Knipex Handles Musings

[oldpliers1]

I mostly prefer the ultra thick dipped 1000v handles, but those are only available on a small number of pliers.
I can understand why the dual component Knipex grips might not appeal to everyone.
A lit of people just prefer regular dipped grips.

I’m with you 1000 volt all the way .
but if your not a electrician or tech, dipped are fit for task . ( I have the High voltage knipex set for HV work and vde for day to day )

 

[Squankum]

I’m with you 1000 volt all the way .
but if your not a electrician or tech, dipped are fit for task . ( I have the High voltage knipex set for HV work and vde for day to day )

I see pliers and screwdrivers rated for high voltage and think, "I'm not rated to work on high voltage! I don't know what I'm doing!"

 

[F-22]

Why couldn't Knipex make the pliers wrench with the same handles as the Cobra?

My christmas black edition phosphate coated pliers wrench at work has the rough dip handle like the cobras.

 

[Wamsutta]

My christmas black edition phosphate coated pliers wrench at work has the rough dip handle like the cobras.

I think you're referring to the grips.

 

[oldpliers1]

I see pliers and screwdrivers rated for high voltage and think, "I'm not rated to work on high voltage! I don't know what I'm doing!"

A wiseman knows his limitations! A person with a little knowledge can be dangerous . But if you’re playing around with electronic ignitions or high current low voltage DC these tools are great . Your obviously very wise from your comment.

 

[PelicanPines]

Comfort Grips... BLECHHHH !!! Dip me some regular handles.

 

[reclaimer]

Comfort grips on small pliers/cutters that sometimes need a lot of force. Dipped for larger tools when I'd be wearing gloves anyway.

 

[KnurledNut]

Being a long time electrical contractor I have always liked the vde grip the 1000volt rating is good insurance. The comfort grips I think are great and at a good price point ,if your not doing electrical work , but the comfort grip offers good insulation properties though not rated ( nothing was vde rated when I started in the trade ) I bought the comfort grip 8 inch combination pliers as gifts for my neighbours and friends when they come on special on Amazon. Nice quality tools . Here’s a photo of a pair I bought along time ago when they only offered one type of handle ( in the 80s )

Nice pliers. Here’s a couple of mine. The chrome 160mm are beautifully crafted. Ive only used them a couple times doing hotwork on the job but the shorter length was a lifesaver, literally.

 

[oldpliers1]

Nice pliers. Here’s a couple of mine. The chrome 160mm are beautifully crafted. Ive only used them a couple times doing hotwork on the job but the shorter length was a lifesaver, literally.

I have the 6 inch in my case along with the 8 inch I fully agree the 6 inch are a sweet tool ( actually a customer a fellow electrician/ engineer said they were the best tool he has been given )

 

[RedneckWelder]

I hate Comfort Grips. Especially Snap On’s comfort grips. Those cause blisters if you have to use them for a period of time. I hate comfort grips in general due to the bulkiness as well.

The normal dipped handles are the best.

 

[oldpliers1]

I hate Comfort Grips. Especially Snap On’s comfort grips. Those cause blisters if you have to use them for a period of time. I hate comfort grips in general due to the bulkiness as well.

The normal dipped handles are the best.

I hate dipped handles they offer me no short circuit protection from fault current , they offer me no comfort on a continuous basis wiring . If your not an electrician, fine don’t like them , but to Master electrician it could mean your life .and really it’s personal choice ,like a wooden hammer to a steel hammer, each person has a different opinion. Like each person on this site we have differing tool kits each to our own need and at the end it’s personal. Respect

 

[dutchgray]

I'm in the UK and in my 20 years in construction work have never seen an electrician use anything but VDE rated pliers and screwdrivers, it's just what's done here, this means VDE comfort grips are what's available on most decent pliers and cutters you will find as our physical tool retailers rarely had the room on the shelves for tons of variety and is what a lot of people got used too using.

 

[oldpliers1]

I'm in the UK and in my 20 years in construction work have never seen an electrician use anything but VDE rated pliers and screwdrivers, it's just what's done here, this means VDE comfort grips are what's available on most decent pliers and cutters you will find as our physical tool retailers rarely had the room on the shelves for tons of variety and is what a lot of people got used too using.

Same here in Australia if a bloke turns up on my job site with dipped handles ( very rare ) he is told to not use them . I have been in the trade for 45 years and a tool was judged on its insulation quality along with quality of steel. So when channellock and Klein improved there insulation their sales went up significantly.
I would like to include a few photos of a pair of Channellock 3248 pliers with 1000 volt comfort grips they were owned by one of my apprentices .
He cut through a TPS / Romex cable carrying 240 volt single phase ( we use 240/415 volt electrical system not 110/208) it was connected to a 16 amp circuit breaker he cut active and earth ( hot& ground ) look at the damage to the blade which took the hit , the insulation saved the apprentice from electrocution and Burns , if it was dipped it would of caused serious injury. I can not comment on 110 volt systems nor have seen the damage done by them .

 

[f121]

Nice pliers. Here’s a couple of mine. The chrome 160mm are beautifully crafted. Ive only used them a couple times doing hotwork on the job but the shorter length was a lifesaver, literally.

I’m putting a pair of those vde 160mm combination pliers on my shopping list.

I'm in the UK and in my 20 years in construction work have never seen an electrician use anything but VDE rated pliers and screwdrivers, it's just what's done here

This has made me think - the idea of not using vde screwdrivers for electrical work seems really alien. It’s so instilled now my brain says ‘I can’t do that job, I don’t have a vde screwdriver’

 

[KnurledNut]

I can not comment on 110 volt systems nor have seen the damage done by them .

I arc’d the needle nose shown in post #21 on 120v. The damage is slightly visible on the right tip about 1” down, a cavity roughly the size of 18ga wire, very minimal.
I’ve shorted 240v but not with pliers. A workmate blew out a pair of dipped Klein linemans once on 240v and it did a number on them but he never got shocked. He was quite lucky.
We were working on industrial systems that had to stay energized. Ive seen my fair share of live wires cut. Its common in the US to see damaged tools from 120v blow outs.

I wish we had a “Show your 1000v insulated tools” thread here, especially now that they are becoming more prevalent in the auto industry.

 

[bcradio]

I would like to include a few photos of a pair of Channellock 3248 pliers with 1000 volt comfort grips they were owned by one of my apprentices .
He cut through a TPS / Romex cable carrying 240 volt single phase ( we use 240/415 volt electrical system not 110/208) it was connected to a 16 amp circuit breaker he cut active and earth ( hot& ground ) look at the damage to the blade which took the hit , the insulation saved the apprentice from electrocution and Burns , if it was dipped it would of caused serious injury. I can not comment on 110 volt systems nor have seen the damage done by them .

Those pliers are still good for another 100,000 miles/km

 

[oldpliers1]

Those pliers are still good for another 100,000 miles/km

He did a good job on them and 20 years latter they hang on the wall with his name under them .

 

[oldpliers1]

I arc’d the needle nose shown in post #21 on 120v. The damage is slightly visible on the right tip about 1” down, a cavity roughly the size of 18ga wire, very minimal.
I’ve shorted 240v but not with pliers. A workmate blew out a pair of dipped Klein linemans once on 240v and it did a number on them but he never got shocked. He was quite lucky.
We were working on industrial systems that had to stay energized. Ive seen my fair share of live wires cut. Its common in the US to see damaged tools from 120v blow outs.

I wish we had a “Show your 1000v insulated tools” thread here, especially now that they are becoming more prevalent in the auto industry.

I have a good collection of insulated tools and have done a lot of research as to dates and progression I think it would be great to start a thread I will do it ( I did the knipex one a few years ago ) great suggestion I have pre ww2 Ahrems Goodline pliers with fantastic German plastic, which I think is the best piece and oldest .

 

[f121]

While shopping for the vde combination pliers above, I spotted knipex also sell dipped handle vde 1000v:

 

[neophyte]

While shopping for the vde combination pliers above, I spotted knipex also sell dipped handle vde 1000v:

They sell far fewer plier models with the dipped 1000v grips, than they do with either the bi-material molded grips, or even the regular comfort grips or simple dipped grips.

There are a few specialty companies that supply the 1000v dipped grips with a very full range of plIer models, including a lot of Knipex models unavailable with insulated grips, but these are weird obscure specialty companies.
There is at least one in France, and one or two in Germany.

 

[Dave455]

While shopping for the vde combination pliers above, I spotted knipex also sell dipped handle vde 1000v:

If I recall correctly, the versions with the dipped handles are individually tested for the integrity of the insulation.

 

[neophyte]

If I recall correctly, the versions with the dipped handles are individually tested for the integrity of the insulation.

I believe all pliers with the 1000v rating are individually tested, usually to 10,000v.
Also for issues like impacts.

 

[gatewaysysop]

For me, comfort grips are like having mechanical pencils that are too chunky -- they just don't feel good in the hand and reduce my dexterity with the implement more than I care for. It's like trying to play the drums with a baseball bat. I am sure they work for some people, or perhaps are a necessity for them, but for me it's just annoying.

That said, dipped handles all day every day, unless there's no choice. As an example, I think a few NWS that I have weren't available with dipped, so I made an exception for those. But I don't use them enough that I particularly care what grip they have. For frequently used pliers, it has to be a dipped or it would drive me crazy.

 

[Dave455]

I believe all pliers with the 1000v rating are individually tested, usually to 10,000v.
Also for issues like impacts.

Yes, you are correct, Knipex confirm this.

The only difference seems to be that the multi component grips are slid on, so could presumably be slid off, but the dipped ones can not.

I know that for some uses, insulated tools are required to have insulation in several layers of contrasting colours, so that any damage to the outer layer is immediately visible.

Knipex don’t say they do this, but it would be logical if they did!

 

[oldpliers1]

I have a set of these I keep for HV and high current work

 

[oldpliers1]

I arc’d the needle nose shown in post #21 on 120v. The damage is slightly visible on the right tip about 1” down, a cavity roughly the size of 18ga wire, very minimal.
I’ve shorted 240v but not with pliers. A workmate blew out a pair of dipped Klein linemans once on 240v and it did a number on them but he never got shocked. He was quite lucky.
We were working on industrial systems that had to stay energized. Ive seen my fair share of live wires cut. Its common in the US to see damaged tools from 120v blow outs.

I wish we had a “Show your 1000v insulated tools” thread here, especially now that they are becoming more prevalent in the auto industry.

Hi the new thread is up thanks to your suggestion I have started with the 1938 German pliers . Thank you .

 

[Stubby1743]

Knipex have just introduced new comfort handles with three types of polymer and which now feature the interchangeable "Tend" insert at the handle ends.

This video was released yesterday.

 

[Ton ton]

.

 

[Stubby1743]

Could you do as good a job, speaking in German?

 

[Ton ton]

Could you do as good a job, speaking in German?

No.

 

[dukefx]

So they finally have VBW grips now?

 

[Dave455]

So they finally have VBW grips now?

The Knipex Cobra’s and Twingrips have had these rough texture grips from the start. The pliers wrench switched to them a little while back.

I personally hate these things, horrid to use and worse to clean, although they are not as bad as the awful VBW.

Thankfully my pliers wrench have the older smooth grips, and any more I need I’ll go for the comfort grips.

Can‘t quite see what the deal is on the newer comfort grips, hopefully just a styling tweak as the material the old ones are made of isn’t too bad, but newer is seldom better in my experience.

 

[dukefx]

Nah, they're not the same. I have Cobras, siphon pliers, some long bent nose pliers with long handles, and the Twin Grips with that specific coating. If I had to describe the difference: the VBWs are similar to PB Swiss SwissGrip, and the Knipex are just fine sandpaper. I might be mistaken, but it appears to me based on the video Knipex refined that coating to be more like the VBWs.... or not, who knows. One thing is for sure, they are all indeed hard to clean.

From left to right: Knipex, PB Swiss, VBW

 

[Dave455]

Nah, they're not the same. I have Cobras, siphon pliers, some long bent nose pliers with long handles, and the Twin Grips with that specific coating. If I had to describe the difference: the VBWs are similar to PB Swiss SwissGrip, and the Knipex are just fine sandpaper. I might be mistaken, but it appears to me based on the video Knipex refined that coating to be more like the VBWs.... or not, who knows. One thing is for sure, they are all indeed hard to clean.

From left to right: Knipex, PB Swiss, VBW

VBW may have changed their grips.

I bought some on a deal about ten years ago and they really were like sandpaper. Awful things. Nothing like the PB Swiss Santoprene, much rougher.

 

[oldschoolcraft]

oh dang, I got a pair of comfort grip pliers from Amazon Germany last week, and I was really confused because it has this gray colored rubber on the side and some little tether looking groove in the bottom. Didn't realize it was a whole new thing.

None of this is interesting to me but I can see it could be useful for people working with tethered tools. I think I prefer the older ones but these features dont really get in the way so I dont hate it.

 

[JradM]

As a general rule: comfort grips for pliers 6" and smaller, dipped grips for 7" and over.

On larger pliers I find they add too much bulk for my hand size, compromising strength and dexterity. On small pliers it's the opposite: the extra girth increases how much force I can apply and keeps me from dropping things.

That's only a generality though. I might choose a dipped handle for tiny 4" precision pliers for example, since I'm manipulating those with fingertips instead of my whole hand.

 

[oldschoolcraft]

As a general rule: comfort grips for pliers 6" and smaller, dipped grips for 7" and over.

On larger pliers I find they add too much bulk for my hand size, compromising strength and dexterity. On small pliers it's the opposite: the extra girth increases how much force I can apply and keeps me from dropping things.

That's only a generality though. I might choose a dipped handle for tiny 4" precision pliers for example, since I'm manipulating those with fingertips instead of my whole hand.

Its interesting I dont have that much experience with smaller pliers but I would have assumed the opposite.

I would assume for smaller pliers you want dipped handles, you're trying to maneuver them in small places like a tight engine compartment. Where if you could fit larger pliers, then the thicker comfort grip handles could also fit.

Then again, I see your point, maybe you are using small pliers not for access, but because the object you are gripping or cutting with the pliers is small. And the tool is small not for access but to work with smaller objects.

Since both are possible scenarios I guess the only reasonable solution is to get both large and small pliers in each of comfort and dipped.

 

[neophyte]

oh dang, I got a pair of comfort grip pliers from Amazon Germany last week, and I was really confused because it has this gray colored rubber on the side and some little tether looking groove in the bottom. Didn't realize it was a whole new thing.

None of this is interesting to me but I can see it could be useful for people working with tethered tools. I think I prefer the older ones but these features dont really get in the way so I dont hate it.

There are also colored inserts so that you can color code your pliers, so that you can differentiate the pliers by the end of the handles when in a tool bag or case, and the tether insert can be used in addition to the color coding.

 

[neophyte]

The Knipex Cobra’s and Twingrips have had these rough texture grips from the start. The pliers wrench switched to them a little while back.

I personally hate these things, horrid to use and worse to clean, although they are not as bad as the awful VBW.

Thankfully my pliers wrench have the older smooth grips, and any more I need I’ll go for the comfort grips.

Can‘t quite see what the deal is on the newer comfort grips, hopefully just a styling tweak as the material the old ones are made of isn’t too bad, but newer is seldom better in my experience.

Nah, they're not the same. I have Cobras, siphon pliers, some long bent nose pliers with long handles, and the Twin Grips with that specific coating. If I had to describe the difference: the VBWs are similar to PB Swiss SwissGrip, and the Knipex are just fine sandpaper. I might be mistaken, but it appears to me based on the video Knipex refined that coating to be more like the VBWs.... or not, who knows. One thing is for sure, they are all indeed hard to clean.

From left to right: Knipex, PB Swiss, VBW

Crescent in the USA used to use a similar textured material for their dipped grips.
It was one of the things I hated even though I liked the pliers.
The current Harbor Freight Icon pliers use a nicer material, even if the material is sort of similar.

 

[silkman]

While shopping for the vde combination pliers above, I spotted knipex also sell dipped handle vde 1000v:

Just so you know, this type of VDE tool has a yellow layer underneath. If yellow starts to show from wear you are supposed to discard the tool. And I think thats its purpose, to have a visible indicator as to whether the tool is safe or unsafe. Some companies require this.