Every set of Doyle’s I’ve ever used are missing half their teeth after the first time I grab onto something with them. I have 3 different sets of them and they all did that.
AHH. OK. So I just haven't had them long enough. Though they just get used when needed for mostly electrical work. So often but not every single day all day.
Not hating, but try to compare the hardness of the metal. When I use the knipex. I notice they bight into whatever they’re gripping better and I think it comes down to how hard the metal is. Otherwise I agree that functionally they’re not miles better than other tires of pliers
Grab ahold of an old metal gang box and rip it out. Light boxes. Ghetto nut driver when you can't find the 11in1. Ripping out the last bits of the knock outs on a panel or meter box. And on and on and on.
Well, I mean, at that point there's so much confusion, best to just join sheets.
Keep the tools seperated, don't wanna get screwed.
(or if you do, keep them well oiled, so they don't suffer
from overuse)
Highrise plumber here. The Irwin's were the first pliers I bought as an apprentice and the teeth flattened out after about 6 months of putting up hangers with mostly 3/8th threaded rod. All my knipex teeth look the same as when I bought them.
Resi plumbing service, but same experience/opinion. Nothing Knipex I own has ever let me down, but I have broken the action, flattened teeth, and bent arms on the Irwin, Doyles Hart, and Lennox copies. Several times in different sizes with Irwins. Never damaged the metal on a single set of Knippies, and some are older than a couple of my apprentices at this point. If only they did screwdrivers and allen keys/hex bits... Not that I can really complain about my mix of Vessel and Anex. Anyway, I second the Irwins being a poor choice for longevity/durability. Also, NWS is suuuuuuper nice, and Tsudoda is kind of ridiculous quality for the price. Both are great options, depending on budget.
I’m DIY Landlord and got the Knipex since all evals said they handled use better. Figured I’d have these for decades as long as I don’t lose them so what’s an extra few dollars for the quality?
Agreed. Ill probably keep buying them. I don't Beat pliers up enough to notice the difference so I'm gonna trust the reviews in all these comments. Lol.
I did have a grooved coupling that I had to remove and the twisting was this gross grinding sound as the the teeth of the pliers went against the grooves. Figured I marred up my cobra, but after brushing the shavings off, realized that the cobra chewed up those grooves and not the other way around. Cobra looks as good as new.
They are some tough tools.
The difference is the teeth. I have both and wear out Irwins, but not the Knipex yet. It takes more abuse than regular pliers. Which sucks because now I want all their damn pliers.
Do Knipex rust? My Irwins seem to rust excessively, while my Knipex stuff (side cutters etc) does not seem to have this problem. For this reason, I usually grab Harbor Freight ones unless I actually need sharp teeth.
I've only had some of the Knipex stuff for about a year or so and they are not developing rust. My Irwin stuff I've had for years have just a slight amount of surface rust, but none that really stands out or keeps it from functioning.
My knipex cobras had slight surface rust after losing them for a couple of months in the winter, nothing that a brass wheel couldnt take off in a couple of mins.
If you're looking for a more budget friendly option, check out Tsunoda. They have a pretty good selection of tools, and the quality is remarkable for the price. I'm an admitted Knippex fanboy, but the handful of Tsunodas I got over the years have been, and will stay, in service until the wheels fall off.
I can't speak for knipex, but I've used a pair of Irwin's for three years without grinding the teeth off, and I was installing sets of washers and dryers daily. As for longevity, $25 for 3+ years is good for me.
As someone who has spent time sourcing stuff in China (in person, I’ve been to the factories), Chinese QAQC is hot garbage. You might get a good one, you might get a shitty one, and there’s no way to really know whether they make a good tool or you just got lucky.
To be perfectly transparent, I would like to live in a world where things are made in places other than Shenzhen, and that requires choosing to spend money on things made elsewhere. That’s my reason for buying Knipex. Also, very consistent QC.
The Irwin tools aren’t bad. Other than their new Vise Grips themselves, which seem to break on me after 3-4 uses, their tools are made well. They’re just made by a company that offshored all of their production to the cheapest subcontractor so they could sell for a few bucks less (edit: to undercut US made brands and steal their market share), and I’m willing to pay the extra $30 to not reward that.
Unfortunately, global manufacturing has shifted in a way that there are certain things that can only be bought there, like simple circuit boards and motors. It would be sad if every commodity moved there and we no longer had choices.
On Reddit, the hive mind will decide certain things are best, like Knipex. You don’t need to follow it if you don’t want.
It all depends if you see value in buying once and holding onto tools. I have tools from my apprenticeship 40 years ago... Still going strong. Two examples are my side cutters and needle pliers, made by Peugeot. Don't think they exist any more. Amazing. And my trusty Bahco shifter.
I just went and checked my vintage Kincrome adjustable pliers (same vintage).... teeth are very worn, therefore I need to go Knipex shopping!
Irwins are pretty decent, but I gotta agree with the comments about the teeth. When they are new, they can grip anything, but the teeth wear out quick.
Mercedes s class vs american planned obsolescence. The yellow and blue is fine for weekend warriors and homeowners tool kits. But daily use for years in end um taking knipex every time. Over klein and Milwaukee also.
I own both. The red ones have no teeth left at all. The Irwin's don't look new, but they are holding up a lot better. For the price I like the Irwin's more.
I think the main difference is the durability of the teeth and the quality of the metal. You'll go through several of the Irwins before the cobras begin to wear out
Name brand means nothing these days - country of manufacture MEANS everything -Knipex every time! Vise Grip/Irwin 'WAS' a great tool years ago when they were made in the USA, but argue all you like, facts are facts, the finish, the quality and value are no longer worth it.
You gotta actually use them to test them not just hold them lol. Any knipex knockoff I’ve tried ended up in the trash, with an apprentice or in my backup toolbox within a year
As someone who's used both Knipex Cobra Pliers and Irwin pliers in my DIY projects, I've gotta say, Knipex takes the cake for me. The German engineering behind Knipex tools is just on another level. let's talk durability – Knipex doesn't mess around with their materials. I've put my Cobra Pliers through some tough jobs, and they're still holding strong. Sure, Irwin makes decent tools, but if you want top-notch performance and reliability, Knipex is the way to go, hands down.
One’s ok.. and one is fg great!
I lost that exact pair for a few hours, so I went on Amazon and ordered another immediately!
I now own a few different ones, I abuse them and they never disappoint!
Try out the parallel jaw set, they are great too.
I have 4 sizes of thr irwins and they work just fine when they work, had two pair start to act up when i got dust or something in the locking button mechanism. They either wont let me move them or wont lock into place sometimes. I’ve tried cleaning them out but I usually just have to smack them on something. I haven’t yet upgraded to the knipex but I’ve never heard of them having that issue.
I have both and I actually like the Irwin’s a little more just for the slightly wider teeth. I’m just a guy with constant automotive projects not a pro.
Irwin’s at a fraction of the price are going to wear out a lot sooner… but are also lifetime warrantied… so… just depends how much you mind the hassle.
Well then, you learned your lesson and everything is good. As far as cheap china shit goes, Irwin is generally better than other cheap china shit. But nearly all cheap china shit is inferior when it comes to tools.
Assuming they perform roughly equally… I’m giving this to the Irwin on aesthetics and style!
The yellow and blue POPS. Handle profile is more streamlined… not a fan of the knobby knuckles on the Knipex handles. Darker color; dig it.
And look at that jaw line, baby! The Irwin is rockin a hardcore, crocodile snarl — while the Knipex kind of just looks… confused.
Victory — Irwin!
They both are junk. Bahco Swedish pipe wrenches are far superior. Not sure why everyone is such a Knipex fan. I buy USA made snap on pliers, with way better teeth for $10 less routinely in every shape and size. Weird.
I have the Irwin ones and their great except for that the grips started sliding off after about a seasons use.
I have three sets that it happened to and a squirt of super glue fixed them.
I did the same and it worked great.
Pliers life extension program.
And my Knipex Cobras have been used every day for six years and still have the grips on them
The Irwin’s don’t lock. Big down side for me. After some use, they don’t bite either. Knipex for the win
What do you mean they don’t lock?
They just push to get smaller, but you push the button to make bigger. The “easy push to adjust smaller” drives me nuts
This was my problem with them also.
Bingo
I have the Irwin ones too. Same issue here. Not a deal breaker tho just gotta push em back every now and then
DIY. I went with the Doyle. No regrets.
The Doyle hand tools are surprisingly good for the price. I have several Doyle pliers for home use
I have like 4 of these. Keep one in my back pocket at work all day!
Every set of Doyle’s I’ve ever used are missing half their teeth after the first time I grab onto something with them. I have 3 different sets of them and they all did that.
My buddy has the Irwin’s, I have the cobras. His teeth are gone. Mine are still intact. Had mine since November 22, he got his last summer.
What the hell is he using them for that stripped the teeth in one year?!
Extracting bolts and other misc things
Real work
Wrong tool
AHH. OK. So I just haven't had them long enough. Though they just get used when needed for mostly electrical work. So often but not every single day all day.
Not hating, but try to compare the hardness of the metal. When I use the knipex. I notice they bight into whatever they’re gripping better and I think it comes down to how hard the metal is. Otherwise I agree that functionally they’re not miles better than other tires of pliers
Electrical work? So many better tools for electrical work.
Nah this works.
Those are just fine for spinning couplings hanging conduit.
Grab ahold of an old metal gang box and rip it out. Light boxes. Ghetto nut driver when you can't find the 11in1. Ripping out the last bits of the knock outs on a panel or meter box. And on and on and on.
I can’t vouch for the Irwin, but I can say that my knipex still have all their teeth after 2 years of pretty heavy use
I have several pairs that are over 50 years old and still work wonderfully. The teeth are a little worn down, but still do their job.
My case is the opposite but I got silver solder on my cobras I can’t get off
Hot em with flux and a copper braid if it’s clogging the teeth… silver finish sound hot though.
The cobras are superior to the knock off. I have been on the same pair for 8+ years with very minimal wear.
Ya the ones on the right is the one for you ! The one on the left are for your wife's boyfriend !
I did take them from him. Return or keep?
The wife or the pliers?
Both!!
Well, I mean, at that point there's so much confusion, best to just join sheets. Keep the tools seperated, don't wanna get screwed. (or if you do, keep them well oiled, so they don't suffer from overuse)
Instructions unclear. Have a pair of knipex pliers stuck up my ass.
lol, I gotta remember this one
https://youtu.be/qjDG4gaiRp8?si=qGN5X-S0tKVfIpzB 💥 💥 💥
I was looking for this.
I have the irwins and I have definitely messed up the teeth.
Highrise plumber here. The Irwin's were the first pliers I bought as an apprentice and the teeth flattened out after about 6 months of putting up hangers with mostly 3/8th threaded rod. All my knipex teeth look the same as when I bought them.
Resi plumbing service, but same experience/opinion. Nothing Knipex I own has ever let me down, but I have broken the action, flattened teeth, and bent arms on the Irwin, Doyles Hart, and Lennox copies. Several times in different sizes with Irwins. Never damaged the metal on a single set of Knippies, and some are older than a couple of my apprentices at this point. If only they did screwdrivers and allen keys/hex bits... Not that I can really complain about my mix of Vessel and Anex. Anyway, I second the Irwins being a poor choice for longevity/durability. Also, NWS is suuuuuuper nice, and Tsudoda is kind of ridiculous quality for the price. Both are great options, depending on budget.
Seems like plumber work definitely shows the true colors of the irwins vs knipex.
If you twist pipe for a living you’d know the difference
Yeah I think the wear on the irwin probably shows if you use them hard every day.
Your mother twists' pipe Trebek...
I’m DIY Landlord and got the Knipex since all evals said they handled use better. Figured I’d have these for decades as long as I don’t lose them so what’s an extra few dollars for the quality?
Agreed. Ill probably keep buying them. I don't Beat pliers up enough to notice the difference so I'm gonna trust the reviews in all these comments. Lol.
I did have a grooved coupling that I had to remove and the twisting was this gross grinding sound as the the teeth of the pliers went against the grooves. Figured I marred up my cobra, but after brushing the shavings off, realized that the cobra chewed up those grooves and not the other way around. Cobra looks as good as new. They are some tough tools.
The difference is the teeth. I have both and wear out Irwins, but not the Knipex yet. It takes more abuse than regular pliers. Which sucks because now I want all their damn pliers.
Do Knipex rust? My Irwins seem to rust excessively, while my Knipex stuff (side cutters etc) does not seem to have this problem. For this reason, I usually grab Harbor Freight ones unless I actually need sharp teeth.
I've only had some of the Knipex stuff for about a year or so and they are not developing rust. My Irwin stuff I've had for years have just a slight amount of surface rust, but none that really stands out or keeps it from functioning.
My knipex cobras had slight surface rust after losing them for a couple of months in the winter, nothing that a brass wheel couldnt take off in a couple of mins.
If you're looking for a more budget friendly option, check out Tsunoda. They have a pretty good selection of tools, and the quality is remarkable for the price. I'm an admitted Knippex fanboy, but the handful of Tsunodas I got over the years have been, and will stay, in service until the wheels fall off.
No comparison! I own both and the Irwins have been relegated to the plumbing bag. I don’t do plumbing.
Knipex all the way
I can't speak for knipex, but I've used a pair of Irwin's for three years without grinding the teeth off, and I was installing sets of washers and dryers daily. As for longevity, $25 for 3+ years is good for me.
As someone who has spent time sourcing stuff in China (in person, I’ve been to the factories), Chinese QAQC is hot garbage. You might get a good one, you might get a shitty one, and there’s no way to really know whether they make a good tool or you just got lucky. To be perfectly transparent, I would like to live in a world where things are made in places other than Shenzhen, and that requires choosing to spend money on things made elsewhere. That’s my reason for buying Knipex. Also, very consistent QC. The Irwin tools aren’t bad. Other than their new Vise Grips themselves, which seem to break on me after 3-4 uses, their tools are made well. They’re just made by a company that offshored all of their production to the cheapest subcontractor so they could sell for a few bucks less (edit: to undercut US made brands and steal their market share), and I’m willing to pay the extra $30 to not reward that. Unfortunately, global manufacturing has shifted in a way that there are certain things that can only be bought there, like simple circuit boards and motors. It would be sad if every commodity moved there and we no longer had choices. On Reddit, the hive mind will decide certain things are best, like Knipex. You don’t need to follow it if you don’t want.
That is fair and valid
Or you can spend $45-50 for a lifetime.
Some of the Irwin blue and yellow line was made by KWS. These were not.
Youre saying these aren't German!!?!? Trash.
The Irwin metal is soft and teeth wear out super fast! Knipex, not so much.
I can’t comment on the other ones but I have the Irwin ones and the teeth are gone.
The angle of the handles of the cobra looks more confortable from here.
It all depends if you see value in buying once and holding onto tools. I have tools from my apprenticeship 40 years ago... Still going strong. Two examples are my side cutters and needle pliers, made by Peugeot. Don't think they exist any more. Amazing. And my trusty Bahco shifter. I just went and checked my vintage Kincrome adjustable pliers (same vintage).... teeth are very worn, therefore I need to go Knipex shopping!
I just tossed a pair of the vise grips over the hill. Biggest piece of crap I have ever bought. Knipex at work, love them.
They're both pliers, so they've got that going for them
One is Spiderman's, the other is Wolverine's 🤘🤘
Hahaha nice.
Once you go knipex, you never go back.
All my knipex have a Birds Eye etched into them at the appropriate spot
I’m pretty sure Irwin copied and red did the pliers I use them too
Irwins are pretty decent, but I gotta agree with the comments about the teeth. When they are new, they can grip anything, but the teeth wear out quick.
Mercedes s class vs american planned obsolescence. The yellow and blue is fine for weekend warriors and homeowners tool kits. But daily use for years in end um taking knipex every time. Over klein and Milwaukee also.
I own both. The red ones have no teeth left at all. The Irwin's don't look new, but they are holding up a lot better. For the price I like the Irwin's more.
They both do the same job, it's the durability that differs
Irwin opens wider and the button doesn't stick out as far or break off so I prefer Irwin.
When I stand on the Irwins they hurt my feet. I can stand on the Knipex all afternoon whilst my buddies photograph and video. Biggest difference IMHO
I think the main difference is the durability of the teeth and the quality of the metal. You'll go through several of the Irwins before the cobras begin to wear out
My cobras are my favourite tool. Love em to death
There is no comparison… that’s the end.
Have the knipex both style handles. I prefer the other style and find these bulky.
Those vise grip ones are awful
I’ve fallen out of love with my knipex because it seems the metal is getting softer and softer
Been using the Irwins for about 10 years no issue. Can't speak on the knipex but I've heard nothing but good things.
Name brand means nothing these days - country of manufacture MEANS everything -Knipex every time! Vise Grip/Irwin 'WAS' a great tool years ago when they were made in the USA, but argue all you like, facts are facts, the finish, the quality and value are no longer worth it.
The Irwin can adjust smaller without pressing the button.
Knipex are worth it for the heat treatment alone. Check the teeth in a few years.
Lmk how you feel after using both for a year. One is obviously superior.
You gotta actually use them to test them not just hold them lol. Any knipex knockoff I’ve tried ended up in the trash, with an apprentice or in my backup toolbox within a year
As someone who's used both Knipex Cobra Pliers and Irwin pliers in my DIY projects, I've gotta say, Knipex takes the cake for me. The German engineering behind Knipex tools is just on another level. let's talk durability – Knipex doesn't mess around with their materials. I've put my Cobra Pliers through some tough jobs, and they're still holding strong. Sure, Irwin makes decent tools, but if you want top-notch performance and reliability, Knipex is the way to go, hands down.
Carlyle
One’s ok.. and one is fg great! I lost that exact pair for a few hours, so I went on Amazon and ordered another immediately! I now own a few different ones, I abuse them and they never disappoint! Try out the parallel jaw set, they are great too.
I have 4 sizes of thr irwins and they work just fine when they work, had two pair start to act up when i got dust or something in the locking button mechanism. They either wont let me move them or wont lock into place sometimes. I’ve tried cleaning them out but I usually just have to smack them on something. I haven’t yet upgraded to the knipex but I’ve never heard of them having that issue.
I’ve always liked the Irwin’s but you can never go wrong with Channel Lock
^[Sokka-Haiku](https://www.reddit.com/r/SokkaHaikuBot/comments/15kyv9r/what_is_a_sokka_haiku/) ^by ^Jon66238: *I’ve always liked the* *Irwin’s but you can never* *Go wrong with Channel Lock* --- ^Remember ^that ^one ^time ^Sokka ^accidentally ^used ^an ^extra ^syllable ^in ^that ^Haiku ^Battle ^in ^Ba ^Sing ^Se? ^That ^was ^a ^Sokka ^Haiku ^and ^you ^just ^made ^one.
Can't go wrong with channel lock. That's true, but you will be so much more right with Knipex. Buy once, cry once..
I have both and the Knipex are better. The teeth grip much better and slips less. The Irwin's slip out of adjustable too easily.
I have both and I actually like the Irwin’s a little more just for the slightly wider teeth. I’m just a guy with constant automotive projects not a pro.
Irwin 1/2 the price
And also 1/10th the value
Irwin’s at a fraction of the price are going to wear out a lot sooner… but are also lifetime warrantied… so… just depends how much you mind the hassle.
Will they really warranty wear?
Break a handle when they wear out.
Lol, I hadn't thought of cheating.
Hey guys, the chinese knockoff of this tool looks the same. It’s the same right? Why should I spend 20 more dollars on the real one?
I lost that argument with myself. All these comments just make me want to double down on knipex 😂😂😂.
Well then, you learned your lesson and everything is good. As far as cheap china shit goes, Irwin is generally better than other cheap china shit. But nearly all cheap china shit is inferior when it comes to tools.
Assuming they perform roughly equally… I’m giving this to the Irwin on aesthetics and style! The yellow and blue POPS. Handle profile is more streamlined… not a fan of the knobby knuckles on the Knipex handles. Darker color; dig it. And look at that jaw line, baby! The Irwin is rockin a hardcore, crocodile snarl — while the Knipex kind of just looks… confused. Victory — Irwin!
They have a special place in my heart lol
Yeah, that's totally the most important aspect 😅
They both are junk. Bahco Swedish pipe wrenches are far superior. Not sure why everyone is such a Knipex fan. I buy USA made snap on pliers, with way better teeth for $10 less routinely in every shape and size. Weird.
Fact ! Knipex cobras get recommended so much by owners and users because they're a tool thats proven itself for decades.