If you need a pliers wrench, this is the best one on market. Very high quality workmanship, forged steel, fit and finish are flawless, hardware smooth, handles have quality coated grips, machined surfaces are precise as are the forged surfaces. No unreasonable slop, and no binding. The jaws meet dead on. The design in my opinion is superior to all others I've seen in this style as well. Very well thought out, it's perfection! I think Knipex is the the first with this design as well, proving there's still opportunities to innovate on plier type tools that have been around for hundreds of years. Well done Knipex!
Like all the Knipex pliers wrenches, it will reliably grip a hex head or nut, sheet metal (for bending), or just clamping and gripping flat objects. The 12" pliers wrench I'm reviewing was useful at all detent positions, and most handle grip positions. In most instances, selecting the next detent will bring the handles to the optimal size.
I think the 12" and 7" are going to be your most useful sizes of this tool, I now own both, as well as the Cobras. Keep in mind these have flat jaws, so they're no going to dig into a workpiece, which may be useful for plumbing fixtures, but not as much for rounded parts. I think any tool bag should have both style tools in these sizes.
Are they better than other tools on the market? For years, I've always used Channellock products, and they're high quality and made in the USA too, but as far as I know, they don't yet have this style of tool. Regardless of the design, I've found the forged steel and hardening of the German made Knipex tools to be a little better optimized vs. the US made Channellock and Klein, but overall similar in quality of the forged parts and the machining (Klien does have a pliers wrench out now, but I didn't care for the design). Without metallurgic testing, this is just my opinion, but I have no complaints for the steel alloy, hardness and toughness of any of these tools. I will say (the newer and non chromed) Channellock's tools are far more rust resistant than Knipex. Channellock applies a layer of varnish on their tools. Of course, I did buy the black phosphate Knipex vs. the chrome. I don't want chrome chipping off my tools. Rust and corrosion proofing is something Knipex should work on improving even with non-chrome tools. You know corrosion is an issue when you receive you new black Knipex, and they're in a plastic bag, covered in oil (the handles are not, but the metal is soaked). I've never seen this packaging with the US made tools, but it's common with tools from China. Also, it goes without too much elebroation that the Knipex tools are superior to similar tools coming out of Taiwan and China. On the other hand, you do have to pay for the quality, as these 12" pliers wrenches are at least 7x more expensive than the ones sold at Harbor Freight. Are they 7x better, no, I doubt it, but if your workpiece is a multi-million dollar piece of equipment or if you're in a situation where it's life and death depending on if you can repair your vehicle (such as out in the middle of nowhere), I'd want the Knipex. That, and I'm sure the resale value of this tool will always be good.
Please understand that these tools will not always replace an open end wrench or socket, and in most applications it can't. In fact any adjustable tool typically won't fit into tight confinements and/or apply the torque needed. For those instances where the tool will fit and can apply the necessary torque, the pliers wrenches are excellent, and like I said, this is the best of the best. Will these replace an entire set of open end wrenches? Yes, in some cases. Can you change the spark plugs on your car with them? No way, but you might pull off changing the oil. (btw, this is not recommended, please use a proper socket on a drain plug, if not for you, the next guy who buys your car.)
Recommendation.., 5 stars, and a must have tool for any technician. For a do it yourselfer, or as a junk drawer family use tool, this is a great tool to have, but probably it's overkill. Let's face it, if it's in your junk drawer, it's going to get lost or stolen, and will probably rust. This is a serious professional grade tool. For myself, it's an everyday carry in my tool bag, and my tool bag does not contain any open end wrenches.
Eduardo Lopez
5.0 Engine
