I like my Knipex automatic (Robogrip) pliers!

[Nader]

First off, I have no financial interest in any kind of automatic pliers, or tools for that matter. I'm just a hobbyist who is gradually building up a decent toolbox.

I'm probably one of two or three people on this entire site that actually likes the Craftsman Robogrips. I've commented as such on a couple of threads about them. My refrain is that you have to know how to use them, and know their limits. I find them very handy for quickly grabbing and moving hot metal, and putting light torque on fasteners without having to adjust anything.

That being said, I've never encountered a situation where the pliers sucked, so I wonder how people are using them? They have teeth (dull ones) and are directional, so they work better in one direction than the other.

I have Channellocks as well as the nice Knipex adjustable and cobra pliers, but I can't seem to ever get the right slot on the first try, and it takes two hands to make the adjustments. I've been using the Robogrips enough that I thought I would make good use of the Knipex version, what they call "auto adjusting water pump pliers." They're based on the Alligator pliers, which we already know to be of great quality. I'll post my experience below. If anyone cares...

 

[Nader]

I just got these, so I haven't really abused them yet. But so far, so good. Does exactly what it should. Didn't slip, and the sharp teeth bit hard. They performed exactly as the regular pliers I have, but without having to use two hands to push a button and slide the jaw to accommodate the work piece.

First pic is of a garden hose that was kind of seized on the pressure washer. That task was too easy.

The next pic is of a 7/16 nut that was stuck on a rusted bolt. You can see plier's the teeth marks left behind on the nut.

In the third pic, I like that it locks in a closed position to better fit the toolbox. (See the Klein long-reach pliers you bastards made me buy?)

Lastly, I used the pliers to tighten the HapiJac tie-downs on the camper, and to bolt/unbolt the motorcycle carrier from the hitch.

Overall, I'm very pleased with these pliers. Then again, if I liked the Craftsman Robogrips, then I might be easy to please.

 

[Danguitarman]

I have a pair of the Craftsman ones that I have used from time to time. They only seem partially cheesy, honestly. I have no doubt that I could break them one-handed if I really reefed on em, but for quick, single-hand tasks they work well enough. Certainly not something I'd bring to work, however.

 

[Karl_B]

I had a little pair of the Craftsman branded Robogrips that started to hang up. Sears traded me out for a 7" pair of Craftsman branded Knipex pliers. They don't auto adjust, but I still prefer them hands down to the Robogrips. I might try the Knipex auto adjusting pliers one of these days, especially after the very nice experience I had with Knipex customer service. (I didn't break anything and I got free stuff, albeit no free tools.)

 

[W0rLDWaR4]

Do you have a model number for those? What's the difference between those and the cobras?