Adjustable wrench vs Plier wrench (i.e. Knipex)

[TGNP]

Ask for opinions from actual usage between Adjustable wrench (traditional type) vs Plier wrench (i.e. Knipex)

I have both and would like to know if anyone has both of them in your tools box or just one for sharing your experience with me.

Knipex;
I think it is easier to use not to waste time sliding the jaw (adjustable wrench)

Adjustable wrench;
I think the jaw that catches the bolt or nut is tightened than knipex (sorry if this does not make sense I just to thinking when the use tightens a large bolt or nut it looks like heavy-duty use and applies torque more than knipex if compare to the same size) and most important the price is affordable than knipex.

If you have both of them
what type of job do you use an adjustable wrench often?
what type of job do you use knipex often?
or same use not to select the type of work

P.S. If anyone has one of them it's difficult to compare, so those who have both types please share opinions.

Thank you in advance for every your comment and honesty I respect every comment.

 

[Professional Tool User]

I mainly use the pliers wrench unless the odd jaw angle or the handle dimensions become an issue. The main reason I would go with a pliers wrench over a traditional adjustable wrench is the absence of play once you lock on using the one handle trick or even just clamp down with both handles. Other advantages include the sliding mechanism vs the adjusting screw and stuff like being able to slip on and off fasteners efficiently with the parallel pivoting feature that's almost like a ratcheting effect.

 

[TGNP]

I mainly use the pliers wrench unless the odd jaw angle or the handle dimensions become an issue. The main reason I would go with a pliers wrench over a traditional adjustable wrench is the absence of play once you lock on using the one handle trick or even just clamp down with both handles. Other advantages include the sliding mechanism vs the adjusting screw and stuff like being able to slip on and off fasteners efficiently with the parallel pivoting feature that's almost like a ratcheting effect.

Thank you very much for the comment from real usage.

 

[TGNP]

I just found a thread by RidgeHiker that he post on Jul 3, 2022 as below;

10" Pliers Wrench vs. 18" Adjustable Wrench

I am looking at a tool for occasional use on larger bolt sizes. I can purchase an Icon 10" pliers wrench or an 18" Crescent adjustable wrench for about the same price. Both have a max jaw opening of 2". I assume the pliers wrench is more convenient and the adjustable wrench would provide more...

www.garagejournal.com

Forgive me if I post a new thread by another member who post before and my bad for did not read an old thread that has details I like to know or similar information that the member in here who give it before.
But thank you if any new comments that you want to give I really appreciate it.

 

[dukefx]

I have both and use neither. I keep them for sizes I don't have a proper tool for.

 

[finn]

The Knipex type causes more damage to the fastener, and has less torque transfer capability. Its only advantage is the more compact head, and possibly speed, as well as the capability to pinch rounded items

 

[Jim C.]

I have a few adjustable wrenches that never get used and one Knipex pliers wrench that also never gets used. I’m a Knipex fan and got fooled by the “contraptionism“ of the pliers wrench, thinking I’d use it. It’s just another adjustable wrench in my book. I’ll keep buying Knipex, but not another pliers wrench that won’t be used.

Jim C.

 

[dnschmidt]

I've completely made the change to the Pliers Wrench. Don't use adjustable wrenches anymore. I can't think of anything you can do with an adjustable wrench that you can't do with the Pliers Wrench. True, they cost a lot but I'm not price sensitive.

 

[M6erfan]

Since I discovered pliers wrench years ago my adjustables never get used. I'm not even sure where they are.

 

[nbpt100]

The conventional adjustable wrench is better on very tight nuts. With the pliers wrench you need to squeeze tighter to keep the grip. For people with arthritis, wrist, finger or hand issues this may become an issue. For really tight nuts or damaged fasteners, the locking adjustable wrench are the best tool in this adjustable category(IMHO). This is an adjustable wrench most forget exists. You may want to consider adding one to your collection at some point.

Otherwise, I would use my knipex. Also great for bending sheet metal. You an do it with a conventional adjustable too but the Knipex is more convenient.

 

[KnurledNut]

The simple adjustment and pull of an adjustable wrench in cramped quarters is often easier than trying to squeeze a pliers wrench.

You know what im talking about...that fastener that requires the classic-reach-around while your laying on your back and upside down, with fluids and crud dropping on your face, and your hands are slick as snot on a glass doorknob. Try to grip a pair of pliers in a bass-ackwards situation is just frustrating if not impossible.

Dont get me wrong, the pliers wrench is an amazing tool.
I recommend having both.
An adjustable wrench takes a cheater pipe or hammer blows.

Maybe at some point, the Pliers Wrench will come with a locking feature. That would be the bees knees.

 

[tyyost]

I use the pliers wrench most often for plumbing and other household work. I rarely use it on a car, as I have way to much coin invested in real wrenches. It also makes a superb tool used as a small press. Pushing in roll pins, flattening bent sheet metal, it is very versatile. I am always glad I have it, and would consider it a crown jewel of garage journal tool finds.

 

[iamhomeless]

Adjustables, especially large ones, outnumber my pliers wrenches probably 3-1, in all my tool boxes around the place.

To be honest both are almost always the wrong tool for the job, but they both work in a pinch. I feel like adjustables are a little better for grabbing on an unknown bolt to see what size wrench I need, if we are going to get serious.

My pliers wrenches are definitely thinner so they get the nod in tight spaces and on more delicate hardware.

 

[speed bump]

I use a pliers wrench as a speed wrench but that's about it. I keep an adjustable handy all the time at work. You can put more torque on it, it fits more places, is easier to adjust, doubles as a hammer and fits a wider size range for a given tool size.

 

[tamaraw]

I have both, mostly used on non-metric hardware I don't have real wrenches for or as a second wrench to back up another one.

Pliers wrench is handy for speed in resetting the jaws to quickly turn a fastener a bunch. Also nice for squeezing things but you can't transfer as much torque turning stuff and they take more work to initially adjust with the button.

Adjustable wrench stays at the same size which is important in some situations but perhaps harder to slip on/off quickly. It's also less work to make large size adjustments and easier to push on hard without having to keep squeezing. I have a set of TOP Kogyo adjustables with the split worm gear, so play/spreading is a non-issue.

 

[matthew]

I like plier wrenches for plumbing. Often I will hold the fitting with an adjustable, and turn the nut with a plier wrench. The ratcheting action is much easier than cycling between loosen-tighten on the adjustable.

The plier wrench is also great for squeezing things, whether pressing something together or flattening where non-parallel or non-smooth jaws wouldn’t work. At times it replaces a vise.

I tend to use sockets or box wrenches on automotive.

There is a limit where you need more toque and can’t apply enough squeeze to use the pliers wrench. Even there, I’ll sometimes crack things loose with another wrench and then use the ratcheting action of the plier wrench.

 

[ItsNemo]

The Knipex type causes more damage to the fastener, and has less torque transfer capability. Its only advantage is the more compact head, and possibly speed, as well as the capability to pinch rounded items

The pliers wrench does not cause damage, that's the cobras.


IMO the pliers wrench completely replaces adjustables, there's no place I've found where an adjustable actually works better. If you're getting to the point where the torque is more than the pliers wrench can do, the adjustable isn't going to do any better, and you should be moving onto an actual box end wrench or socket.

I use a pliers wrench as a speed wrench but that's about it. I keep an adjustable handy all the time at work. You can put more torque on it, it fits more places, is easier to adjust, doubles as a hammer and fits a wider size range for a given tool size.

Are you kidding me? Torque no, more places maybe, easier to adjust definitely not, hammer ehh I don't hammer with wrenches, and wider range not a chance.

 

[boom_bap]

Good adjustable wrenches are more comfortable to use. You don't need to squeeze them on a really right fastener, where knipex are terrible on super tight stuff since you have to squeeze the **** out of them. The smaller pliers wrenches are nice for quick work, such as tighening a regulartor to a bottle.

 

[teagueo]

Adjustable wrenches are superior for most car/motorcycle work - you set the size and apply torque without needing to squeeze the handles as well. Plier wrenches have a cool "action" but they're gimmicky.

If you're between fastener sizes on the plier wrench, you can't get as good a grip on the fastener.

Size matters on the plier wrenches. The small version you really need to grip the handles hard. In a tight spot, this makes them less useful.

I recently replaced a gear position sensor on my bike, and the plier wrench could not budge it while squeezing the handle. Put an adjustable on it, no problem.







Decided on the Lobtex adjustable over the Knipex plier wrench in my lightweight bike toolkit:

 

[victor252]

I have a set of TOP Kogyo adjustables with the split worm gear, so play/spreading is a non-issue.

When you say "split" worm gear, did you mean "square" instead? On this page they mention "square screws".

ADJUSTABLE WRENCH - TOP KOGYO

www.toptools.co.jp

Would you say TOP adjustables have less play than an old US Crescent or Lobster brand? Just curious.

 

[tamaraw]

When you say "split" worm gear, did you mean "square" instead? On this page they mention "square screws".

ADJUSTABLE WRENCH - TOP KOGYO

www.toptools.co.jp

Would you say TOP adjustables have less play than an old US Crescent or Lobster brand? Just curious.

No, I meant the ones that have a two piece worm gear. Here's a picture on their site, they also make them without grip, with black finish, shorter sizes, etc.

WORK WIDE WRENCH WITH GRIP - TOP KOGYO

Backlashless knurl. Non damage on bolts/nuts Wide open jaw A ring for safety code. 3 color grips. Hard and tou […]

www.toptools.co.jp

I think these are called something like "hyper adjustable monkey zero" in Japanese marketing. The silver gear is spring loaded to press up against the black gear so that they effectively sandwich the teeth on the jaw and take up any slack. If you shake it, nothing moves around and there is no rattle like you would find on a traditional wrench.

You can still press the jaw slightly in/tighter if you try (pushes the two gears apart) but it doesn't move out/looser at all because it is already pre-tensioned in that direction.

I have used some old US Proto, I think Crescent too, and some random Chinese stuff. Even setting aside the unique mechanism, I really like the machining and finish/quality of these TOP wrenches.

KTC adjustable for tie-rods, Knipex pliers wrench, and three sizes of TOP. Other brands not pictured are in psuedo-storage. The pliers wrench and red TOP in the middle get used most.

 

[Wakefield]

The conventional adjustable wrench is better on very tight nuts. With the pliers wrench you need to squeeze tighter to keep the grip. For people with arthritis, wrist, finger or hand issues this may become an issue. For really tight nuts or damaged fasteners, the locking adjustable wrench are the best tool in this adjustable category(IMHO). This is an adjustable wrench most forget exists. You may want to consider adding one to your collection at some point.

Otherwise, I would use my knipex. Also great for bending sheet metal. You an do it with a conventional adjustable too but the Knipex is more convenient.

The Knipex is more convenient/easy to use. When comparing (not a fair comparison) the 18" Made in USA Western Forge/Craftsman is much stronger than the 11" Knipex. If used the right way

 

[Wakefield]

Rock that wrench while you try to tighten the knurl a bit more! and pull the "fixed jaw side" or did I get that backwards? Best size of adjustable for the job is the one that has the opening about half way from closed to wide as it will go?

 

[kbeefy]

I have several of both and use both.

As previously mentioned, the adjustable wrench works better when something is extremely tight.
Plier wrench is great as it can slip and 'ratchet', and also positively grips the fastener instead of fitting around it.
Also great as a small press or rivet squeezer.

 

[Odd-job]

Will usually make a first attempt with the pliers wrench for general household repairs as I'm quicker with it than with an adjustable. Works in about 90% of the situations an adjustable will be used, but every now and then run into access issues like mentioned above and out comes the tried and true adjustable.

It does bend metal and disc brake rotors better than an adjustable.

 

[tamaraw]

It does bend metal and disc brake rotors better than an adjustable.

Took me a second to realize you were talking about a bike

 

[Odd-job]

Took me a second to realize you were talking about a bike

That's about the only thing on bikes that the pliers wrench is good for

 

[ItsNemo]

Will usually make a first attempt with the pliers wrench for general household repairs as I'm quicker with it than with an adjustable. Works in about 90% of the situations an adjustable will be used, but every now and then run into access issues like mentioned above and out comes the tried and true adjustable.

It does bend metal and disc brake rotors better than an adjustable.

Really, who grabs an adjustable wrench for more torque over a regular spanner or socket? Seriously doesn't make sense.

 

[Odd-job]

Really, who grabs an adjustable wrench for more torque over a regular spanner or socket? Seriously doesn't make sense.

Before I joined GJ and bought a gazillion sockets and wrench sets that I don't need I had to use an adjustable from time to time on stuff over my socket and wrench range.

I'll also admit to also using the head of the pliers wrench as a hammer from time to time

 

[ItsNemo]

Before I joined GJ and bought a gazillion sockets and wrench sets that I don't need I had to use an adjustable from time to time on stuff over my socket and wrench range.

I'll also admit to also using the head of the pliers wrench as a hammer from time to time

I suppose if you occasionally run into 1"/32mm+ sized bolts that a typical 1/2" drive set wouldn't cover...but that's pretty rare.

 

[TGNP]

I use the pliers wrench most often for plumbing and other household work. I rarely use it on a car, as I have way to much coin invested in real wrenches. It also makes a superb tool used as a small press. Pushing in roll pins, flattening bent sheet metal, it is very versatile. I am always glad I have it, and would consider it a crown jewel of garage journal tool finds.

"and would consider it a crown jewel of garage journal tool finds."
I like it. Thank you.

 

[BarrelRoll]

I carry an 8" proto adjustable and a pair of knipex cobras in my bibs at work. Often times I'm working 100 yards to half an hour from my tool box so I try and make due with what's on me. I haven't tried a pliers wrench though feel the need to carry both the cobras and an adjustable wrench. I might try a pliers wrenches and a pair of cobras for a hitch to see if they. For pipe and rounded off fittings I use the knipex cobras and I don't feel you can replace the serrated grip with a smooth pliers wrench for some purposes. The adjustable also makes a decent hammer and pry bar when I need more leverage than a pocket pry bar. When I end up with just 1 or the other in my pocket I'm always grabbing for the one I don't have. It's a bit of sub conscious instinct which one I go for.

When I'm at home or in the shop next to my tool box I don't use either anywhere as much when it's 20' to the tool box for the right sized wrench.

Woah I just looked up the price on a 7 1/4" pliers wrench is $50-$60, my 8" proto adjustable is $20. For a commonly lost tool that's pretty spendy.

 

[plinker]

The conventional adjustable wrench is better on very tight nuts. With the pliers wrench you need to squeeze tighter to keep the grip. For people with arthritis, wrist, finger or hand issues this may become an issue. For really tight nuts or damaged fasteners, the locking adjustable wrench are the best tool in this adjustable category(IMHO). This is an adjustable wrench most forget exists. You may want to consider adding one to your collection at some point.

Otherwise, I would use my knipex. Also great for bending sheet metal. You an do it with a conventional adjustable too but the Knipex is more convenient.

I do not have any Knipex pliers wrenches, but I do have the Snap-on PWZ pipe/plier wrenches that work the same way and try to use them infrequently as I can get tendonitis in one or the other wrist from gripping too tight at times (usually when something is rusted in and being disagreeable), Antivibe hammers (like S-O) do it as well.

Quality counts for adjustable wrenches and I actually like to use them at times, not much call for them in automotive though, Hydraulics can be a different story.

 

[TGNP]

Adjustable wrenches are superior for most car/motorcycle work - you set the size and apply torque without needing to squeeze the handles as well. Plier wrenches have a cool "action" but they're gimmicky.

If you're between fastener sizes on the plier wrench, you can't get as good a grip on the fastener.

Size matters on the plier wrenches. The small version you really need to grip the handles hard. In a tight spot, this makes them less useful.

I recently replaced a gear position sensor on my bike, and the plier wrench could not budge it while squeezing the handle. Put an adjustable on it, no problem.







Decided on the Lobtex adjustable over the Knipex plier wrench in my lightweight bike toolkit:

I like the idea of your organize bag it's easy to carry and saves space.

 

[TGNP]

Between two types of a wrench, it doesn't matter who wins it doesn't matter who is better.

The phrase that says "Put the right man on the right job" is true but my opinion about tools it's maybe "Put the right tools on the right job" haha.

Thank you for all your comments.

 

[Jenkins]

This has definitely been an interesting post to read. I don’t find either of them particularly useful outside of plumbing and what I’d call “off label use”. They both work well under a sink or for bending metal. But I rounded off far too many nuts as a kid/teenager using the wrong tool for the job on cars and bicycles. I will say as an adult with better tools than younger me quality adjustable wrenches do make a difference but still wouldn’t use them to with on mechanical type of stuff. Out of the 2 I find myself going for the Pliers Wrench more often though. But regular adjustable have their use for me at times too. I had to get up in a wall and tighten fitting on my tub recently. And there is no way I could have gotten the Pliers Wrench up there. I actually had to use a pipe to extend the handle of the wrench to even get access. Really just needs an access panel but I wasn’t ready to do that at the time. But it could also just be that the Pliers Wrench is newer for me and I’m just looking to use it more.

 

[TGNP]

This has definitely been an interesting post to read. I don’t find either of them particularly useful outside of plumbing and what I’d call “off label use”. They both work well under a sink or for bending metal. But I rounded off far too many nuts as a kid/teenager using the wrong tool for the job on cars and bicycles. I will say as an adult with better tools than younger me quality adjustable wrenches do make a difference but still wouldn’t use them to with on mechanical type of stuff. Out of the 2 I find myself going for the Pliers Wrench more often though. But regular adjustable have their use for me at times too. I had to get up in a wall and tighten fitting on my tub recently. And there is no way I could have gotten the Pliers Wrench up there. I actually had to use a pipe to extend the handle of the wrench to even get access. Really just needs an access panel but I wasn’t ready to do that at the time. But it could also just be that the Pliers Wrench is newer for me and I’m just looking to use it more.

Thank you very much for sharing your opinion.

 

[F-22]

We have both at work (the biggest plier wrench from knipex and actually a set of old Bahco adjustable wrenches). We work on many mechanical stuff (maintenance and research in a big manufacturing factory). The bahcos are at the back of the drawer and aren't ever used. The pliers wrench is occasionally used for some plumbing stuff and holding some axles. That means it's used two or three times per month. Daily, we always use the socket set or a proper wrench set.

At home, I don't even own any adjustable spanner at all, except an old "Frenchman" wrench as we call it here. I very rarely use it, and usually for unusual tasks, more like a portable bench vise. I have some old plastic "covers" you can put over the jaws to work on chromed plumbing stuff but I need that like once per 3-5 years...

Never went near my motorcycles or cars with an adjustable wrench. Minor inconvenience of not having to search for the right wrench isn't worth fiddling with an adjustable wrench and denting/scratching stuff around the fastener due to the bulky adjustable designs. I have a couple hundred wrenches that were accumulated through the years, and most of those are quality made - I'd just feel dumb if I fucked up a nut cause I didn't use the right tool.

That said, I only have one (proxxon) imperial set I bought after I bough a shovelhead, so I do use that frenchman for plumbing which uses large imperial sizes. In metric I have most wrenches up to ~53mm, most of them even in all three common designs - double open ended, double offset box ended and open-and-box wrench combinations.

 

[TGNP]

We have both at work (the biggest plier wrench from knipex and actually a set of old Bahco adjustable wrenches). We work on many mechanical stuff (maintenance and research in a big manufacturing factory). The bahcos are at the back of the drawer and aren't ever used. The pliers wrench is occasionally used for some plumbing stuff and holding some axles. That means it's used two or three times per month. Daily, we always use the socket set or a proper wrench set.

At home, I don't even own any adjustable spanner at all, except an old "Frenchman" wrench as we call it here. I very rarely use it, and usually for unusual tasks, more like a portable bench vise. I have some old plastic "covers" you can put over the jaws to work on chromed plumbing stuff but I need that like once per 3-5 years...

Never went near my motorcycles or cars with an adjustable wrench. Minor inconvenience of not having to search for the right wrench isn't worth fiddling with an adjustable wrench and denting/scratching stuff around the fastener due to the bulky adjustable designs. I have a couple hundred wrenches that were accumulated through the years, and most of those are quality made - I'd just feel dumb if I fucked up a nut cause I didn't use the right tool.

That said, I only have one (proxxon) imperial set I bought after I bough a shovelhead, so I do use that frenchman for plumbing which uses large imperial sizes. In metric I have most wrenches up to ~53mm, most of them even in all three common designs - double open ended, double offset box ended and open-and-box wrench combinations.

Thank you very much.

 

[Pexto]

Nobody seems to have yet mentioned that the pliers wrench is wonderful for saw arbor nuts. I never seem to have the right size wrench on hand, and the pliers wrench holds any size nut securely without marring it. The secure grip also adds some assurance that you're not going to bash your knuckles or wrist on a sharp saw blade. It's the only thing I use for arbor nuts any more.