Tools & equipment that are fantastic.

[BravoXray]

Knipex Smooth Jaw Pliers

I love these things. I have giving them as gifts to family and friends.
I have four of them in various sizes, but find that the 7-1/4" pair go with me almost everywhere.

https://www.amazon.com/Knipex-8603180-7-Inch-Pliers-Wrench/dp/B000X4KP1C?th=1

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I have a pair right here in my desk. Very handy pliers.
I have a weakness for Knipex tools.

 

[Hay Dude]

I want the Knipex set.

 

[BigBlue1]

Here is my 12" Knipex Cobra locking pliers:

View attachment 775068View attachment 775070

This is one of those tools I just don't understand. I bought one a few years back after seeing them touted as being fantastic. But I just can't find anything it does better than any other channel lock pliers. Plus it seems harder to adjust, which doesn't really make sense... it should be easier. So mine sits in the bottom of the pliers drawer. Maybe I'm just not smart enough to use it??

 

[Dftodd]

This is one of those tools I just don't understand. I bought one a few years back after seeing them touted as being fantastic. But I just can't find anything it does better than any other channel lock pliers. Plus it seems harder to adjust, which doesn't really make sense... it should be easier. So mine sits in the bottom of the pliers drawer. Maybe I'm just not smart enough to use it??

My sets of knipex pliers have a push button to adjust them. This way, you're not accidently jumping to the next larger or narrower setting than what you want.

But I actually don't use them very much. I have a super small set with a narrow jaw that I use on a couple of different tasks where a wrench is too thick to get into the space to hold a nut.

I have a set of combination pipe wrench/ slash channel lock pliers that I got off the tool truck. They are designed to hold closed by just pushing on the bigger of the two handles instead of relying on hand strength to squeeze the handles to hold the bite on a nut, bolt, or stud.

 

[jjeff]

This is one of those tools I just don't understand. I bought one a few years back after seeing them touted as being fantastic. But I just can't find anything it does better than any other channel lock pliers. Plus it seems harder to adjust, which doesn't really make sense... it should be easier. So mine sits in the bottom of the pliers drawer. Maybe I'm just not smart enough to use it??

Most of my more specialized tools usually takes me at least one project using it before I consider myself proficient handling it lol.

 

[Hay Dude]

Vehicle Cordless tool battery charger.
I just keep it pugged in in the back of my Ram and keep rotating batteries through it.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

What I discovered just recently having Knipex is Vice-Grips can crush something and Channel Locks don't have the same gripping force. Everything is "mechanics feel" when working on something and keeping jaws parallel with just the right force is where Knipex shines.
I guess that's why I have 3,000 tools and wife has more shoes than Imelda Marcos.

 

[Dftodd]

Vehicle Cordless tool battery charger.
I just keep it pugged in in the back of my Ram and keep rotating batteries through it.

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I wished I had an inverter in my service truck just for that purpose. I have a 110 style plug in the dash, but about all it will handle is charging a cell phone. It doesn't handle the battery charger for my cordless tools. If I want to charge, I gotta kick the pto on and hit the switch to kick on the generator. Then burn diesel and listen to the whine from pro and geny, with the charges plugged into the generator panel in one of the side boxes.

 

[BigBlue1]

My sets of knipex pliers have a push button to adjust them. This way, you're not accidently jumping to the next larger or narrower setting than what you want.

I understand how to adjust them. It's just that it doesn't seem to work easily. I press the button and then slide the jaws but I always end up going too far one direction or the other and then overshooting when going the opposite direction. It's just futzy. Sure, standard channel lock pliers can be touchy too, but I'm just used to them. Overall, I guess it's just "they aren't easy to just pick up and use quickly" so I don't bother with them.

Most of my more specialized tools usually takes me at least one project using it before I consider myself proficient handling it lol.

That's probably my issue, though a pliers isn't really a specialized tool and, thus, shouldn't really impose a learning curve. I don't have a ton of patience so it isn't worth the effort. When I'm working on a project I want to get it done. I buy tools to make projects easier, not add a learning curve. Plus, there doesn't seem to be any actual benefit to the Knipex pliers even after mastering the adjustment so the learning curve isn't worth the effort. It's me, I'm sure... I just got a bad impression the first time I tried them and now it's like "screw them... not worth it".

 

[Oaktree]

I wished I had an inverter in my service truck just for that purpose. I have a 110 style plug in the dash, but about all it will handle is charging a cell phone. It doesn't handle the battery charger for my cordless tools.

Well that seems pretty useless, can't imagine a tool charger draws very much power. Inverters aren't that expensive these days, Amazon has a 1000W one for under $70.

https://www.amazon.com/Power-Inverter-Converter-Outlets-Modified/dp/B0927P7P66/ref=sr_1_13?keywords=12v+inverter&qid=1671389334&sr=8-13