Pliers - please help me decide

[PoorOwner]

That's also my opinion. If you shop on aktoolsonline.com, you can get knipex at a very nice price, and free shipping over $200. They aren't that much more than Craftsmam pro's, and a hell of a lot better.



Agreed. I bought my knipex set for home, and as soon as I get the dough, all my Craftsman Pro, SK, Mac pliers are going bye-bye to make room for more Knipex. HUGE difference in fit (jaws have very little play even wide open), the teeth grip MUCH better, and I've done so many things to them where I think "oh ****, there goes the teeth", and they look new. My other pliers just haven't held up to the use.

The aktoolsonline site look great and the cart adds up quickly with avg $25 a plier for me.. ( i look for comfort grip stuff ) ! I don't really want to compare it to C-man pros around $15 each full retail price, I paid more like $10 each for my c-man pros on average.. when you compare $10 to $25.. is a different level of quality to be expected.

 

[nissan_crawler]

The aktoolsonline site look great and the cart adds up quickly with avg $25 a plier for me.. ( i look for comfort grip stuff ) ! I don't really want to compare it to C-man pros around $15 each full retail price, I paid more like $10 each for my c-man pros on average.. when you compare $10 to $25.. is a different level of quality to be expected.

C-pro 6" dykes $19.99
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00945762000P?vName=Tools

Knipex 6" dykes$20.00
http://www.aktoolsonline.com/cuttingpliers.html

C-Pro 8" needlenose $23.99
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_...Name=Hand+Tools,+General+Purpose&sName=Pliers

Knipex 8" needlenose $22.04
http://www.aktoolsonline.com/needlenose.html

C-Pro 9" linemans $27.99
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_...Name=Hand+Tools,+General+Purpose&sName=Pliers

Knipex 9" linemans $20.80
http://www.aktoolsonline.com/Linesman.html

C-Pro 10.5" pliers $24.99
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_...Name=Hand+Tools,+General+Purpose&sName=Pliers

Knipex 10" $16.24
http://www.aktoolsonline.com/newalligator.html


You were saying?

 

[JayL]

The Knipex comfort grip stuff looks better. This is what I am planning to get when I start adding the longer pliers to my basic set.

All the while Knipex are a bit more expensive but on second thoughts its better to buy once and cry once.

 

[nissan_crawler]

Even some of the comfort grip stuff is the same price or cheaper than Craftsman Pro. The ones that cost more, are only $1-2 more than Craftsman, which is peanuts for the quality difference.

 

[PoorOwner]

I am just saying I got my craftsman stuff from a set at some savings.. not buy them individually as I need them and they do turn out to be around $10 each..
For example 3 pliers, dikes, needle nose, and lines man I got for $45 (club sale + 10% off) that also includes a wire stripper that is same as Klein. Some sets of two are available for $30 everyday without discount (except the Linesman). They are definitely not top of the line stuff although Sears price it very high individually, for the guy who needs to purchase one specific plier for the job, have to pay alot more.

Of course I would love some knipex too as they offer more sizes to choose from, if comparing pricing individually, it's a no brainer to for the knipex. I would like to get the 3 sizes cobras when funds allow.

I don't see a straight slip joint, do they make one at all?

 

[garfunkle24]

As you can see, my first choice in pliers is Knipex. A while ago I decided to bite the bullet and replace all my most used pliers with Knipex (5 sizes of Cobras, 7", 8" + 10" dikes, straight needle nose, bent needlenose, cranked nose and 4-in-1 electrical pliers). I basically ordered every pair of Knipex pliers in the Mac Tools catalog, as i could get them for a 50% discount.

I have zero regrets about this decision. They are all the high quality i expected when i ordered them and have held up perfectly to dailt use both in a heavy equipment shop and all over the country on various machinery.

I do have and use various other types of pliers. I have Mac Tools snap-ring pliers because I wanted a set of 12 with all the different tip sizes and angles. These same ones are sold under SK, Proto and various others, so if you want a full set just go with the cheapest. I also have quite a few vise grip pliers. They are all in the 5 -10 year old age range so i think (and i'm sure someone here can confirm) that this makes them the good, 'old school' vise grips. I also have some channellock cutters which have a crimper in the jaws, these are really handy for basic electrical work

Sorry this ran on a bit, but just wanted to give my input as i would have rather only bought one set of pliers instead of having a draw full of extra/obsolete ones as i do now:

 

[dxdexter]

Dex,
Are the lineman pliers at the lower right Kleins? If so, do you have any idea as to when they were made?

If you are referring to the lineman's pliers with no insulating grips, I have no idea who made them. They are stamped HMT encircled by "drop forged Germany". They are one of the first set of pliers I was given as a hand me down from my father back in the late 70's, when I started to gather a basic tool set.

 

[JayL]

How about general automotive specialty pliers ? In your opinions which are the most useful. Something that will find enough usage to justify the purchase or will give a good return on investment.