Tools
Difference between a tool used ~daily for 5 years vs new
Discussion
My 5" ones look similarly worn after 5 years. They live on a magnet on my belt and get used more than my knife and tape measure.
They are just so useful!
They live on a magnet on my belt
How well does that work out? I can envision a lot of annoyances from having a strong magnet on my belt.
I can see the attraction
I use 2 Holstery magnets at all times at work. On my right I've never lost my pliers. On my left I keep a spare for another hand tool or a handful of fasteners or bits. My belt sometimes get slightly attached to a truck body or a tool box, but I think it's more funny than annoying.
Still, not a big difference considering age. That would be a quality tool.
I do treat them nicely and don't typically use them as a hammer 😅
Typically...😁
If I can’t use everything as a hammer I don’t know what to do with my hands
I just wish those battery hammers weren’t so expensive!
I’ve been lucky that my Snapon guy will typically warranty ANYTHING.
Then what on earth do you use them for 😂
Those Cobras are tough Hombre's.
Yea they are! I switched to almost all German handtools. Alot of knipex and wiha in my bag
I’ve used the 7” to bust 2” locking nuts on 40 y/o hydraulic rams. I hadn’t used them much before that and was immediately sold, I’ve got a half dozen pairs of their stuff
Those aren't wrinkles, they're smile lines.
You used the fuck out of those things. Nice
Hell yea minumum 40hrs a week lol
You didn’t even break the cap off of the push button yet.
Im still grabbing the old on every time
Are the new ones the same quality as the old ones? Is knipex an exceptional when it comes to making tools? Should I switch to them? I am tired of craftsman, Kobalt and Irvine. They don’t last more than a couple of years of frequent use.
They have and are only made in Germany. Just that alone should speak for itself.
Knipex always stands the test of time of use and abuse, such great pliers
The old one needs a dentist, but it's in overall good shape.
The cobra is the king of the grips!
To be fair, they aren't the same tool.
You can see enough differences that aren't wear (the old tool has more material).
They changed the forging dies at some point, which is normal, and made minor design updates.
☝🤓
That's a lot of nuts!
1) Knipex so quality and $$, 2) Knipex offers limited lifetime warranty on all their tools, offering to replace damaged or broken tools to original purchaser - depending on your country
My pair is at least 5 years old. I actually like how they look now then when they were new. They wear really nicely. The only gripe I have are the teeth are dull (not really a huge deal to me) and the handle coating is wore away towards the end. But still perfectly functional. The only reason I'd get another pair of 10" would be have a second set at home.
If your using them as much like I am, the comfort grips are really nice!
Interesting photo. Now I'm wondering my pair would look like next to a new one.
Plumber? Parallel jaw are the vibe if not
Wait y'all are using your tools?
Oh no! Lettering is off the handles! Otherwise looks fine?
Interesting to see a production difference between teeth for width modification. The new one has simetrical, whereas the old one has them pointed in one direction.
Wondering if the old one was easier to reduce width.
The old one looks pretty good actually. What made you get a new one?
I wanted sharp teeth again haha, I may try to sharpen the old ones with a needle file.
I use a tiny diamond file set for all of mine.
Hold me closer tiny diiiiiamond...
I thought it was hold me closer Tony Danza....
Seems you were wrong my friend
I say this all the time… thought I was alone
https://youtu.be/4o2u2RjEFHo?si=1mdXxvbHD1RYrlnY
I say it every time I hear the dang song! My wife doesn't think it's funny anymore...
Grind on you crazy diiiaaamond
Makes sense now that I look closer! Would be kinda cool if you could send them to knipex to get sharpened
That's the main reason I "overpaid" for mine from the tool truck. Working in automotive, grade 8 hardware wears the jaws on these fast. Whenever they get dull, I warranty them out.
Bro theyre lifetime warrantied. Have definitely gotten a replacement pair due to the teeth.
"This warranty applies only to the original end-user that purchased the tool and does not apply in any way to failures caused by misuse, abuse, alteration, accident, lack of maintenance, or tools worn out by use."
Wild. Tbf i exchanged mine through matco so they might be more liberal with their exchanges than knipex
The tool truck folks will usually warranty stuff like that to keep good customers happy. But they definitely broke it the right way before sending it in.
Idk, my snap on dude would kick us off the truck unless we were buying stuff. The Matco dude thought I was the anti christ but warranties 100% of my shit with no issues
I can vouch for Matco. Got my 3 pc set in 2010 and I’ve warrantied each one at least once from normal use
I asked about a replacement they said they don't do that...shame I've spent hundreds lol. Milwaukee warranty is good but hand tools = 💩
Interesting. I literally just got a new set a couple months ago from them because the teeth where worn down to nothing after a couple years of use. Sent them to me without question after I filled out the warranty thing
Hmm I should try!
A worn out tool is not considered a manufacturing fault , And I’m sure the owner and user of such a reliable workhorse tool will actually be more than happy to buy its long overdue replacement, however as a tool truck operator I would offer you a trade in for half price , and as a knipex fan , would probably just give you a new pair under warranty if they came off my truck 😜 look after a good independent tool truck they will try to look after you 🫡💪
Now you've got a pair for finish work too!
Don´t forget to heat the teeth again afterwards.
What does that do?
Usually, only the surface and a bit underneath receive a heat treatment, so that the surface is hard enough for the job, but the core remains tough and can withstand torque without becoming brittle.
If you file the teeth down without heat tempering you might get the original profile they had but without the hard surface.
The teeth look pretty mushed
Teeth on Cobras are very durable but if you use them often on chromed shafts or hardened parts like I do sometimes, they will look like that after a year or so.
That's why they call them water pump pliers.
Theyre called water pump pliers because their action resembles a hand operated water pump
I thought they're called like that because fittings and nipples are almost always odd sizes like 23mm or 25mm.
Open image in new tab and zoom in, the teeth are just like the teeth of a long term meth addict.
lol no it doesn't. the teeth are almost completely gone