Knipex vs chanelock

[Southpaw]

I have a set of knipex cobras. I suggested to a friend that he should buy some and he told me they were a gimmick and he would rather have channellocks. Tell me you guys thoughts. Knipex the perfect pliers; or a gimmick? I have experience with both but currently own just the knipex

 

[ChrisLS8]

There is no one perfect plier

 

[ItsNemo]

Own both...each has styles that I like better than the other depending on the job at hand.

 

[Wamsutta]

If I'm turning fittings on galvanized steel pipes, I want the Cobras.

There's no contest there.

The Cobras replace pipe wrenches in most applications.

 

[JBradley500]

Since I started using Cobras, I can’t think of a time when they couldn’t do a job that Channellocks tongue and groove pliers could do. That’s not bashing Channelllock, because I happily have a bunch of their tools, but it’s true.

 

[rmsg0040]

Cobras > Channellock T&G IMO

 

[Fedwrench]

If your bud thinks Knipex are a gimmick because of the push button adjustment. have him buy a pair of alligators instead. ;lol:

I like Channellock but, my channellocks are gathering dust since i started using knipex alligator/cobras many years ago.

there's a video probably on you tube, showing the gripping strength of knipex pliers. I don't think channellocks can match it.

As with all tools though, it's a matter of personal preference as to what a person uses. However, i don't feel there's anything gimmicky about Knipex pliers.

 

[jumbojak]

The cobras open wider, grip better, and are easier to adjust. Being able to cinch them down and stand on them is handy too. The premium for the cobras is wort it.

 

[AngryBeaver]

I prefer the alligators without the dumb button. I've since removed all of my channel lock pliers off my service truck and out of my box at home....

the only channel lock pliers I have are an old midget pair of needle nose...

 

[RedF]

I have had instances where a cobra plier slipped, but a channelock parrot beak plier didn't.

 

[CR888]

I have a set of knipex cobras. I suggested to a friend that he should buy some and he told me they were a gimmick and he would rather have channellocks. Tell me you guys thoughts. Knipex the perfect pliers; or a gimmick? I have experience with both but currently own just the knipex

Your buddy was right, that German tool company Knipex started making gimmicks years ago. Silly people bought into their fad which created a monster fraud that today has a catalogue of over 1200 products all mostly gimmick pliers. Knipex soon realised silly people were not in short supply so they sold their tricky gimmicks to many tool shops, tool trucks and hardware store chains around the globe through their ever expanding global distribution network. They continued the scam for many years, decades in fact. The Cobra pliers are just part of all that, forget it & buy the real deal Chanelock and avoid dealing with international scammers that will take your money and put dodgy gimmicks in your toolbox. What, you don't trust YOUR friends advice?...

 

[Southpaw]

Your buddy was right, that German tool company Knipex started making gimmicks years ago. Silly people bought into their fad which created a monster fraud that today has a catalogue of over 1200 products all mostly gimmick pliers. Knipex soon realised silly people were not in short supply so they sold their tricky gimmicks to many tool shops, tool trucks and hardware store chains around the globe through their ever expanding global distribution network. They continued the scam for many years, decades in fact. The Cobra pliers are just part of all that, forget it & buy the real deal Chanelock and avoid dealing with international scammers that will take your money and put dodgy gimmicks in your toolbox. What, you don't trust YOUR friends advice?...

This is too funny

 

[plinker]

I dont particularly care for the cobras, I like my Channellocks better. That said, they arent what I'd call a gimmick type tool by any means. It all depends on how a person uses their pliers and what they are doing with them. (IE using pliers instead of a pipe wrench, ete...)

No set of pliers is perfect for every job simply because everyone uses them differently. For instance, I've got three 6" slip joints at work and each has a slightly different jaw style, wide/narrow/"normal", so each gets used for specific things when the need arises.

I have both Channellock and Knipex (Craftsman) in 10" and the cobras are the only ones that I managed to pinch fingers with (opposite of everyone else). The cobras are quite a bit slimmer in the jaw by comparison, but there are times where the jaw style on the Channellock is better (more surface area). Six vs. 1/2 dozen.

 

[kctyphoon]

Channellock are very good pliers for the money. Knipex are better.. its just that simple.. anyone that owns both can tell you that. Knipex (alligators lets say) have a thinner head, thinner handles, more adjustment , and absolutely no slop in them at all.

 

[Tynee]

I only own older versions of both. My Knipex are so old, they show West Germany as the COO. I prefer my CL’s. As a matter of fact, if you have old curved jaw (before they went to V-Jaw) 422’s or 442’s that you’ve taken out of sevice, I’d gladly take them off your hands.

 

[Tallpilot]

Channellock are very good pliers for the money. Knipex are better.. its just that simple.. anyone that owns both can tell you that. Knipex (alligators lets say) have a thinner head, thinner handles, more adjustment , and absolutely no slop in them at all.

That's it. You will not feel disappointed with CL but you shouldn't feel like Knipex wasn't an upgrade worth the additional cost unless you couldn't afford it in the first place. In that case be smart and don't spend money you need for more important things.

 

[Jarhead0408]

I own, use, and enjoy both.

My Channellocks are used in the tool kits in my cars, trucks, and junkyard kit.

My Knipex are used in my home shop though there's a decent bit of Channellocks there as backup as well. I love my Nutbusters of various sizes.

 

[Mr Ratchet]

I have two pair of CM cobra's. They are by far the best gimmick tool that I have ever used.
I had a pair of CL's that I gave away in favor of my CM arc joint pliers. I have a few pair of CM arc joints that I don't use much because I reach for the Cobra's first.

Your friend does know what he's missing.

 

[Hytekrednek]

I have not used my channel locks since i got the knipex cobras. I have all but the 22'' size and they are used nearly every day. Hands down one of the most useful tools I have are the cobra pliers, but the Knipex pliers wrenches are a close second. Love them both

I may use the channel lock while working on a boat in the water, just in case they get dropped. But all other jobs I go for the Knipex

 

[cheechi]

to me Cobras > Channellocks > Aligators.

Let's face it, everyone has 2 (or 3, or 5?) Channellock 420's sitting around among their tools, it wouldn't be that way if they weren't very good for what they do. They're not remotely the right tool for anything but there are way too many things they can do.

Then came the Cobras and they are awesome, more so than the 420's even. They do even more jobs they aren't the right tool for either, and in many cases better.

I never found a use for the gators that make them as good as the Channellocks let alone better. I'm sure others have.

 

[550_cord]

I was at harry eppsteins the other day and compared both and the cobras were really nice in comparison. Im going back soon to get a set.

 

[rustbucket5]

CL excel in the value category but not outright perfomance, great workhorses but will never be top of the heap and thats ok

 

[Professional Tool User]

It really depends on what style of pliers you are talking about. Some Knipex pliers types are not that much better. Knipex Cobras and Pliers Wrenches are two products that blow Channellock out of the water. The Channellock water pump pliers design is from the 1930s. It works well but it could be improved on. The Cobras at the jaws have a very small surface area. That means more force applied at a much smaller spot. Add in the adjustment mechanism, how wide the jaws open, and the ability to grab on while only pushing on one handle and you have something that is way better. They can almost double up as pipe wrenches or locking pliers.

 

[CR888]

No plier company makes the best of every style. A wise consumer will have a range of various brands for different applications. Knipex are industry leaders in certain applications & so are Klein or Chanelock.

 

[sberry]

Show a pic of these Knipex. I really should get out of my shell and try it but am so used to CL 440 that when I use something else it doesn't feel right, even close clones feel off. Easier adjustment would be ok. Part of my issue is I use many different tool sets, not really sets but tools in multiple vehicles, tool boxes where multiples are a huge factor. I been using vise grip 10 R and 440 for so long anything else feels weird.
I picked up a 7R a while bach, maybe 10 yrs old and something didn't feel right. Sure as shot they had changed the jaw design just a fuzz, i could feel it. Same for number 9 side currets or linemans. They do make a couple different models, can feel those too and the only thing that seems the same is some clones I bought at a re-tool store. I had intended to put them in tractors but they worked so well that they ended up in general circulation and despite being well abused they actually last as good or better than Klein or Diamond. I reach for them today and carry on the truck as the cutters have remained sharp and outlast the "good" ones. 30$ pliersall worn out, 8$ ones still sharp. The only down side it seems I got to oil the pivot on occasion but that could be a matter of conditions.

 

[Pasha]

Knipex makes great stuff, but they're not the end all be all of pliers like some people make them out to be. I own 30+ pairs of Knipex, but still find myself reaching for my Channellock sometimes.

 

[Millwright77]

Knipex is wayyy better. I've used them in place of pipe wrenches many times and the teeth still look brand new.

 

[ive]

My two bits are to own and enjoy both, as the gentleman stated above.

 

[winlinmac]

I'll use standard channellocks on brass and more delicate material whereas for the galvanized pipe and steel I'll use cobra's instead of pipe wrenches (pipe wrenches more reserved for greater diameter-sized piping).

 

[Empty Pockets]

I have both Knipex and Channellock. Since I discovered Knipex, the Channallocks get less and less use. YMMV