Irwin Pliers Wrench impressions

[visionguru]

When I went to Menards to pick up some consumables recently, Menards had "15% off everything in a bag". So, this Irwin Pliers wrench ($14.98) went in the bag.


It seems a simplified design using similar idea as Knipex pliers wrenches.





I found that

• The adjusting mechanism is smoother than Knipex's, and the button seems simpler and better than Knipex's, which often stucks and then jumps up.
• I don't like bulky molded handles on pliers, but this one is very comfortable and not bulky, feels more comfortable than Knipex's.
• The workmanship is not up to Knipex level.

I have 2 Knipex pliers wrenches. I somehow found them clumsy to use, especially the adjusting mechanism: lots of drag, button frequently stuck. The Irwin seems a pleasant surprise, a quite decent pliers wrench for less than 1/3 of the cost of a Knipex.

 

[ChrisLS8]

That is one ugly bulky looking tool lol

 

[General Geoff]

Never seen a double-chinned wrench before!

 

[Rabid Badger]

I keep the adjustment mechanism on my Knipex tools oiled. Never have any trouble with them sticking.

 

[darkzero]

Haha double chin! I wonder what their reasoning is for making that bulky chin? Does it serve to be a light hammer too?

Weird issue of mine is that tools have to somewhat look good in addition to having good functionality & quality. I wouldn't buy that Irwin just cause it's so ugly but to each their own.

I have every size of the Knipex ones, I have never noticed any of them having sticky buttons.

 

[steveo3002]

thats a ugly looking tool

 

[Super Mech]

I don’t like the machining on the Irwin grooves. Looks like the slightest sloppiness in the pin will cause then the slip/cam out. For light work they might be ok.

 

[bob15]

Updated version of the old RoboGrips?

 

[Prospecter]

I bought a pair of those Irwins when they were on sale in December. Irwin doesn't get a lot of love here, but I really like mine. One of those situations where I got 'em because they were sale, but now that I have them, I find lots of use for them. The smooth jaws don't mark stuff up, the parallel jaws grip well, and sometimes they fit better than my Channellocks. (I like the Channellocks too, though!)

 

[Hytekrednek]

I have all of the knipex pliers wrenches and love them, but I did get the 2 sizes of the irwins to keep in the truck for random or unplanned use. If I lose the irwins, it wont hurt as bad. They have been useful. They are not in the same class as knipex, but they are fine for the price

 

[kctyphoon]

I cant help but wonder why they made the area around that joint so freakishly large.. that really seems like its gonna do a good job of getting in the way of something.. how much was it?

Never mind - I just looked.. $39 on amazon for the 10” set

That’s unfortunate. If that lower jaw wasn’t so chunky and they were cheaper, I might have bought them..

The 10” Knipex is on amazon for $46.. the “renewed” sets are listed for like $2 more.. lol
I dunno if can handle another pouch on my tool belt anyway..

 

[M6erfan]

Updated version of the old RoboGrips?

^That was my first thought

They look kind of crude. Wow

 

[Farmall450]

Updated version of the old RoboGrips?

More or less lol. I agree with the OP that the Knipex like to stick

 

[PhysicsDude]

I wonder what the weight difference is.

One underappreciated feature of Knipex pliers is they're always shaving weight off. You can see clearly in the pictures that Knipex has made every part as small and light as it can be and still meet their strength requirements. Their pliers get lighter and lighter each iteration.

The Irwins are on the opposite side of the spectrum and are big and bulky as a brute force method of meeting strength requirements.

My guess is a large part is the steel quality. You have to overbuild your tools if the steel is more inconsistent.

I'm a huge Knipex fan, but I don't mind using Irwin stuff on the job site where the tool can disappear. The Irwin pliers have 90% of the capability at 50% of the price.

 

[Steve_P]

Sorry, but I'll pile on and say those look terribly crude - like something made in a blacksmith shop. I know, I know, they're probably functional .... but this is GJ! And I love my plier wrenches, no issues sticking.

 

[Professional Tool User]

Knipex any day over Irwin. Knipex is all about making it finer, smaller, more functional and stronger. The difference in size is even bigger when comparing their water pump pliers to the Cobras. Size isn't the only thing that matters. There's other functions like the jaws locking on with only one handle pushed down that they may have not knocked off.

 

[Nineeightyone]

I bought a set of the Dewalt ones, and they're not awful. I don't have Knipex to compare them to, but I did see the Irwin ones and wasn't overly excited about them.

 

[TLCObsession]

I am looking for an alternative to the Knipex, but I need something that has the range of the 12" - specifically up to 2" for plumbing fixtures. I like nice tools, but spending $145 for the 3 pc set of the Knipex - well I just can't bring myself to pull the trigger.

 

[Rabid Badger]

At least they don't have any teeth to round of the first time you use them. That alone makes them better than any other Irwin pliers.

 

[fordgasm]

They look crude.