Why would it matter what position the jaws, or handles, are in? Curious if you ever used a pliers wrench?
Fixed Adjustables vs Pliers Wrench
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Why would it matter what position the jaws, or handles, are in? Curious if you ever used a pliers wrench?
I prefer them to adjustable wrenches 10 inches and smaller where the ability to squeeze a fastener can be helpful. I did not use small adjustable wrenches all that often before and the plier wrenches have filled that niche. Usually where I find adjustable wrenches to be the most useful is in the larger sizes like 15, 18, and 24 inch. At that size rounding off bolts doesn't seem to be much of an issue. I haven't found my 12 inch plier wrench to be as useful compared to a 12 inch adjustable. Usually at that size being able to squeeze the jaws shut isn't as helpful and it's main utility is being able to open very wide relative to its size and weight.
All that said, when I think about it, in practice the plier wrenches really only see use for some specific cases on the farm. The majority of the time I'm using them for plumbing related duties. Most of which is installing or removing valves and plugs on stock tanks. Something I used to use a 12 inch adjustable for but found a 10 inch plier wrench paired with a 10 inch cobra was handier. Otherwise the only thing they really get used for is occasionally pressing pins in and straightening out bent sheet metal. They never really had a chance to get used much on bolts. By the time I got into buying tools like the plier wrench, most every pickup and tractor on the place had a basic set of wrenches and sockets. The plier wrench has found its uses for me, and I like them, but they haven't been the life changer the internet said they would be.
All that said, when I think about it, in practice the plier wrenches really only see use for some specific cases on the farm. The majority of the time I'm using them for plumbing related duties. Most of which is installing or removing valves and plugs on stock tanks. Something I used to use a 12 inch adjustable for but found a 10 inch plier wrench paired with a 10 inch cobra was handier. Otherwise the only thing they really get used for is occasionally pressing pins in and straightening out bent sheet metal. They never really had a chance to get used much on bolts. By the time I got into buying tools like the plier wrench, most every pickup and tractor on the place had a basic set of wrenches and sockets. The plier wrench has found its uses for me, and I like them, but they haven't been the life changer the internet said they would be.
General Geoff
Well-known member
So fun fact, the 10" and smaller Pliers-Wrench will in fact self-lock as @American Locomotive demonstrated with his videos. The knock-off Icon Pliers-Wrench sold at Harbor Freight will too.
BUT, the larger 12" Pliers-Wrench will not. The pivot arm is considerably longer and reduces mechanical advantage for clamping force, causing it to open up without squeezing the handles together. I just tested this with all three of these.
BUT, the larger 12" Pliers-Wrench will not. The pivot arm is considerably longer and reduces mechanical advantage for clamping force, causing it to open up without squeezing the handles together. I just tested this with all three of these.
I use adjustables and pliers wrenches quite a bit, but I almost never use either for turning bolts unless I'm using one as a "backer wrench" to prevent a nut or bolt head from spinning while I turn the other end of the fastener with a wrench or socket. In general, I don't find either one to be very useful for working on cars, so that might be why many here don't understand the hype.
That being said, they are both very useful tools to me. For fasteners or plumbing fittings over about 1" in size, I almost always grab an adjustable wrench, for fasteners or fittings under an 1" in diameter I usually grab a pliers wrench. In general, any fitting prone to compression deformation gets an adjustable wrench and any fastener with corners that can easily round off (like a thick plastic hex fitting) gets a pliers wrench. Small press tasks get a pliers wrench, metal bending tasks get an adjustable wrench or a pliers wrench depending on the scenario. Sometimes I even use an adjustable wrench to break a fitting loose and then I switch to a pliers wrench for quick turning of the loosened fastener. Pliers wrenches are also handy just to hold things sometimes.
In regards to pliers wrenches working with single-handle pressure, I say no. I have multiple 5", 7", 10", and 12" pliers wrenches (at least one old style and one new style for each size mentioned) that I have been using quite regularly for multiple years now. They have nothing close to the self-locking geometry and single-handle pressure grip reliability of a Knipex Cobra plier.
Personal testing- I couldn't get my 12" old or new pliers wrenches to grab anything with one-handle only pressure. My 10" pliers wrenches grabbed a few things, but there was often a little jaw spread before the mechanism initially grabbed, which increased the chance of rounding out the corners of the fastener compared to performing the same task with both handles being squeezed. For multiple scenarios I tried, my 10" pliers wrenches would also suddenly spread and let go after moderate torque levels were reached. Not the sort of scenario anyone wants to experience if you work in tight areas and value your hands. My 5" and 7" pliers wrenches grabbed quite a few things pretty well with single-handle only pressure, but that doesn't matter much to me because I personally use my 5" and 7" pliers wrenches mainly for holding and/or pinching small parts which always requires squeezing both handles.
That being said, they are both very useful tools to me. For fasteners or plumbing fittings over about 1" in size, I almost always grab an adjustable wrench, for fasteners or fittings under an 1" in diameter I usually grab a pliers wrench. In general, any fitting prone to compression deformation gets an adjustable wrench and any fastener with corners that can easily round off (like a thick plastic hex fitting) gets a pliers wrench. Small press tasks get a pliers wrench, metal bending tasks get an adjustable wrench or a pliers wrench depending on the scenario. Sometimes I even use an adjustable wrench to break a fitting loose and then I switch to a pliers wrench for quick turning of the loosened fastener. Pliers wrenches are also handy just to hold things sometimes.
In regards to pliers wrenches working with single-handle pressure, I say no. I have multiple 5", 7", 10", and 12" pliers wrenches (at least one old style and one new style for each size mentioned) that I have been using quite regularly for multiple years now. They have nothing close to the self-locking geometry and single-handle pressure grip reliability of a Knipex Cobra plier.
Personal testing- I couldn't get my 12" old or new pliers wrenches to grab anything with one-handle only pressure. My 10" pliers wrenches grabbed a few things, but there was often a little jaw spread before the mechanism initially grabbed, which increased the chance of rounding out the corners of the fastener compared to performing the same task with both handles being squeezed. For multiple scenarios I tried, my 10" pliers wrenches would also suddenly spread and let go after moderate torque levels were reached. Not the sort of scenario anyone wants to experience if you work in tight areas and value your hands. My 5" and 7" pliers wrenches grabbed quite a few things pretty well with single-handle only pressure, but that doesn't matter much to me because I personally use my 5" and 7" pliers wrenches mainly for holding and/or pinching small parts which always requires squeezing both handles.
American Locomotive
Well-known member
My pliers wrench seems to lock reliably on just about everything I use it on - but I rarely use it on small fasteners. It might be a fastener size thing? There are also two generations of plierswrench. Mine is a Gen 2.
Thinking about it: The corners of the fastener are going to try to pry the jaws open. The force the corners of the fastener apply to the jaws of the tool is going to be related to the diameter of the faster, and the torque applied. That means a smaller fastener is going to apply more "opening" force to the jaws at a given torque since it effectively has more leverage.
The pliers wrench will also inherently generate a clamping force from an applied torque on the "dynamic" handle just from the geometry of the tool's mechanism. There will be some ratio where a force applied to the handle equals a certain amount of clamping force at the jaws.
So there must be some "critical size" of fastener for each type of pliers wrench where the clamping force applied for a given torque exceeds the "push back" force from the fastener.
Thinking about it: The corners of the fastener are going to try to pry the jaws open. The force the corners of the fastener apply to the jaws of the tool is going to be related to the diameter of the faster, and the torque applied. That means a smaller fastener is going to apply more "opening" force to the jaws at a given torque since it effectively has more leverage.
The pliers wrench will also inherently generate a clamping force from an applied torque on the "dynamic" handle just from the geometry of the tool's mechanism. There will be some ratio where a force applied to the handle equals a certain amount of clamping force at the jaws.
So there must be some "critical size" of fastener for each type of pliers wrench where the clamping force applied for a given torque exceeds the "push back" force from the fastener.
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Crazyjake8493
Well-known member
I hate sounding like a Knipex shill because I'm typically not brand-loyal with anything, but since I bought a few pairs of Cobras and pliers wrenches in different sizes, I stopped using Channellocks and adjustable wrenches altogether. I gave away a few pairs of each, and the couple that I did keep just live in the emergency toolbox in the back of the car.
OP
mobiledynamics
Well-known member
I have to brush up in the difference on Gen 1 : Gen 2 Pliers Wrench. I have like 3 version of this. One with a lighter silver/touch of bronzes hue coating. The other 2 in the current grayish chrome finish. One of the grayish chromes has opening size markings. The same other grayish chrome doesn't.
You're right, they have larger dimensions than a traditional crescent wrench, but they typically won't slip and you're less likely to get hurt removing a stubborn fastener with a pliers wrench.
Same here, except for measuring equipment. Everyone sounds like a Knipex shill online because until recently they are the only company making a pliers wrench. Harbor Freight is making a lot of money selling essentially the same tool for a somewhat lower price. I'm surprised Harbor Freight is the only other manufacturer of this type of tool.
rlitman
Well-known member
Meursault74
Well-known member
There are others selling similar. Quick search results here:
Gedore 3100146 10" Pliers Wrench - MultiGrip 183 JC
World's best tools for professionals: the latest coolest Tools from NWS and Knipex, largest inventory of quality tradesman tools by Knipex, screwdriving tools by NWS, Knipex, WERA and FELO. Full line of the latest greatest WERA Zyklop and Joker wrenches, Knipex pliers, NWS tools, and Gedore. Our...
chadstoolbox.com
French made Facom, Craftsman and USAG branded with the ratcheting size adjust. I really like these much better than the two handed Knipex size adjust. Kobalt has a self adjusting offering. Irwin and Lenox have some good offerings with the ratcheting size adjustment as well. The Lenox has a 10 inch model with a 3” capacity.
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There's actually a bunch, Besides Klein, there's also a version sold by Gedore, and the Stahlwille Power Grip (also the VBW Power Grip), and another sold by NWS - the Gripper, and another sold by Orbis, the PRESSwrench (also sold by Gray tools). Facom also sells a version of it, probably also USAG. There's also a version by Craftsman that is probably quite similar. Then there's also probably lots of Asian copies, as sold by Capri tools, Irwin tools, Lenox... There's a version sold by Unior (with a slip joint instead of the button adjustability). And probably even more I did not list...
neophyte
Well-known member
Thank you! I stand corrected. Do any of these designs have flat jaws like the Knipex?
rlitman
Well-known member
MarcSeattle
Well-known member
I just bought one of those Japanese Top brand adjustable wrenches. I didn't think an adjustable wrench could be precision machined rather than sloppy. It completely changed my view of adjustable wrenches. BTW, there is a far better deal at Amazon Japan than Amazon US. Warning: while on the Amazon Japan website, browsing Koken prices will makes money disappear from your bank account.
oldschoolcraft
Well-known member
This is something I ran into recently. I had taken adjustable wrenches out of my toolbag in favor of a series of different sized pliers wrenches. Only to run into an access issue where the pliers wrench was not the right tool for the job. I have since added an adjustable wrench back into the tool bag.
I added an 8" but I'm considering adding a 6" or 10" to pair with it. I haven't decided.
I use my plier wrench to straighten sheet metal or bicycle brake disc.
I had not fully gotten comfortable to use it for wrenching on plumbing fixtures. Usually space is very tight and I just want adjustable wrenches that does not require me to put my hand on constantly. I think it will fall off if upside down.
I know the most knipex plier will stay and you only have to push from one of the handle, but that is in ideal scenario where there is 360 access all around.
I had not fully gotten comfortable to use it for wrenching on plumbing fixtures. Usually space is very tight and I just want adjustable wrenches that does not require me to put my hand on constantly. I think it will fall off if upside down.
I know the most knipex plier will stay and you only have to push from one of the handle, but that is in ideal scenario where there is 360 access all around.