Favorite needle nose pliers.

[NUTTSGT]

I have a 7" (?) pair of Popular Mechanics made in Taiwan that I bought before I started at GE or right after. They are 20+ years old and the pair that I grab first when I open the drawer. I use them when I weld to clean out the nozzle too.

 

[Yarpo]

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.

Yah...I read this during my lunch break. Finished my food and promptly went back in and grabbed my 96ACF. Perfect. The joint is smooth, just stiff enough, and the serrations are phenomenal. I love the handles and think their soft grips are great. I dont own many snap on tools, but man the pliers rock

 

[JBH]

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.

What's your basis for comparison? FYI in ~200mm needle-nose-ish pliers mine are Klein, Knipex/Orbis/Will, VBW/Stahlwille, Gedore, Wiha, Facom, NWS, Hazet, Tsunoda, SAM, Schmitz, Urrea...

(Urrea, a Mexican brand that I think used to be a Proto subsidiary, is even worse than Snapon.)

I get why someone would prefer SO's ergonomics, because their handles are splayed so much wider than everyone else's. But compared to a quality tool, I can't see calling them "nicely finished" or the "joint smooth and strong." However, SO is not known as caring much for production consistency. Why should they? They ultimately sell on convenience, credit, and perceived value of warranty, not product quality.

 

[Yarpo]

They ultimately sell on convenience, credit, and perceived value of warranty, not product quality.

****, I bought mine based on none of that. I got scammed.

Ebay? Not convenient. Credit? Paid with a debit card. Perceived value of warranty? Not guaranteed, see ebay.

 

[Tallpilot]

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.....

+1. Often there are much better values than Snap-on but the Talon grip are hard to beat.

 

[PugetDude]

I like my Knipex Needle Nose for the entertainment value; they remind me of the Gumby I had as a kid.

 

[superautobacs]

I'll never buy the Snap-on 96ACF needlenose plies without inspecting them first. I've seen/handled more than a few (mostly new ones on the truck and a couple lightly used ones) to know that their QC standard is rather, for the lack of a better word, "different" than many other pliers manufacturers. It's not just their needlenose pliers....their pliers in general. I've handled enough in the truck to know that I simply will not purchase a pair online. For the price that you pay for them, I expect a better product in fit and finish.

Just two examples I happened to take a photo of. One is lightly used and the other is brand new. Both have joints that are crudely mated, which equates to an inconsistent open/close resistance. Overall, very stiff...worse yet, unevenly stiff. Both also have jaw tips that don't align. There are also deep grinding marks on the body---something that I wouldn't expect from a pair of pliers that cost that as much as it does. I don't see such grinding marks even on DIY level pliers.

Interesting fact....Snap-on franchise owners in Japan typically don't sell/promote Snap-on pliers, because their customers actually demand other brands, like Knipex, to be sold off the truck.


Here's a brand new pair:

<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ccassan/49093156768/in/photolist-2hNcg8o-2hNeUzX-2hNfV9r-2ePjR85-24htaGR-2ePjR1G-2dVvjJu-2dVvjTh-2dVvjXW-2bFDCmQ-2cHiojQ-2cMDPZn-24XyvQH-NUHTAu-NXXnCg-NQbfSF-KYerkf-KYerDG-KYeruU-KYerBs-KYeryG-Rhwzpi-FJd2rc-GG6uCN-GJnHAX-FJ3t3y-FJ3tgE-FJ3tpW-FJ3tUy-FJ3txS-FJ3tJy/" title="Snap-On Needlenose Pliers: yet again, misaligned jaws"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49093156768_872ab6a6d2_c.jpg" width="450" height="800" alt="Snap-On Needlenose Pliers: yet again, misaligned jaws"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


Misaligned jaws:

<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ccassan/49093673001/in/photolist-2hNcg8o-2hNeUzX-2hNfV9r-2ePjR85-24htaGR-2ePjR1G-2dVvjJu-2dVvjTh-2dVvjXW-2bFDCmQ-2cHiojQ-2cMDPZn-24XyvQH-NUHTAu-NXXnCg-NQbfSF-KYerkf-KYerDG-KYeruU-KYerBs-KYeryG-Rhwzpi-FJd2rc-GG6uCN-GJnHAX-FJ3t3y-FJ3tgE-FJ3tpW-FJ3tUy-FJ3txS-FJ3tJy/" title="Snap-On Needlenose Pliers: yet again, misaligned jaws"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49093673001_2865098420_c.jpg" width="450" height="800" alt="Snap-On Needlenose Pliers: yet again, misaligned jaws"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ccassan/49093869997/in/photolist-2hNcg8o-2hNeUzX-2hNfV9r-2ePjR85-24htaGR-2ePjR1G-2dVvjJu-2dVvjTh-2dVvjXW-2bFDCmQ-2cHiojQ-2cMDPZn-24XyvQH-NUHTAu-NXXnCg-NQbfSF-KYerkf-KYerDG-KYeruU-KYerBs-KYeryG-Rhwzpi-FJd2rc-GG6uCN-GJnHAX-FJ3t3y-FJ3tgE-FJ3tpW-FJ3tUy-FJ3txS-FJ3tJy/" title="Snap-On Needlenose Pliers: yet again, misaligned jaws"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49093869997_14e41f0940_c.jpg" width="685" height="800" alt="Snap-On Needlenose Pliers: yet again, misaligned jaws"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>




Here's a pair that an apprentice had purchased using his hard earned money (only lightly used).

<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ccassan/46550469822/in/photolist-2hNcg8o-2hNeUzX-2hNfV9r-2ePjR85-24htaGR-2ePjR1G-2dVvjJu-2dVvjTh-2dVvjXW-2bFDCmQ-2cHiojQ-2cMDPZn-24XyvQH-NUHTAu-NXXnCg-NQbfSF-KYerkf-KYerDG-KYeruU-KYerBs-KYeryG-Rhwzpi-FJd2rc-GG6uCN-GJnHAX-FJ3t3y-FJ3tgE-FJ3tpW-FJ3tUy-FJ3txS-FJ3tJy/" title="Snap-on 96ACF Needle Nose Pliers--poor grinding"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7824/46550469822_17eb76301b_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="Snap-on 96ACF Needle Nose Pliers--poor grinding"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ccassan/46550469312/in/photolist-2hNcg8o-2hNeUzX-2hNfV9r-2ePjR85-24htaGR-2ePjR1G-2dVvjJu-2dVvjTh-2dVvjXW-2bFDCmQ-2cHiojQ-2cMDPZn-24XyvQH-NUHTAu-NXXnCg-NQbfSF-KYerkf-KYerDG-KYeruU-KYerBs-KYeryG-Rhwzpi-FJd2rc-GG6uCN-GJnHAX-FJ3t3y-FJ3tgE-FJ3tpW-FJ3tUy-FJ3txS-FJ3tJy/" title="Snap-on 96ACF Needle Nose Pliers--poor alignment"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/4815/46550469312_cfbaf40d0f_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="Snap-on 96ACF Needle Nose Pliers--poor alignment"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[WittHay]

I agree that you dont buy new Snap-on online. Anything that is finished by hand you should inspect first. I have a twisted 96ACP that looks like the above. Used it for bending large cotter pins though

The Snap-on 96ACP Talon grip needle nose is a must have in my tool box. I like the Sears Craftsman WF black handles for at home use. Picked up a lot of Sears USA pliers across the border before Sears closed a few years back. For electrical work have always used the Klein D203-7

One of the worst machined needle nose pliers i have ever bought was the curved version of this Gray plier. Made in Germany by Orbis for Gray. Was on sale at a tool store and just grabbed it without really looking. One jaw is thin like Klein and the other stout like Craftsman.

From my perspective, I would take a US made needle nose over a German made plier any day. I do own Knipex and the Mac branded Knipex

 

[bpjr]

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.

CUDA brand at WEST Marine. I have a pair but they are older and don't have the rubber grips.https://www.westmarine.com/buy/cuda...ong-needle-nose-pliers--16987968?recordNum=19

 

[JBH]

I agree that you dont buy new Snap-on online. Anything that is finished by hand you should inspect first. I have a twisted 96ACP that looks like the above.

I’ve bought all of my needlenose pliers save one (Klein) unseen online. The only two that disappointed quality-wise were Snapon and Urrea. You could add Facom duckbill sold as a needlenose, for an annoying leafspring squeak that my Facom needlenose and combis.

The bottom line is better plier manufacturers employ functional QC processes. Snapon does not seem to.

 

[PNWguy]

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.

I would be pissed if I spend SO money on pliers and the warranty became useless. Makes me want to warranty my SO duck-bill pliers, just in case they change supplier.

 

[mikebaker1129]

I’ve bought all of my needlenose pliers save one (Klein) unseen online. The only two that disappointed quality-wise were Snapon and Urrea. You could add Facom duckbill sold as a needlenose, for an annoying leafspring squeak that my Facom needlenose and combis.

The bottom line is better plier manufacturers employ functional QC processes. Snapon does not seem to.

What was the issue with the Urrea pliers? I have some Urrea linesmans pliers and they are pretty decent.

 

[OKIEtyler]

No love for channellock yet, so count me in on them. I just love them. Not the prettiest pliers by any means, but they work perfectly and I've never had a set fail of any plier type from them.
Add in the affordable price and made in USA, they're my winner.

 

[JBH]

What was the issue with the Urrea pliers? I have some Urrea linesmans pliers and they are pretty decent.

Same basic problem as Snapon - unfinished joint. Snapon was more just universally balky, but Urrea was balky and uneven.

 

[Winston61]

For me, Knipex is the only way to go.

 

[AA/FC]

Snap On Talon Grips for me! The ones that I own close so precisely that I can use them to pull single nose hairs one at a time. That is far better than I can say for the tweezers that I own. Sure, it's a tool, it's not meant to pull nose hairs, but that is a great example of how precise the Talon Grips can be. The pictures above showing jaws that don't close properly are a good example of what ANY BRAND of pliers could look like. Mistakes happen in every factory. Good thing you can handle ALL the pliers on the SO truck before buying anything! Snap on pliers are excellent for the money. They aren't nearly as high priced as other types of tools made by SO. I've said it before on this site, unless you've actually used a Snap on Talon Grip needle nose pliers, you have no idea just how well they grip, and how sturdy the jaws are. Last I checked, they cost roughly $10 bucks more than the comparable Klien needle nose pliers. The extra grip and sturdiness is worth $10 bucks to me.

In MY opinion, SO makes the best needle nose pliers.

I'm not here to argue.... you're entitled to your opinion.... and so am I.

YMMV

 

[Hammer1963]

Snap-on Talon Grip. Unbeatable! I can't compare them to anything else. They are that good

 

[mfewtrail]

Klein D203-6

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.

Also look at Channelock's Snipe Nose pliers.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KY41RS0/?tag=atomicindus08-20