Review Knipex!!!

RustyIron

RustyIron

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You select tools to carry on your bike with the hope that you never use them. But you don't buy junk because if you ever do use them, you can't have them failing.

A couple months ago the crew was riding in the middle of the desert, miles from anywhere, and one of the guys had a failure. We NEEDED pliers. We didn't HAVE pliers. It was looking as if he might have a few hours of hiking in front of him. But in true mountain biker fashion, we improvised with sticks and rocks and got him back on the trail. We all vowed to start carrying pliers, and by the end of the day everyone forgot about it. Fast forward to three days ago when I stumbled across these tiny Knipex pliers.

Knipex is a German brand not common in the U.S. But two years ago my wife bought me a full set of bigger Knipex pliers, from 5" to 12". They are VERY cool. I use them a LOT, even on things where I wouldn't normally use pliers. The jaws are smooth, remain parallel, and the clever lever contraption allows for a LOT of clamping force.

This little pair is only FOUR inches. Tipping the scales at only 2.5 ounces, these pliers will be unnoticeable in my pack. The challenging part will be putting them IN the pack, as it's tempting to leave them in the garage where I can use them. I'm just too cheap to buy two pair. I've tried them out on a couple projects that are sitting in the garage. From here, I'll stick them in my pack where hopefully they'll go unused forever.

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I do have a mini Knipex with me on all my rides. I never had to use it yet but..... you never know!
I like to be over prepared.
 
Knipex are great ive used them for over 35yrs and yes there all that old and still going strong with lots of grief
Especially the wire cutters that will cut 1.0mm piano wire they still have no dips on the cutting edges (y)
 
I'm using Knipex 180 for opening Fox fork topcap to change tokens. I have several Fox forks and they have a different size topcaps.
Otherwise, you would have to buy several topcap sockets.
 
Mcharza said:
I'm using Knipex 180 for opening Fox fork topcap to change tokens.
Click to expand...

This is EXACTLY the type of application where the flat, parallel jaws excel. A socket will tend to deform the corners of a hexagon. The Knipex pliers can clamp so hard on two flat surfaces that deformation is minimized or eliminated.
 
Genuine Knipex pliers are top notch. Crescent, nor knock offs are even close. I spent a bit of time at the SEMA show last year playing with the various models. I left very impressed, and with several new tools promptly ordered.
 
Nice tip....

Have these Knipex Cobras I carried in my pack when I was dirt biking.
Currently have a Gerber multi-tool in my pack, but maybe I should carry these instead.

Cut down a bit? Or....what set of pliers might be the most useful in the field on a bike?
New minis will cost me nearly $50.... :oops:
IMG_9383.jpg
 
This is a weird thread. All I’m going to say is that my best buddy is a retired Snap On Tool guy. He sold Knipex on his truck. He has told me repeatedly that Knipex pliers are top notch and an incredible bargain. That’s coming from a guy that sold enough tools to retire at 47.
 
Desert_Turtle said:
This is a weird thread. All I’m going to say is that my best buddy is a retired Snap On Tool guy. He sold Knipex on his truck. He has told me repeatedly that Knipex pliers are top notch and an incredible bargain. That’s coming from a guy that sold enough tools to retire at 47.
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They are top ’quality’, in a world where the word is bandied about so much it tends to lose its meaning on many people.
 
Freeforester said:
They are top ’quality’, in a world where the word is bandied about so much it tends to lose its meaning on many people.
Click to expand...

Individiuals, companies, and countries are known for the quality of their products: some good, some not-so-good.

These pliers are still here on my desk, so I looked at them again to ascertain the "quality." What struck me is that the finish is consistent in color and texture. I could see no mold or machining marks. So I put on my "close-up" glasses and spotted what might be some casting marks. So got out my loupe. Sure enough there are some marks, just like on "import" tools, except these were microscopic. Someone put in a lot of effort to make the fit and finish nice. When someone goes to all that trouble to do nice work on the things you "can" see, there is a level of assumption that they put in a similar effort on the things you "can't" see.
 
RustyIron said:
You select tools to carry on your bike with the hope that you never use them. But you don't buy junk because if you ever do use them, you can't have them failing.

A couple months ago the crew was riding in the middle of the desert, miles from anywhere, and one of the guys had a failure. We NEEDED pliers. We didn't HAVE pliers. It was looking as if he might have a few hours of hiking in front of him. But in true mountain biker fashion, we improvised with sticks and rocks and got him back on the trail. We all vowed to start carrying pliers, and by the end of the day everyone forgot about it. Fast forward to three days ago when I stumbled across these tiny Knipex pliers.

Knipex is a German brand not common in the U.S. But two years ago my wife bought me a full set of bigger Knipex pliers, from 5" to 12". They are VERY cool. I use them a LOT, even on things where I wouldn't normally use pliers. The jaws are smooth, remain parallel, and the clever lever contraption allows for a LOT of clamping force.

This little pair is only FOUR inches. Tipping the scales at only 2.5 ounces, these pliers will be unnoticeable in my pack. The challenging part will be putting them IN the pack, as it's tempting to leave them in the garage where I can use them. I'm just too cheap to buy two pair. I've tried them out on a couple projects that are sitting in the garage. From here, I'll stick them in my pack where hopefully they'll go unused forever.

View attachment 109258
Click to expand...
Handy bit of kit you can do away with spanners when your out
We do a lot of plumbing and I have a pair by "Rothenberger" look identical pair but half the price
No doubt coming out the same factory
 
RustyIron said:
You select tools to carry on your bike with the hope that you never use them. But you don't buy junk because if you ever do use them, you can't have them failing.

A couple months ago the crew was riding in the middle of the desert, miles from anywhere, and one of the guys had a failure. We NEEDED pliers. We didn't HAVE pliers. It was looking as if he might have a few hours of hiking in front of him. But in true mountain biker fashion, we improvised with sticks and rocks and got him back on the trail. We all vowed to start carrying pliers, and by the end of the day everyone forgot about it. Fast forward to three days ago when I stumbled across these tiny Knipex pliers.

Knipex is a German brand not common in the U.S. But two years ago my wife bought me a full set of bigger Knipex pliers, from 5" to 12". They are VERY cool. I use them a LOT, even on things where I wouldn't normally use pliers. The jaws are smooth, remain parallel, and the clever lever contraption allows for a LOT of clamping force.

This little pair is only FOUR inches. Tipping the scales at only 2.5 ounces, these pliers will be unnoticeable in my pack. The challenging part will be putting them IN the pack, as it's tempting to leave them in the garage where I can use them. I'm just too cheap to buy two pair. I've tried them out on a couple projects that are sitting in the garage. From here, I'll stick them in my pack where hopefully they'll go unused forever.

View attachment 109258
Click to expand...

Where do you get them?? ..... my 250 mm knipex parallel jaw pliers is the best, most versatile tool ... I love using it and the flat, parallel jaws are so useful as a press .... I didn't say ideal as a press .... expensive but worth every cent
 
RustyIron said:
You select tools to carry on your bike with the hope that you never use them. But you don't buy junk because if you ever do use them, you can't have them failing.

A couple months ago the crew was riding in the middle of the desert, miles from anywhere, and one of the guys had a failure. We NEEDED pliers. We didn't HAVE pliers. It was looking as if he might have a few hours of hiking in front of him. But in true mountain biker fashion, we improvised with sticks and rocks and got him back on the trail. We all vowed to start carrying pliers, and by the end of the day everyone forgot about it. Fast forward to three days ago when I stumbled across these tiny Knipex pliers.

Knipex is a German brand not common in the U.S. But two years ago my wife bought me a full set of bigger Knipex pliers, from 5" to 12". They are VERY cool. I use them a LOT, even on things where I wouldn't normally use pliers. The jaws are smooth, remain parallel, and the clever lever contraption allows for a LOT of clamping force.

This little pair is only FOUR inches. Tipping the scales at only 2.5 ounces, these pliers will be unnoticeable in my pack. The challenging part will be putting them IN the pack, as it's tempting to leave them in the garage where I can use them. I'm just too cheap to buy two pair. I've tried them out on a couple projects that are sitting in the garage. From here, I'll stick them in my pack where hopefully they'll go unused forever.

View attachment 109258
Click to expand...
Agree don't know what you might need till you need it in anger . I carry a tool for removing quick fit chain link as I find I just can't get them out of a 11 speed chain nowadays , never had that problem before . Surprise us what people carry or don't carry . But everyone is not mechanical . Be scary the places some people are getting to on ebikes who couldn't sort a puncture.
 
Had a look in my tool drawers, and it seems a have a few by Knipex - one set that look pretty old school!
Another couple of favourite brands - Bahco for shifters, Facom for hand tools (screwdrivers, allen keys, sockets etc) and Lindstrom for snips / cutters etc.

As an ex instrument tech, we call them ‘hens legs’!!

A7284576-633A-432B-AACE-543C4699413C.jpeg
 
p3eps said:
Had a look in my tool drawers, and it seems a have a few by Knipex - one set that look pretty old school!
Another couple of favourite brands - Bahco for shifters, Facom for hand tools (screwdrivers, allen keys, sockets etc) and Lindstrom for snips / cutters etc.

As an ex instrument tech, we call them ‘hens legs’!!

View attachment 109548
Click to expand...
The Americans had some weird ones at the drilling . Crescent wrench for shifter , monkey wrench for Stilson . Some cracking names but I forgot most of them.
 
Binhill1 said:
The Americans had some weird ones at the drilling . Crescent wrench for shifter , monkey wrench for Stilson . Some cracking names but I forgot most of them.
Click to expand...
This is what I love about this forum... I learn new language skills.

Please translate some of this, commentary included...

The Americans had some weird ones at the drilling .
I cannot deny us Americans have some weird ones... but what is "the drilling"?

Crescent wrench for shifter ,
Crescent Wrench is a brand name, they are the inventor of this type of wrench. Also called an adjustable wrench here. What is "shifter?" I only know bike, motorbike, and car shifters...

monkey wrench for Stilson .
This I had to Google... Stilson, it seems is a brand name, and the inventor of the pipe wrench. Opposite issue as directly above... I call them pipe wrenches, but many use "monkey wrench", I'd assume due to the monkey motion of the wrench head...

Also, slip joint pliers are called monkey wrenches by some, and water pump pliers by others.

Some cracking names but I forgot most of them.
Cracking is a great term, and I am trying to use it more often...
 
JStrube said:
This is what I love about this forum... I learn new language skills.

Please translate some of this, commentary included...

The Americans had some weird ones at the drilling .
I cannot deny us Americans have some weird ones... but what is "the drilling"?

Crescent wrench for shifter ,
Crescent Wrench is a brand name, they are the inventor of this type of wrench. Also called an adjustable wrench here. What is "shifter?" I only know bike, motorbike, and car shifters...

monkey wrench for Stilson .
This I had to Google... Stilson, it seems is a brand name, and the inventor of the pipe wrench. Opposite issue as directly above... I call them pipe wrenches, but many use "monkey wrench", I'd assume due to the monkey motion of the wrench head...

Also, slip joint pliers are called monkey wrenches by some, and water pump pliers by others.

Some cracking names but I forgot most of them.
Cracking is a great term, and I am trying to use it more often...
Click to expand...
I worked in the offshore drilling industry the
Americans came to Aberdeen and showed us what to do. Shifter is adjustable or crescent wrench as you can shift or adjust the size of it. Pipe wrench or Stilson or monkey wrench. Then there was the crocodile spanner when I was a trawlerman. Cracking lad him,it's a Cracking day
that lad is good crack that lad has never any crack we could go on and on .Every day is a school day they say .
 
Scottish buddy
All he ever said when explaining things and i can still hear it now was
"Doya get ma knack Jimmy"
Love it
 
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