Wrenches that Plier or Pliers that Wrench? That is the question. Knipex, Olsa, Icon Theme&Variation

[@muzzynat]

I just want to point out that the ornamentation on the Knipex is actually functional, it's used to hold the soft jaw protectors.

[@ronaldberger4752]

Also, Knipex offers soft jaw protectors when using the pliers wrench on delicate finishes such as nuts on shower heads.

[@Xaluber]

I got the Icons on sale for $30 as my intro to this type of tool and liked them so much that I immediately bought a pair of the Knipex 180s to keep in my bag.

[@gf2e]

That 10:1 reduction is exactly why they’re so effective at round fasteners. Just squeeze hard enough, and now your fastener is less round! :)

[@pubcollize]

Maybe that's where they diverge from the adjustable wrenches. One is used to round nuts, and the other is used to square them.

[@knifetrain3118]

Knipex plier wrench definitely! I’m old school adjustable wrench guy but since I got a pair of Knipex there’s no going back!

[@brianmoore1164]

I have every size that Knipex makes and multiples of some sizes. They are some of my all time favorite tools.

[@write2marko]

Me too 🦾

[@cafecybernz]

Absolutely brilliant educational introduction to the plier wrench concept! A lot of new tool enthusiasts will thank you in the future, Doc. Another application for the perfectly parallel jaws of a plier wrench: straightening or bending metal.

[@courier11sec]

I've had the knipex plier wrench and their shallow jaw raptors for a dozen or so years. I used to use the pliers wrench for an fittings with good success, but lately I use them a lot for their clamping force. They do a great job straightening solid wire, sheet metal, etc. Honestly haven't found the raptors to be as useful, but they do have great leverage.

[@GlennC789]

They're also great for straightening metal, either thin sheet sheet or wire; or bending the same with decent precision.

[@jasonstorie8740]

I do a lot of pipe fitting in my appliance installation and service business and I have both the Knipex and Icon and I like them both. I’m die hard Knipex but I the icon works just like the Knipex.

[@FeralRC]

I use my Knipex for assembling ARs. They're perfect for it!

[@wcropp1]

You're not the first person I've heard mention pushing in pins, etc., with their plier wrench. Which size do you find best suited to AR assembly? And what tasks are you primarily using them to accomplish?

[@FeralRC]

@@wcropp1 I went with the 12in and I use them for roll pins primarily. I also have found a lot of uses for them building and fixing RC cars.

[@AF-O6]

I use the 5” with plastic jaw protectors to install forward assist roll pins, and 7” ones for trigger guard roll pins. The do a neater job with no marring and les likely to break an ear off the lower. They work better than the expensive, dedicated presses I have for those jobs.

[@markkempton4579]

Great overview. I picked up the Icon for $30 and love them in my limited use so far, but I would prefer smaller sizes, so I'm planning to get a couple smaller Knipex versions.

[@ronnovak1604]

SK also makes one. I have that one and a small knipex. Both are very good quality and work great.

[@Olsatools]

Great comparisons!

[@georgeferlazzo7936]

Hello again, Doc Thank you for another Great Video 👍 I have been considering getting a Knipex pliers. In my I have so many pliers I'm not sure which one or however many will need to be remove to make room. Lol what a problem to have. 😊

[@DarylOster]

My EDC go-to is my 150mm (95% of the time) or my 180mm (30% - so about 25% of the time both are in my pocket(s)). The jaws on my 150 knipex PW have a lot of wear from heavy EDC use - still function fine with many more years of life left in them. There is room for improvement too. My wish list includes: harder and more wear resistant jaws, and tighter tollerances (less slop)...

[@Hazan1fan]

If I had to choose 1, I would choose the cobra simply because it’s more versatile. In a pinch, I can use the cobra on something designed for the pliers wrench, but vise versa isn’t always doable

[@write2marko]

Gedore produce plier wrenches, too. They have "blue" and "red" line of this tool.

[@andrewscott8892]

Have you seen Hazet's new ones

[@funkmon]

For metric and standard?

[@scotts4125]

@@funkmon It think it's more a level system like Snap-On and Blue Point.

[@write2marko]

Blue is their top tier product line. Mostly made in Germany and Austria. Red is budget produst line. Mostly made in Asia.

[@nachoisme]

@@funkmon😂😂😂

[@shadow7796]

I picked up one of the Icon a couple of months ago and have been very satisfied so far. They perform well for the design and are holding up just fine. It'd be nice if HF would start carrying a couple of different sizes of them, like a 7 inch and maybe 12. Capri carries a 7 and 10 inch on their site, so I'll probably pick up a pair of their 7 inch. I haven't had a problem with any of their tools either.

[@Ale1456]

Knipex is the inventor of the pliers wrench. They are the best and none of the other alternatives are comparable to it in my opinion. And good Lord why would someone buy an ICON pliers wrench priced at 40+ USD ?! At least get the Stahlwille or Gedore versions...

[@JohnLennon-yg4ut]

yeah I’m not buying a shitty harbor freight tool when I can spend 10 dollars more and get a German made tool that will lasts forever. harbor freight needs a reality check

[@GlennC789]

You have a point. Harbor freight is pricing Icon dangerously close to screw-it-I'll-get-the-real-thing levels.

[@ozyrob1]

Another great video. Id love to see you with some Japanese Koken sockets and ratchets. Its beautiful stuff. Try the Zeal or "Z" series (Its the same) You will 100% be impressed with the quality.

[@ptstouring49]

Nice, going to pick up the Hazet ones as I had to put a Carlyle (I think it’s fujiya or some Japanese brand) in my Hazet tools as Hazet previously never made pliers wrenches.

[@adamnoles7999]

Klein's plier wrench is very similar but has an easier to locate button to my hands as it is lower towards the handle. It has a reversible lower jaw but I found that to be more of a gimmick than useful.

[@ericchase5421]

Much better than the Knipex version are various offerings across Stanley Black and Decker brands, which offer the superior groove lock ratcheting size size adjust and other innovations. The Lenox set has the widest opening in a 10” size tool, not surprisingly excellent for plumbing large drain pipes. The offer the highest quality French made versions in their higher end brands, and very affordable Irwin Taiwan versions that are quite thin for good access. Klein offers the reversible jaw version which grips round things, as well as solves the Knipex awkward size adjustment problem by moving it down to the beginning of the handle. Really useful tools. I find the size adjustment mechanism on these and the Cobra’s to be very inconvenient, and require to much playing around and readjustment. I have a couple versions of the predecessor Proto 234, 10x compound force pliers, which were great for that, but had a slightly out of parallel head, even though they were patented as parallel jaw pliers in the ‘50’s. Thanks for another good video.

[@cafecybernz]

I wish Knipex would make a 200mm - 8" Pliers Wrench. Their 180mm - 7"1/4 is a bit too small for my hand, and their 250mm - 10" is too heavy and bulky (more so than the Cobra 250 that is lighter at the front so well balanced). The Knipex TwinGrip, at 200mm, is the perfect handle size for my fingers to wrap around (I have the dual component version 82 05 200.) Ironically, all their competitors have blindly copied Knipex models, down to the same sizes, so I can't find any 200mm - 8" plier wrench made by Hazet, Gedore, Stahlwille, etc.

[@Arcticwhir]

sk go for 27, love em

[@nriyo3]

Those Olsa ones have jaws like my Grey Tools Germany ones.

[@831savageoutdoorsman6]

I wish they would make the pliers wrench upright like a adjustable

[@noahrichards553]

I have the Craftsman V-Series version. They’re very nice.

[@twatmunro]

So is it 'Doc out' because you're a doctor by profession or is Doc just a nickname? (I have the Knipex 150mm in my EDC.)

[@write2marko]

He is the one Bugs Bunny talk about all the time.🙂

[@jjpellergene466]

olsa rebrand, same as greytools...made by Orbis Will...a knipex company...

[@VeniVidiVid]

“In a pinch” you can try it. 🥁

[@redkey6538]

Which size is an all around best for most jobs would it be the 10 inch or the 7 inch or do you suggest a bigger size?

[@cafecybernz]

Good question. Of course depends on what jobs you are doing. For home / DIY use, I only wanted to keep one plier wrench. Initially, I bought the 180mm - 7"1/4 but found the handles a bit too small for my hand. Also it did not provide a huge strong grip when straightening or bending metal. So I purchased a 250mm - 10". Heavy and bulky (more so than the Cobra 250 that is lighter at the front and more balanced) but the 10" has a bigger jaw opening and can handle both small and big jobs. I will now sell the 180mm. I wish Knipex would make a 200mm - 8" Pliers Wrench however, like their Knipex TwinGrip, as it is the perfect handle size for my fingers to wrap around.

[@dominiccampbell947]

I have a foreman who regularly warns me not to use these when he sees me with them and if I hand them to him when he's after an adjustable he demands I give him a half worn out draper adjustable instead. He seems to enjoy telling me in a stern yorkshire accent that they're water pump pliers. That dog just ain't gonna hunt.

[@Streifenhoernchen2]

I always need to laugh when I see the icon version. They didn’t even bother to remove the outline of the knipex logo on both sides 😂 That shape is no coincidence, Knipex made that on purpose. That just tells me that a company does not understand the product they copied…

[@davidpickard9393]

Pronounced "NIPPEX" silent K

[@j.gtheautotech8455]

No it’s not! Lots of videos online proving it’s Kuh Nippex. The official Knippex KZbin channel has a video. Lots of KZbin’s have gone to Sema and even the representatives/ sales people say it’s Kuh Nippex. We learn something new everyday 😎

[@brianfackrell4139]

Company reps also say las wegas.

[@Ritcheyyy]

I should stop buying them, I have like 10 of these knipex beautys… love them.