Elora combination pliers

[Howe]

Hello there, seems like I'm getting more and more attached to this fantastic forum. Once again, I'd like to ask you a question.
Recently I thought about buying, well investing precisely, German made pliers. After some times digging into the internet, 2 brands came across, Elora and Knipex. Please see the attachment about Elora combination pliers. Please advise, whether should I choose Knipex or Elora. Both on the same price level and both have cutting edge at 63-65 HRC level.

 

[Dave455]

I can’t be certain, but I’m fairly sure that Elora don’t manufacture their own pliers. They make wrenches, socket wrenches etc, but I’m pretty sure pliers are bought in. Not sure from whom, maybe one of the German contributors knows?

No real reason not to buy them, they are still probably excellent tools, but of the choices given I’d go with Knipex. You will get a far greater selection of styles, finishes, and sizes, and you know they are the manufacturer for sure, but if you like the Elora they will be fine.

Note also, that those are the “German” pattern of combination pliers, with the cutter raised compared to the gripping surface. Some prefer these, some prefer the “British” pattern with the cutter and gripping surface at the same level. Some German makers offer both patterns.

 

[matthew]

Pardon my suggesting this - it is almost always a Garage Journal answer to suggest even another choice - but…

For high quality pliers, Knipex and NWS are often the combatants. But with good reason - both are excellent.

Elora is respected, but a more obscure brand (at least outside of Europe), and as Dave said is more known for wrenches and sockets. I can’t tell from the picture where Elora sources pliers from, but for that particular item I’d suggest looking at NWS.

Felo also sells rebranded NWS if that helps locate some.

 

[Howe]

Thank you Dave and Matthew, your thoughts helps me decide

 

[Monte]

Elora pliers OEM: https://otra-zangen.de/

Standardzangen

otra-zangen.de

 

[neophyte]

Hello there, seems like I'm getting more and more attached to this fantastic forum. Once again, I'd like to ask you a question.
Recently I thought about buying, well investing precisely, German made pliers. After some times digging into the internet, 2 brands came across, Elora and Knipex. Please see the attachment about Elora combination pliers. Please advise, whether should I choose Knipex or Elora. Both on the same price level and both have cutting edge at 63-65 HRC level.

I can think of one pair of plier cutters I’ve seen horribly damaged over the years, and it had that style of cutters that stuck out on the side.
I can’t say that all pliers of this style will be bad, given advancements in steel alloys and hardening processes, but I would look into finding a pair of pliers with the more normal flat sided design.
I should probably say that the pliers I saw having failed could have been pre WWII in date. They were old and I’m not sure.

 

[four.cycle]

I'm thinking maybe I should get some of these snazzy new Sonderzangens

 

[Pexto]

I'm thinking maybe I should get some of these snazzy new Sonderzangens

Just to help with the German a little bit ... "Zange" is the singular, "Zangen" is the plural. English is if anything even more confusing than German, since we call the tool a "pair" of pliers rather than just a "plier". So a "Zange" would be one pair of pliers, "Zangen" would be two or more pairs.

And if you want to know what a "Zündkerzensteckergreifzange", you just have to decompose it bit by bit:
Zündkerze = spark plug (and that in itself is a compound noun - Kerze = candle, zünden means to light or ignite);
Stecker = in this context, the spark plug boot;
Greif = the verb "greifen" means to seize, grip, etc.;
Zange = pliers.

So a Zündkerzensteckergreifzange is a pair of pliers for gripping spark plug boots. But you probably already knew that from the picture!

 

[four.cycle]

^ Thank you.

This is the kind of stuff that caused me to start that "Nomenclature" thread here... I'm picking it up bit by bit.