Does anyone like knipex's smooth jaw pliers

[mattwgrizwald]

I'm talking about like channel lock type pliers that have no teeth on jaw ends

 

[nissan_crawler]

Are you talking the plier wrench's? If so, they're not like channelock's at all.

Yes, many people use and like them, but plier wrenches and tongue and groove pliers are two completely different things.

 

[bchee]

Here is a good review by zuspiel
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=26517

I personally like them. Bought them based on recs from nissan_crawler.

I don't know any other tool company that has pliers like them.

 

[superautobacs]

I mentioned this in another thread: I think every tool box should have one or more their plier wrenches. I got the 7" to start with and, despite it's smooth jaws, I'm totally satisfied with it's gripping power.

 

[alex71]

After reading that review, I think I need to buy some... What should i expect to pay for them and where is the most cost-effective place to buy?

 

[nissan_crawler]

After reading that review, I think I need to buy some... What should i expect to pay for them and where is the most cost-effective place to buy?

chadstoolbox, or I personally prefer aktoolsonline.com They rock. They seem gimmicky, but you'll often find yourself reaching for them if you have to go across the yard to quick tighten a bolt, etc., that you don't know the size of.

Also, if things are stripped, they put a better grip on them than a regular wrench.

 

[ImportTuner]

The Knipex smooth jaw pliers are excellent; you wouldn't believe the grip these pliers have and no teeth marks ..

 

[Danglerb]

I bought the set of three using a one time ebay coupon and 13% live.com discount for a bit less than $110 including shipping. Best price I found other places was I think either $137 or $142 for the set of three.

To be frank I am still learning how to use them. They don't take some other tools place exactly, more like a new kind of tool.

My main complaint is that they don't grab narrow edges very well. I was trying to remove some rubber standoffs, threaded screw on each end, flat metal top, and rubber in the middle. The screw part puts the metal top flush with the surface, and the top is about as thick as a dime, and I just couldn't get a grip on them because the force on the edge of the plier jaws made the jaws tilt and slip off.

 

[metal1313]

they are great for plumbing work. like hooking up fixtures, i need to buy a pair myself

 

[Vinko]

they are great for plumbing work. like hooking up fixtures, i need to buy a pair myself

This is what I bought them for. Got the 10" with the red/blue grips for $45 or so off of Amazon. Haven't used them too much yet. But like them so far.

 

[HandyManny]

I use a pair of smooth jaws from Superior Tool Co with black oxide finished steel with red plastisol coated handles. Mine are made in the USA and only cost me about $11 about 10 years ago. 10" and adjust to fit most hex fittings that you'd find in any residential size plumbing. They are the exact same shape and designed as the Wilde brand plumbers pliers. They've helped me do many plumbing jobs where and adjustable wrench just wasn't wide enough or too long to fit. Great tool. Just can't justify spending over $40 for pliers, heck even the Channellocks, which I have high respect for, won't even cost you more than $15.

 

[nissan_crawler]

I use a pair of smooth jaws from Superior Tool Co with black oxide finished steel with red plastisol coated handles. Mine are made in the USA and only cost me about $11 about 10 years ago. 10" and adjust to fit most hex fittings that you'd find in any residential size plumbing. They are the exact same shape and designed as the Wilde brand plumbers pliers. They've helped me do many plumbing jobs where and adjustable wrench just wasn't wide enough or too long to fit. Great tool. Just can't justify spending over $40 for pliers, heck even the Channellocks, which I have high respect for, won't even cost you more than $15.

I just looked them up, not even close to the same thing.

Here they are for people wondering:

http://www.superiortool.com/tools/specplumbtool/06010.htm

They're nothing more than tongue and groove pliers with no teeth.

 

[slack]

I just looked them up, not even close to the same thing.

Here they are for people wondering:

http://www.superiortool.com/tools/specplumbtool/06010.htm

They're nothing more than tongue and groove pliers with no teeth.

But like you said in your first reply to the OP...

Those are "Channel Lock type"smooth jawed pliers. Based on the thread title and original post that's what I thought the OP was inquiring about. For traditional, smooth jawed adjustable pliers I also use and recommend Superior

The Knipex everyone is talking about are pliers wrenches (not "Channel Lock type"). A different animal. I have and use them as well, Blue Point branded.

 

[bchee]

the original post was kind of confusing, because it says "knipex" in the title, but the question has "channel lock" in it. I believe the OP was talking about KNIPEX

 

[Mr.Nutcase]

I'm talking about like channel lock type pliers that have no teeth on jaw ends

Good for torture....
They good....

 

[FiftyCalAl]

Knipex tool, in general, are quite superior to most of the 'upper end' American brands. In fact, many companies used relabeled Knipex for some of their top shelf tools. as far as the plier wrenches, I have 3 different sizes and think they are awesome!

They grip incredibly well and are like no other tool out there. Additionally, my father-in-law loves them becasue of the ergonomics of the grips and the fact that he can use them effectively due to arthritic hands and Parkinsons better than ordinary wrenches.

I use Chad's tolbox mostly for Knipex; but have been fairly successful on Ebay finding some things.

 

[bmxr4life87]

the knipex are amazing because the jaws stay parallel all the time. they are great for any type of square or 6 point fastener

 

[HandyManny]

I just looked them up, not even close to the same thing.

Here they are for people wondering:

http://www.superiortool.com/tools/specplumbtool/06010.htm

They're nothing more than tongue and groove pliers with no teeth.

That's basically what smooth jaw pliers are. "Wrench" type pliers are different, probably give you more secure grip and more torque. Smooth Jaw tounge and grooves are generally used in plumbing applications where high torque is rarely used.

 

[HandyManny]

Knipex tool, in general, are quite superior to most of the 'upper end' American brands. In fact, many companies used relabeled Knipex for some of their top shelf tools. as far as the plier wrenches, I have 3 different sizes and think they are awesome!

They grip incredibly well and are like no other tool out there. Additionally, my father-in-law loves them becasue of the ergonomics of the grips and the fact that he can use them effectively due to arthritic hands and Parkinsons better than ordinary wrenches.

I use Chad's tolbox mostly for Knipex; but have been fairly successful on Ebay finding some things.

I don't disagree that Knipix are excellent pliers. But, I know a couple plumbers and myself did an apprenticeship with a master plumber many years ago. Even from what I see with professional plumbers today, 99% of them use Channellocks. I have yet to see a Knipix in the tool bag of any professional plumber or HVAC professional. Not saying no pros use them, just saying not many do. Channellock 430 & 440 pliers are the most common along with the GripLock GL-12, at least with plumbers.

I do know a couple guys who have Knipix pliers, but none of them are tradesmen. They're weekend worriors spending a lot of money tyring to emulate the pros on their weekends.

 

[HandyManny]

the knipex are amazing because the jaws stay parallel all the time. they are great for any type of square or 6 point fastener

Useful on many large type fitting found on plumbing. I'd be very selective on what you use them on though. For a nut or bolt where high torque is needed, just use a proper sized box wrench, socket, or and adjustable wrench.

 

[superautobacs]

... Even from what I see with professional plumbers today, 99% of them use Channellocks. I have yet to see a Knipix in the tool bag of any professional plumber or HVAC professional. ....

Perhaps it's as simple as the lack of availability? The products and name, Channellock, is a lot more prevalent across the nation than offerings from a German brand.

 

[HandyManny]

Perhaps it's as simple as the lack of availability? The products and name, Channellock, is a lot more prevalent across the nation than offerings from a German brand.

Actually I think it's more a matter of not only availability but a lot of hard working individuals know a thing or two about getting the most value for the money. Plumbers figure they could buy a pair of 10" or 12" tongue & groove Channellock pliers for around $12 to $15 a pair and unless they loose them, leave them, or have them stolen, they'll never have to replace them. Channellock makes a pretty darn great tool and that tool will never wear out in their career if use properly. For such a tool that works great on fittings and round stock piping, why would you want to pay 3 times the price? I mean Ridgid offers a 10" tongue & groove plier that sell for about $24 and makes them not only available at Home Depot, but through many industrial suppliers as well. Yet most plumbers and HVAC guys still use Channellock pliers, even if their pipe wrenches are Ridgid. I even see Channellock tongue & groove pliers and diagonal cutters used by auto techs and electricians. Knipex?

 

[nissan_crawler]

knipex is quite common at work. it's funny, when people have something they really need to get off, do they use their channellocks? Nope, they come asking for my plier wrenches or cobras.

 

[Zorro13]

Since I'm from Germany I usually work and worked with Knipex style pliers at home and in the shop. In Germany Knipex has also very large versions and their jaw size can be adjusted by a screw on the lever. Those can open even the most rotten screws (or break them). Never saw them here in the US neither from Knipex nor from anyone else.

The US style pliers are typically only found in the big box shops in the bargain corner. I had some of them when I was a student but since I wasn't impressed by their quality and grip they went into the bin pretty fast (after I jammed my fingers between the levers a couple time). But I must admit I don't know whether they were original Channellocks or any other good quality US brand.

BTW: besides pliers I'm also wondering about the US style Screwdrivers since they don't impress me ergonomically nor quality wise (those standard Craftsman are horrible). I'm really glad that I finally found some go-trough style types from Topul. That's the common pro-style used in most German car shops use since you can even abuse them as a chisel and hook up a hex wrench for more torque. Never saw them from any other manufacturer here in the US. I hope the Toptul blade quality is as good as it looks.

 

[HandyManny]

Since I'm from Germany I usually work and worked with Knipex style pliers at home and in the shop. In Germany Knipex has also very large versions and their jaw size can be adjusted by a screw on the lever. Those can open even the most rotten screws (or break them). Never saw them here in the US neither from Knipex nor from anyone else.

The US style pliers are typically only found in the big box shops in the bargain corner. I had some of them when I was a student but since I wasn't impressed by their quality and grip they went into the bin pretty fast (after I jammed my fingers between the levers a couple time). But I must admit I don't know whether they were original Channellocks or any other good quality US brand.

BTW: besides pliers I'm also wondering about the US style Screwdrivers since they don't impress me ergonomically nor quality wise (those standard Craftsman are horrible). I'm really glad that I finally found some go-trough style types from Topul. That's the common pro-style used in most German car shops use since you can even abuse them as a chisel and hook up a hex wrench for more torque. Never saw them from any other manufacturer here in the US. I hope the Toptul blade quality is as good as it looks.

Not to get off subject. As far as quality screwdrivers in the USA? I have yet to find any industrial tool maker who makes a durable quality scewdriver here. Not even Klien are as good as they should be. The only durable drivers I've ever use were those on an old original Leatherman and a pre-2004 Leatherman Wave multitool. I have actually emailed Leatherman telling them they should expand their product line to include a seperate screwdriver line. Thiers are the most durable.

 

[superautobacs]

Since we're OT already, how about Klein's Journeymen screwdrivers? They have ergonomic 2-component handles (IIRC, the handles are rather long) and have hex bolsters on the larger sizes.

 

[Vinko]

I mentioned this in another thread: I think every tool box should have one or more their plier wrenches. I got the 7" to start with and, despite it's smooth jaws, I'm totally satisfied with it's gripping power.

I just used my smooth jaw channel lock water pump pliers (older model, from swap meet), and the grip on the Knipex are amazing. The angle of the jaws, as zuspiel outlines in his review, do make the difference. Quality overall is real good I think. For me, I've found what others have found. That these pliers are nice to have as a general tool -- they stand in for a lot of tools, if you need something in a pinch or don't want to carry too many tools around. For precision work, they don't cut it for me: maybe I need, say a 10mm box wrench. But if I need to do something around the shop, they're good to have in my pocket rather than having to walk a few hundred feet to the nearest tool box.

 

[Vinko]

Not to get off subject. As far as quality screwdrivers in the USA? I have yet to find any industrial tool maker who makes a durable quality scewdriver here. Not even Klien are as good as they should be. The only durable drivers I've ever use were those on an old original Leatherman and a pre-2004 Leatherman Wave multitool. I have actually emailed Leatherman telling them they should expand their product line to include a seperate screwdriver line. Thiers are the most durable.

I'd be interested too. I keep going back to Snap-On. They've held up well. I mentioned them many many posts back as being a bit soft -- or so I thought in my non-expert opinion for heavy use of adjusting custom made very very hard fasteners that we have for tooling. The phillips got mushy but that was after over 10 years and probably some abuse. I keep coming back to the SO hard handle. I'm buying up what I can off the truck every few weeks as I can afford it to make another couple of sets up for work stations. But I'm open to other ideas. I suppose if I got a SO commercial account they wouldn't be much more than the Klein, which I checked out at Home Depot (is that the same grade of quality that's offered to the trade?). Or you could try the Williams hard handle. Don't know if the specs are the same as S-O or not.

 

[garfunkle24]

Actually I think it's more a matter of not only availability but a lot of hard working individuals know a thing or two about getting the most value for the money. Plumbers figure they could buy a pair of 10" or 12" tongue & groove Channellock pliers for around $12 to $15 a pair and unless they loose them, leave them, or have them stolen, they'll never have to replace them. Channellock makes a pretty darn great tool and that tool will never wear out in their career if use properly. For such a tool that works great on fittings and round stock piping, why would you want to pay 3 times the price?

I do not understand your reasoning. You make the point that a plumber can buy one set of pliers and by looking after them, will never replace them.

If you're buying one tool, one time, to use for the rest of your career, wouldn't it make more sense to buy the higher quality tool?

Are they getting the most value for money by saving $30 initially, or by having a supeior tool they'll use hundreds of times a day for the next 40+ years?

The reason I would be willing to pay 3 times the price is to have a tool that is 3 times better.

The last thing I want is to be laying in the bush in -35c trying to fix a hoe/mulcher, whatever. I've bit into and turned shafts etc (remember, hardened shaft@-35c) with my Cobras that would have been impossible for any POS Channellock. If all I had were Channelocks i would be:
a) Still laid in the bush at -35c trying to figure out a workaround
b) Leaving the job and returning with decent pliers (and I hate leaving jobs unfinished).

So that is why I would want to pay 3 times the price.

 

[Vinko]

getting the most value for money by saving $30 initially, or by having a supeior tool they'll use hundreds of times a day for the next 40+ years?

[....]

The reason I would be willing to pay 3 times the price is to have a tool that is 3 times better.

Or sometimes I don't even expect it to be 3 times as good for three times the cost, maybe (for example) 1.5 times as good. But it still might be worth the added cost for that application.

 

[Monte]

The smallest plierswrench is known as the "harley wrench" since you can tigthen all those chrome plated bolts which come loose because of the vibration It also fits in every pocket and you don`t have to carry a complete set of wrenches with you. It`s also basically impossible to round off fasteners with a pliers-wrench which is possible using a open end wrench.

 

[FNFS2000]

They are some of my most used and most favorite tools. Works excellent on all nuts and bolts, much better than a cresent, and much less likely to deform or strip than a fixed size wrench.