Knipex quality issues

[scooby074]

Ive noticed 3 threads in the official Knipex channel in the last month highlighting Knipex failures where the actual steel has broken. This seems pretty crazy. I get that there will be failures for any company that sells millions of tools, but this seems like a lot.

At least one of the tools was purchased from a reputable dealer, some were Amazon. Has anyone ever seen similar?

 

[will335i]

I saw a post on reddit and now this. Failures can happen even with the best tools out there. These all appear to be issues with the metallurgy, brittle fractures without additional deformation of the tool that I would expect to see if it was being "abused". I will say those electricians pliers in the middle look pretty suspect though. I would like to see a closer picture of the cobras, there looks to be some pitting on the machined surface of the lower jaw and possibly some rust coloration where it was fractured.

I have quite a few Knipex pliers and personally will continue to buy them because I know if I get a failure like what is shown here they will stand behind it and replace it.

 

[PCustoms]

Ive noticed 3 threads in the official Knipex channel in the last month highlighting Knipex failures where the actual steel has broken. This seems pretty crazy. I get that there will be failures for any company that sells millions of tools, but this seems like a lot.

At least one of the tools was purchased from a reputable dealer, some were Amazon. Has anyone ever seen similar?

You broke all these?

 

[zendriver]

I would wonder if the break was intentional or the tool(s) abused.

It is the Internet.

 

[Beerhippie]

I've been pushing my 87 01 125 5" Cobras to, and beyond--their limits for over a year now and they're still going strong. I made a little 5" extension bar for them to be sure I was overloading them. They're worn shiny from EDC in my pocket.

 

[mikey03]

The bad part of this is that from what I hear, knipex doesn’t have a warranty. They say they got a warranty but if you brake them they say it was abused and deny is, is what I always read online.

 

[Fixr]

I could break any of those that way and take pictures. I'd want the story and explanation of how it happened before making a judgement. I don't think Knipex is either perfect or immune to intentional attack. And I'm getting tired of influencers either way.

 

[PCustoms]

And I'm getting tired of influencers either way.

I'm still trying to figure out if the OP has an issue, or if he is just parroting information from somewhere else and re-posting images into a single location

 

[Fixr]

I'm still trying to figure out if the OP has an issue, or if he is just parroting information form somewhere else and re-posting images into a single location

I've seen a few hit pieces in my life, and have become a bit skeptical. I'm no Kanipex fanboi, either. I'd like to see evidence and background

 

[dchawk81]

Those flush cutters must have encountered a zip tie made of kryptonite.

 

[Cc_windsurfer]

The bad part of this is that from what I hear, knipex doesn’t have a warranty. They say they got a warranty but if you brake them they say it was abused and deny is, is what I always read online.

If you read it online, it must be true,,,

 

[Beerhippie]

If you read it online, it must be true,,,

Especially if you read it on Garage Journal!

 

[Chris_Hamilton]

If they got the heat treat wrong then stuff like that could happen. Never seen it with anything Knipex I have. Who knows?

 

[Fixr]

Those flush cutters must have encountered a zip tie made of kryptonite.

As you well know, if anyone ever posts a photo of a broken tool, it's incontrovertible proof that every tool sold under that brand name is and ever more will be junk.

Just as when anyone posts a photo of a tool that has survived some abuse, it's incontrovertible proof that every tool sold under that brand name is utterly unbreakable.

 

[scooby074]

You broke all these?

Nope. My knipex are all working fine.

It was more if anyone noticed any qc issues of late. There were multiple posts in the last week and others going back months showing jaw failures

In all my years wrenching, including professionally, I dont recall ever seeing pliers broke like that either by me or anyone else.

Wondering if perhaps some counterfeits got out into the wild or something

 

[PCustoms]

Nope. My knioex are all working fine.

It was more if anyone noticed any qc issues of late. There were multiple posts in the last week and others going back months showing jaw failures

Where?

Why not chime in on those posts?

 

[Fixr]

Nope. My knioex are all working fine.

It was more if anyone noticed any qc issues of late. There were multiple posts in the last week and others going back months showing jaw failures

In all my years wrenching, including professionally, I dont recall ever seeing pliers broke like that either by me or anyone else.

Wondering if perhaps some counterfeits got out into the wild or something

I have seen a lot of high end tools broken. I just took it as proof that some idiots can break a crowbar in a sandbox, or an anvil with a rubber mallet. On top of that, I've never encountered a tool maker whose products never had a flaw. Anything can break. I'm more concerned with how the manufacturer handles the failure.

 

[eejack]

All tools break.
I break a lot of tools.
Knipex is just more expensive to replace, though I personally believe they are amongst the more difficult to break.

It does "seem" like all of the pictured breaks are tip pressure breaks, to make up a term for it. Grabbing something with the very tip of the plier and squeezing the bejebus out of them will do that, or at least in my personal experience.

I recently destroyed a pair of channellocks trying to hold a nut while using an impact on the bolt because, of course the pliers were too small and I could only just barely get them onto the nut. I went a got a pipe wrench after that didn't work out. If I was able to find the snapped off piece it would have looked like picture number 3.

 

[scooby074]

Where?

Why not chime in on those posts?

Reddit. On the official knipex channel


Problem is Reddit's S/N ratio is horrible. Even on the official factory sub Knipex doesn't really respond other than to say "Contact knipex"

Figured if any sute on the net would have seen something similar it would be here

 

[Fixr]

All tools break.
I break a lot of tools.
Knipex is just more expensive to replace, though I personally believe they are amongst the more difficult to break.

It does "seem" like all of the pictured breaks are tip pressure breaks, to make up a term for it. Grabbing something with the very tip of the plier and squeezing the bejebus out of them will do that, or at least in my personal experience.

I recently destroyed a pair of channellocks trying to hold a nut while using an impact on the bolt because, of course the pliers were too small and I could only just barely get them onto the nut. I went a got a pipe wrench after that didn't work out. If I was able to find the snapped off piece it would have looked like picture number 3.

I must admit to having pushed tools way beyond reason. Only a few of them broke. That didn't prove they were junk, I just knowingly abused them to death because it was the reasonable thing to do at the time.

 

[Fixr]

Nope. My knioex are all working fine.

It was more if anyone noticed any qc issues of late. There were multiple posts in the last week and others going back months showing jaw failures

In all my years wrenching, including professionally, I dont recall ever seeing pliers broke like that either by me or anyone else.

Wondering if perhaps some counterfeits got out into the wild or something

Or maybe there are posters who are slightly less than honest. "Hit" campaigns are becoming increasingly common. Use a vise or a BFH to break a tool, and claim "It just broke". As long as it gets clicks, ya know?

 

[finn]

Warranties are marketing gimmicks designed to lure suckers.. I think tools should be warranties for 30 days,magains obvios manufacturing defects, and after that, you’re on your own.

 

[scooby074]

Or maybe there are posters who are slightly less than honest. "Hit" campaigns are becoming increasingly common. Use a vise or a BFH to break a tool, and claim "It just broke". As long as it gets clicks, ya know?

Sure, maybe. But these are single posts going back a couple months, on a relatively obscure website. I think these are just organic failures. This isnt supposed to be a slam on knipex.

I suppose we can spend another 20 pages discussing hair in shopping cart wheels? Would that be better?

 

[richfinn]

Ive noticed 3 threads in the official Knipex channel in the last month highlighting Knipex failures where the actual steel has broken. This seems pretty crazy. I get that there will be failures for any company that sells millions of tools, but this seems like a lot.

At least one of the tools was purchased from a reputable dealer, some were Amazon. Has anyone ever seen similar?

I have those same Knipex flush cuts, I would buy them again tomorrow if anything ever happened to them (I wouldn't even try to warranty either)

 

[cody1325]

If it's Reddit--chances are, some dodo did something stupid and then tried to blame the manufacturer.

My three smallest Knipex have seen all sorts of abuse, and not a one has broken. Honestly, I've done jobs with the 125mm Cobra and 140mm Combination pliers that should've been handled by bigger tools. Yes, there's some marring in the jaws, but that's it.

 

[Fixr]

Sure, maybe. But these are single posts going back a couple months, on a relatively obscure website. I think these are just organic failures. This isnt supposed to be a slam on knipex.

I suppose we can spend another 20 pages discussing hair in shopping cart wheels? Would that be better?

Or maybe since Knipex sells a whole lot of pliers, a few will break now and then? I don't have the answers, I've just become a bit skeptical about complaints in forums.

 

[scooby074]

Or maybe since Knipex sells a whole lot of pliers, a few will break now and then? I don't have the answers, I've just become a bit skeptical about complaints in forums.

Fair enough. But as I said in the first post, any company will have failures.

I was more genuinely curious as to where the problem pliers came from, some posters admitted they came from Amazon, which makes me wonder if these were counterfeits because Amazon is rife with them.

 

[Fixr]

Fair enough. But as I said in the first post, any company will have failures.

I was more genuinely curious as to where the problem pliers came from, some posters admitted they came from Amazon, which makes me wonder if these were counterfeits because Amazon is rife with them.

That is a possibility. Being a cynical retired mechanic, my first thought is that Bubba set out to break them in order to post a complaint, but it may just be that the tools didn't live up to reasonable expectations.

 

[Fixr]

I have those same Knipex flush cuts, I would buy them again tomorrow if anything ever happened to them (I wouldn't even try to warranty either)

I've never seen flush cuts that were intended to cut more than thin copper wire or plastic. Usually imprinted on the tool. I would have to see the broken-off jaw to make any sort of judgement. If the missing jaw has a notch out of it, I would bet on Bubba.

 

[richfinn]

I've never seen flush cuts that were intended to cut more than thin copper wire or plastic. Usually imprinted on the tool. I would have to see the broken-off jaw to make any sort of judgement. If the missing jaw has a notch out of it, I would bet on Bubba.

They have been busted on purpose, probably by a Snap-On dealer or an ICON dude

 

[scooby074]

That is a possibility. Being a cynical retired mechanic, my first thought is that Bubba set out to break them in order to post a complaint, but it may just be that the tools didn't live up to reasonable expectations.

Sure. I suppose thats always an option. Although, different posters. Different days. Different tools. I would have liked to see more of an official response from Knipex other than "Contact Knipex" then no additional followup. Personally Ive never had to warranty a Knipex tool and I hope to keep it that way, but from what the other posters on the site say, Knipex can be hard to get warranty out of.

As to Bubba's. I worked Heavy Duty, some of my coworkers could break an anvil! lol.

 

[Fixr]

Sure. I suppose thats always an option. Although, different posters. Different days. Different tools. I would have liked to see more of an official response from Knipex other than "Contact Knipex" then no additional followup. Personally Ive never had to warranty a Knipex tool and I hope to keep it that way, but from what the other posters on the site say, Knipex can be hard to get warranty out of.

As to Bubba's. I worked Heavy Duty, some of my coworkers could break an anvil! lol.

If I were Knipex, I would not get involved in the toxic black hole of Reddit discussions. Saying "Contact us" seems quite reasonable to me. I would also not assume that because some Redditors said it was hard to get warranty that it was actually true. I might post a thread here about how Knipex handles warranty. Why don't you try that?

 

[L.Cheapo]

I have a fair bit of Knipex tools, and I like them all. Except the locking pliers. Those are garbage; half a step above dollar store. They've been relegated to welding duty, otherwise they'd be in the cardboard box of misfit tools under my toolbox. Everything else, I've gotten good service from. It's been at least a decade since I broke any tool.

 

[scooby074]

If I were Knipex, I would not get involved in the toxic black hole of Reddit discussions. Saying "Contact us" seems quite reasonable to me. I would also not assume that because some Redditors said it was hard to get warranty that it was actually true. I might post a thread here about how Knipex handles warranty. Why don't you try that?

Honestly I just dont care that much and would much rather post here than Reddit. I just posted this thread as something we might like to talk about considering this is a tool forum after all. My Knipex are fine.

 

[Fixr]

Honestly I just dont care that much and would much rather post here than Reddit. I just posted this thread as something we might like to talk about considering this is a tool forum after all. My Knipex are fine.

Fair enough.

 

[mikey03]

The internet is weird. someone posts pic of broken tools from a certain tool brand. A bunch of people say that’s proof the tool brand is dying.

Another bunch or people come in and call the people that broke the tools idiots and there sure the tools are completely fine, no chance the company had a bad batch of heat treats recently, must be idiot tool users or worse, malicious people who purposely broke the tools to defame the untouchable loved company who do no wrong.

Honestly it seems obvious to me the answer is in the middle. Maybe they had a bad batch. Maybe people just got unlucky since even good batches have defects. And maybe it turns out the people who got unlucky this last month happened to be Reddit users whereas in the past bad batches were split into people who don’t use Reddit and maybe who don’t even use there tools much.

I have a few knipex pliers I haven’t used once yet. I’m not a tool collector, I plan to use them but just haven’t yet. Some got on sale some were a few friends chipped in to split shipping and ordered from Amazon Germany. It’s been a year since we made that order I got some electrician pliers I never used yet for handyman work. They were like 70% off American regular prices due to buying direct and a real good exchange rate for German dollars.

They might brake the first time I use them and now people will attack me for saying it’s been a whole year it’s not knipex fault. And I I said I haven’t used them once they will attack me and say I am just a tool collector and I should only buy tools I plan to use heavily within the next 30 days.

honestly I have never broken a knipex tool, I like them alot but the online discussion is real funny to see people picking sides.

 

[richfinn]

The internet is weird. someone posts pic of broken tools from a certain tool brand. A bunch of people say that’s proof the tool brand is dying.

Another bunch or people come in and call the people that broke the tools idiots and there sure the tools are completely fine, no chance the company had a bad batch of heat treats recently, must be idiot tool users or worse, malicious people who purposely broke the tools to defame the untouchable loved company who do no wrong.

Honestly it seems obvious to me the answer is in the middle. Maybe they had a bad batch. Maybe people just got unlucky since even good batches have defects. And maybe it turns out the people who got unlucky this last month happened to be Reddit users whereas in the past bad batches were split into people who don’t use Reddit and maybe who don’t even use there tools much.

I have a few knipex pliers I haven’t used once yet. I’m not a tool collector, I plan to use them but just haven’t yet. Some got on sale some were a few friends chipped in to split shipping and ordered from Amazon Germany. It’s been a year since we made that order I got some electrician pliers I never used yet for handyman work. They were like 70% off American regular prices due to buying direct and a real good exchange rate for German dollars.

They might brake the first time I use them and now people will attack me for saying it’s been a whole year it’s not knipex fault. And I I said I haven’t used them once they will attack me and say I am just a tool collector and I should only buy tools I plan to use heavily within the next 30 days.

honestly I have never broken a knipex tool, I like them alot but the online discussion is real funny to see people picking sides.

They all make duds (even Snap-On), but those Knipex Flush Cuts/Cobras aren't one of them, they have either been abused or sabotaged in my opinion.

I also think that Knipex locking grips **** and I'm not just defending them for the sake of it, they do make some ****

 

[dnschmidt]

I'll keep buying Knipex till the day I die. What jack-offs on Reddit say makes no difference to me. By the way what is Reddit anyway?

 

[Wamsutta]

The bad part of this is that from what I hear, knipex doesn’t have a warranty. They say they got a warranty but if you brake them they say it was abused and deny is, is what I always read online.

That's correct, they have no warranty. They are very proud of their tools.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

I own very few Knipex pliers, but they're all of exceptional quality. **** happens. I can't speak for Knipex warranty, but I think you will find in general that most foreign tool brands don't carry the same warranties that American companies do. It's a different mind set. If warranty is an important factor in your buying, then buy your Knipex through a vendor that will warranty them for you, in lieu of you having to deal with them direct.