Reddit reviews KNIPEX Tools - Pliers Wrench, Chrome (8603250), 10-Inch

I looked at these for awhile but decided to take a chance and spend the money on what people claimed to be the superior tool, and having used it for awhile now I can agree it is awesome.

Behold, the Knipex 10" Pliers Wrench

It works like a combination crescent wrench / channel lock but has a lever mechanism (like vise grips) that bites down hard when you squeeze the handles together. Basically the harder you push/pull, the tighter the grip gets. The jaws always stay parallel so you can even use it on small nuts/bolts. Superb German design and construction. I am not a pro mechanic (or really a pro anything) but this is one of the coolest tools I've ever bought and is totally worth the $50 (at least if you like to buy awesome/$$$ tools). Oh and no more messing with that dumb thumbwheel on the crescent wrench. Fuck those things.

It's time you guys upgraded to the best tool ever made. http://www.amazon.com/Knipex-8603250-10-Inch-Pliers-Wrench/dp/B000X4OG94

10" Knipex pliers wrench. They are $50 but you will never ever ever touch one of those nutfuckers your looking at after using one. I hate crecent wrenches

https://www.amazon.com/Knipex-8603250-10-Inch-Pliers-Wrench/dp/B000X4OG94/ref=pd_sim_469_1?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B000X4OG94&pd_rd_r=VX8PKF1YN20PPH46C2RE&pd_rd_w=fdtkj&pd_rd_wg=UHsQM&psc=1&refRID=VX8PKF1YN20PPH46C2RE

The Pliers-Wrench is a truly new tool, which is just beginning to get picked up on by the el cheapo tool companies. They're great for someone who does a lot of everything.

Typical home owners and typical car diy people don't need snap on tools. Yes they're much much better than Craftsman and 10000x better than harbor freight, but they are over kill for home use. I would definitely go buy decent tools over the cheap harbor freight kits. I had a few of the wrenches snap, and sockets chip far too easily. I have a decent 100 something piece set of Craftsman I bought during black Friday for about 35 dollars. One of the best investments I made in tools.

The only thing I actually bought that was top of the line are knipex locking pliers. My God. They are... I can't even explain how amazing they are. They have never slipped, ever. Even on wet nuts, total lockage. http://www.amazon.com/Knipex-8603250-10-Inch-Pliers-Wrench/dp/B000X4OG94

Some things that I'd consider missing but important would be: a bottom bracket tool, crank puller, cone wrenches (for those who have cup and cone bearings), torx drivers (for disc brakes). I'm not sure about the cable puller (it's a nice to have). I'd put a small grease gun and some nitrile gloves above a cable puller. I'd replace the spanner set with an adjustable crescent wrench (or better yet, a Knipex plier wrench - they're amazing). I also keep scissors in my kit for silly things (cutting handlebar tape, opening packages, etc.).

I wholeheartedly agree with omitting a spoke wrench ; )

The modern replacement is the plier wrench. Knipex is the go to but there are a few other copies:

https://www.amazon.com/Knipex-8603250-10-Inch-Pliers-Wrench/dp/B000X4OG94

Everyone making an AR should get this wrench. Perfect for pushing in roll pins and great for thousands of other tasks around the house/car etc.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000X4OG94/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Grab a pair of Knipex pliers and be done with it. I used crescents until I learned from my mistakes (by rounding a few bolts). Made the investment into Knipex tools and haven't looked back.

https://www.amazon.com/Knipex-8603250-10-Inch-Pliers-Wrench/dp/B000X4OG94

These things are life savers, they are like a crescent wrench in that they close parallel but you can let up and reset them much easier than a crescent wrench, basically a ratcheting action. they are expensive but you get what you pay for for and these are top notch.

These seem to be becoming the new standard.
http://www.amazon.com/Knipex-8603250-10-Inch-Pliers-Wrench/dp/B000X4OG94/ref=sr_1_3?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1453173766&sr=1-3&keywords=pliers+knipex

I still use regular style channel locks, when lose or break the sets I have I'll probably upgrade.

https://www.amazon.com/Knipex-8603250-10-Inch-Pliers-Wrench/dp/B000X4OG94

These ones won't

Vice grips work better than punches in my opinion. Just make sure to electrical tape up the jaws. For about $50 you can get these which have flat jaws that stay parallel to each other and make roll pin installation the easiest part of an AR build.

Allow me to change your world... these are the smooth jaw versions which have a camming action such that the two faces are always parallel and there’s a high mechanical advantage on the grip. I own the 10 and 7” size... never go without them.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000X4OG94/ref=mp_s_a_1_sc_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1525621589&sr=8-5-spell&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=kinpex+pliers

No, Pliers Wrench. Apologies for the mobile link.

The 10inch without a doubt.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000X4OG94?pc_redir=1405352048&robot_redir=1

"Dikes". Believe it or not, those are diagonal cutters.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diagonal_pliers

Look under "jargon".

Also, as an aside, if you want high quality "channel locks" look no further than a German brand called Knipex (pronounced Kinnepex). I'm partial to the push button Cobra plier, but the more traditional "water pump plier" is also excellent. They cost a lot more than Channel Lock, but they have excellent leverage and really tough jaws that are narrow enough to fit into spaces other brands can't reach.

They also make a tool called the Pliers Wrench that replaces your adjustable crescent wrench and doesn't slip, need constant adjustment or round off corners.

Finally, their high leverage "dikes" get extremely high ratings.

Sorry to sidetrack you with a sales pitch, but I got excited when I read that you were starting to shop for better tools. If I had known about this brand ten years ago, I would have bought them first instead of wasting my money on cheaper tools.

The biggest risk is going to be the new user buying crap parts. Those can be swapped later.

The second big pain point is going to be roll pins. I hate roll pins. A set of parallel pliers like these Knipex make squishing in a pin a 5 second job.

After that is detent pins and springs. Those are easy enough to work around if you watch the videos.

They have 7, 10, 12 on amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/Knipex-8603250-10-Inch-Pliers-Wrench/dp/B000X4OG94/ref=cm_wl_huc_item

No problem, in no particular order of relevance, a few other great ones to consider are:

Knipex Pliers Wrench - My single favorite tool ever

Felco C7 Cable Cutters - You can usually find these used and sharpened for $20 on eBay

Dualco Grease Gun - Your bike needs grease, this makes it easy

Motorex 2000 Waterproof Grease - Can grease be beautiful? I think so. Exactly like the Dura Ace grease

Wera Hex+ Keys - I know you have some already, but the slightly scalloped faces of these "hex plus" keys really do allow you to remove very stuck fasteners without stripping, and I have even removed bolts stripped with standard keys

Eh. These are better.

Knipex Pliers Wrench

I'd suggest a Knipex Pliers Wrench (expensive, but very nice to use for a lot of projects) and some spring punches and a head lamp to keep both hands free to use all your other tools.

Knipex for Lineman's pliers: (with or without crimper). Their grip and cutting edge are significantly better than any other brand I've tried.

Wera for screwdrivers: I recommend the XXL 3 set. For sale here.

I still like Klein for strippers. I use the Kurve everyday and the Katapult for wire with thick insulation like PV wire.

Fluke for your meter. Most people recommend the T5 for basic stuff, but the 323 has a proper clamp and removable leads for the same price.

Knipex Cobras for your channel lock style pliers. These are absurdly good and have saved my ass a couple times.

I also recommend buying a Knipex Pliers Wrench. I own a 7-inch and a 10-inch pair and they're way better than a traditional adjustable wrench.

Stanley newest Leverlock tape measures are just as good as Milwaukee's tape and less bulky for half the price.

Milwaukee's Fastback series are the best utility knives by a pretty wide margin. I use the compact one, but that's a matter a preference.

Pencil, marker, clean rag. Kneepads, don't fuck around without knee pads you will regret it.

These in 7,10,12"
These are for when you have smooth surfaces/ new fixtures and you need them looking good. Crescent wrenches are fine but don't open up a damn.
http://www.amazon.com/Knipex-8603250-10-Inch-Pliers-Wrench/dp/B000X4OG94#


Same 7,10,12"
These are 100xs better than channel locks or any other plier on the market, look up reviews, spend the money you will be rewarded.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000X4J2H0/ref=pd_aw_sim_469_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=31LOSVBfTAL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL130_SR130%2C130_&refRID=1H2GD45SXC4HQERP5X1W#

Impact driver, drill, flashlight, sawzall (Milwaukee)

Stanley tape measure or just not a piece of shit, always have a backup.

6 in 1 screwdriver
You will lose the bits so but a decent/ inexpensive one
Torpedo level/ Plumbers grade level
It'll do both

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00BYFN4RG/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1462941320&sr=8-2&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=milwaukee+level&dpPl=1&dpID=41Ip481jzUL&ref=plSrch#

Angle stop wrench/ dumbbell http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002XFW328/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?qid=1462941252&sr=8-3&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=angle+stop+wrench&dpPl=1&dpID=31z9chR-rrL&ref=plSrch#

Mapp gas turbotorch/ goss
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00D2ZW0SA/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?qid=1462941416&sr=8-5&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=goss+mapp&dpPl=1&dpID=51Ynt7Fg1OL&ref=plSrch#


That's my quick recommendation, those will be enough to get you into trouble.

You can't go wrong with Knipex pliers! They are some of the highest quality, most useful pliers ever made.

Have you heard of knipex?

This is my favorite tool

Knipex Pliers Wrench

Knipex 8603250 10-Inch Pliers Wrench https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000X4OG94/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_I24OAb4WRGRNK

https://youtu.be/q11mziNfzmc

Great for the Bolt catch pin as well as the trigger guard pin. No more broken “tabs” or having to use an armorers block with punches. Plus you can use this wrench around the house/shop and isn’t an “AR only” tool.

Okay, this one is not exactly beginner, but for me no tool set is really complete without Knipex pliers. The parallel jaw design gives them an amazing combination of adjustment range and gripping power, all without marring the surface of bicycle components. They are expensive, but well worth it.

Seems similar to the Knipex Pliers Wrench.

https://www.amazon.com/Knipex-8603250-10-Inch-Pliers-Wrench/dp/B000X4OG94/ref=sr_1_6?qid=1549846144&refinements=p_89%3AKNIPEX+Tools&s=power-hand-tools&sr=1-6

Might be an easier to purchase from link, but /u/RainBoxRed got it right. I'm not sure if they're worth it but if you don't own a crescent wrench and think you need one, I'd but that instead. They stay tight on the fastener and when you use them in the right direction, they tighten as you pull or push on them.

$58.99 USD

Be sure to wiggle the trigger guard a little bit as you're pushing the pin in so the pin doesn't bottom out.

Honestly, all the roll pins on an AR convinced me to buy Knipex pliers.

https://www.amazon.com/Knipex-8603250-10-Inch-Pliers-Wrench/dp/B000X4OG94

Don't listen to the guys saying you need to buy truck brands like Snap-on or MAC, they are overpriced and while they are very good quality the biggest reason mechanics use them is because they are frequently visited by the tool trucks meaning exchanging broken tools is easy. For the home mechanic they are extreme overkill.

Craftsman is OKAY, despite the detractor whining they are chinese-made (and lets be honest, unless you willing to pony up most tools you will buy will be Chinese anyways). I put them at the same level as Harbor Freight (at least the Harbor Freight Pro line, it will say on the label) mostly because they both have the same return policy on hand tools, if it breaks take it to the store and get it replaced.

I would put the box store brands (Husky for Home Depot and Kobalt for Lowes) in the same category as Craftsman and Harbor Freight but don't because while they have the same life time warranty on paper as HF and Sears (at least until it goes bankrupt like people have been predicting for a decade) I have heard stories of them making it either very difficult or impossible to return and exchange broken tools.

Either way unless you need high precision tools like torque wrenches, tractor wrenches, or high strength impacts you really can't go wrong with anything above discount bin or dollar store tool sets. The important thing is having the proper tool for the job, no using 3/8 ratchets to break rusted lug nuts business. I will also stress don't buy gimmick tools like spline sockets or ratcheting wrenches.

If what you are really looking for it tools off the beaten path I would recommend SK, Williams, Bahco, Craftsman Professional, and Proto for hand tools. The first 3 are OEMs for the truck brands and can usually be bought cheaper then them except for being a little harder to find, the Craftsman Professional line is still made in the US (with the price tag to match), and Proto is the pro line for Stanley.

Wera, Wiha, Kline, Knipex are all good brands for screwdrivers and pliers. I wouldn't know to much about them except for the decade old Kline crimper I have that's still chugging along after all the abuse I've heaped on it, and electricians swear by them. Knipex also makes one of the greatest tools known to man, probably the only gimmick tool worth it's salt.

This thread can give you a good starting point if you would like the truck brand quality without the truck brand price.

You also can't go wrong browsing craigslist for people who are upsizing/upgrading/retiring/downsizing and looking to dump their old stuff.