8" Needle Nose Plier Comparison

[Davefr]

Here's a comparison of 4 Heavy Duty 8" Needle Nose Pliers:

Snap On 196CF ($51)
Doyle 8" from HF ($10)
Klein Journeyman J2038N ($35)
Channelock 318CB ($25)

(Note: Knipex is excluded because all I have is their light duty 26-200 model)

I'm breaking this down into:
- Jaw dimensions (min. tip width, thickness, width at hinge and usable length)
- Description of jaw closure geometry
- Serration pattern
- **** hair test. (will the pliers hold a .003" **** hair in the jaws - actually a tiny magnet wire)
- Jaw deflection test. (grab a piece of steel using 1/2" of jaw and attempt to twist the metal and observe any jaw deflection.)


Snap On:
- Width at very tip - .10"
- Jaw Length - 2.3"
- Jaw Thickness at hinge - .43"
- Jaw Width at hinge - .75"
- Jaw geometry - Tapered jaws, tips close then with a little pressure cutters close
- Serration Pattern - Diamond - fine serration
- **** hair test - Pass
- Jaw deflection test - Jaws deflect some

Doyle:
- Width at very tip - .19"
- Jaw Length - 2.3"
- Jaw Thickness at hinge - .52"
- Jaw Width at hinge - .93"
- Jaw geometry - Tapered jaws, tips close simultaneous with cutter
- Serration Pattern - Diamond - fine serration
- **** hair test - Pass
- Jaw deflection test - Jaws deflect some

Channellock:
- Width at very tip - .14"
- Jaw Length - 2.4"
- Jaw Width at hinge- .93"
- Jaw Thickness at hinge - .51"
- Jaw geometry - Tapered jaws, tips close simultaneous with cutters
- Serration Pattern - Diamond - course serration
- **** hair test - Fail
- Jaw deflection test - Jaws deflect some

Klein:
- Width at very tip - .19"
- Jaw Length - 2.3"
- Jaw Thickness at hinge - .49"
- Jaw Width at hinge - .92"
- Jaw geometry - Parallel jaws close simultaneous with cutters
- Serration Pattern - Opposing diagonal
- **** hair test - Pass
- Jaw deflection test - No jaw deflection

Now some images:

 

[Davefr]

More:

 

[Davefr]

My $.02 worth:
- SO's are the most compact, the beveled tips can get into some very tight spots and they have excellent grip.

- Kleins have the least perceptable jaw deflection. They're the only ones with parallel jaws when fully closed. (not sure of the real life benefit unless for holding thin metal)

- Doyle's at $10 are a great buy. As good as Channelock at <1/2 the price.

 

[Mr_B]

^ doyle are a little better than CL and half the price
I'm quite surprised at doyle for the price, throw in coupon pricing and they perfect budget option that still gives you a usable class tool

 

[Itsjustdirt]

Now THATS a tool comparison post!

 

[JBH]

Thanks for the work and publishing the comparison. It looks like that Knipex needlenose thread has caused a few people to think about these things! I am also planning a needlenose comparison. There will be little direct overlap with yours: just Klein. Do you mind if I use your tests as part of my comparison? What's the gauge of the magnet wire you used?

The only direct overlap with your test is Klein. Due to the Knipex thread I bought a pair of Snapper 96ACF to see what the fuss was about. (I have preliminary thoughts but will hold them for now.) Here are the current contenders.

From left to right: NWS (Irwin) Ergomulti, Will (Adam Tool Co.) no model no., Klein J203-8, Stahlwille 65297200, Wiha 32808, Snap-on 96ACF, Orbis (Draper Expert) EvoTel

Not pictured: Knipex 26 12 200, because I won't have mine back until next weekend at the earliest.

I also ordered a pair of Gedore 8132-200 JC from amazon.de for this comparison. (I had 160mm Gedore needlenoses, but no 200mm.)

I'm also thinking of adding a straight NWS pair and perhaps a Facom model. The Facom 185.20VE looks similar in form to the American-pattern models (Klein, Snapper), so might make a good addition.

Thoughts?

 

[xin]

My $.02 worth:
- SO's are the most compact, the beveled tips can get into some very tight spots and they have excellent grip.

- Kleins have the least perceptable jaw deflection. They're the only ones with parallel jaws when fully closed. (not sure of the real life benefit unless for holding thin metal)

- Doyle's at $10 are a great buy. As good as Channelock at <1/2 the price.

I got a set of the Snapon Talons (along with some OLDER Snapon) needle nose and Dykes.

The NEWER Snapon ones the handles and grip is unreal.

 

[cheechi]

You earned a beer today sir. Good job.

 

[KnurledNut]

Nice summary and effort.
However, little was established that wasnt already known.
And the jaw deflection test is scientifically weak.
Nice pictures and write-up.
If nothing else, it reinforces the fact that different tasks call for different pliers.

 

[Parrothead]

Thanks for the write up!

I’ve got Klein’s among others, and am happy with them, but it would be interesting to see how the WF Craftsman’s/SK’s fared. The Craftsmans were a good value pliers back in the day.

 

[Davefr]

Do you mind if I use your tests as part of my comparison? What's the gauge of the magnet wire you used?

No problem - go for it!! I did try to keep my simple test focused on what I thought were only the heavy duty style 8" pliers. There's another group of lighter duty needle nose like the Knipex 26-200's along with some of the others in your image. My suggestion would be to try and do an apples to apples comparison.

I used #40 magnet wire.

However, little was established that wasnt already known.
And the jaw deflection test is scientifically weak.

What wasn't known to me was how well the Doyle pliers would perform. At around $10 after the 20% coupon these things are ready for prime time!! They're not as agile and slim as SO, nor do they have as nice a grip but I would have no problem using them as my "go to" needle nose. What also wasn't known to me is that I see no reason to ever consider Channelock. Either go with Doyle or jump up to Klein/SO. Doyle are very similar to Channelock.

Yes the jaw deflection test was simply subjective. I was only looking for outliers and there really weren't any among this group. However the Klein's fealt a little more rigid. (maybe because the jaws are parallel.)

I'm not sure why Klein chooses to have their jaws parallel when closed yet the others have tapered jaws when closed

I forgot to mention grips in the comparison. It's probably also subjective but I'd take the SO cushion style grips over the others for ergonomic reasons. I found the Doyle vinyl grips a little slippery.

 

[JBH]

No problem - go for it!! I did try to keep my simple test focused on what I thought were only the heavy duty style 8" pliers. There's another group of lighter duty needle nose like the Knipex 26-200's along with some of the others in your image. My suggestion would be to try and do an apples to apples comparison.

I used #40 magnet wire.

I’m preliminarily thinking there are 3 groups: “standard,” “ergo,” and American pattern.”

I’ll have to see if I have anything that fine. Maybe a single strand from a Mogami XLR cable?

Aside from Facom and maybe NWS, anything else I should add? Not interested in Channellock (their multicomponent grips separate) or HF.

 

[Negen]

A brand I would like to seem some of you guys compare to us kieba. Kieba is my favorite pliers but mine are probably closer to 6-7" not 8".

Sent from my G8141 using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[JBH]

A brand I would like to seem some of you guys compare to us kieba. Kieba is my favorite pliers but mine are probably closer to 6-7" not 8".

Sent from my G8141 using The Garage Journal mobile app

Do you have a part number for a 200mm Kieba needlenose? I’m not too familiar with Japanese pliers.

 

[M6erfan]

Do you have a part number for a 200mm Kieba needlenose? I’m not too familiar with Japanese pliers.

In their 'High Grade' series at least, Keiba only offers 6" (150mm) length in needle nose.

P/N's are FC-306 or FCC-306 depending on handle style.

 

[Ben1967]

Sweet comparison!!

 

[Dagny]

Iv'e been using the blue handled channel lock for over twenty years. however the last pair I bought are not hardened right the nose bends.

 

[redwrench60]

Dave, I think you did an excellent comparison on some of my favorites there but as we learned from the Knipex needle nose thread you damn well better have consulted with the catalog or the Catalog Gestapo will be by to ridicule our reading comprehension skills.

 

[JBH]

In their 'High Grade' series at least, Keiba only offers 6" (150mm) length in needle nose.

P/N's are FC-306 or FCC-306 depending on handle style.

That's too bad. So it looks like no Rising Suns in the roundup. I ordered the following yesterday to complete the roundup:
-Facom 188.20VE
-Hazet 1841MA-33
-Phoenix Contact Unifox-P

That's 12 pliers I believe. This is gonna take a while

I went with Facom 188.20VE over the 185.20VE pictured in an earlier post because pictures make it look like it's needlenose/combi-hybrid, similar to Klein and Snapper.

The Phoenix Contact is an NWS rebrand. It has NWS's older style insulated grip, which I really like.

I think the Hazet might be another Orbis or Will, but all the pictures on the internet seem to be of the smaller "22" model. Worst case is another Will, and provides a chance to compare hard handles to multicomponent grips on the same plier. While HZ's US pricing is as crazy stupid absurd as SO, EU pricing is in impulse-buy territory.

 

[Davefr]

Here's an update after using the HF Doyle needle nose pliers for about a week doing average DIY tasks. These are closeup images of the wear on the jaws:

Here are my old SO 96CF's which I've used and abused for the better part of 10 years:

My conclusion is that the teeth on the SO's are much harder then the ones on the Doyle pliers. At nearly 10 years, they seems to be in better shape then the 1 week old Doyles. Only one jaw of the Snappy's shows some wear at the edge and very tip.

It also seems like the Doyle teeth are more easily clogged then the Snappys which may ultimately affect their gripping strength.

This should be no surprise since the Snappy's are about 5X the price. I'm not a shill for SO, but I guess "there is a difference".

 

[woody 73]

Good post very interesting, I liked seeing the last few pictures of the teeth being worn down after such a short time.

 

[redwrench60]

Looks like the Doyle needle nose will make a good occasional use or starter tool, maybe even backup or loaner status for pros. Perhaps worth what they charge but tougher, longer lasting tool options as expected cost more.

 

[xin]

Here's an update after using the HF Doyle needle nose pliers for about a week doing average DIY tasks. These are closeup images of the wear on the jaws:

Here are my old SO 96CF's which I've used and abused for the better part of 10 years:

My conclusion is that the teeth on the SO's are much harder then the ones on the Doyle pliers. At nearly 10 years, they seems to be in better shape then the 1 week old Doyles. Only one jaw of the Snappy's shows some wear at the edge and very tip.

It also seems like the Doyle teeth are more easily clogged then the Snappys which may ultimately affect their gripping strength.

This should be no surprise since the Snappy's are about 5X the price. I'm not a shill for SO, but I guess "there is a difference".

The thing I like BEST about the Snapon needle-nose, dykes, and other pliers is the 'feel' you get feedback when using them. A lot of pliers are rigid and give no 'flex/feel' of what the tool is doing.

Plus the TEETH or Cutting edges on the Snapon ones LAST a very long time. I got some that are 15 years old and some newer Snapon Talons.

 

[L.Cheapo]

Here's an update after using the HF Doyle needle nose pliers for about a week doing average DIY tasks. These are closeup images of the wear on the jaws:


My conclusion is that the teeth on the SO's are much harder then the ones on the Doyle pliers. At nearly 10 years, they seems to be in better shape then the 1 week old Doyles. Only one jaw of the Snappy's shows some wear at the edge and very tip.

It also seems like the Doyle teeth are more easily clogged then the Snappys which may ultimately affect their gripping strength.

This should be no surprise since the Snappy's are about 5X the price. I'm not a shill for SO, but I guess "there is a difference".

Doyle beats...Gouda!

 

[Professional Tool User]

No mention of the handles? The handles are the only thing I can really give Snap on some credit for. Those bulky soft handles on the Channellock and Klein Journeyman are a deal breaker for me.

 

[Davefr]

No mention of the handles? The handles are the only thing I can really give Snap on some credit for. Those bulky soft handles on the Channellock and Klein Journeyman are a deal breaker for me.

I briefly mentioned handles in post #11.

I agree 100%. Klein/Channelock handles are bulky and more like a semi hard plastic. The Channelock's have the absolute worst handle since they're more square shaped and just don't feel good in your hand.

The Doyle's use traditional vinyl handles which feel somewhat slippery. I bet they'd be even be worse with oily hands.

The SO cushion grip handles feel the best. I originally thought they wouldn't hold up that great but I was wrong. They still look like new after nearly 10 years. They're a lot tougher then they look. One more reason SO's edge out their competitors.

 

[Fly YX]

We're doing the interior of an aircraft the other day one of the guys had a husky needlenose he was complaining how much surface rust it had for not being very old. I just got a new Snap-on one had it maybe a week or two. And I've had spots of surface rust on it too my older Lowe's did not. I'm in Wisconsin and it's been pretty humid here last couple days and our tool boxes are in the hanger so I'm sure that has a lot to do with it.

 

[M6erfan]

Surface rust is a non issue. Unless chrome plated or coated, they ALL do it. S-O, Channelock, Knipex, Kieba, C'man Pro (USA), all in my toolbox and all get surface rust.

 

[Fly YX]

I just wiped it down with oil and moved on. Some of the guys were telling me to turn it in but as long as it's not broke it's fine with me. I don't care what it looks like as long as it works!

 

[Ita0101]

Great post!
A question related to this topic -
Who re brand Orbis will pliers?
And Stahwille/vbw?

JBH -
You have the Orbis angled pliers, Gedore angled pliers and NWS angled pliers, they are not exactly the same category - but it would nice to see some a comparison.