Carquest
Well-known member
So,
New to this forum. Big fan of Knipex pliers, anyone think there are better ones out there?
New to this forum. Big fan of Knipex pliers, anyone think there are better ones out there?
Knipex pliers
- Thread starter Carquest
- Start date
kctyphoon
Banned
IMO the 2 best brands are Knipex and NWS.
There are nice pliers from a lot of brands, but basically EVERYTHING Knipex makes is really nice. I just got an email from them the other day with these beautiful long reach pliers:
View media item 65493
I already have nice Proto long reach pliers but these are just so purrdy.
View media item 65493
I already have nice Proto long reach pliers but these are just so purrdy.
neonlazer
Well-known member
Agreed, I wish I had kept the fanstaticos(or whatever the heavy duty cutters were called)
Fireworks, I don't like you. I like the fact that they have the extra gripping areas. I think mine are just plain straight jaws.
$44 each OUCHY
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LB-1911
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Thread from Oct of this year - quick read @ 56 posts.
Knipex vs Snap-On
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=340997
Another quick read - March 2016
Snap-On vs Knipex
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=322434
There are numerous sources for Knipex one of which is -
https://mobiledistributorsupply.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=knipex
10% off 1st order
https://mobiledistributorsupply.com/coupons
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neonlazer
Well-known member
Snap On does make some excellent stuff as well. Just a bit out of my price range for the electrical ones. If you a professional mechanic and don't have access to Knipex easily(for warranty reasons) I would be on them like cat on a rat.
shockwave
Well-known member
There are certain pliers that snap on does better than knipex but mostly knipex is better
Snap ring pliers knipex
Diagonal cutters knipex
Water pump pliers cobra knipex
Pliers wrench knipex
Talon grip slip joint snap on
Wire crimpers strippers snap on
Needle nose knipex
Mostly knipex but a few must haves from snap on
Snap ring pliers knipex
Diagonal cutters knipex
Water pump pliers cobra knipex
Pliers wrench knipex
Talon grip slip joint snap on
Wire crimpers strippers snap on
Needle nose knipex
Mostly knipex but a few must haves from snap on
Dave455
Well-known member
I think a lot of this depends on where you are in the world!
If you're in the U.S. Knipex may be relatively new to you. You might almost think them a bit of 'forbidden' European fruit, which is fine, but don't be tempted to pay silly money for 'em!
Coming from the U.K. where Knipex have been around for years, I can hopefully give a balanced opinion!
Well, in a coupla words, they're good! Back in the 70's, if you'd asked me how they stood up against the equivalent British product, I'd have said they wern't quite as good! Looking st 70's vintage Knipex now, and comparing to Elliott Lucas, Record or Wilkinsons of the era, I'd stand by that. The British product was more rugged and better finished. Knipex sold on price.
Wind on 40 years and the British products are gone - all trashed by incompetent management who were trying to sell on price when it was evident the Far East had won that market! As for Knipex, they've got steadily better. The patterns seem to have got stronger, the finish better, and yet the price remains seriously competitive! They have to be the best value out there at the mo!
Are they the best? Not quite. Compare modern Knipex with say the 'Vacuum' Grip' pliers offerred by Snap On into the 80's and there's no contest. Comparing same sizes, the Snappys are better made, stronger and better finished. Sadly those tools are as long gone as the British ones.
As regards modern pliers I think the top grades of Keiba (not all, but the best ones) outclass Knipex. I suspect Nepros do too, but these are quite niche. The other German brands (VBW and to an extent NWS) are at least the equal of Knipex and I've seen Swiss stuff that's a notch above!
So, would I advise buying Knipex - you bet I would - but just remember my Knipex is about a third the price of the Snap On equivalent, and a good deal cheaper than Channellock. If it wasn't, it would be a harder call!
Edit - folks, it's worth bearing in mind, that when you buy a German made product priced in euros you are getting a really good deal! The currency is pegged at a level reflecting the performance of a huge number of countries with very different economies! If Germany still had the Deutschmark, it would be a very strong currency and German tools would be expensive everywhere, and probably prohibitively so in the U.S.
At the moment, here in the U.K. I can buy top end German made tools for no more money than the Taiwanese shite is in the U.S. My advice - do so while you can!
If you're in the U.S. Knipex may be relatively new to you. You might almost think them a bit of 'forbidden' European fruit, which is fine, but don't be tempted to pay silly money for 'em!
Coming from the U.K. where Knipex have been around for years, I can hopefully give a balanced opinion!
Well, in a coupla words, they're good! Back in the 70's, if you'd asked me how they stood up against the equivalent British product, I'd have said they wern't quite as good! Looking st 70's vintage Knipex now, and comparing to Elliott Lucas, Record or Wilkinsons of the era, I'd stand by that. The British product was more rugged and better finished. Knipex sold on price.
Wind on 40 years and the British products are gone - all trashed by incompetent management who were trying to sell on price when it was evident the Far East had won that market! As for Knipex, they've got steadily better. The patterns seem to have got stronger, the finish better, and yet the price remains seriously competitive! They have to be the best value out there at the mo!
Are they the best? Not quite. Compare modern Knipex with say the 'Vacuum' Grip' pliers offerred by Snap On into the 80's and there's no contest. Comparing same sizes, the Snappys are better made, stronger and better finished. Sadly those tools are as long gone as the British ones.
As regards modern pliers I think the top grades of Keiba (not all, but the best ones) outclass Knipex. I suspect Nepros do too, but these are quite niche. The other German brands (VBW and to an extent NWS) are at least the equal of Knipex and I've seen Swiss stuff that's a notch above!
So, would I advise buying Knipex - you bet I would - but just remember my Knipex is about a third the price of the Snap On equivalent, and a good deal cheaper than Channellock. If it wasn't, it would be a harder call!
Edit - folks, it's worth bearing in mind, that when you buy a German made product priced in euros you are getting a really good deal! The currency is pegged at a level reflecting the performance of a huge number of countries with very different economies! If Germany still had the Deutschmark, it would be a very strong currency and German tools would be expensive everywhere, and probably prohibitively so in the U.S.
At the moment, here in the U.K. I can buy top end German made tools for no more money than the Taiwanese shite is in the U.S. My advice - do so while you can!
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Noted and Done!
Interesting, I sell Knipex and Channellock, and would not consider the price of Knipex cheap, except compared to Snap On possibly. I would make an educated guess that Knipex are 20% higher than Channellock, but imo they are a much better plier in most situations. I personally own some Wera tools that I really like, but they too are what I consider pretty pricey here in the U.S.
bcradio
Well-known member
It's only cheaper in Europe, not here in the states
FigureItOut
Well-known member
The Gearwrench double X would be the same as the Crescent, both being Apex, correct?
I have some Keiba side cutters and they are excellent. I agree that their "High Grade" FCC/FC series are top notch...
Limited in sizes and availability here in the U.S. though...
shockwave
Well-known member
There is a lot of good feedback here and knipex is fairly reasonable compared to snap on if you shop right but still not compared to channellock level but these are much higher quality than chanellock imo
And I love German tools myself too but sadly here in the USA the import tax causes the prices to go high look at a hazet spark plug socket compared to snap on here
And matco has been using knipex for pliers for years now
And I love German tools myself too but sadly here in the USA the import tax causes the prices to go high look at a hazet spark plug socket compared to snap on here
And matco has been using knipex for pliers for years now
Empty Pockets
Well-known member
I have a pliers drawer with about every maker in the States. *** I have a little "extra" money, I am upgrading some of them to Knipex. So far, I have Cobras and Pliers Wrench, love both.
Qualitytools
Well-known member
I discovered Knipex with their Plier-Wrench and have added several pieces since, no regrets!
Bill Bowman
Well-known member
I really like my Knipex. Their hat is also pretty nice.
Coolabah
Well-known member
are we talking Brexit sequelae here ?
pgilmore7
Well-known member
I have both Knipex and Snap-On pliers, my Knipex Cobra is my most used. Both brands are top notch though.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
No good deals on tools in the U.K. Everything is crazy expensive. Especially with the pound so low. Love the U.K., loved living there, but glad to be back in the US. VAT alone makes everything so expensive. Snap On in the U.K. was nuts. And I bought a lot of it. On special, it was sometimes the same as retail in the US.
No perfect place to live for middle class people. Each place has pluses and minuses. Can't see many pluses in the U.K. Toolwise.
hangfirew8
Well-known member
Yes. The Crescent has larger sculpted handles, the GW the usual foam, so take your pick.
They won't compare to Knipex in finish, and probably not in metallurgy, but as long as Apex has the Double-X patent, they are worth getting. I have the alligator/bent pair and the hose end triple set. They have already paid for themselves getting spark plug boots out and inner tie rod end boots on. They are a must for modern auto tight spaces.
I also have one pair of Knipex PliersWrench... Now I want more sizes. Versatile, from sheet metal work, to plumbing, to auto work.
-HF
tool wise uk and europe pretty expensive plus limited choice (so much china and taiwan junk under various branding) and snapon mac crazy money plus used market nothing like US .
Knipex was a good buy but indeed current week pound making it more costly at moment.
German tools such knipex, CK, Wera, Stahlwille or french Facom still tend be a better buy for what those brands excel in purely as the US tool truck brand pricing are so high here.
No tool maker is great at everything but knipex do a good job on most the range of pliers they produce . I have couple of their side cutters and they hold an edge for years and great feel/leverage in hand too . quality pliers cost and even mid range stuff is poor so it one of those tool areas where spending extra pays you back in the long haul .
Knipex was a good buy but indeed current week pound making it more costly at moment.
German tools such knipex, CK, Wera, Stahlwille or french Facom still tend be a better buy for what those brands excel in purely as the US tool truck brand pricing are so high here.
No tool maker is great at everything but knipex do a good job on most the range of pliers they produce . I have couple of their side cutters and they hold an edge for years and great feel/leverage in hand too . quality pliers cost and even mid range stuff is poor so it one of those tool areas where spending extra pays you back in the long haul .
R_einan
Well-known member
I have a number of different brands of pliers; craftsman (old stuff), newish snap on, old vacuum grip snap on, Mac (channellock rebrand), other no name stuff. I've handled knipex but never bought any, yet anyway... Really want a set of thier circlip pliers but haven't ponied up the cash for them yet. Their quality seems top notch from what little exposure I've had.