Knipex or wiha snap ring pliers

[bobcatdan]

So I'm thinking about upgrading to a one piece snap ring plier. I have a Mac 12 piece convertible set which I think is made by Wilde. They work fine, but I hate how the pivot screw will keep loosening up on a stubborn snap ring. Even the 1/4 turns ones loosen up. I'm guessing it is a horse a piece between knipex and wiha, but if you find one is better, I'd like to know before spending the money. I see wiha advertises a magic tip, any good or a gimmick?

 

[devoncoolman]

I have some knipex and i like them better then my two piece versions (snap-on). But the knipex were so friggen expensive and my snap-on's cover internal and external instead of have to have multiple pairs for internal and external.

 

[Matt Irvine]

I bought an 8 piece knipex set for 130ish (Australia) added a 75-125 internal and external, I love them! Really free and smooth.

 

[gte718p]

I have the 4 piece knipex. I don't use them often, however today I had to break them out reassembling my jack. I was thinking about how glad I was I had good tools.

 

[franzdom]

I can't believe Wiha is anywhere near the quality of the Knipex, we are talking possibly VietNam vs definitely Germany.

 

[bobcatdan]

I can't believe Wiha is anywhere near the quality of the Knipex, we are talking possibly VietNam vs definitely Germany.

I don't keep on wiha. I don't own any, but was under the impression they were a well respected company on this board. I have no idea the pilers in question COO.

 

[franzdom]

Wiha makes great stuff and their swiss pliers are sweet, I have several pair. I am not keen on buying Vietnam ones. Knipex ones with the hardened pins are some of the finest available.

The NWS are nice too, not quite on par with the top of the line Knipex though.

Style 48 & 49 are their best, while style 44 & 46 are more on par with the NWS and other merely great ones.

 

[Dave455]

I reckon the Knipex are ahead of the Wiha! Remember, Knipex are a plier manufacturer, Wiha a screwdriver maker! Having said that, I've seen a goodish range of the Wiha pliers at a local dealer and they don't look bad! Way ahead of Chinese!

The best snap ring/circlip pliers I own are British made Elliott Lucas. They are one of the few that are made as well as proper pliers! Most makers make their circlip pliers a bit simpler in design!

 

[shockwave]

Knipex precision all day the best snap ring pliers imo

 

[Fcvapor05]

Knipex or Snap-On forged for snap ring pliers.

 

[greasemonkey44]

My knipex kick so much ***; haven't seen wiha
Those knipex are really well made; perfection for jobs I really dislike
I have snapon/imperial/stride as well; every once in a while they are still handy

 

[gagreen]

I can't believe Wiha is anywhere near the quality of the Knipex, we are talking possibly VietNam vs definitely Germany.

All my vietnam wiha pliers are extremely nice. I mean nice enough to make me seek them out and often use them over my knipex. I only have needle nose in both tho so to the op... Get snap on snap ring pliers lol, really stinking nice.

 

[nicksnothereman]

So I'm thinking about upgrading to a one piece snap ring plier. I have a Mac 12 piece convertible set which I think is made by Wilde. They work fine, but I hate how the pivot screw will keep loosening up on a stubborn snap ring. Even the 1/4 turns ones loosen up. I'm guessing it is a horse a piece between knipex and wiha, but if you find one is better, I'd like to know before spending the money. I see wiha advertises a magic tip, any good or a gimmick?

Put something tacky on the screw. Unless you use snap ring pliers a lot it doesn't make sense to buy more than what you got because what you got is better than most of what people got.

Otherwise no one has anything bad to say about knipex except maybe the price.

 

[zkling]

I lucked into a Matco branded knipex set a while back at a garage sale. I used to think my old Walds Tru arc and milbar pliers were nice. The Matco/knipex are so much nicer. If price isn't an issue go with them. Maybe the matco offerings would be cheaper (used route) than directly from knipex?

 

[dede2897234]

franzdom,

Can you please go into further detail on why the NWS snap ring pliers are not as good as the Knipex?

Thanks,


Dave

 

[Steve_P]

I'm sure I have 50+ Wiha drivers, I love them, but the Knipex snap ring pliers are awesome. And really expensive . I started with one of the basic sets and then added a few a month when I found good deals. I also have NWS pliers, and like their general plier line over Knipex. I do prefer the Knipex cobras over NWS offerings.

 

[MattPersman]

Wiha and knipex are both good I have both, but reach for my snap on forged for most of my jobs when required.

 

[franzdom]

franzdom,

Can you please go into further detail on why the NWS snap ring pliers are not as good as the Knipex?

Thanks,

Dave

Most of mine are NWS, and Knipex makes some like this too.

This I wrote about Knipex:

"Style 48 & 49 are their best, while style 44 & 46 are more on par with the NWS and other merely great ones."

The 48 & 49 have hardened inserts.
Here is from their website, translated by Google:

-With inserted tips for safe work
-highly durable in continuous use up to 10 times longer service life compared to being turned tips
-joint with screw: precise, zero backlash operation of pliers

The inserts make for a very precise tip that I have been able to fit in holes better than with the NWS also. The construction is a bit better, perhaps more forged, and I like that there is a screw on the joint. They also are available with a stop for repetitive work without overstressing the circlip.

Knipex

 

[Nortonscustom]

I can't believe Wiha is anywhere near the quality of the Knipex, we are talking possibly VietNam vs definitely Germany.

I picked up a set of Wiha a while back when they were on sale. Showed up a mixed lot of German and Vietnam COO. I can tell absolutely no difference between them. They may be made in Vietnam but I guarantee there's some heavy handed German supervision and QC at that plant.

I have some Knipex as well that I've bought as singles and yes they are nice. But not that much nicer to justify the price difference when it came time to buy a set.

 

[franzdom]

That is good to know, thank you!

 

[Nickmm]

I thought I had a nice set of snap-ring pliers. But wow, these are quite nice. I have a set of Snap-on, and some mac ones, as well as a T&E tools 2-piece set. I think these Knipex 1-up my snap-on set, which I have problems with sometimes. Anyone ever done Air dryers on Semi-trucks with the huge snap-ring holding the purge valve in? That one will actually bend my snap-on pliers and fly out of the tips.

 

[franzdom]

Knipex also makes this style for really big stuff...

 

[Fcvapor05]

I thought I had a nice set of snap-ring pliers. But wow, these are quite nice. I have a set of Snap-on, and some mac ones, as well as a T&E tools 2-piece set. I think these Knipex 1-up my snap-on set, which I have problems with sometimes. Anyone ever done Air dryers on Semi-trucks with the huge snap-ring holding the purge valve in? That one will actually bend my snap-on pliers and fly out of the tips.

Do you have the forged snap-ons or non forged?

I have the forged ones, I use them a fair bit, and they've been excellent so far.

Not being a strictly snap-on fanboy- the Knipex ones are just as good in my opinion. What swayed the decision for me was that I'd had a bad experience with my previous snap-ring pliers bending and breaking tips, and I wanted the set that was going to be the easiest to replace under warranty.

 

[Grant Gunderson]

Hey guys, I'm in the market for a new snap ring set. I have to deal with snaprings faily often and hate my combo set, and the cheap tectonics ones judt bend. Pretty sold on going hte Knipex route, then found these Whia ones: http://www.wihatools.com/300seri/346serie.htm Anyone know the COO and how they compare to the Knipex?

Thanks!

 

[firworks]

I've had no issues with my Vietnam Wihas as well. They're very nice for pretty cheap.

 

[dede2897234]

Hey guys, I'm in the market for a new snap ring set. I have to deal with snaprings faily often and hate my combo set, and the cheap tectonics ones judt bend. Pretty sold on going hte Knipex route, then found these Whia ones: http://www.wihatools.com/300seri/346serie.htm Anyone know the COO and how they compare to the Knipex?

Thanks!

Grant Gunderson,

If you click on the wihatools.com link you provided, in the description for the Wiha Magic Tip ring pliers, it says "Forgings Wiha Vietnam".


Dave

 

[Grant Gunderson]

Grant Gunderson,

If you click on the wihatools.com link you provided, in the description for the Wiha Magic Tip ring pliers, it says "Forgings Wiha Vietnam".


Dave

Thanks! Guess I was a bit blind this am.

Guys any thoughts on if the notched tips have any merit?

 

[jrobb316]

A lot of people don't realize that Asian made and China made are completely different. As a general rule Taiwan and Vietnamese are high quality, especially when wiha or someone else is putting their name on it. China is mostly junk as they are more into looking good than actually making them good. There are numerous topics and books written on this subject. Both mentioned countries are also coincidently enemies of the chicoms.

 

[Krokodil]

I use Stahlwille circlip pliers. Made by VBW in Germany. Very happy with them.

 

[dede2897234]

Thanks! Guess I was a bit blind this am.

Guys any thoughts on if the notched tips have any merit?

Grant Gunderson,

GJ member "bigfunwmu" posted his thoughts about the Wiha Magic Tip pliers after owing and using them for a while (post #8): LINK.

This is a nice Amazon customer review about these pliers: LINK.

Finally, on KC Tool Company's website (a reseller of fine German hand tools), they posted a video of an employee demoing the use of the Wiha pliers on a snap ring: LINK.


Dave

 

[Grant Gunderson]

A lot of people don't realize that Asian made and China made are completely different. As a general rule Taiwan and Vietnamese are high quality, especially when wiha or someone else is putting their name on it. China is mostly junk as they are more into looking good than actually making them good. There are numerous topics and books written on this subject. Both mentioned countries are also coincidently enemies of the chicoms.

Agreed 100%. I do spend a lot of time working in both Japan and Switzerland, and have a lot of respect for the QC of the compaines there regardless of where they are making there products. That beign said, my Czech Wera drivers are no where near the quality of my PB Swiss ones with a few exceptions.

 

[tshetter]

I haven't used them yet but they feel very well built. Spring loaded, no play in the joint, comfortable handles, and good handle shape.

I would recommend you give them a try.

 

[sicnarf247]

I bought 1 Wiha magic tip snap ring pliers and it works MAGICALLY. Thing is i need a smaller size for smaller rings i work with (gas pumps) and wiha doesnt offer that. They only offer standard for the smallest sizes (guess the points are too skinny to make those groves sturdy). Makes me wonder why other manufacturers are NOT using this same design. I'm so sick of my uncles snap on snap ring plier. Might be bias because his tool is many years old and the right point is a little shorter than the left point and it slips out a lot during usage. Anyways I hope they come out with the magic tip for smaller sizes!