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Knipex Essentials?

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Moose-LandTran

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I've just ordered two pairs of Knipex pliers, a pair of their Pliers Wrench, and their Cobra waterpump pliers, both are 180mm. I've been lusting after these for a while, and just got round to ordering them.

These are the pliers in question:

Pliers Wrench
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Cobra waterpump pliers
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I have a small shortlist of Knipex pliers to get, but i seem to manage without using pliers much, my 5" standards cover most of what i need, and so i don't have so many pairs yet. The Cobras are essential for me to do constant tension clamps, and my Bost waterpumps do nothing but enrage me, so they have to go.

I also have 6 or 8 pairs of their precision Circlip (snap ring?) pliers, which put everything else to shame.

Can anyone offer any advice as to what other Knipex products would be "essential"?

Thanks guys,
-Moose.
 
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eschoendorff

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I guess that first we would need to know what you already have. I suppose that you already know to have Cobra/Alligators in more than one size. You will need long nose pliers and cutters, but this is all just general talk until we know your parameters.

BTW... you don't like the Facom pliers you have over there?
 
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Moose-LandTran

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This is what i currently have:

PICT3048.jpg


I do plan to get more Pliers Wrench/Cobras in the future. I didn't buy them now, as there are other things that need to be paid for, and shipping's free so i can order them whenever.

Facom does nothing for me, i have Knipex and know how good they are, so i see no reason to look elsewhere for things that Knipex offer. It's hard to find anything better than Knipex, and i get them at a much reduced price so all-round i find them to be real good.
 
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eschoendorff

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Moose-LandTran said:
This is what i currently have:

PICT3048.jpg


I do plan to get more Pliers Wrench/Cobras in the future. I didn't buy them now, as there are other things that need to be paid for, and shipping's free so i can order them whenever.

Facom does nothing for me, i have Knipex and know how good they are, so i see no reason to look elsewhere for things that Knipex offer. It's hard to find anything better than Knipex, and i get them at a much reduced price so all-round i find them to be real good.
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I got no problem with Knipex, just wondered what you though of Facom.

In your situation, I would definitely get the cobra or alligator (personal preference) in at least 10" and 7" sizes. Also, long nosed pliers, bent long nosed pliers and extended long nosed pliers. Those and some wire cutters should get you going pretty well. Add to that as the needed...
:beer:
 
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Moose-LandTran

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eschoendorff said:
In your situation, I would definitely get the cobra or alligator (personal preference) in at least 10" and 7" sizes. Also, long nosed pliers, bent long nosed pliers and extended long nosed pliers. Those and some wire cutters should get you going pretty well. Add to that as the needed...
:beer:
Click to expand...

Thanks! :beer:

Somehow i manage to seldom use pliers, which is an issue since you can't foresee what you'll need in a bind.

I have found those gripper plier (middle of the pic) to be handy for pulling off pipes and vacuum lines, and especially spark plug boots.
 
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eschoendorff

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Damn. I'm the opposite... always using pliers for something. And my above response was based on my observations of my needs/habits. YMMV....
 
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CAT_serviceman927

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I'd have to suggest some of the 10" high leverage diagonal cutters or the 10" high leverage center cutters. The latter can cut through some thick wire without any problems. Great for cutting heavy mechanics wire. Also they have a 3pc. kit with diagonal cutters, long nose, and either alligator or cobra pliers that I think is pretty nice.
 
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Joe B.

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I would get the 12" Cobra/Alligator pliers. They head is about the same size as the smaller ones but you get a lot more leverage. I like to Alligators better because you can change the grasp width more quickly but that is just a matter of opinion.

I have the 12" Alligators that are well over 15 years old and I always reach for them before my smaller Cobra pliers.

Knipex really does make some of the best tools on earth. I have some Facom stuff and it just does not compare in my opinion. However, I really do like my Klein needdlenose and lineman pliers.

Do you see any Klein stuff in the UK?
 
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Danglerb

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First thing I grab are the cobra's, but sometimes the smooth flat blade pliers, and there are special cutters that don't leave a pointy after the cut.
 
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dps

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Okay, I think I gotta give my vote to nissan crawler for the best equipped pliers drawer. Probably the best looking, too. If only those extended long nose's had the same orange as the others...
 
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eschoendorff

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Joe B. said:
Knipex really does make some of the best tools on earth. I have some Facom stuff and it just does not compare in my opinion. However, I really do like my Klein needdlenose and lineman pliers.

Do you see any Klein stuff in the UK?
Click to expand...

We'll have to agree to disagree. i always reach for my Facom stuff before my Knipex stuff. Just works better for me. The fit and finish of the Facom tools seems to be more precise than the Knipex... but, of course, my Facom stuff is pre-Stanley:

IMG_0819.jpg

IMG_0820.jpg



As for Klein, they are over-priced when compared to Channellock. Klein's quality has been slipping over the years (according to commercial electricians in the area - my old Klein stuff is pretty good). But the Klein/Channellock tools just don't have the same precision or finesse of the Facom or Knipex. The Channellock/Klein are basically brute tools, but the Facom and Knipex are more communicative. And when you are in a tight spot, you want all the finesse and communication you can get from a tool. The last thing you need is a bone-headed slip-up.
 
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Jared

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I have the snap-ring pliers linesman and side cutters so far i haven't found anything as good as knipex yet.
 
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JayL

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Moose-LandTran said:
I've just ordered two pairs of Knipex pliers, a pair of their Pliers Wrench, and their Cobra waterpump pliers, both are 180mm. I've been lusting after these for a while, and just got round to ordering them.

These are the pliers in question:

Pliers Wrench
media.jpg


Moose,

Kindly give your opinion on this Plier Wrench. I wanted to get one a long time now but am deferring due to lack of hands on user feedback/s. tks
Click to expand...
 
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SteveU

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Moose-LandTran said:
Those Sunex pliers look good. Any idea as to who sells them?
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Got mine thru thetoolwarehouse, 4 pc set for less than 40.00. As for the Knipex, I have all 5 sizes of the cobras from 7" to 22", the 7 & 10 are the ones I use the most. The 22" is huge & would be used for the same sort of thing the channelock bigazz would. The waterpump set has a different shape to the jaws than the cobra & gets into tight areas a little better. I agree with Nissan, from now on i"ll buy Knipex to replace anything else if they happen to make that style till I get everything I need. Going from the cheap chinese made 'alltrade' pliers to Knipex was like going from a Yugo to a Rolls Royce.:beer:
 
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nissan_crawler

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I got my Sunex on ebay, that's what the 4 long needle nose are. I had two of the same pliers shipped in my 4-piece set. I had the correct one within a week from Sunex, and they told me to keep the other. Great service from them, too.
 
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Lightning

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The wrench and cobra pliers are definitly worth it! I have the 12 and 7 inch wrench pliers and the 10 inch cobra pliers and use them more than most of my other pliers. The wrench pliers will not replace your combination wrenches but they are much better than adjustable wrenches. All my pliers from this point will be Knipex.
 
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Elroy

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Elroy has the best of both worlds with these:

Picture001.jpg
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But then again when he compares them to his Klein's it might be a toss up:

Picture008.jpg
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But some tools just can't stand up to being "Elroy'd". Ya that's it "Elroy'd" a new entry for the Funk and Wagnalls

Picture003.jpg
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Picture005.jpg
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old salvage

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Elroy said:
But some tools just can't stand up to being "Elroy'd". Ya that's it "Elroy'd" a new entry for the Funk and Wagnalls

Picture003.jpg
[/IMG]
Click to expand...

Wow, there doesnt even look to be any marks in the surviving jaw.
Thats wierd. What were you cutting when it happened ?
 
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JayL

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speed bump

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JayL said:
I already have an 8" Knipex Angled Diagonal Cutting Plier. I like it so much that I'm now considering purchasing a longer 10" Knipex Diagonal Cutter. I'm just wondering if the added advantage of another longer cutter will be worth it considering that there are so many other tools that needs to be purchased.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...t_shr?_encoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance

tks
Click to expand...

10" cutters are very nice for cutting stuff like aluminum or copper tubing or the a whole wiring harness otherwise they really aren't needed. Personally i'm not a big fan of Knipex cutters becuase using them aggresively everyday they didn't hold up like the Kleins did(by using aggresively I mean they almost couldn't cut wire after 3 months of use). For most people in the automotive business I'm sure they will hold up fine but for what I was doing they werent that great.
 
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wilbilt

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old salvage said:
Wow, there doesnt even look to be any marks in the surviving jaw.
Thats wierd. What were you cutting when it happened ?
Click to expand...

I am wondering as well. The tool is marked for cutting piano wire, but has insulated handles. Perhaps Elroy was cutting an electric fence?

:headscrat
 
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eschoendorff

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Maybe Elroy ran over the pliers or hit them with a mower. Hard to believe taht that pliers would have broken there just cutting wire.... :headscrat
 
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eschoendorff

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speed bump said:
10" cutters are very nice for cutting stuff like aluminum or copper tubing or the a whole wiring harness otherwise they really aren't needed. Personally i'm not a big fan of Knipex cutters becuase using them aggresively everyday they didn't hold up like the Kleins did(by using aggresively I mean they almost couldn't cut wire after 3 months of use). For most people in the automotive business I'm sure they will hold up fine but for what I was doing they werent that great.
Click to expand...

No ****??? This is literally the first negative thing I can ever remember hearing about Knipex tools...
 
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