Knipex vs NWS?

[bcradio]

Yup i started it. School me on the pros/cons of each. Which one makes better of a certain type of pliers vs the other?

Fyi: i own about ten pair of knipex and no NWS so i want to learn.

Thanks

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Started what?

I have both, more NWS than Knipex, because i think they're better. Knipex Cobras are very good, as are their pliers wrenches. But for general purpose pliers NWS are far better. NWS side cutters are the best out there, by far. I just bought a pair of their wire strippers the other day and they're really good, much better than anything else i've used.

The fit and finish of NWS is far better than Knipex.

 

[sdguy55]

NWS looks BADASS.

 

[RKA]

I've got a small set of NWS mini electrical cutters and I would not recommend them. Qualitywise they are on par with craftsman professionals. They just aren't machined very well. I'll stick with the swiss stuff there. I've also got some regular NWS side cutters and end nippers which are both quite nice. I've purchased water pump pliers, pliers wrenches, various styles of needlenose and probably a few others from Knipex and really like all of them. Generally speaking, the Knipex stuff just seems to feel a little better, but we're spliting hairs I think. Both are far and above the sears stuff I've used in the past.

 

[littletoes]

Now....if 'yer gonna start a thread like this....WE NEED PIC'S!!!

 

[humpdawg]

Now....if 'yer gonna start a thread like this....WE NEED PIC'S!!!

YEAH! I wanna some **** photos of brand new NWS pliers and grotesque shots of battered and dirty standard grip Knipex tools.

 

[Trucky]

They're both at the higher end of pliers for sure. Either one will do you just fine. Picking out the small differences between the two is just being picky I think. Not really much concern to me, really. But I'd still like to see exactly what the differences are.. they appear to be pretty darn close from over here.

 

[DrkMtnDew]

I have a couple of both and i think both are awesome. NWS has flashier designs though.

 

[Goldhawg]

Who has the best prices on each?

 

[Trucky]

For us US-based folk, Lowes sells Knipex and so does Sears, so it's cheaper to buy Knipex sometimes because of no shipping charges. They're pretty close in price... aka pretty high but they bring quality stuff to the table so i guess they can charge whatever.

 

[trboxman]

NWS looks BADASS.

And that...as we all know, is the very essence of performance....

 

[Danglerb]

When you start comparing Knipex and NWS your hooked, and hooked deep, just buy some you know you will eventually. Maybe start with the Fantastico cutters?

 

[jjjrmx5]

Who has the best prices on each?

Depends on which part of the planet you are located on.

Since you list no location, I cannot help since prices vary from continent to continet and supplier to supplier.

 

[bsaint]

NWS because they're not safe for work.

 

[Goldhawg]

Depends on which part of the planet you are located on.

Since you list no location, I cannot help since prices vary from continent to continet and supplier to supplier.

I was interested in online sources for either shipping in CONUS.

 

[Skin]

http://german-hand-tools.com/nws-pliers.html for NWS. Prices seem on par with Knipex.

For Knipex buying online check Amazon and, believe it or not, Sears.com. Both sites list most of the Knipex catalog. Sears can actually have some pretty good prices during their sitewide sales.

Cant add anything as to what is better since i couldnt sway myself to spend the premium. My Craftsman/Snap-On pliers serve me well enough.

 

[BJ42LX]

You need both.

 

[gustsant]

I have a few pairs of each and honestly I cannot say which is better but I can give some pros and cons.

Knipex :

Pros
* Handles are easier to clean
* Movement is smoother
* Plating is better and looks more resistant

Cons
* Machining is horrible, razor sharp edges (in the body, not the cutting edge)
* Price


NWS :

Pros
* Handles fit and feel are excellent
* Machining is excellent
* Great design and ergonomics


Cons
* Plating has flaws (chrome version)
* Movement is restricted in some models (plastic handles are too long and get in the way when closing pliers)

Hope this helps.

 

[Monte]

Fyi: i own about ten pair of knipex and no NWS so i want to learn.

Buy about ten pairs of NWS and then learn

 

[jflores]

All of my pliers are NWS and I recently purchased the Knipex pliers wrench and the Raptor. Overall, I think the quality of the NWS are better, but they don't make anything comparable to the pliers wrench, so I have both on my board. I've toyed with getting a set of Cobras, but the NWS Quattro have served me well and I can't see spending on another set of waterpump pliers.

I like my strategy obviously, I have mostly NWS, got the best plier Knipex makes (pliers wrench), and I have Channellock Nutbusters for when something just won't come off.

 

[ricleh]

All of my pliers are NWS and I recently purchased the Knipex pliers wrench and the Raptor. Overall, I think the quality of the NWS are better, but they don't make anything comparable to the pliers wrench, so I have both on my board.

NWS does make a model that is very similar to the Knipex plier wrench. NWS calls them PowerMax fittings pliers. They are model #'s 166K-42-250 and 166K-49-250.

 

[jflores]

ricleh -

I have those. They are nice pliers and good for not marking fittings, but they lack the self ratcheting action. At least, i haven't been able to do it quite as well on the NWS as the Knipex, its a different geometry.

 

[Steve_P]

I have NWS, Knipex, channellock.... All have their good points. Knipex plier wrench and Cobra are better than NWS offerings IMO. OTOH, for everything else, I like NWS over Knipex. NWS Fantastico is the most awesome cutter ever . For general pliers- needle nose, side cutter, etc, NWS seems to have better machining, fit and finish than both Knipex and Channellock. If you look at the bent tip needlenose, the NWS jaws meet absolutely perfectly, Knipex does not, Channellock is not even close. Knipex wins on selection.

 

[jflores]

I figured this thread could use a couple photos. As you can tell I'm an NWS fan, although Knipex is a very good tool.

 

[gustsant]

I figured this thread could use a couple photos. As you can tell I'm an NWS fan, although Knipex is a very good tool.

Are those Quattrogripp pliers self-locking like the Knipex Cobra?

 

[jflores]

No they are not. I've been wavering on spending some bucks picking up the Cobras, just to compare, but I'm not a pro, so these tools work way better than I do

 

[er1c]

Steve_P, you wrote that your Channellock bent tip needle nose pliers don't line up anywhere "even close." I just purchased a set of Channellock #386 5 1/2" bent tip needle nose pliers, and they line up perfectly. Which model do you have?

 

[John316]

Steve_P, you wrote that your Channellock bent tip needle nose pliers don't line up anywhere "even close." I just purchased a set of Channellock #386 5 1/2" bent tip needle nose pliers, and they line up perfectly. Which model do you have?

I wonder the same thing. Knipex and NWS are better than Channellock. I own some of all 3, but I have a lot of Channellock and the jaws ALWAYS have great alignment. I have had different defects sometimes like stiff joints (on the pliers, lol), poor finishing on the outer edges, but never misaligned jaws.

 

[bcradio]

sorry guys, busy yesterday. Here is my modest Knipex collection (sorry for bad picture). I will try and get a better one. Great discussion thx for input.

 

[bcradio]

They're both at the higher end of pliers for sure. Either one will do you just fine. Picking out the small differences between the two is just being picky I think. Not really much concern to me, really. But I'd still like to see exactly what the differences are.. they appear to be pretty darn close from over here.

I guess the main question I am asking is if say NWS has better diagonal cutters where Knipex might have better cobra style pliers.

Who prefers what tool from what brand? Or specialty must have pliers like the raptors?

 

[bcradio]

When you start comparing Knipex and NWS your hooked, and hooked deep, just buy some you know you will eventually. Maybe start with the Fantastico cutters?

Ok the Fantasticos have been added to the list. Which is the best model?

 

[gustsant]

Ok the Fantasticos have been added to the list. Which is the best model?

I have these cutters from NWS and I can tell you they are amazing. Knipex came out with some new cutters called TwinForce or something like this. I haven't seen any reviews but I can tell you that a lot of Knipex cutters are rated harder (HRC) than NWS, but not sure how much of that translates into being better.

http://shop.nws-tools.de/index.php/en/heavy-duty-side-cutter-152.html

 

[Monte]

I figured this thread could use a couple photos. As you can tell I'm an NWS fan, although Knipex is a very good tool.

very nice NWS collection !!!

 

[jflores]

Thanks Monte, I found out about NWS from one of your threads.

 

[Monte]

some more pics maybe they help making a decision ?

NWS







Knippex

 

[rj-oz]

I have just received my collection of NWS pliers cutters etc, I have issues which I will not discuss or show yet, as I'm still corresponding with the supplier, but will shortly, if someone could post a pic of their Fantastico's fully opened, front and rear it would be appreciated and very helpful.

 

[Plasmatic]

I have just received my collection of NWS pliers cutters etc, I have issues which I will not discuss or show yet, as I'm still corresponding with the supplier, but will shortly, if someone could post a pic of their Fantastico's fully opened, front and rear it would be appreciated and very helpful.

Hope the issue gets resolved fast -- great product from both companies. Love my Fantasticos.

 

[rj-oz]

Hope the issue gets resolved fast -- great product from both companies. Love my Fantasticos.

Hey!, thanks cobber, those pic's are just what I needed to see (maybe a bit more flash for your pic's) , no rust or so called plating issues for you by the looks of things

 

[Steve_P]

re NWS plating, their chrome finish is not much plating; Knipex's chrome plating has a much better finish. NWS plating is very minimal. On my Fantasticos with chrome finish, when you open the pliers, you see only nickel on the hidden areas when they're closed. This may be with rj oz alludes to.

re my channellock bent tip needlenose comments, I don't know the model, they probably only have one, but look at Monte's pic on NWS- the channellock faces in my pliers do not align like those NWS- which mine duplicate

 

[littletoes]

Hey Monte, what do those Knipex crimpers run???

I think they are spendy, not sure!