Favorite needle nose pliers.

[Ton ton]

What is your favorite brand of needle nose pliers? I am interested in the medium-small size of pliers. I know channellock and SK make needle nose pliers. Are there other USA made brands out there? I have not seen a recent thread on this topic. So post away.

 

[jumbojak]

I have a pair of Klein that I really, really like. I believe they are the 7" model. At some point I'd like to add a few more of theirs to my kit.

 

[lardy1]

I have several. Both vintage and new purchases. Unless I need more strength or more length, my first reach is usually for my SK's. I have the 15235, the 16455 and the 16315 models by SK. As I understand it, they contract their pliers. Others will know more about that than I.

Again, I have a multitude of pliers in long nose configuration by many different manufacturers. Application dictates it ultimately. But I do like those SK's. Recently bought nut jaw, long reach and curved long reach Tekton's. They haven't seen much use yet.

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

I have both a Klein and a Channeloc, neither of which are my favourites , rather a no-name Japanese made one. The needle nose is fine and serrations match up. The other two are useless for fine work.

 

[rlitman]

...I know channellock and SK make needle nose pliers. Are there other USA made brands out there?...

There's always Snap On. They've made the best USA made pliers I've owned.

If you can find some old stock USA Craftsman, they had some decent stuff.

Are you positively ruling out the European brands? Lindstrom makes the best pliers in the world! Nobody is in their class. The Damascus / Arrow / Dixon German brands make some fantastically forged specialty jaws that are the staples of opticians, orthodontists and jewelers. And of course, there's Knipex.

 

[Ton ton]

I am not ruling out European stuff. I just don't see European brands @ my local hardware stores.

 

[bob15]

I like my Snap On Talon ones a little more than my Channellocks.

I really like my pistol grip Snap On's even more yet, but they have more limitations in where to you them.....

 

[Buster21]

Klein D203-6, I seem to reach for these more than my others.

 

[PiperCub49]

My favorites, in order of preference, are:

1) Snap-On 95BCP...incredible for fine work. Simply phenomenal. The tines just don't bend, no matter what I put at the tips and twist.

2) Snap-On Talon 8"...talk about solid! These things are no joke. $35 off eBay. The joint is extremely solid and there's no flex in the tines.

3) Klein 4"...smooth and solid. No complaints other than a smidge of flex when really twisting, but mine don't have the backbone the Snap-On pliers do, so it's expected. The little 4" pliers are for finesse work and do that extremely well.

These are some of the only SO tools I own. I'm no rich fanboy or a professional mechanic. I chose them for a reason. Needle nose pliers are very important to my work and they were worth the money.

 

[Parrothead]

Klein. Reasonably affordable, way better than Channellock. In fact, I like them a lot better than Knipex too. I don’t see anything out there that I’d consider an upgrade over the Klein’s in fact.

 

[M6erfan]

I am not ruling out European stuff. I just don't see European brands @ my local hardware stores.

Are you limited to buying in-store only?

 

[Ton ton]

I am cool with online. Where ever you find good tools.

 

[Jack Olsen]

I have a pair of thin needle-nose that I love. The manufacturing quality is pretty terrible and they're cheap and Chinese. I wish I could find a pair with the same dimensions made to a better standard, but I haven't seen any yet. Maybe someone here can point me in the right direction? They're long and thin -- a very useful combination.

 

[Monte]

Snap On 97ACF

 

[Ton ton]

Thanks,Monte.

 

[Davefr]

My absolute favorite small needle nose are Snap On E703BCG. They are a marriage made in heaven when paired up with SO's larger 96/97ACF's. Unfortunately they're no longer made but can sometimes be found on Ebay. (even NOS) It appears SO has outsourced their smaller needle nose pliers to Bahco and they're terrible.

If you can't find the E703BCG's then look for your choice of style from Swanstrom (ex: S661E) or Tronex. They are excellent.

I'd also recommend Klein. If low price is important then HF's Doyle lineup and Textons are also decent.

P.S. Here's a thread I started a few months ago:
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=426881&highlight=e703bcg

 

[4xdog]

There's always Snap On. They've made the best USA made pliers I've owned.

If you can find some old stock USA Craftsman, they had some decent stuff...

+1. Exactly my feelings!. My Snap-on pliers are superb.

And my 1990s/early 2000s-era Craftsman USA pliers (with textured black grips), and my early 1980s Craftsman USA pliers (with smooth black grips) are excellent.

 

[JBH]

My favorites in the 8”/200mm class:

Overall: Orbis EvoTel - thicker than standard jaws, useful extra features (wire-pulling grooves), I like the ergonomics of the angled jaw. Available with dipped or multi component handles.

American made: Klein with comfort grips. More of a hybrid needlenose/combi, but well made and stout.

Budget: Tsunoda RP200. A lot like the Kleins but half the price and equally well made. Only available with dipped handles I think


Also good: Facom 185.20, NWS ErgoMulti. Also two of the few models with spring loaded handles.


I really don’t get the love for the Snapons here. I think they’re crudely made and have terrible ergonomics. I bought a pair because of the relentless hype here, only to realize how unwarranted it was.

 

[M6erfan]

Another vote for Snap-on here

 

[PFSard]

I have a pair of thin needle-nose that I love. The manufacturing quality is pretty terrible and they're cheap and Chinese. I wish I could find a pair with the same dimensions made to a better standard, but I haven't seen any yet. Maybe someone here can point me in the right direction? They're long and thin -- a very useful combination.

- I have a pair that looks like yours. 7" long more or less. Same deal with manufacturing quality.

- I found a Crestoloy (Crescent) 666-6 pair with yellow handles at an estate sale. 6" long more or less. Decent quality from the "old days". Like these from the following link.

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-crescent-666-needle-nose-136826791

A place to start anyways.

 

[Ton ton]

Thanks for the response, everyone.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

My favourite is the Klein D2291. Always buy Them 2 at a time, appears the kids like them too!

 

[Jeremy77]

My favorite are the German made NWS 8” pair. You can also find them rebranded under the Irwin name. I like that the tips are thin compared to other brands I own yet the joint is super smooth and they don’t flex when twisting. The ends meet perfectly, the cutter stays sharp and they even have an area that can grab onto exposed screws, bolts etc.

 

[Yarpo]

Another vote for 96ACF, use mine all the time and would buy another in a heartbeat

 

[plinker]

I mainly have & use Snap-on talon grips, the smaller ones dont get used as much as the 7", but when needed are solid gripping pliers. https://shop.snapon.com/product/Needle-Nose/6%22-Needle-Nose-Pliers-(Red)/95ACF

I also have some older S-K Facom era pliers which are very nice (and unobtainum), plus some "no name" mini size made in china jobs very similar to what Jack Olsen posted. A similar pair to what is pictured are perfect for panfishing (long w/ 45* bent tip).

 

[jeffmoss26]

Klein!

 

[lilcraigford]

I have a pair of thin needle-nose that I love. The manufacturing quality is pretty terrible and they're cheap and Chinese. I wish I could find a pair with the same dimensions made to a better standard, but I haven't seen any yet. Maybe someone here can point me in the right direction? They're long and thin -- a very useful combination.

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Hmm... maybe take a look at Pro America? I don't have any personal experience with any Pro America tools, but they seem to get good reviews on the forums. Made in the USA and also the OEM behind some of Proto's offerings. From a quick search, it looks like Pro America #4048 is a close match. Here's a link to Bower's Tool.

 

[Parrothead]

I have a pair of thin needle-nose that I love...I wish I could find a pair with the same dimensions made to a better standard, but I haven't seen any yet. Maybe someone here can point me in the right direction?

Hmm... maybe take a look at Pro America?...it looks like Pro America #4048 is a close match. Here's a link to Bower's Tool.

This forum never ceases to amaze me.

 

[Jtels85]

My favorite are my black handle Craftsman USA’s made by Western Forge. Hard to find these days but WF makes SK and I have a pair of those with the green handle. Top notch needle nose pliers that will last!

 

[ken275]

Another vote for Klein d203-6. They are my most used tool. While I have several pairs I've been using the same one sometimes hundreds of times a day for over ten years. Still no wobble in the hinge yet.

Sent from my SM-G950U using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[warrens]

I have both Knipex and Klein and like them all.

 

[californiaHank]

Another vote for Klein d203-6. They are my most used tool. While I have several pairs I've been using the same one sometimes hundreds of times a day for over ten years. Still no wobble in the hinge yet.

Sent from my SM-G950U using The Garage Journal mobile app

Yeah, that Klein design just works. I've had a couple of pair for as long as I can remember.

I've got a bunch of new and vintage Lindstrom ones that I use for fine electronics work, but I still reach for the Kleins for 'medium sized' stuff.

 

[Fulcrumz]

Snap On 97ACF

I'll second the 97ACF, but my go to pair is the longer 911ACF.

 

[Davefr]

I really don’t get the love for the Snapons here. I think they’re crudely made and have terrible ergonomics. I bought a pair because of the relentless hype here, only to realize how unwarranted it was.

"Crude"? That's a new one.

I wouldn't exactly call beveled tips, machined talon grip pattern, jaws that don't deflect when twisting, rounded edges, perfect tip alignment and nearly indestructible cushioned grips "crude".

 

[exmaxima1]

Not many brands still made in USA, yet Ideal stills makes them here. I have a pair of their needle nose, but would not recommend them: too stiff. Same can be said for all their pliers.

I would look at Knipex as they are sometimes on sale at Menards. Of sourse for the same $$$ you could buy multiple sets of lesser models.

 

[JBH]

"Crude"? That's a new one.

Yeah...I guess if you’re into DIY joint finishing...

I’ll stick with tools actually finished at the factory, before I first wrap my fingers around the handle. And generally higher levels of refinement.

Also, Snapon grips look and feel cheap compared to a modern multi component grip. (That in addition to the way too wide handles.) I guess maybe they’re ok if covered in oil, but that’s not everyone’s use case.

Basically the Snapons are $10-15 tools that cost multiples of that. Tsunoda at under $20 finished at the factory with more reasonable handle splay and close enough grip construction is a much smarter buy.

 

[m6z]

I picked some NWS cutters and pliers awhile back. They are very nice. I think I'm going to end up replacing the rest of my pliers with NWS.

 

[bwringer]

I love my Tsunoda pliers -- made in Japan, so may not fit your criteria.

Many Tekton pliers are made in the US of damn A (Western Forge, I think), and are pretty decent. They can be fingered and fumbled in person at any Miejer store if you're near one. Tekton also has a great website and ships free.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

These are by far my most used needle nose pliers. Once you use them for a bit, regular versions are just awkward to use.

 

[PiperCub49]

"Crude"? That's a new one.

I wouldn't exactly call beveled tips, machined talon grip pattern, jaws that don't deflect when twisting, rounded edges, perfect tip alignment and nearly indestructible cushioned grips "crude".

Yeah...I guess if you’re into DIY joint finishing...

I’ll stick with tools actually finished at the factory, before I first wrap my fingers around the handle. And generally higher levels of refinement.

Also, Snapon grips look and feel cheap compared to a modern multi component grip. (That in addition to the way too wide handles.) I guess maybe they’re ok if covered in oil, but that’s not everyone’s use case.

Basically the Snapons are $10-15 tools that cost multiples of that. Tsunoda at under $20 finished at the factory with more reasonable handle splay and close enough grip construction is a much smarter buy.

I don't think I've ever heard someone describe SO pliers like this. I didn't even realize how nice pliers could be until I got my Talons. Man, are they finished nicely. The serrations are perfect, the joint smooth and strong.