for a bit more than the price of one Knipex plier. Channellock is such a good value...Decisions, decisions.
 
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jerryW

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Personally, I would go with the Knipex. I just like the way they grip onto whate ever I'm holding

I prefer to find them at a swap though. Better prices.


jerry
 
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treasureseeker

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You are talking about personal taste and if the Channellocks can make you happy then get them. I am more into the quality comparison where Channellocks doesn’t fit for me. I think both will get the job done just as well but what is the feeling in hand. The first pair of Knipex pliers I hated. After learning more about how things are made I now have a ton of them. They reminded me of the tools that came with the BMW and Mercedes tool sets which back then I thought they were worse than the Asian stuff. I have mainly Snap On, Knipex, SK and Craftsman Professional and in that order. Unless you are using your tools everyday those Channellock should last you a long time. I have more tools than I could ever use but I just keep adding. I like the Value of Snap on. I purchased most of mine in the eighties and are probably worth more than I paid for them then. I now just buy them off of EBay. It feels like building the Music CD collection. I like the Knipex that are sold under the Craftsman brand. There have nice handles and if I wear them out Sears will exchange them. They only two pliers, which I think are the small, and medium and you can get them in a set. What coating are on the Channellocks?
 
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MrMark

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The only Knipex I have that I think are anything special are the Cobra's. They have the best teeth in the world and will grip things that you would otherwise need a pipe wrench for. The Channellocks are a favorite too.

I would get the set of Channellocks for the money.

I have the pliers wrench and it's just OK. I really haven't found a use for it where it comes into its own. I feel it is mainly a plumbing tool and I am more comfortable with adjustable wrenches most of the time for that application.

If you get the Knipex you don't want the cheaper Alligators. You want the more expensive Cobra's. The 10 inch is the most useful size there.
 
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JASTECH

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Knipex, the quality speaks for it's self. I purchased 7 Knipex tools from the Alligator to the 1/0 wire cutter and am very impressed. I do have 7" Needle Nose to Side Snips by Snap-On and the same ones by Channel Lock. These Knipex are the best IMHO. Klein is not too bad either, I have the 600 mm Ratcheting wire cutters and they are smooth cutting with a lot less pressure. The Knipex handles help apply 20% more pressure, this saves the old sore hands.

Thanks, JASTECH
 
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Vinko

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I'm a fan of the smooth-jawed Knipex, but the 3 pack of Channel locks seem to do the job for almost anything.
 
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Monte

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If you need 3 pliers then Channellock, if you need 1 pliers then Knipex :)
oh and you could save 7.- bucks :D (...which could be invested to buy the 10" Cobras....) (once you worked with "push button pliers" you don´t want to have anything else anymore)
 
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expatriated

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Monte said:
If you need 3 pliers then Channellock, if you need 1 pliers then Knipex :)
oh and you could save 7.- bucks :D (...which could be invested to buy the 10" Cobras....) (once you worked with "push button pliers" you don´t want to have anything else anymore)
Click to expand...

That is the absolute truth!

And the fact that Knipex won't pinch your hands
 
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mikevango

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get the channellocks! and help keep some jobs in pennsylvania!
well this is the garage journal, buy them both!
 
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matthew

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Monte said:
(once you worked with "push button pliers" you don´t want to have anything else anymore)
Click to expand...

I just bought the Knipex pliers wrench, and am looking forward to trying them out properly, but playing with them a bit I'm not sure I don't prefer the tongue-and-groove adjustment to the push buttons. Might just be a matter of getting used to...

I would like to try the Cobra's, though, so I'd probably do like Monte said, and if I needed more than one pair I'd buy the Channellocks, but if I only needed one pair I'd try the Cobra's. Alternatively, buy the two-pack of Craftsman branded Cobra's.
 
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chevy302dz

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Go for the Channellocks, there are limited circumstances where the Cobras (push button) can come in handy but in my experience at east there's no great advantage to the Alligators. This is not to say the Knipex pliers are bad in any way just that having both in my box I reach for the Channellocks first almost everytime.
 
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Zebu Fellenz

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I have both the Knipex Cobras and the Channellocks in my box and I reach for the Cobras just about every time, they're just a nicer tool to use in my opinion.

Erik
 
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Monte

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walrus

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While I like the Knipex, I don't see a game changing quality over Channelocks. I use Knipex all the time but Channellocks work just as well for tightening Rigid conduit which is what I do most of the time with them. Sometimes the adjustment on Knipex bugs me, while you have a finer adjustment, you have more chances to not be in the right notch.
 
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expatriated

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Don't any of you channellock guys get your hand pinched when they slip off? Man, I hate that. That's a huge advantage to me, the Knipex don't close all the way on the handles.
 
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plinker

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I have never had an issue with Channellock's pinching. That being said if I think they will slip off I'll use Vise grips.
 
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matthew

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Watching that video about the Knipex, I think I also realized that push-button pliers aren't really designed for left-handers to adjust with one hand...

I do appreciate the pinchless design, though. It's not a huge deal, but a nice little feature to include.
 
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zer0cell

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I'd go with the channellock's since you have more tool sizes to work with and the Knipex Alligator is not all that much different. The Knipex Cobra however is a different story. I have a Knipex Cobra and a Knipex Pliers-wrench. Everything else is channellock because the quality is comparable and the cost is far less. Plus they are made in the USA.

These are the only Knipex I own and they are great. My opinion is that unless you are getting one of these you might want to stick with channellock as they are a better value for the money. For those of you who don't know, the Cobra and Alligator while similar, are actually quite different in how they perform. The alligator is more similar to some regular channellocks. The cobra is different with it's push button adjustment and different locking mechanism.

<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000X4PU80?ie=UTF8&tag=hubpages0814-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000X4PU80">Knipex 8702250 10-Inch Cobra Pliers - Comfort Grip</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=hubpages0814-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000X4PU80" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />

<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000X4J2EI?ie=UTF8&tag=hubpages0814-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000X4J2EI">Knipex 8605250 10-Inch Pliers Wrench - Comfort Grip</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=hubpages0814-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000X4J2EI" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />
 
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mrholeshot

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expatriated said:
Don't any of you channellock guys get your hand pinched when they slip off? Man, I hate that. That's a huge advantage to me, the Knipex don't close all the way on the handles.
Click to expand...

Nah, I learned how to use them when I was 5,:lol_hitti:lol_hitti
 
OP
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Eric Commarato

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Monte said:
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Click to expand...

Geeze all this time I was pronouncing it "nipex" and it really pronounced "kennypex" Duh...:lol_hitti
 
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rayzor32

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Buffalo, NY
channellock anything is a good quality/value, get them while theyre still usa made. Get some knipex cutters though.

Weird on the pronunciation I always just say nip-ex.
 
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Monte

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Instead of the 3 Channellock pliers buy these 4 Knipex pliers :D ;)

puntb048.jpg

punto172009.jpg
 
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zer0cell

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Thats a very nice set Monte. I have those that you posted and almost everything else is channellock. You just can't buy pliers like either of those in any other brand that I have seen... sehr schoen ;)
 
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MrMark

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I wish someone would tell what they are good for, because I have a pair and haven't really found a use for them. I prefer an adjustable for plumbing applications and wouldn't use anything but the proper wrench on a car, so I am at a loss to figure where the pliers wrench comes into its own. Maybe for a handyman type it would be the hot ticket, but I don't see it for automotive use.
 
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