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I use Knipex diagonal Side cutters every single day like 20x + a day. they worked so well i bought a second pair in case they get lost or I need a pair at home.
The quality is top notch if you ask me. I am assuming you are talking about the cobra pliers.
Here is a real review on it:
I personally have never used them. I generally have enough strength to get stuff loose using channel locks, vise grips, pipe wrenches, universal pipe wrenches etc. though I have heard nothing but, good things about them I do not own them because I have so many other things I can use.
I have a set of the little cobras…. nice pliers, I am wanting to get the Cobolt, which is like a hand held bolt cutter. I think the quality is right up there with the best of them, I had a fitting in a small sink that absolutley no tool except the Knipex pliers could get. Lots of power for a small tool. I will say, however that my Snap-on 86CF side cutters could not be improved upon, and so unless its something that only Knipex has (and that could be alot of things, their list is HUGE), get the Snap-on pliers, side cutters, ect. Knipex is of course German, where as the Snap-on pliers and related are made in Spain and some how I think the Spanish have perfected the pliers, thats why they are sold by the best. Yes, yes, I know some tool trucks sell Knipex stuff, but thats because it’s that nice. Whatever the case, I wouldn’t bother with any other brand besides the two I have listed.
Knipex are quite nice, they live up to German quality. I believe SO actually rebrands their pliers(they are actually Knipex).
I apologize for the crappy picture. I looked, the version of the Knipex is the Alligator. Now the Snap on pliers say USA, and the Knipex say made in Germany. The red on the German pliers is harder where as the SO is softer, and more cushion like. Quality is about even, although the Knipex has a more elaborate casting.
Knipex is a good brand and worth the money. I would consider them on par with SO. Well built and feel good in your hand.
The quality is similar, however the SO feels much better in the hand. Softer grip and better ergonomics. The SO are the only pliers I have ever seen or used that fit in the hand like a glove. I read somewhere they designed them this way so somebody who was in the industry and holding them all day long wouldn’t have hand fatigue. Knipex, as nice as they are don’t have this feature.
Eh I dunno I spent a whole week under trucks cutting zipties and adding a second alternator supply wire to batteries in the rear and re ziptieing them. It took 3 days for me to get hand fatigue. I think it has to do with the size of your hands. I actually hate the way most Snap-On tools feel.
Though I have weird sized hands my palms are snug in a large size glove and my fingers are a medium length. You want to talk about a nightmare wearing gloves. If i wear mediums my palms hurt from them constantly fighting the glove and if I wear large gloves I can’t pick up or manipulate things in tight places.
If you ask me I think when SO got away from knurled handles it was a big mistake with their ratchets. I dunno how many times I have tweaked my wrist on those round handles and I don’t even own a round handles SO. I think Craftsman by far have the best grip feel for me for almost all my tools. Though that is something I do I go off of feel. Sometimes I have to buy what I have to buy for quality sakes but, if it doesn’t feel good in my hand I hate using it.
For me the biggest draw to knipex over S/O is the price due to Knipex being german there very easy to get here and the prices range from 1/2 to 1/4 compared to the S/O equiv I want good quality tools but I also want to be able to pay the bills 😉
Here in U.S.A. Knipex are roughly 2/3 the price of SO. In my opinion though SO while some stuff is designed well, other stuff does not meet my needs. This happens to be the case more often then not for me. I don’t own anything other then the diagonal side cutters but, that is because I bought brands are known for that tool. Because of that they really don’t offer anything
[quote=”MDK22″ post=132807]Here in U.S.A. Knipex are roughly 2/3 the price of SO. In my opinion though SO while some stuff is designed well, other stuff does not meet my needs. This happens to be the case more often then not for me. I don’t own anything other then the diagonal side cutters but, that is because I bought brands are known for that tool. Because of that they really don’t offer anything[/quote] Remember what I said about IR vs SO? That IR was a pnumetic specialist and to always go witht he specialist? Well Klein is what my Uncle uses as a Master Electrician day in and day out. Klein specializes in electrical tools and is cheaper than SO to boot. I believe Klein is the way to go with electrical tools, just due to speciality and the fact they have served my Uncle, a master electrician well all these years. Why should I pay extra for SO when Klein does it better?
EDIT: Plus, like IR, Klein has been around since the 1800s…SO cannot say the same.
Klein is what I use for electrical stuff. I don’t use my diagonal side cutters for electrical though. Like my linesman pliers are channel lock brand but, I don’t use them for electrical work.
[quote=”MDK22″ post=132818]Klein is what I use for electrical stuff. I don’t use my diagonal side cutters for electrical though. Like my linesman pliers are channel lock brand but, I don’t use them for electrical work.[/quote] I’m the same way actually, most of my electrical stuff is Klein. My diags are channellock brand and My Vise Grips are MAC. My other pliers are actually craftsman/MAC. Anything I use regularly for electrical like linemans, crimping etc is Klein.
True, for electricians Kline stuff is better, nor would I bother with SO electrical tools other than side cutters for generic stuff. My vice grips are Snap-on, although it seems there is less difference with them compared other brands. Here is my thought on Vice Grips, using them something is gonna get torn up, so I don’t scratch up my Snap on vice grips, I just use some other brand, not super cheap vice grips, maybe mid line stuff.
Hate to thread jack here, but I’m in need of a good pair of side cutters, and I don’t want to skimp. I’ve used shitty side cutters and it isn’t a pleasant experience. I used a guys pair of snap on wire strippers that had a built in cutter to cut a sensor pigtail off a junk car. The s/o cut like butter through 5 wires and loom material. So for side cutters: Knipex? Or Snap On?
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