Knipex quality issues...? Tips included

[Flash21]

I tested the joints in the Snap-on cutters and needlenose vs. the Knipex. The Knipex joints are good but the Snap-on joints are perfect. Zero side play. They have no side play but they open easy enough and close easy enough. I have used the SO linemans as well. Other than linemans when doing electrical twisting I really do not want pliers that "fall open". I consider that a sign of a cheap worn out plier. The Snap-on solid feel is what I consider ideal.

Do your Snap-On cutters / pliers free up over time?

Some guys stated that they have used Kroil/etc to try and weep into the joint to not make them so stiff and loosen them up.

Good contrast is Klein and Knipex linemans that I have. I have two pair of Knipex and two Kliens. (Difference sizes) Kleins are super stiff out of the box - it takes considerable force to open them. I do expect them to loosen over time. Knipex linemans on the other hand 'fall open' brand new...I'll have to double check if any of my other Knipex 'fall open' but I do know both of my Knipex linemans do...I'm pretty sure I have some Knipex need nose that fall open.

 

[MrMark]

They (Snap-on) seem to work with one finger - the monte test is passed!

My Knipex do not fall open either. As stated below, my only plier that falls open is the Klein lineman and I think it is by design. I do not have Knipex lineman.


I do have a couple of Knipex with a joint as play free as Snap-on. The Knipex is hit or miss though.

My Klein linemans definitely fall open. They loosen up over time.

 

[zer0cell]

Its not that I was trying to bash Knipex, I think overall they are a good brand. Its just I was sort of shocked and disappointed at the same time to see what I did at the store. As one guy mentioned, whenever it is practical/possible, its always good to check the pliers in the store before you buy them. Buying them online might be a little more risky if the online store does not have a good return policy on things like that. in case you get a bad one - no matter what brand...

 

[Monte]

Hand tools are mass produced goods so there always can be something... at about 60.000 pliers produced a day even with a failure rate of 0.01% that still equals in 6 defective tools a day which potentially could leave the factory.

 

[mrshaun]

I try and sell knipex cutters before any other brand. they work and no one complains about them. same for the cobra pliers. I sella ton of 6 inch and 10 cobras and a ton of the 8 and 10 inch cutters. I keep 2-3 pair of each on hand at all times.

 

[mrshaun]

Do your Snap-On cutters / pliers free up over time?

sometimes the pliers/cutters free up and other times they stay tight for life.

 

[bsaint]

Your HD has knipex??

 

[american lockpicker]

Your HD has knipex??

Lowes does its hidden away in the electrical section.

 

[bsaint]

I dont think ours does. I only ever heard of knipex through my old snap on guy.

 

[recall]

Well, ****, I just checked some Felo diagonal cutters (7-inch) that I picked up on the cheap from Amazon, and sure enough, the tips lap over each other when I apply some hefty pressure. Unfortunate, as the grips on them are rather nice.

Time to look into Amazon's return policy... and maybe pick up some Channellocks locally.

 

[oldtools]

I have 3 Klein linemans. Line up pecfectly with no slop. New one has stiff opening. Used one is looser. Also cut very clean.

 

[zer0cell]

Hand tools are mass produced goods so there always can be something... at about 60.000 pliers produced a day even with a failure rate of 0.01% that still equals in 6 defective tools a day which potentially could leave the factory.

If that is true then I only wish I could be so lucky when trying to find a winning lottery ticket

Well, ****, I just checked some Felo diagonal cutters (7-inch) that I picked up on the cheap from Amazon, and sure enough, the tips lap over each other when I apply some hefty pressure. Unfortunate, as the grips on them are rather nice.

Time to look into Amazon's return policy... and maybe pick up some Channellocks locally.

You might also contact the manufacturer and see if it qualifies for a free replacement if it doesn't work with amazon.

I have 3 Klein linemans. Line up pecfectly with no slop. New one has stiff opening. Used one is looser. Also cut very clean.

I have 1 pair of Klein Linemans as well (J2000 series). Personally I like having the slightly stiff joint. It does loosen up over time but mine still do not fall open. I guess its a personal preference thing. There is also no oil leaking out of the joint. Maybe that's one reason why they are stiffer, they did not use much oil...? Also, while overall I am happy with them, the cutting edge seems a bit more prone to chipping than Channellock. I have also been quite disappointed in the durability of their screwdrivers as of late which has kind of left a bad taste in my mouth so to speak. I still have the first set of Klein drivers I bought about 5 years ago and I have used them a lot. They have even cammed out on quite a few occasions and they are still in good shape overall. The new set I bought looked more worn after even 1 month of moderate use. Hmmm... I wonder if they have intentionally lowered the quality so that customers have to buy replacements more often... their warranty after all kinda ***** compared to the competition. At my home depot their linemans are almost $40 which is even more expensive than Knipex and starting to approach the cost of snap-on. If they can bring the quality of their driver tips back to the way they used to be and harden the cutting edges a bit more on their pliers I'd give them a good recommendation but as of now there is definitely room for improvement. At least I have not had problems with their cutting edges lining up.

 

[Monte]

Well, ****, I just checked some Felo diagonal cutters (7-inch) that I picked up on the cheap from Amazon, and sure enough, the tips lap over each other when I apply some hefty pressure. Unfortunate, as the grips on them are rather nice.

Time to look into Amazon's return policy... and maybe pick up some Channellocks locally.

What is "hefty" for you ? with both hands or ?

 

[HandyManny]

Hand tools are mass produced goods so there always can be something... at about 60.000 pliers produced a day even with a failure rate of 0.01% that still equals in 6 defective tools a day which potentially could leave the factory.

As true as this is, you are going to ruin a lot of people day by saying this. Some people like to cling to an image they've built in their minds of fair skinned Americans carefully crafting wrenches and pliers in a neat little factory where everyone is well paid, well taken care of with plenty of job security and where nobody gets dirty doing their job. Of course you and I know better.

 

[Theloniousmonk]

As true as this is, you are going to ruin a lot of people day by saying this. Some people like to cling to an image they've built in their minds of fair skinned Americans carefully crafting wrenches and pliers in a neat little factory where everyone is well paid, well taken care of with plenty of job security and where nobody gets dirty doing their job. Of course you and I know better.

+1...




I've never found a pair of diag's that have a cutting edge I like, so I take a file to them right away... hardest ones to fiel are the Channellocks due to the laminate whatever coating they use - easiest have been kleins and the facoms or any uncoated set.

 

[zer0cell]

Not to change the topic too much but personally I 'cling' to the image of boobies all day long in my mind (no offense intended to the lady viewers)

... well that along with guns and religion according to mr. obama

 

[HandyManny]

Not to change the topic too much but personally I 'cling' to the image of boobies all day long in my mind (no offense intended to the lady viewers)

... well that along with guns and religion according to mr. obama

 

[recall]

What is "hefty" for you ? with both hands or ?

It only takes one hand, and though it's hard to estimate how much force that is, I'm not exactly a burly dude. I'd say near the amount of force you put into making a fist when you're mad. Significant, but not everything I've got.

I'm talking about these:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002YNQVXG/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I do like them, but I'm not sure if their design would let them lock closed without jaw play. Does anyone else have a pair?

Good idea on contacting Felo zer0cell, I'll see what they say on whether this is considered a defect to them.

 

[lwlobo]

I have a big pair of Knipex Combination pliers (their Linesman equivalent?), they're a tiny bit stiff, just enough not to fall open. The leverage is amazing, they'll easily cut through anything. The handle says Piano wire up to 2mm. I love them.

http://chadstoolbox.com/0202225knipex9inchhighleveragecombinationpliers-comfortgrip.aspx

 

[Monte]

Luckily mine work and no problems cutting a single wire of a cable

 

[zer0cell]

Just to let you all know I checked the other lowes stores in the area when I happened to go there to pick up supplies and their Knipex seemed fine. Perhaps just that one store got a bad shipment...? Oh yeah, and Knipex still did not respond to my email. (I was very polite about it btw)

 

[Monte]

KNIPEX TOOLS
Phone: 847-398-8520

 

[recall]

I followed up with Felo and they were very quick to respond and I eventually was forwarded to a Bondhus agent here in the US. They immediately asked for my address such that they could send me a replacement set of diagonal cutters which arrived in less than a week. The new cutters don't show any of the problems I had before and it would take a very large amount of force to get them to overlap.

I'll see how they hold up over time (these are stiffer), but for now I'm very impressed with how Bondhus/Felo has handled this and I'm much more likely to pick up their tools.

 

[zer0cell]

I assume they sent you a return shipping label for the defective unit...? I actually was in contact with a Felo/bondhus agent recently and was informed that they will soon be coming out with a new line of hollow shaft nut drivers. I was told they are in the testing phase right now and should be released in December of this year. Let's see if that happens... They do seem to respond in a timely and courteous manner which is a plus. I'm glad to hear they were so responsive to your claim.

 

[Monte]

I actually was in contact with a Felo/bondhus agent recently and was informed that they will soon be coming out with a new line of hollow shaft nut drivers.

 

[zer0cell]

Thanks monte... that's interesting and different than I imagined. I'll keep my eye out for those...

 

[Theloniousmonk]

I followed up with Felo and they were very quick to respond and I eventually was forwarded to a Bondhus agent here in the US. They immediately asked for my address such that they could send me a replacement set of diagonal cutters which arrived in less than a week. The new cutters don't show any of the problems I had before and it would take a very large amount of force to get them to overlap.

I'll see how they hold up over time (these are stiffer), but for now I'm very impressed with how Bondhus/Felo has handled this and I'm much more likely to pick up their tools.

Excellent to hear! I had a similar experience w/ Bondhaus when I had some product questions regarding their hex keys and the felo ergonomics screwdrivers - great people to deal w/ and felo/bondhaus retail prices are very fair and often lower than some other equal/lesser brands. I am now forever a loyal customer...

 

[recall]

I assume they sent you a return shipping label for the defective unit...? I actually was in contact with a Felo/bondhus agent recently and was informed that they will soon be coming out with a new line of hollow shaft nut drivers. I was told they are in the testing phase right now and should be released in December of this year. Let's see if that happens... They do seem to respond in a timely and courteous manner which is a plus. I'm glad to hear they were so responsive to your claim.

No return shipping label, they didn't even mention wanting the defective pliers back. I suppose if it were obvious I were trying to exploit the warranty they would, but I don't think this was the case. Another plus! Those nut-drivers look really neat, an excuse to get another set.

 

[fr0mastaj]

Figured i'd bump this thread because I received my Knipex Cobolts cutters today... and off the bat I noticed that the finish quality seemed a bit lacking compared to my cobras (cman rebranded cobras at that)

Sorry for crappy cell phone pics - it's all i got.

1st pic - new in package
2nd pic - the 'knipex' branding isnt even flush, you can see that one end of it was ground down a little longer than the other...
3rd pic - poorly painted/finished rivets

These all just seem cosmetic though... I tested it by cutting a random wood screw i found... like BUTTA.

I guess all in all, i just expected better finish quality.
________
Pornstars Lesbian

 

[FNFS2000]

Would not surprise me in the least for substandard product to be sent to the big boxes where DIYs shop. Generally the people that know better stay away from those places. It's common practice with electricronics particularly when their intended destination is a walmart distribution center. Hand tool makers need some place for those .01% failures Monte mentioned...

 

[zer0cell]

Figured i'd bump this thread because I received my Knipex Cobolts cutters today... and off the bat I noticed that the finish quality seemed a bit lacking compared to my cobras (cman rebranded cobras at that)

Sorry for crappy cell phone pics - it's all i got.

1st pic - new in package
2nd pic - the 'knipex' branding isnt even flush, you can see that one end of it was ground down a little longer than the other...
3rd pic - poorly painted/finished rivets

These all just seem cosmetic though... I tested it by cutting a random wood screw i found... like BUTTA.

I guess all in all, i just expected better finish quality.

Where did you get them from out of curiosity?

By the way, it seems plain foolish to me if a manufacturer be it Knipex or whoever would send second rate stuff with their branding on it out to stores to sell. I mean it could be lowes, amazon, or hell even ebay... They make a few dollars selling their second rate stuff but how many customers will they loose. I mean if I bought a couple second rate stuff would I rather risk paying top dollar again for that sort of "quality" or spend my money with a more consistent brand that does not engage in such tactics? I think the answer to that is clear...

I guess my point is, I kind of doubt Knipex would do that on purpose. At least I would hope not. Why not just re-brand it under another label and sell it cheaper... I'd have no problem with that. I mean if the pliers are still good but with just cosmetic or minor performance defects you can still sell them... just cheaper and MARK THEM AS SUCH. However, to make a professional literally have to closely examine all the units in a store to find a decent one is ridiculous. Talk about poor management and being narrow sighted. Anyway, I'm not saying Knipex is doing this, I'm just saying it would be a ridiculous business strategy in my opinion to do so...

 

[Monte]

If you check tools with a microscope you always will find something

 

[FNFS2000]

Guess it's a gamble with statistics, most people that concerned about quality don't buy tools at such cheap DIY centered places.