Did I Receive Defective Knipex End Cutters?

[winlinmac]

I just received my Knipex End Cutters today and first thing I noticed was how loose they open and close. There is no hint of resistance there, and I'm not sure if these End Cutter were adequately lubricated; I can fling these pliers around. I have another pair of Knipex Hand Tools which has a little resistance and find that comfortable to use and I didn't have to break it in. Am I overlooking this?

 

[SantaAna12]

Does the joint flex side to side?

 

[winlinmac]

There's a very minimal flex, very hard to discern unless I look very closely. I can very easily fling open the plier, virtually effortless.

Does the joint flex side to side?

 

[SantaAna12]

My knipex sidecutters were very easy to open, and if I compared them to my Klein, I would notice a huge difference. They were the best sidecutters I have bought.
My Channelock endcutters are relatively easy to open....far easier than my Klein sidecutters. My Knipex bolt cutters open very easy compare to other sets of pliers.
Is it ease of opening.....or slop in the joint?
Might just be Knipex ready to go.

 

[winlinmac]

I just received them from Amazon today, Brand New. I couldn't see any traces of lubricant being applied. It's too easy to open and there is no resistance when I open the end cutter towards the maximum limit. They open flaccidly, loosely / limply unlike the previous Knipex end cutters I had.

My knipex sidecutters were very easy to open, and if I compared them to my Klein, I would notice a huge difference. They were the best sidecutters I have bought.
My Channelock endcutters are relatively easy to open....far easier than my Klein sidecutters. My Knipex bolt cutters open very easy compare to other sets of pliers.
Is it ease of opening.....or slop in the joint?
Might just be Knipex ready to go.

 

[winlinmac]

The gap between both handles when viewed from the side is a tad bit more on the replacements compared to the initial ones I had. Paying a lot for a German tool. I never had to warranty a hand tool before, it wouldn't look good on my record if I have to replace them again sometime down the line. Should I request Amazon for another replacement?

 

[SantaAna12]

If they are different than the same set of Knipex that you had before, I would be uneasy too. Some resistance is a sign of a tight joint, and is desired. Amazon is the best on that type of situation.

 

[Monte]

part number ?

 

[winlinmac]

KNIPEX 68 01 200 End Cutters

part number ?

 

[WhiskeyRanger]

My linesman's and needle nose both "flop" open without resistance and neither show any signs of loosening up to the point of slop yet. I actually swapped out the linesman's for a pair of Klein's so I can loosen up the Kleins at work before swapping them back for use at home. The Kline fit tight but the Knipex came just right and stayed that way over the last 2 years.

 

[winlinmac]

That's the word I'm looking for, "Flop." The Knipex's I received today flop way too easily compared to the ones I originally received. The original Knipex's I had came without the coating at the tips of the cutter; seems to have flaked out.

The Knipex's I received through eBay and Sears arrived in immaculate condition. Perhaps different batch?

I feel ordering hand tools online can sometimes be hit or miss. Some had arrived rusty and needed immediate replacement. It's good to see that Amazon and other online retailers have decent return / replacement policies, but for the customer, it just tacks on another day of waiting to get the job done.

My linesman's and needle nose both "flop" open without resistance and neither show any signs of loosening up to the point of slop yet. I actually swapped out the linesman's for a pair of Klein's so I can loosen up the Kleins at work before swapping them back for use at home. The Kline fit tight but the Knipex came just right and stayed that way over the last 2 years.

 

[winlinmac]

Thanks, I find your experience very rest-assuring.

I think the looseness is normal. It probably has more to do with the joint style than anything else. The pliers you purchased have a large single rivet that goes through both plier pieces which is then heavily mushroomed on both sides. Those make very strong joints, but they are usually also more loose compared to the more common plier rivet style.

I have about 15-20 different Knipex pliers with the more common plier joint and all but one heavily used pair of cutters have some resistance. The couple Knipex tools I have with a double mushroomed large rivet all have basically no opening/closing resistance. They also have a very small but noticeable back and forth play but it never seems to increase over time or cause any alignment issues under use. Any resistance mine did have when new was gone within an hour or two of use. I think it was probably just some of the black paint seeping into the joint causing the resistance to begin with. If the jaws still line up and cut properly you should be good to go for many years.

 

[Jure]

i have the same cutters,and they have zero opening/closing resistance...its common and that's why i like them.

 

[Hemi49]

My Knipex end cutters open/close without resistance......I love them......Very useful tool....

 

[Murph-dog]

Probably, I would return them

 

[bryan750]

My knipex end cutters flop open easily,I like mine.

 

[Bunit98]

Mine are just like that, which I like way easier then spring loaded pliers.

 

[Brownsfan]

That's one of many things they (Knipex) do well. There is no "break in" for them like other pliers. They are not defective. Now go use them and quit asking about them in the internet.

 

[bmwpowere36m3]

Same here, Knipex nippers... no resistance, but no play either. No signs of loosening up either with time. Prefer this, to "tight" pliers.

The OP sure does over-analyze things...