NWS Quality…?

[Moosehead905]

Ok, as i just posted in the new tool arrival thread i have a bit of a problem, idk if i am just being picky, but had read and seen a bunch of reviews on how NWS and Knipex don't need to be broke in like kleins do, BUUUT as i am opening my package and pick up the combination pliers they feel as stiff as some of my kleins do, but with a bunch of grittiness in them like i pulled them out of a sand box, started to look over the others and notice the needle nose are kinda the same way but not as bad..i look at the inside of the pivot and see this(Pictures below)..now i don't know if i am just being picky, but does the 69 finish have this problem a lot on the inside pivots? and also is it normal for the hex head not to be completely milled out?..i see the needle nose is but not on the side cutters or combinations.…not gonna mention the place i ordered them from, but also the Wera handles were pretty gouged and scuffed which i don't mind they are gonna get used but kinda irritating that they look used when i am suppose to be buying new.

combination pliers


Needle nose

 

[Engine]

I have some NWS pliers. I'll take a look at them tomorrow and post some pics to compare them to what you have there.

 

[Moosehead905]

appreciate it Engine…how was the opening action on yours right out of the box though? were they nice and smooth or were they tight and a bit gritty..i don't know if its normal or if i am being picky, these r my first NWS( german) items, usually Klein, and Channel lock guy. as we all know klein and channel locks do have a bit of stiffness to them, but w/out that gritty feeling tho.

 

[kiatech]

Knipex has better quality

 

[Moosehead905]

actually i have a picture here are the High leverage side cutters pivot..they are nice and machined and clean..bought with the other two in the same order. they are nice and smooth opening.

 

[Engine]

Mine were about the same "tightness" as most other new pliers, but definitely no gritty feel to them.

 

[Monte]

Don´t worry about the finish....they´re just pliers....

 

[ADSR]

Don´t worry about the finish....they´re just pliers....

You're paying good money for them tho. Ive seen much cheaper pliers with much better finishing quality.

Those look like ****,sorry to say.

 

[Monte]

You're paying good money for them tho. Ive seen much cheaper pliers with much better finishing quality.

Those look like ****,sorry to say.

that´s right but after you use them they look even worse i think

 

[platform389]

Knipex has better quality

Yes, and Snap On as well. The new SO 95CF 6" pliers is amazing with the talon grip jaws Also the NWS will likely to develop significant handle wobble like the two pliers I tried.

The NWS design is superb, with several excellent features not offered by other makers. But the quality leaves much to be desired in my experience.

I would be interested to hear of your experience as you use yours.

 

[beamrider]

I'll tell you this, every Knipex tool I have has felt GREAT, inside of 5 minutes of working it. I have a primary electronics background, but I still do automotive type repairs, so I['m used to working pliers with my pinky. Knipex hasn't let me down yet, out of the box. A little bit of oil/lube maybe?!?!?

 

[0.511MeV]

I have some NWS electronics pliers, and for the price, the fit and finish is unacceptably poor. I'll never buy NWS products again.

Knipex and Wiha make far superior pliers with very high quality fit and finish.

 

[Engine]

I tried to take some pics of the same areas of the pliers that the OP shows, but my camera won't focus that close.

My pliers are not as rough finished as the ones shown, but they could be a lot better. I've noticed that there is more "slop" in the hinges than there should be and I haven't used them that much. If I was using them everyday, they would really be bad by now, I'm afraid. NWS prices are close to Knipex but they don't seem to be as well made.

I doubt that I'll buy any more NWS. I have three pair and that will about do it for me.

 

[Fourtraxer]

I just bought a bunch of NWS stuff which included the chrome stuff (yellow handles) and "Titan" models (Red Handles) and I will say this- Both are of extremely high quality, but the Chrome yellow handle items I bought seem to be of better quality at the pivot points and for fit and finish. The Titan ones are still excellent, they just need a little more break-in.

Overall I'm happy with the quality of them both.. but if you want the ones that are smoother out of the box, go for the Chrome yellow handle ones.

Since I've been using the Titan pliers (about a week) they just needed to be used a little for them to feel right.

 

[nicksnothereman]

Shortcuts are awesome!

I don't think my crappy chinese pliers have these cosmetic issues...I'll have to recheck though. But these are obviously higher quality and probably machined from a single piece (per side). I'd say, despite the shortcut in the finish if they don't drag or interfere you might just want to keep them because you're probably not going to find any that are better machined. But you should contact the company (manufacturer) and ask them outright if you're not happy.

 

[Fourtraxer]

Well I looked at the joints on my Titan (red handle) pliers, and they are all pretty smooth.. I did not think they were stiff at all when I first got them and there was/is zero gritty feel… I don't think any of mine look as rough as your pliers or needle nose look at the gross joint area.

For reference, here's what I got recently… this pic does not include the Chrome pliers and a few other chrome pieces I got (Yellow handles as seen in the upper left of my pic). I am not comparing the yellow micro set that is pictured here as they are a different animal completely btw.