I Spent $1,587 On Knipex So You Don’t Have To - Here’s What I Learned

After spending a fortune on Knipex, here are my favorite pliers. I have broken them up into every level of usage so you can know what I use and what I wasted my money on. Knipex tools are some of the best in the game for someone like a commercial electrician or plumber. Most of my every day electricians tools are from Knipex and are listed here.
Nicks handmade boots trade program: nicksboots.com/shop/work-boot...
My boots are the wire cutter boots.
EVERYDAY
Knipex wire stripper: amzn.to/44VPTBD
Knipex linemans: amzn.to/3Zc5afH
Knipex diagonal cutters: www.amazon.com/dp/B000X4PTR2/...
Knipex cobras: amzn.to/3OuQBi7
BACKPACK
Knipex pliers wrench
amzn.to/3yuQvzn
Knipex installation pliers
amzn.to/3ZRlIIN
Knipex scissors
amzn.to/3l25eyT
Knipex shears
amzn.to/3ylCT9I
Knipex step cutters
amzn.to/420fMPN
Knipex twin grip pliers
amzn.to/47PupqQ
Knipex bolt cutters
amzn.to/3ZQLAob
Knipex cable stripper
amzn.to/3Yypwxu
Knipex plastic pliers
amzn.to/3Jpksr7
Knipex cobras
www.amazon.com/dp/B000X4J2H0/...
Knipex electronic snips
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COBRAS
Self adjusting: amzn.to/3TUXcqc
XL: amzn.to/3VLm3hg
XXL: amzn.to/3VE3Q5x
JOIN US ON INSTAGRAM: americanele...
#knipex #electricianstools

[@Milkym0o]

I've seen some guys pull out like 5 pairs of slightly varied needle nose pliers and here I am thinking has there ever been a time I actually ever needed them. My suggestion is to always buy tools to overcome problems you yourself frequently come across in your day to day. So easy to end up with a load of "social media tools" or "nice to haves", that I'm sure are fantastic at the niche job they are designed for, but you simply never run into that problem and all you have are glorified, and very expensive, paper weights.

[@DownHillgamer]

Yea you can run into that problem with knipex if you dive in to hard, lots and lots and lots of minuit variations of very similar pliers and then the different grips and maybe chrome plating, they have so many different pliers it's crazy

[@claudyfocan731]

True. I have all tools and equipment supplied by my employer. (Dredging ship electrician) but sometimes there are things that are just a significant upgrade over whats available. 👀 Like a pliers wrench over an adjustable wrench, or some nice wirestrippers. ✨ I can order whatever I want, if they don’t use it in the company I can even have it added to its inventory. The problem is that I work in some 3rd world shithole from time to time. Just spent 1,5y in Bangladesh. Definitely a place to AVOID AT ALL COST. Impossible to get parts and resupplies, imagine being a multibillion euro company, the top dog in its industry, you struggle to send parts to your million making machines and then there is some idiot ordering some random pair of pliers. I’m very low on that priority list 😆 So I just buy em, engrave them and put em in my locker when I’m gone. Nobody steals niche electrician tools or other weird things. But flashlights, side cutters and a box cutter with an intact blade are prized possessions. My edc is a Streamlight Strion HL (company supplied), Knipex metric VDE wirestrippers, Knipex X-cut side cutters VDE, Wiha pocketmax VDE, Knipex Superknips 125 inox, a stanley box cutter and a Spyderco Atlantic Salt. Sometimes also a pliers wrench depending on the job. All the rest is in my toolbox, this is just whats in my coverall all day. Majority are just fine additions to my collection. But they are so much better compared to what I have available on board, I ordered some tools, they might arrive next year 😆 Also bought Cobra’s, Much better than the alligator style they supply us with. Chrome finish too, against the salt.

[@ironmantooltime]

​@@claudyfocan731nice 👍

[@crazyman3157]

Great video, loads of great information. I am a huge fan of the cobra pliers, I went from the “blue handle” brand to the cobras and hands down a great set of pliers. After your video I added a few more pliers to my list of to get tools. Always good to get the information on tools that you use daily and what you use them for and what to spend the money on bs not. Keep the great b]videos coming, my wife might get mad at me for the f]growing list though. lol 👍🏻👍🏻

[@ghxul4462]

love the content man. Keep up the good work.

[@americanelectrician]

Bro thanks for the feedback!

[@paulmarsdensr1095]

A great 29:55 video brother. As a retired US Navy Aviation Electrician, and i am now a Mechanical Technician and Facilities Technician. You are so right. I am a Knipex tool nut and I always research what knipex tool I need . 😊

[@americanelectrician]

Thank you! I appreciate the feedback! Research will save you a lot of time and money😂

[@ironmantooltime]

Bro, you must have some skills 😎🤘

[@patience589]

American electrician with knipex VDE Mexican electrician with Klein insulated

[@americanelectrician]

I laughed way to hard

[@johnmichael642]

Love the videos great stuff

[@americanelectrician]

Thank you!!

[@Albert-qh6ov]

Thanks for the information

[@secretculture3232]

Thanks for the advice 👌🏾👍🏾

[@americanelectrician]

No problem!!

[@madfrosty5228]

In my usage scenario the long nose pliers get used all the time , i love them . Remember pick the right tools for the job , each job has different requirements . It is great to see guys like this to help you to make more informed decisions to save you money ..

[@StraitClownin909]

I have a lot of the same pairs as you. I agree it hurts to have a dozen or so pairs laying around not in use. However, It is nice a few times a year they come in super handy. One recommendation: 7" cobra. It is amazing for working with 1/2" all the way up to 1" couplings, connectors ect. I have a 10" pair along with my 7" and depending on what I'm working with i find myself grabbing the 7" pair first. They're much lighter and fit into 4 squares better. I too, have the XL and XXLs those big boys are job specific tools, but they are great to have. Great content and quality videos. Keep them coming!

[@nachoisme]

I carry 180’s of the cobra and pliers wrench. Unless I’m dealing with 3-4” that’s all I’ve ever needed. I don’t have the 22” but I look on eBay and offer up occasionally to see if I can snag some used

[@andrewpinson1268]

Now that Knipex has given you that big check, you are stuck with Used tools, that have a horrendous color, not US made, that would be way to embarrassing for you to use on a job site, I will bite the bullet and take them off your hands for say $500. I will even pay for shipping. It will make your feel better to rid yourself of them and go to Lowes and buy you that blue set. .

[@danielc924]

VDE 😂😂😂

[@deanriley5690]

German made tools are on another level compared to American crap.😂

[@MindzEnt]

To be fair that color really is horrendous, they look like cheap toy tools.

[@stevenvaughn8431]

😂

[@ironmantooltime]

Nice try 😂

[@adrianj8370]

Tip of the day: My trade seceret is using a klien combi bit(32752) in my 11 in 1 klein screw driver for emt connectors and any equipment with this type of head. I hope this can help someone when they have to deal with cheap emt connectors like me at my first job

[@willb3018]

Love my Knipex. Not a pro, but like good tools. Those Twin Grips are worth every penny. Recently I had the "opportunity" to spend some quality time with them for like over an hour straight but got everything out. Those little bolt cutters are very handy too. The Cobras and Pliers Wrench are sweet. Knipex also has little needle nose pliers really get you in to tight places.

[@mehmd1913]

So Milwaukee has similar cobra type pliers. They work well for what I need. You should review the equivalent Klein, Wiha, and other tools in comparison with each other.

[@AF-O6]

I have close to that just in Knipex crimping tools. I don’t care that they are expensive. I feel good using them.

[@americanelectrician]

The crimping tools are crazy expensive but they’re awesome

[@karakavlos69paul]

You need to review the knipex sissors pistol grip that is insanely superior to the normal sissors .

[@Dream-cf3go]

I think my forged wire strippers are defective. When i try to strip 12 gauge stranded it doesn’t work at all. I have to put the 12 gauge wire in the 14 gauge slot to strip the wire 😅

[@Foxtrot-jr5qu]

We all buy tools that we don't use that often or at all, because we find them not very effective for our way of doing things or we simply find something much better. You can always make a giveaway and get rid of the tools which you don't need. A tool per week maybe? I just don't see the point of having that many types of pliers for cutting wires and cables when a pair of diagonal cutters and heavy duty cutters both insulated and non insulated can do all of that, but that's just I would do.

[@jwdory]

Try the twin grip pliers for twisting multiple wires together. 👍

[@americanelectrician]

Great idea

[@gpraceman]

Maybe do some channel giveaways for those tools you don't use. I promise to give a pair of those long needle nose or an angled diagonal cutter a good home. ;-)

[@americanelectrician]

I would love to but also my content is largely based around tools so it’s hard to give stuff away when I use it for random videos like this

[@r.is.c9402]

This is super niche but flip your markers upside down in your pouch there, the ink will stay in the tip longer and you’ll be able to use them longer

[@insanetraveller6253]

whats happeninig with the heels with those boots

[@manguydude287]

it's not expensive but the knipex 03 160 is one of my favorites. I use that bad boy all the time

[@americanelectrician]

I’ll have to check it out!

[@amshaq007CR7]

Dont worry you will make it all back on one job

[@americanelectrician]

Exactly

[@Cavett24]

Im not sure if you looked up the wrong # for the angled cobalt cutters ( they are not flush). They do make a pair like this that are flush citters and cant cut like standard cobalts. But thats not whats shown in the video. 71 22 200 is whats in your hand. Which are cobalts just angled head. The real high leverage flush cutters are 72 62 200 and they are only for plastics and soft metals. But they look like cobalts.

[@americanelectrician]

They are a true flush cut, not just angled. I don’t have the part number rn but I have them both and i bought the other cobolt cutters because the angled flush cut pliers didn’t cut well

[@Cavett24]

@americanelectrician look up.ypur part #'s and get back to me, the ones in the video arent true flush cutters. The thick black stripe on the flush side shows this. What do you mean they didn't cut well? You didn't like the way they felt or they got damaged on a material standard cobolts wouldn't have?

[@death_za_kiddo4129]

I was taught to knockout j box holes with a needle nose, what needle nose knipex pliers do you recommend?

[@ironmantooltime]

Installation pliers great for knockout, and reaming as well 👍 They're pretty expensive ... I got the 1396200

[@stavrosd2292]

You can give these tools away to subscribers, for not collecting dust

[@garrettg2976]

You should try the 1000v rated Klein tools. American made and better feel

[@fananderson3913]

I tried the Klein’s. And the handles felt terrible compared to knipex in my opinion. Also German made is on par if not better then USA made stuff.

[@garrettg2976]

Not at all. I am a union electrician in Los Angeles and I wouldn’t be caught dead with foreign tools in my bag.

[@three-phase562]

I don't know about mainland Europe, but in the UK there is no specific law that states an electrician must use insulated tools. It is based on a risk assessment and if working live, the use of insulated tools along with other measures would likely be required. Some electricians may use insulated due to preferences like yourself and some companies may have a policy of issuing insulated tools to their electricians, but it is their choice. The insulated knife tends to be the domain of our local supplies companies that have trained low voltage jointers, that will break into a live cable to connect in a new service without turning off complete areas, or indeed disconnect a service to a property if required. Low voltage for us is less than 1000V, typically 400V phase to phase, 230V phase to earth.

[@americanelectrician]

I know there’s a specific place where they have to. There’s another creator who talks about it or used to but I can’t remember what country he is from. Risk assessment is the way to go

[@MattHmm-rq6dn]

I have personally seen electricians in the US use them for cable skinning especially the ones with thay flat tip on the end (dismantling knife). I don't see it often but some people put some form of a t splice looks like a plumbing fitting whencthey expose the copper. I could imagine that it can be done hot but ussaly cables they are using for this are multi phase 480 and would be unsafe unless you have the rubber ppe head to toe. (Factories or machine shops where I got my lme training)

[@ironmantooltime]

Yea not a law but try getting insurance on site if you don't follow best practices.

[@three-phase562]

@@ironmantooltime I have never had a problem obtaining business insurances. Never had an insurance company ask what tools I use or see any RAMS that I create. The only issue may come is if a claim is made against my work, but you can't be claimed against for not using best practice unless that work methodology was contained within the contract and RAMS, and then it is more of a contractual issue than insurance.

[@SachsVDE]

10:10 ...I don't think that these are Kings scissors..They are made in Italy by "Fumasi" and if you force them they'll break cuz the metal blades finish just where the loops begin... You're Welcome..👍🌟

[@americanelectrician]

Thanks for the heads up! They are definitely pretty strong scissors tho. I haven’t had any issues yet

[@1pcfred]

It's the Knipex Kid.

[@kiralypeter88]

We have multiple knipex/intercable/weidmuller pliers that cost 300 dollar a piece. So it's pretty damn cheap to have that many pliers for only 1500 bucks.

[@americanelectrician]

What type of pliers?

[@kiralypeter88]

@@americanelectrician knipex ratcheting cable cutters 9531250, weidmüller hd connector crimper 9018490000, intercable ferrule crimper MPAE95R for medium sizes 1 to 3/0 gauge

[@kiralypeter88]

@@americanelectrician Knipex ratcheting cable cutter "9531250", weidmüller connector pin crimper "CTX CM 1.6/2.5", intercable ferrule crimper for medium sizes awg 1/0 to 3/0 "MPAE95R"

[@scottaddison8071]

Try Wiha Pliers. They are on sale this weekend until Easter Sunday 2024

[@StraitClownin909]

Wihas magnetic impact nut driver set is amazing and a must have.

[@scottaddison8071]

@@StraitClownin909 the Wiha bits are the best bits on the market

[@americanelectrician]

Bro yes! I have some wiha pliers and they’re great. I love their nut drivers but I haven’t tried their bits yet

[@scottaddison8071]

@@americanelectrician. Wiha Centrofix bit holder & the Wiha bits are hands down best quality available

[@TheUKSpark]

I used the knipex knife for stripping SWA. Waste of money! I've handle sharper tissue paper. I went back to using my stanley 💪🔪

[@scottaddison8071]

Wiha pliers & screwdrivers

[@americanelectrician]

Wiha does make some great stuff!

[@moo7137]

Sell what you don't use or even better donate to starting apprentice. 👍👍👍👍👍

[@mxn36]

"The reason they call them step cutters is because they have a different father." 🤣 Love stupid dad jokes

[@sandy_knight]

5:40 If it's not sticky rice I bring the bowel to my mouth and shovel it in.

[@DamionJR4923]

I bet those boots take forever to break in

[@bean2636]

Cookies

[@MarcoH72]

I know you spent $1500 so we don’t have to, but what if we want to?

[@americanelectrician]

I suggest doing so

[@MarcoH72]

@@americanelectrician you’ve convinced me.

[@BradNeumyer]

I mean, if you’re looking to get rid of a pair of needle nose and the 10” angled diagonal cutters…. I know a guy…

[@ElectroAtletico]

American-made boots. German-built tools. Ok.

[@scottaddison8071]

It’s Free Market that requires Quality & Competitive Pricing. German Tools are all about quality & performance at a fair price for Great Lifetime Tools

[@ElectroAtletico]

@@scottaddison8071 "Free market that requires quality & competitive pricing." Amen to that. I tell that to the Union guys every time they bitch about "Right to Work" laws.

[@fananderson3913]

@@ElectroAtleticoyou understand that for us to ever have a chance at having sick days and 5 weeks paid vacation like Scandinavia then the unions need to dominate the market. But if you want to stagnate wages and keep us in the dark ages then keep working non union.

[@calvinpaul4456]

I’m not in the IBEW but in my state the Union is strong. There hourly wage sets the stage for independent contractors outside of the union to match. They do this to get quality workers. When southern electricians bitch about how much lower their hourly pay is I laugh. In red states most are all about weakening unions and they have succeeded. So in those places hourly Jman and Masters make what a 3 year apprentice makes elsewhere. Whether you’re in or out of the Union you should be all for it. A strong Union means higher wages. Right to Work is a corporate idea that makes only the owner money.

[@BarneyTheDinosaur8D]

those were some ugly ass boots lol

[@greedygringoprospecting6941]

looks like harbor freight tools. go buy some klein. amateurs.