Knipex has come out with new teeny tiny Cobra XS pliers in a 100 mm (4) size (8700100). Because of the few adjustment positions, Channel locks do not provide fine adjustment. Ive also got the 4 Channellock, which are neat, but not as useful as Id hoped. That said, I agree, the Cobra XXL is probably the better choice between jaw design for pipe work and fine adjustment. So I dropped the coin on the XXL Cobra, and it bit into the nut and broke it loose after standing on it, without bending the handle. Channellocks also have a wider head that doubles up as a reamer for pipes. Only seen straight blade screws in these applications. Not for my hands at least. aka The Great Reddit Council of Electricians Buy Now via KC Tool use our KC Tool coupon code TOOLGUYD4LIFE for 10% off. Some even have both brands. Ive got the 125mm Knipex pliers wrench and use it all the time. Apprenticeship related posts. He mowed the next door lawn at the same time I mowed, Ha. Answer: There is very little play in a pair of Cobra pliers. They are a nice addition to the Cobra family. Never saw the point of the 5 pliers wrench until I got one to carry in my bike bag. You can get two sets at the price of one pair of knipex cobra. Here are a few: Knipex also makes an alligator style of water pump pliersa more traditional style that does not have the button and instead is adjusted the same way other pliers are. Knipex makes a good product. This mechanism allows you to apply pressure only on the top handle after the jaws bite into the workpiece. I do not need these. ), I will certainly purchase another pairit is incredibly handy for not only the professional but also for the homeowner doing their own home repairs and home improvement projects. GL6 (thats the Grip Lock variant of thei USA made tongue & Groove Pliers) and I modified (cut it down) with an angle grinder w/ a thin cutting wheel to about 5 inches long. Or maybe write Knipex directly All well and good. This seems more aimed at EDC use then tool kit inclusion, as pliers that one might carry for impromptu gripping, maintenance, or fastening tasks they might come across. People should also try the Irwin GrooveLock pliers, they are very much like the Knipex but easier to adjust and less expensive. Knipex Piers-Wrench. You will find either brand in tool bags of nearly every tradesman and homeowner. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. E.g. They were initially meant for loosening and tightening the packing nuts on water pumps. Screws will be metric, however, and you should be able to find one that will work. Is it my imagination, or does the picture at the top of the post show a defect in the ratchet/gear teeth? Reddit's International Electrical Worker Community Susan Zutautas from Ontario, Canada on November 29, 2012: I use Knipex Pliers for my stained glass. I bought a craftsman ignition set of wrenches and plyers years ago but A. I have never used them and B. Channel locks use the regular slip joint style while the cobras use a box joint style. Read this article to learn more. Both Knipex and Channellock water pump pliers have decent quality but Knipex cobras are superior. The box joint design provides high stability and the double guides eliminate any side play on the handles. As I was reading the reviews my thought was that would be a perfect fit for my bike bag. I got these because Ive been carrying a Leatherman Free K4 and didnt want to be without pliers. There was no room to use an adjustable wrench or pliers. Ignition wrenches, iv used 2 different sizes while changing a burner pilot on a steam boiler. The large 22" knipex are nice. I bought a Proto ignition wrench set back in the 1960s that came with their #235 (now J235) pliers that I found surprisingly handy for other things despite their 5 inch size. I have about 40 knipex pliers. Usualy a straight blade screw driver will let you access the cover on the points. Although considerably more costly than other water pump pliers, the Knipex Cobra and Alligator series of pliers are very good buys in the long run. Your email address will not be published. Uncoated handles are interesting.would i buy 4 over 6? There are plenty of resources available without making a new post. They use them to replace pipe wrenches in most applications. Lets find out but first, what are water pump pliers? Your email address will not be published. According to Knipexs product catalog this was done to keep the pliers as slim as possible. The Channellocks arent bad, just not as awesome as the 125mm pliers wrench. In the 1980s I bought a Channlecck 424G that is 1/2 inch shorter but works more smoothly. You are using an out of date browser. Required fields are marked *. Some old cars made up wire connections using brass nuts and screw posts connecting components like coil, condenser and points. They are fantastic and second to none in performance. That size is slim and compact enough for back-pocket carry, and large enough for general purpose use on a wide variety of fasteners and materials. No need for teeny weeny wrenches? Given a chance to use the odd-looking Knipex Cobra pliers, I was happy to try them out. When my current pair finally wears out (if it ever does! Knipex shows off that, despite its size, these small Cobra pliers can still be used on larger fasteners. All djustable pliers from Knipex including water pump pliers feature an anti-pinch guard in their design. Those curved jaws and harded steel just can't be beat. Eddie Carrara from New Hampshire on June 11, 2013: I own both Knipex and Channellock, they are both great for clamping down on things and holding rounded nuts or bolts. P.S. The 5 cobras have lived in my back pocket since 2014. The locking mechanism allows you to generate as much torque on the pliers as possible. I already have a chain wrench that will do up to 4" compression, 2 pairs of 36" and 24" pipe wrenches and a pair of Channellock 480 Big Azz pump pliers but am looking to get a second set of pump pliers to back up pipe and fittings. Are these still made? See Also: 10 Knipex Cobra via Amazon. Plus the second I toss them you know Ill need them. Well, they usually require just as much work to produce, and probably only marginally more (cost-wise) in the way of raw materials. Amazing torque. Not the same price either. Might have to cut it off, but a simple screw should not be that difficult to find. Ive used various US-made & China/Taiwan brands.
Personally I find anything that I buy that is made in Germany is great quality. On the other hand, mechanics prefer Knipex cobras because they grip better, open wider, and are easier to adjust even in tight spaces. Im not sure if Ill buy any of these 100mm long ones to drop another 1/2 inch in length although I do like the Cobras that I have better than Channellocks. I lost that screw from my cobra model pliers - they have served fine for years without the screw. Ive never lost the "button" for adjustment. Copyright 2022 Pliersman - All Rights Reserved. Unfortunately, the channellocks do not have a pinch guard design. Question: Is it normal for a Knipex Cobra plier to have jaws that when closed do not align? Dan is a licensed electrician and has been a homeowner for 40 years. I was thinking of the Channellock 424 tongue and groove pliers. ; this is what i did a while ago. If they come out with a low-profile 100mm version of that, Id probably buy it too. Or buy crap then buy these later. Today, water pump pliers are an essential tool for grabbing almost any industrial workpiece including nuts and bolts fasteners, round pipes, square metal tubes, and flat metal bars. It specializes in making pliers of all sorts and claims to make the best pliers in the country. See also the stickied posts at the top. And not a single problem. Can you cock back the blade release button and, I think Crescent has really been stepping up their game (to parrot your phrase) in a bunch of categories lately., I agree with your analysis conceptually, but its just not how it shakes out in some cases. Its pretty perfect in that application and super flexible to service the family fleet on the road. Each will find applications where it performs better than the other. Some people choose channellocks because they are made in the USA. Some common brands in the US market apart from Knipex and Channellock include Irwin Vise Grips, Klein, tool truck brands such as Harbor Freight and Snap-on, Craftsman, and many European brands such as Gedore, Wiha, and NWS from Germany. Dan Harmon (author) from Boise, Idaho on July 28, 2010: I haven't seen them - I'll have to try and find a pair and check them out. Despite the outstanding features that almost make Knipex cobras the holy grail of water pump pliers, the ultimate choice between Channellocks vs knipex cobras boils down to personal preference. Welcome to /r/electricians I love mine , and carry them for both work and play . Some electricians I talked to mentioned that they like to use it to ream conduits. Channellock 4.5 in black phosphate. In contrast, you have to open the channellocks to slide the jaws from one groove lock to another. I also have an older USA-made Craftsman they I bought because the Channellock was too pricey, but eventually bought the Channellock. Press J to jump to the feed. They had them for a few years but, Had another moment yesterday involving a lawn service. Im sure you noticed that the handles look a bit naked without a handle grip. Others choose them depending on their trade. Of course, as soon as I hit Post there will be a situation where its needed. Coupled with presumably less demand, and the result is comparative or sometimes even higher pricing. Perfect. All input greatly appreciated. You can even stand on the top handle to put your whole body weight and the pliers wont slip. I thought about tossing them but they are so diminutive they take up hardly any room. While not commonly available in retail stores, they are readily purchased online at Amazon and other locations. You must log in or register to reply here. The big q--. So, what exactly is the difference between Knipex cobras and channellocks? These new Knipex pliers, 8700100, appears to have a different button adjustment, which means added time, effort, and tooling to design and engineer. As a professional electrician, I depend on my tools for a living and am always interested in tools that will make my work easier, safer, or more efficient. I just feel the pliers on my multitool can basically tackle the same stuff as the 424s. Spose Ill be picking these up at some point. Furthermore, the push-button adjustment mechanism allows you to adjust the pliers even in very tight spaces. Fit ,finnish and action on mine are Superb . I tried it with a 12" Cobra and 2 foot cheater pipe, and I STOOD on it with the assembly in a vise on the floor. And which one is better? They are becoming more popular now, and can sometimes be found in home improvement or tool stores, but I've never seen parts. Now that you have an idea of how Knipex tools stack against Channellock, lets take a deeper dive and compare Knipex cobra vs channellock water pump pliers. As Knipex says, itsonly 100 mm in length [but] anything but a toy! Very high quality. It may not display this or other websites correctly. I have to agree that the Knipex pliers have an advantage in tight places but for a monster grip on heated metal like exhaust bolts, Channellock is the way to go :), @ Tom Schulte, you may want to check out the professional tool truck vender's in your area like Mac, Snap-on, Matco, and Cornwell, the pliers should have a life time warranty and one of them should be able to help :). How can a 4 or 5 tool cost more than a 7 or even 10 tool. I do not need these.
Im fond of Knipex Cobra adjustable water pump pliers, and tend to use my 7 size most often. I brought it when it first arrived at my store in Hampton and I love it. Their only down fall is they don't open as wide as a 20" channellock. One of the things that always bugs me about Knipexs smaller sized pliers is that they often cost more than the larger sizes. It was small, but useful. If you are looking for DIY or general help please visit /r/askelectricians In the next month or so I will be starting the third phase of a heavy commercial / light industrial project where we will be running large EMT conduit with a lot of compression fittings and some larger rigid. Hence the name. But which are the best water pump pliers? HubPages is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. The Knipex Cobra XS looks to have a different design than other Cobra pliers, even the 5 model. He has nearly always done his own repair and improvement tasks. Knipex has a defect-free image on their website, but side-profile that doesnt show the texturing of the handle. What or where to go when you need a part replaced and live in USA. In the next part of this article, I will try to show the differences between these popular brands and the strengths of each type. Channellocks are forged from high carbon steel that is not as hard as the German chrome-vanadium steel of Knipex cobras. Id say it also looks small enough that it should be able to fit into a multi-tool pouch (by itself), or other pouches or sheaths designed for compact EDC tools. I have tried more adjustable wrench brands than I care to admit, and Channellocks are still my favorite. Sections: New Tools, Pliers More from: Knipex. This article is accurate and true to the best of the authors knowledge. Stuart, I bought one of those Channellock adjustable wrenches last year on your recommendation. The difference in the hardness of the jaws between Knipex cobra vs channellock. All other brands copy from them. Never used the pliers-wrench, though. I don't know how handy they would be for filters, kinda bulky for that most of the time. just easier to use it as a multi task tool instead of carrying around a pair of pliers plus a filter wrench. I dont think Ive seen those before, but they do look convenient. JavaScript is disabled. Got the 7.25, 10, 12, and 22s, said Id never need smaller than the 7s lol Well played, Knipex. Is it the German box joint cobra pliers from Knipex or the American iconic blue handles tongue and groove pliers from Channellock? See Also: 7 Knipex Cobra via Amazon So, when you open the jaws to the widest gap you must be careful not to crush your fingers as you squeeze the handles. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); New 10 Knipex Pliers Wrench is Lighter and Opens Wider, Knipex TwinGrip is Not Your Dads Slip-Joint Pliers, New Harbor Freight Icon Pliers Wrench Imitates Knipex, Lowes Replaces Southwire Electrical Tools with Ideal, Kobalt, and Fluke. So, if budget is something you worry about, then channel locks are the better option here. But there is a silver lining in every cloud. For instance, many electricians prefer to use channellocks because the serrations on their jaws are a little more gentle on soft metal and plastic fittings. GM also seemed to favor hex (Allen) wrenches for points adjustment. It bent the handle on the pliers, but it held fast and did not strip. Water pump pliers come in two different styles. Price is always an important factor to consider when buying tools. Buy Now via Amazon You do not have to draw the tool to adjust it. As much as I was always partial to Channellock for domestic production in my home state, I will readily admit the Knipex Cobra models have taken position in my primary tool pouch, and the two light blue handled friends have been lurking somewhere semi-missing, not forgotten, but unidentifiable yet but not truly missed. There is no clear winner. New Jaw Protectors for New Generation Cobras. Water pump pliers are a type of adjustable pliers for grabbing and twisting workpieces of different shapes including round, hex, flat, and square. Hope they come out with a 100 mm Plierwrench . I also tried their 125mm (5) model a while ago, and found it to be a great size for pocket-carry and stowing into small tool set pouches. There are many differences between the Knipex Cobra pliers and the more common brand. A Big Decision Facing Cordless Power Tool Users in 2020 , https://www.amazon.ca/Channellock-424-2-Inch-Capacity-Tongue/dp/B00004SBCR, New Harbor Freight Bauer Cordless Rotary Tool, Tool Brands USA Expansion Updates Dewalt, Milwaukee, Makita, Price-Drop: Knipex Cobra & Diagonal Cutter Pliers Set, Tool Brands' USA Expansion Updates - Dewalt, Milwaukee, Makita, Milwaukee M4 Cordless Screwdriver is 10 Years Old, Still no RedLithium USB, Lowe's Launched a New Kobalt 4V Cordless Screwdriver. So, when adjusting the cobras, you only press the push-button and adjust the jaws to widen or reduce the gap. And this is where the Channellock adjustable pliers win over Knipex cobras. I do not need these but I will probably buy these anyway . However, the Knipex cobras have more positions than Channellocks. Journey person looking to invest in another set of large pump pliers and would love some input. For example, while both types of pump pliers utilize a slip-joint design to permit adjustment of the jaws, the mechanisms are quite different. Please search before making a new one. Slip joint or tongue and groove. Channellocks are for tongue and groove slip-joint design while Knipex cobras are for box joint designs. The Knipex Cobra pliers are of the water pump variety, and I welcomed the opportunity to find a replacement for the heavy, bulky pliers in my tool bags. I might have to give these a try. 8 Types of Locking Pliers Every Handyman Needs, how Knipex tools stack against Channellock, he Knipex pliers to the Channellock pliers. The box joint is not unique to the cobras only. It has a max jaw opening width of 28 mm (~1.10) and can fit hex-shaped nuts and bolt heads up to 24 mm. Not to mention that the cobras are lighter than channellocks and are safer because they dont pinch fingers. I carry a pair of water pump (or tongue-and-groove) pliers, commonly called Channellock, as they are often needed in my work. This allows you to use them in a tight place. When you subject both of them to the same amount of abuse, the jaw serrations on channellocks take more beating. Knipex (red) and other brand (blue) water pump pliers. Wish they ungraded the smaller prliers wrenches to match the 7 and 10. I've got a pair of them big bitches. Knipex pump pliers are known for the slip joint/box joint design whereas Channellocks utilize the tongue and groove or channel locks adjustment mechanism. In other words, do Knipex Cobra Waterpump pliers jaws close straight or are they supposed to have play to them? Dan Harmon (author) from Boise, Idaho on June 11, 2013: LOL - I'm the opposite. They feel light in the hands a little less heft than the typical Knipex but work quite well. Thanks for the feedback, https://countycomm.com/collections/view-all-tool-products/products/adjustable-wrench-titanium-4-inch-nsn-pending. I know that the 480 Big Azz have an inch larger grip range (5.5" pipe vs 4.5" pipe) but am really eyeing the Cobras as of lately. But the bigger head of channellock adjustable pliers is good in some applications. If you dont already own any Knipex Cobra pliers, also consider the 7-1/4 size. I really want a set but have no had a chance to put my hands on them. Prob not, but its an option for people. If youre carrying a knife instead of a multitool (albeit yours is a bit of both), these would be an excellent companion. I have a couple pairs of Knipex Cobras and LOVE the fine adjustment capability and the finer teeth which tend to do less damage to the fittings over Channellock and Klein pump pliers but haven't used their XXL pliers and am a bit undecided whether to go with Channellock or Knipex on a larger set. There are many types and brands of water pump pliers. Channellock makes a decent set of pliers, but can't compare to Knipex for how hard they can grab, given that both are the same size. Another differentiating feature of the Knipex cobras vs Channellock is the adjustment style. Lol. Any hex that small would just get a wrench. What to do? The cobras use a push-button style while channellocks use the traditional open-and-slide style. But Knipex Tools does things differently. If you would like to learn more about how the knipex allligators compare with the cobras, please check out this article: Knipex alligator vs knipex cobra. Knipex vs Channellock, Which pliers are better? Pliersman has all the information you need to choose the best pliers for the job. So, it always irks me that smaller pliers could cost more than larger ones, but if you want this smaller size, theres no getting around the premium. Perhaps pocket-carry was also a factor in Knipex eschewing traditional Cobra handle grips on these new smaller sized pliers. Knipex are great pliers. But are Knipex pliers really the best? They reserve the Knipex cobras for hard materials such as galvanized steel pipes and fasteners. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Looks good! So, if you leave you Channellock pump pliers outside or in a moist place, be ready to deal with rust. Thanks for the response. There is also an earlier design of Knipex pump pliers called the Alligators. They do exactly what the big boys do.on small scale and you can hardly feel them in your pocket(or maybe im so used to them). Youre absolutely right, I also tried their 125mm (5) model a while ago, Stanley & Proto Discontinued Their Smallest USA-Made Dead Blow Ball Pein Hammer, LEFT or RIGHT? They also use the box joint hinge design but dont have a push-button adjustment. Knipex product photos show the small Cobra pliers stashed into the watch pocket of jeans. Although the Knipex cobras and Channel locks pump pliers are designed to do the same job, they are more different than similar in their construction.
Sitemap 16