I just want to say thanks for the videos. The angle you have the camera at, the camera focus, the audio, and what you have to say about tools are on point. No meandering about and long pauses.
I really liked Wiha back when they made things mostly in Germany. Once the Vietnam thing showed up I pretty much ended that. Around the same time that KC Tool dropped Wiha from their lineup too, might’ve had something to do with that for them too I’m not sure.
Wiha pliers have, to my knowledge, always been made in their Vietnamese factory. Nothing necessarily wrong with that, the steel is ok and they hold up decently well, but some of the designs (like this one) could use an overhaul to make them more functional and the grinding on the models with ground surfaces is typically very uneven. They sell some cheaper bits and stuff that is made in different countries (OEM from other manufacturers?) that varies in quality, but their screwdrivers that are actually still made in Germany are very good.
Wiha has they own factory in Vietnam so quality is god. Wiha actualy have better tols for cuting than knipex ( tools for electrician). Knipex have to soft metal so you can cut only cu.
I have those pliers, had em for around a year and I dont like them, my favourate are the Gedore with the dipped handles followed by the cobras. That said I like the Gedore for electrical work as i like the shape of the jaws being longer and narrower than the standard cobras.The anti pinch on the Wiha is terrible, I find the adjustment okay and the lack of fine adjustmants doesnt really make any difference to me. If you need VDE pump pliers get the Knipex or VBW (stahlwille also VBW). Incedentially the reason for using insluated pump pliers (and insluated tools in general) is not normally to wrench on live electrical components rather it's for working in the vacinity of live electrical components espicially where high amperages are involved where a dropped tool could land across two bus bars or terminals and cause a major explosion on large distribution boards or battery banks in UPS systems or electric vehicels. Think 2000 amp distribution panel with multiple chambers where you isolate them one by one to add or modify circuits etc. If you accidentally drop a spanner, rachet or pliers down a bus bar chamber that touches phase to phase you would have a 400+ volts 2000 amp arc flash which would literally blow the whole panel to bits! I did something like this myself once years ago on a large voice evac/fire alarm system changing batteries and whilst tightening a terminal on around 20 parallel wired 24V truck type batteries touched an extension bar on a rachet off the side of the rack they were mounted in.....made a big bang, burnt a hole in the side of the cabinet and scared the living shit out of me! Needless to say I never did that again and would at least tape up an extension bar with insulating tape if I didnt have an insulated one nowdays! Love the channel :)
Guy at work one time was showing off how he could break the head off a 3/8 grade 8 bolt with a pair of cobras and how no other channel locks could do it. So of course I had to prove I could do it with an old 10in pair of diamond horseshoe's. Unfortunately diamond horseshoe isn't around anymore but the knipex cobra's are great.
Just stay with Knipex. There is a VDE version for the cobra series. The Vietnam made pliers are not very durable. The cobra, also have many setting points,and you can adjust the handles position much better. The knipex cobra vde is chrome plated, and have a quickset auto adjust mechanism. It is faster and much easier to use. When it is about pliers, only knipex for me.
@@kennethstephens8046 I have a set of Felo precision electronic screwdrivers. Good to go. I have a set of Wiha VDE drivers. The handle with the different bits. First time I used the combo phillips and slot head (forgot the name) the tip shattered. Wiha sent one out right away but doesn't inspire confidence.
It's only for pipes anyway. Usually pipes are not carrying electricity the mass of the pipe system would ground them anyway. I'd just get the cheap Knipex Cobra (18€ here) or another solid local brand. The only German tools worth importing in my oppinion are : Stahlwille wrenches (the non-ratcheting ones) Stahlwille sockets (They are thin and strong, go for the old non fine tooth ratchet it has better tolerances and is easy to rebuild) Hazet impact sockets (Still made in Germany unlike the Stahlwille ones, but you might as well buy Ko-Ken if those are cheaper) VBW / Stahlwille pliers wrench (simply the best one) I would just avoid Wiha / Wera (Wera is not even made in Germany) and head straight for Felo / PB Swiss Tools (I prefer the PB Swiss) Speciality tools like drill bits etc. Not everything from Germany is the best. As a German I don't trust the Made in Germany label too much. If it's made in Japan you know it's really good. But there are exeptions for example ratcheting wrenches are the best from Taiwan (Hi-Five) they are sold as Mac Tools / Facom all over the world (the ones with the swivel joint are cheap, get the ones with the selector, for ratcheting ones just buy cheap from Taiwan).
I have a smaller, older version with dipped handles made in Taiwan. It's a light/medium duty tool. Not bad for the money, but not in the same league as Knipex.
I'm very recently got a 10-inch pair of Knipex extra slim Cobra pliers. And they are quickly becoming my favorites just because the angle of the head is so much better for getting into the areas I need to get into most of the time. And that's with home plumbing mostly. But I suspect they're just as good in automotive uses as well. There is only one pair of Knipex I wasn't very happy with and that is their 10 inch soft pipe gripping plies. That soft grip on these things is terrible. You're far better off using a couple paper towels and removing the soft grip tips. I don't know if I maybe have destroyed the soft grip upon my first time using them in an area where I needed far more torque than they were able to handle. And I'm not so much thinking about getting a replacement pair because if they're not broken and I get the same thing I had I feel like a fool for buying them a 2nd time.
Hello again Doc Thank you for another Great Video. The Wihi pliers look to be very awkward to use. If any those hardware were installed. You would have had a time in install/removal. Again thank you
The large position pitch seems like a potential issue, as does the riveted spring. I‘ve seen these at a local hardware store and wasn‘t impressed, rather get the Knipex. There are other actually German made water pump pliers, Hazet has one, VBW (Stahlwille) does too, and Gedore from Austria as well. The Hazet is pretty nice but usually about 1/3 more expensive than the Knipex.
I have a pair of the Wiha (not VDE). Complete crap compared to Knipex, Gedore, Stahlwille/VBW, Hazet. Honestly, they are no better than the Amazon basics pump pliers which are $20 or so for three in different sizes. They are even worse than the NWS. I threw them in a vehicle, but honestly, I think I would be better served with the channellocks. I’d give them away, but I’d feel bad (I normally give away cobras, Gedore, or channellocks). IME, if it’s not a screwdriver, or something similar, Wiha is not good (although I did buy all their ratcheting wrenches in big sizes when they went 90% off because I am cheap). For VDE I have two pair of the Knipex cobra 250mm VDE, but I can conceive of a reason when I would need insulated pump pliers. I just bought them to match the set (not that I work on live wires unless they are spark plug wires but I digress).
I have a pair of the Klein branded, NWS made pump pliers. Honestly just as good as the Knipex. My only gripe would be the adjustment isn’t as fine in the NWS pliers. Although with larger fasteners that shouldn’t be an issue
Glad you like them, but my experience with the NWS is that the steel is significantly inferior (teeth wear) and the button sticks. They too made it to a vehicle kit. :-)
Does anyone every innovative on their own anymore? All of these tools are copies of companies that have put the time and intellectual energy into developing good products. Ultimately we the consumer must decide who to reward. The innovators who dedicate themselves to quality, or the copy cats just looking at how they can leverage crap living conditions and cheap labor to offer inferior products at a lower price.
I just want to say thanks for the videos. The angle you have the camera at, the camera focus, the audio, and what you have to say about tools are on point. No meandering about and long pauses.
I would rather grab a set of the Knipex insulated cobras.
I really liked Wiha back when they made things mostly in Germany. Once the Vietnam thing showed up I pretty much ended that. Around the same time that KC Tool dropped Wiha from their lineup too, might’ve had something to do with that for them too I’m not sure.
Wiha pliers have, to my knowledge, always been made in their Vietnamese factory. Nothing necessarily wrong with that, the steel is ok and they hold up decently well, but some of the designs (like this one) could use an overhaul to make them more functional and the grinding on the models with ground surfaces is typically very uneven.
They sell some cheaper bits and stuff that is made in different countries (OEM from other manufacturers?) that varies in quality, but their screwdrivers that are actually still made in Germany are very good.
Wiha has they own factory in Vietnam so quality is god. Wiha actualy have better tols for cuting than knipex ( tools for electrician). Knipex have to soft metal so you can cut only cu.
Yet you love Wera which is made in the Czech Republic
I think is useless to compare other plier wrenches Brands to Knipex..! Cobras are on another Level !! Over the Top ! No Rivals..🌟
I have those pliers, had em for around a year and I dont like them, my favourate are the Gedore with the dipped handles followed by the cobras. That said I like the Gedore for electrical work as i like the shape of the jaws being longer and narrower than the standard cobras.The anti pinch on the Wiha is terrible, I find the adjustment okay and the lack of fine adjustmants doesnt really make any difference to me. If you need VDE pump pliers get the Knipex or VBW (stahlwille also VBW).
Incedentially the reason for using insluated pump pliers (and insluated tools in general) is not normally to wrench on live electrical components rather it's for working in the vacinity of live electrical components espicially where high amperages are involved where a dropped tool could land across two bus bars or terminals and cause a major explosion on large distribution boards or battery banks in UPS systems or electric vehicels. Think 2000 amp distribution panel with multiple chambers where you isolate them one by one to add or modify circuits etc. If you accidentally drop a spanner, rachet or pliers down a bus bar chamber that touches phase to phase you would have a 400+ volts 2000 amp arc flash which would literally blow the whole panel to bits!
I did something like this myself once years ago on a large voice evac/fire alarm system changing batteries and whilst tightening a terminal on around 20 parallel wired 24V truck type batteries touched an extension bar on a rachet off the side of the rack they were mounted in.....made a big bang, burnt a hole in the side of the cabinet and scared the living shit out of me! Needless to say I never did that again and would at least tape up an extension bar with insulating tape if I didnt have an insulated one nowdays!
Love the channel :)
Outstanding comments Phil. Thank you so much for sharing them with us. Your insights and experience is exactly what I wanted to read.
you mind telling us what model number gedore plier you are referring too? they a couple of different kinds
Guy at work one time was showing off how he could break the head off a 3/8 grade 8 bolt with a pair of cobras and how no other channel locks could do it. So of course I had to prove I could do it with an old 10in pair of diamond horseshoe's. Unfortunately diamond horseshoe isn't around anymore but the knipex cobra's are great.
Just stay with Knipex. There is a VDE version for the cobra series. The Vietnam made pliers are not very durable. The cobra, also have many setting points,and you can adjust the handles position much better. The knipex cobra vde is chrome plated, and have a quickset auto adjust mechanism. It is faster and much easier to use. When it is about pliers, only knipex for me.
Agreed. Wiha for screwdrivers, Knipex for pliers.
@@Cleofizoid I still prefer felo or facom for screwdrivers, but knipex or trusty channellock Is always my choice for pliers
@@kennethstephens8046 I'll have to checkout Felo and Facom. 👍
@@kennethstephens8046 I have a set of Felo precision electronic screwdrivers. Good to go. I have a set of Wiha VDE drivers. The handle with the different bits. First time I used the combo phillips and slot head (forgot the name) the tip shattered. Wiha sent one out right away but doesn't inspire confidence.
They don't look too bad, although the Knipex seem a bit better.
I almost bought those but got the NWS ones which are way more comfortable than the Knipex.
It's only for pipes anyway. Usually pipes are not carrying electricity the mass of the pipe system would ground them anyway. I'd just get the cheap Knipex Cobra (18€ here) or another solid local brand.
The only German tools worth importing in my oppinion are :
Stahlwille wrenches (the non-ratcheting ones)
Stahlwille sockets (They are thin and strong, go for the old non fine tooth ratchet it has better tolerances and is easy to rebuild)
Hazet impact sockets (Still made in Germany unlike the Stahlwille ones, but you might as well buy Ko-Ken if those are cheaper)
VBW / Stahlwille pliers wrench (simply the best one)
I would just avoid Wiha / Wera (Wera is not even made in Germany) and head straight for Felo / PB Swiss Tools (I prefer the PB Swiss)
Speciality tools like drill bits etc.
Not everything from Germany is the best. As a German I don't trust the Made in Germany label too much. If it's made in Japan you know it's really good. But there are exeptions for example ratcheting wrenches are the best from Taiwan (Hi-Five) they are sold as Mac Tools / Facom all over the world (the ones with the swivel joint are cheap, get the ones with the selector, for ratcheting ones just buy cheap from Taiwan).
I have a smaller, older version with dipped handles made in Taiwan. It's a light/medium duty tool. Not bad for the money, but not in the same league as Knipex.
I'm very recently got a 10-inch pair of Knipex extra slim Cobra pliers. And they are quickly becoming my favorites just because the angle of the head is so much better for getting into the areas I need to get into most of the time. And that's with home plumbing mostly. But I suspect they're just as good in automotive uses as well. There is only one pair of Knipex I wasn't very happy with and that is their 10 inch soft pipe gripping plies. That soft grip on these things is terrible. You're far better off using a couple paper towels and removing the soft grip tips. I don't know if I maybe have destroyed the soft grip upon my first time using them in an area where I needed far more torque than they were able to handle. And I'm not so much thinking about getting a replacement pair because if they're not broken and I get the same thing I had I feel like a fool for buying them a 2nd time.
Hello again Doc
Thank you for another Great Video. The Wihi pliers look to be very awkward to use. If any those hardware were installed. You would have had a time in install/removal. Again thank you
Made in Vietnam?
Please do it the video about snap on linesman pliers 57 and 59 models. Totally test .cutting of wires.
Yeah i wouldn't bother with anything other than cobras.. Those wihas don't have enough adjustment options
The large position pitch seems like a potential issue, as does the riveted spring. I‘ve seen these at a local hardware store and wasn‘t impressed, rather get the Knipex.
There are other actually German made water pump pliers, Hazet has one, VBW (Stahlwille) does too, and Gedore from Austria as well. The Hazet is pretty nice but usually about 1/3 more expensive than the Knipex.
I have a pair of the Wiha (not VDE). Complete crap compared to Knipex, Gedore, Stahlwille/VBW, Hazet. Honestly, they are no better than the Amazon basics pump pliers which are $20 or so for three in different sizes. They are even worse than the NWS. I threw them in a vehicle, but honestly, I think I would be better served with the channellocks. I’d give them away, but I’d feel bad (I normally give away cobras, Gedore, or channellocks). IME, if it’s not a screwdriver, or something similar, Wiha is not good (although I did buy all their ratcheting wrenches in big sizes when they went 90% off because I am cheap). For VDE I have two pair of the Knipex cobra 250mm VDE, but I can conceive of a reason when I would need insulated pump pliers. I just bought them to match the set (not that I work on live wires unless they are spark plug wires but I digress).
I have a pair of the Klein branded, NWS made pump pliers. Honestly just as good as the Knipex. My only gripe would be the adjustment isn’t as fine in the NWS pliers. Although with larger fasteners that shouldn’t be an issue
Glad you like them, but my experience with the NWS is that the steel is significantly inferior (teeth wear) and the button sticks. They too made it to a vehicle kit. :-)
Does anyone every innovative on their own anymore? All of these tools are copies of companies that have put the time and intellectual energy into developing good products. Ultimately we the consumer must decide who to reward. The innovators who dedicate themselves to quality, or the copy cats just looking at how they can leverage crap living conditions and cheap labor to offer inferior products at a lower price.
kinda like a cobra and alligator had a baby
These look like the Irwin’s but worse
Wiha made in Vietnam 🤣🤣🤣