Goldilocks Pliers? The Fluke INCP8 Combination pliers has either a feature or a bug. Which is it?

amzn.to/3U0TAkk Are these the Goldilocks Combination/Lineman pliers? The Fluke INCP8 pliers have either a bug or a feature? To me, Lineman pliers are like muscle cars. They command respect and are timeless. And these Fluke lineman's are stellar quality as should be expected from a premium brand such as Fluke. However, they have an obvious gap between the cutting knives. Is that a good thing? A bug or a feature? What do you think?
On Amazon
Fluke Combination pliers: amzn.to/3U0TAkk
Gedore Angled Pliers: amzn.to/3xceROj

[@boosted2.4_sky]

The cutter is on the Fluke (NWS) Pliers are are designed like that so that the bits aren't flying into a potentially hazardous situation creating a worse situation 3:00.. that's for grabbing and pulling fish tape ... and having the cutter be effective

[@mumbles1justin]

If these are NWS then these are the same as the 3 for $30 kobalt or Irwin pliers sets

[@boosted2.4_sky]

@@mumbles1justin probably...NWS makes pliers for a ton of different brands... but they make them to that company specifications they don't just make them to their own specification and having them all be exactly the same I'm sure there are slight differences from a standard patent if the company wants an exclusive set but other than that they are probably mostly all like the patent and then all these other companies are allowed to use that design and put their name on them

[@IMPACTRATED]

I Honestly dont think these are nws. I have alot of nws pliers and none of them cut or look like that.

[@mumbles1justin]

@@IMPACTRATED I concur. My first impression was NWS but then when I started looking at knurling under the hinge/ pivot it doesn’t look like the other NWS rebrands.

[@peterryan7340]

Witte 31503

[@paedahe4975]

I’m just sticking to Knipex. That’s where my dollars are going. I will never get disappointed.

[@jmackinjersey1]

That cutting almost to the end was explained to me in a way that made sense. It is multi-reasoning. One, so that you don't make a mess when doing your work. You pick the end off and throw it away instead of allowing it to drop to the floor. The other reason is, if you need the both pieces of wire, you won't accidentally drop the piece being cut off. Pliers and even lineman's pliers are on the cave man side of the scale, and are used in the most utilitarian means, whereas a stripper or crimper would be on the finer, more modern side of the scale. That's also why a lot of lineman's pliers don't necessarily need to have the jaws close 100%. Plus, the knurling or other grip lines inside the jaws don't always allow them to do so. You are comparing a bunch of different pliers to one another, all being designed for completing completely different jobs.

[@siedpe13]

I'm my limited experience, there have been situations in electro-mechanical work where I'm working directly over or near exposed pcbs or electronics. In those situations, it's extremely important any cut wires do not get lost or exjected to who knows where. So I would use cutteries that would cut the wire clean through, and I would have to use my other had to catch the droppings. Sometimes I would fail to catch the cut wire droppings and would have to go hunting for them. It was a really problem if a bunch of little wire braids got scattered everywhere

[@UnfortunateDesert]

As I was taught thirty years ago, and has borne out in my subsequent experience: Lineman pliers( "Electricians Hammer"...) are not meant to close at the tip, firstly to prevent mangling conductors, secondly to grip properly on sheet metal( as kind of a mini bending brake...), knockouts and similar tasks... The not cutting through the wire is a personal preference thing , but I have always liked it because the cut ends don't fall into places where they aren't wanted ...Lineman's are one of my favorite tools, and I appreciate their versatility, the more features that can be included that don't inhibit the other functions the better. If you're getting some to keep in a vehicle I'd recommend having some with barrel connector crimpers built in....

[@lastbesttool]

Thanks for the insights Brett. I would hope that companies would make effort to educate potential buyers about all the design elements and nuances in their products. Seems half of the tools have features we have to watch videos to learn about. Not that I would read the manual of my pliers anyway, but at least it would be available.

[@fuloplehel]

They don't cut because the tips of the pliers touching each other, and the cutting edge is not closing completely. That's why on the other ones there is a gap in the front. My knipex lineman pliers also have a gap,but the cutters are working perfectly.

[@jmackinjersey1]

Also, that little gap at the bottom of the mouth of the cutters is designed to relieve some pressure on the blades of the cutting area, as well as give you a place to use as a wire stripper. you simply place the wire in there, squeeze enough to cut the insulation, rotate the dykes a few times back and forth and pull the wire, removing the insulation from the tip of the conductor.

[@rodrigodelallata7140]

tips are not supposed to touch when closed they are designed that way. If they did, they would smash your wires when twisting two of them together to union. you don't want that happening

[@BL-yj2wp]

This was made by OrbisWill, a subsidiary of Knipex. They offer many ergonomic plier models, you should check them out.

[@siegfried9999]

Yeah, you can purchase almost the exact same model in Europe under the "Orbis" brand.

[@justinkase1360]

Most people do not use lineman's pliers for tasks that require a full closed jaw. I have a hard time even coming up with a situation where I needed that. It seems to me that the goal with making most lineman's pliers close at the blade rather than the jaws, was to ensure a complete cut. More and more, I'm starting to leave my heavy lineman's pliers behind too. Right now I'm using those Klein combination pliers with the gray handles.

[@avernvrey7422]

I've long heard it said that lineman pliers aren't supposed to close flush. The Gedore, being a waterpump style design on the jaws, have some inherent flex when squeezing tight, so as the cutters wear under heavy use, they might still be able to be closed (with force), but in general pliers with cutters often won't line up flush. Well, cheap ones will...

[@tool.follower2813]

The cool thing about some of the Vamplier tools is that the gripping teeth are engineered to mesh. It allows for a hard grip while still keeping a flush cutting blade. Without paying up the wazoo for Gedore machining perfection.

[@brendenneumann1025]

Those are insulated pliers, my guess would be designed to keep bits from flying into a hot area .

[@jimgd4]

Very nuanced & interesting, Doc. The VERY first video of yours that I caught happened to be the one when you said "I don't know anything, you should be watching Millis". You're wrong. Millis is a shill. He doesn't get off on stuff like this. 👍👍

[@MattMorris481]

I think about how much tools have went up in price when I started to be a lineman you could get a Klein screw driver, 2 ratchet wrenches, line pliers, lineman hammer, and channel locks for $60.

[@martinblouin3639]

they're Orbis rebrand

[@rwbishop]

I heard they're made by NWS (or whoever that outfit is), but you might very well be right about Orbis. I also suspect they might vary a lot from individual specimen to specimen. Fluke is also starting to get tough competition in the DVOM market from Brymen out of Taiwan... who are now producing reasonably priced world class meters! Only problem is they're difficult to source under the Brymen name in the US. I've had & hard used one of their meters for a few years now; it's stellar! Colleagues have started acquiring them as well. (Most of them in these parts, including mine, are the 'BM869S' model.)

[@rwbishop]

@@hogwashsentinel I'll take your work for it! :)

[@muxmurki1497]

These are made by Witte, NOT Felo or NWS. Well, here in Germany Lineman's pliers aren't that popular (which is hard to understand), therefore, the German pliers producers only began making them some 20 years ago. That's why I bought some Kleins in addition to those from NWS and Knipex; all of them in the 220-240 mm range. And I have to say: sorry, Klein, you're just too bulky. The Knipex are best of the beefy, the NWS on the other hand are handier in many cases. These Fluke/Witte appear to me not to be of that quality level.

[@goose4342]

The Kleins are bulky, but sometimes you need a big pair of pliers. I’m an industrial electrician I don’t use my lineman’s that often (2-3 times a month). But when I need them I need them, and I’ve found no substitute for a good set of kleins.

[@justinkase1360]

We often use our Klien lineman's pliers as hammers and actually like the additional weight. The most common situation would be breaking out knockouts on electrical boxes/panels or tightening locknuts on EMT connectors, in combination with a flat head screwdriver. Of course, there are other ways to do this. Still, I'm also moving away from heavy lineman's pliers, but just to try it out.

[@tcurrid8059]

If your using rated pliers and your cutting wire it’s probably inside something that’s still powered on, seems like a feature that you could cut it then take the biting grip and take the cut wire away without dropping the wire into the switchgear or whatever it is your working on. You don’t want surprises.

[@jeffdorrity5609]

In my opinion (take it as you may) it’s for the electrician that cleans up after himself and don’t like chasing after the cutoffs. Therefore, it’s a built in feature and not a bug.

[@hiersdable]

You could try to return them based on their cutting behavior to get the manufacturer's feedback on the question.

[@michaelb9664]

They are definitely defective. In my 23 years as an industrial electrician my favourite plier brands in no particular order are Knipex, Bahco and NWS. They all offer unique features and some of their models lend themselves to certain tasks better than the competitor, so it’s good to mix and match they are my top three go to brands if buying new pliers/cutters.

[@joepinci4395]

Any pliers that have too much resistance when opening/closing them can easily be remedied by smacking the joint hard with a brass hammer against an anvil/hard surface a few times and working some oil into the joint. I had a few pairs of Snap-On pliers that didn’t loosen up with over a year of almost daily shop use and turned them butter smooth in a few minutes.

[@lastbesttool]

Could be but this was demonstrated to me on a pair of Snap On lineman’s and the cutting knives shattered.

[@9HighFlyer9]

When I started wiring houses back in the 90s I bought my first real tools. My Klein linesman pliers were so stiff I could barely open them one handed. An old timer (he was probably 25) told me to dunk them in mirror oil and keep working them until they loosened. So after work while drinking beer with the boss I did just that. They were my favorite pliers for years until they were stolen.

[@IMPACTRATED]

Seems like a defect but Do u know if theres a difference between cutting solid or stranded wire? Maybe they are more geared towards solid electrical wire? I love fluke testing equipment but pliers id stick with Klein, knipex, nws. Good video🇺🇸🤙🏾

[@jmackinjersey1]

Designed for the purpose of not having a lot of debris falling in your working area, or so that you can cut a piece of wire and not lose it, especially if working aloft or one handed.

[@zubirhusein]

They're purposely like that for solid core so wire bits do not go flying

[@mdexterc2894]

I wonder if that's so it doesn't fall where it's not supposed to; you snip, set the plier aside so you now have a hand actually holding the cut piece

[@WoLpH]

I've got multiple lineman pliers from Knipex and Wiha and they all close properly. I'm really surprised that the Fluke, Snap-on and Klein's all do not close. They really should...

[@ethanely6079]

Wrong side of Germany ig 😂

[@hackleberrym]

This is ridiculous, $75 pliers cut worse than my ~$4 pliers. Imagine cutting something like 24 gauge stranded wire with these Flukes. I hope it's a defect, not standard.

[@jmackinjersey1]

Standard so as not to lose the tip/cut piece.

[@hackleberrym]

@@jmackinjersey1 as you can see in Doc's new video it's not remotely a standard

[@illestofdemall13]

Lineman's pliers have a gap so they don't completely crush the wire when twisting small wires.

[@5phutsangtao-iQ]

the pliers look so good

[@jackhammer9622]

Thanks for saving me $50. I definitely am not interested in them any longer. I believe they're made by Felo

[@daledurgin]

Doc, have you tested any pliers from Ideal brand?

[@FearsomeWarrior]

Lineman's pliers are for telling the wire who's the boss.

[@MrPINKFL0YD]

mine cut perfectly

[@Ken-Muir]

I'd say a bug. There is a clear image of the pliers on Fluke's website (and on Amazon), and it shows the cutting edges meeting perfectly with no gap, while there is a gap in the front gripping jaws.

[@marygrace5231]

Maybe they focused more on the pliers tip that the cutting.

[@kamrankureshi5615]

And Fluke charges an unnecessarily high price for it!

[@WoLpH]

I'm thinking it's a QC issue. They should cut properly and close properly. That's certainly a bug...

[@foxwood67]

Honestly I wouldn’t accept it and return for another pair. If the news ones are the same I would return that and get a refund. Rebranded Knipex or NWS ?

[@jerrodnewsome5781]

I really could not see how that could be a feature.

[@jusb1066]

The downside of not having a gap in the jaws the cat is compromised this is always been part of cutting pliers to have the gap. You have to compromise one or other.

[@AToolWithTools]

Untrue. You *can* have both, with precision machining and good design. You hear this all the time regarding lineman but nobody can ever reconcile that statement with other pliers like needle nose that can have the same style cutter and still close the tips and have the cutters work just fine. It's a design choice not to close the tips completely. If the top gap were absolutely necessary to make the cutters close properly, you would only need the tips to just barely not touch. I'm looking at my Channellock 368s right now that have a very deliberate gap of about 60 thou and cut just fine. Channellock 317 needle nose with cutter, tips touch and it still cuts just fine. Cheapo Husky lineman's that came in a home DIY kit was super cheap, tips touch and it still cuts fine. Tsunoda RB-125 mini bent nose, tips touch and cuts just fine even with tiny cutters and a lot less leverage. I know Knipex's literature makes the "we do it like this because it's the only way to make the cutters touch" claim but it's just not true. For the price they charge if they make this claim because they seriously can't figure it out even with all the other clever things they've come up with, then I wouldn't even know what to say.

[@bigdog7419]

what is the part number on them klein cross cutters

[@henslee]

many like the NWS pliers, never used them

[@georgeferlazzo7936]

Hello again Doc Thank you again for another great video 👍 I can't answer your question because I don't know the answer 😉 But my question to you is what does NWS mean? I'm gathering it might be a brand name? Maybe I'm not up to date 😕 Again thank you

[@Ken-Muir]

NWS says that it stands for "Nöthen Werkzeuge Solingen", which I'd translate as Nöthen Tools, Solingen. It was named after Willibald Nöthen who founded the company in 1973, and their HQ is in Solingen, Germany.

[@georgeferlazzo7936]

@@Ken-Muir Hello and thank you very much for explaining.

[@thekanthalkid4273]

Definitely a bug not a feature. You should also test solid wire from romex, maybe these are only geared towards solid core wire (which would be weird).

[@madsmix]

How come you didn't bring out those gorgeous Knipex Lineman Pliers 09 02 240?

[@lastbesttool]

They were in a tool bag outside my shop. Good call. I’ll revisit them in an upcoming video.

[@alexrains1893]

Maybe it was made with it. Maybe it was a Fluke.

[@KeepingitAnalog]

Prolly a pair that should have not left the factory. Snap On for the win! All the poor boys will now come along and try to justify their Harbor Freight purchase.

[@andyburns]

I'd say bug ...

[@romeucaccavale617]

Teu Fluke está com defeito. O meu só encosta nas lâminas.

[@jmackinjersey1]

They left the casting marks on the tool!?!?!? Wow, that's shabby workmanship. What happened? Are these now made in China?

[@peterryan7340]

Are these NWS?

[@hogwashsentinel]

No, Witte 31503

[@peterryan7340]

@@hogwashsentinel Nice, thanks

[@someguy4476]

I wouldn’t call it a feature at all.

[@kamrankureshi5615]

Orbis now Knipex...

[@irelandchronis]

CK TOOLS has very good and ergonomic pliers,needlenose pliers,side cutters etc!Check them out

[@evanjones7578]

Look exactly like Knipex to me

[@evanjones7578]

However not as high quality I add

[@ajleuty2387]

Made in Germany? I guess that means we need to argue about how to pronounce the name. I now insist it be pronounced f-luck-ee

[@emszabi]

Not a knipex for sure.

[@BLASTIC0]

Look like NWS

[@jusb1066]

They are made by nws

[@kamrankureshi5615]

Production error...

[@bjayromo5539]

pa order # 9

[@euclidallglorytotheloglady5500]

***RETURN THEM!!*** ALL Lineman/Combination pliers should have the small gap at the tip AND the cutting blades should close COMPLETELY! The gap at the tip is for gripping small wire but still won't crush it. (Think of pulling) Especially with what looks like casting flashing on the outside of the jaws, they certainly look like someone had a date and left the plant early.

[@BLASTIC0]

Maybe its a fluke?

[@kamrankureshi5615]

Made by, ORBIS Germany...very expensive. Collaboration with, Factory Gear Japan to produce, Deen tools.

[@ptstouring49]

They are made by NWS. They are combination pliers, not lineman. IMHO NWS are crap. I have a few pair of pliers and I have not been impressed. The irwin rebrand NWS are particularly crap.

[@EvilOtto580]

They are Orbis Will Pliers, Knipex Group. Check the catalog on their website, page 131.

[@rubendariocervantesgarcia2734]

fluke Zapatero a tus zapatos

[@cjr1881]

You can't decide if cutters that don't cut are either a flaw or feature?!

[@jpro-ns2lv]

Look like witte

[@gabrielguerro8449]

To fluke this is nothing but a pos product , I would never buy fluke tools too EXPENSIVE . MADE A MISTAKE.

[@andybyers5964]

Garbage. Knipex FTW!

[@wasimedoo7994]

The Jaw is too small