I used those Kobalt grips for 2 years as a welder in a metal shop. They took tons of abuse, heat, and metal dust. They are the best $20 on a tool I spent in years. The rubber by the locking button falls off, but it slips back on.
I just came home with this pair and they are everything you say just as all of your accurate assessments. Thanks, but I fear I may go broke! You are a great salesman of sorts. Thanks for what you're doing for us.
Those kobalt seem to be a good set of "loaner" tools. When your neighbourghs want to borrow a tool, give them the kobalts and keep the knipex for yourself
Knipex work better, last a bunch longer. They are also thief magnets. Junky looking tools get the job done cost less to buy, & you find yourself replacing them less often for less money.
I have an unusual pair of Stanley grips that they have not made for decades. I could never understand the way they sort of slip because the mechanism is covered with sheet steel. You demonstrate it here and explain the leverage mechanical gain so well. Thank you very much - decades old mystery solved.
*Whoa, talk about a hidden gem discovery! I've been knee-deep in the world of Kobalt tools for a while now, but stumbling upon this video completely blew my mind. Can you believe I didn't even know these babies existed until now? It's like finding buried treasure while searching for something totally unrelated! And get this: I did a little digging online and found out they come with a lifetime warranty? Sign me up, I'm all about that peace of mind! I've gotta give these a whirl, they sound like they could be a total game-changer for my tool arsenal.*
Thanks for this -- I just bought the Kobalts today. I learned from your video that I don't have to grip both handles when turning the tool, and that's a big plus, since those handles are very far apart on the larger pliers when you have them on big fastener. Thanks for that info in advance
I just bought these on a whim for $15 for both. Upon opening, the jaws did not line up at all. Very flimsy. So I took the jaws to a upside down belt sander and sanded them down so that they did line up. Much better now.
The lock switch on the kobalt pliers is a key feature for me. I use them to fix wire fence and can hold and lock 2 ends of wire, freei g my hands to crimp a splice to join them.
Those Knipex pliers wrench like the ones in your video are extremely popular among Bicycle mechanics. Practically every bike tech on the Tour De France carries them in their tool kits.
@@cbmech2563 You clearly don't own any. Go buy yourself a pair and you will get it. Most pro mechanics now have them and even Snap On sell them branded as Snap On.
@@harveysmith100 Uhhhhhhhhh no. I AM a professional heavy truck mechanic and I don't use pliers on nuts and bolts unless some moron has used pliers of them before me and fd them up and then I use vise grips
@@cbmech2563 Like I said, try a pair, they are not pliers as you think of them. The mating surface is flat, no teeth, they are more like an adjustable wrench but without the slop. I use them when I am plumbing on chrome bathroom fittings and have never had them leave a mark. I honestly recommend them. If you have a Snap On truck that comes to you, ask to see them. I am absolutely OCD when it comes to tools, I wouldn't recommend them unless I valued them.
'A bit worded' is an understatement. But, I think of it as you cover everything about the tools your reviewing for us. In this case you start out as, here is a tool that is cheap and you get what you paid for and then slowly change to what seems like 'hey, these are pretty good and almost compare them to the Knipex'. There ended up to be be a lot of 'I like that', about these "very low priced" pair of adjustable pliers. What you failed to mention was, being Kobalt, from Lowes, maybe they have a lifetime warranty. That and their low price of $20 for the pair is really not that bad. How much are the Knipex, huh?
Until you factor time, and fuel cost returning to Lowe's and waiting in line for customer service. I assure you those cheap pins in the handle mechanism will fail with little use.
I like the concept of the Kobalt. Look up the antique Eifel Plierench. It was a tool made for almost 100 years (1916-2014) that was a cam driven design like this. Plus the jaws were interchangeable. I have two of them (large and small) and love them.
on the knipex. the reason why it can get such a good grip is that it works like a normal adjustable wrench in a way that most of the stress is on the rails of the jaw and only some of the stress is on the pins anyways. i think ill pick up a set to toss around the shop. ill keep my Knipex and Gedore plier wrenches for work use
Having seen all the positive reviews of the knipex pliers wrench, I bought a pair and honestly don't like them. I still haven't figured out how to adjust them with one hand. I have to press the button with one hand and move the fixed jaw with the other. Many times I'd be holding another tool in my left hand so I have to put that down to adjust the tool. Then the other problem is that the teeth are so fine that a single tooth in the wrong position will make it the wrong size for the fitting or fastener. Maybe it's because I have small hands or something but the comfort grips are too bulky to use properly. I have the knipex cobras in regular grip and it's much easier to use.
i like that the kobalt are affordable and self adjusting. my only worry is the serrated damaging bolts that you need to reuse constantly(my work). i bet they would shine really well in removing a bolt with a damaged head, between the leverage and the serrated teeth
I notice that the Kobalt pliers only use one tooth rack (and as mentioned, smaller) where the Knipex uses two. I would guess that because of this the Knipex would be able to withstand much greater pressure without the teeth disengaging?
I have a set of Irwin Groovelock pliers that I use daily. They have to be manually adjusted but will grip one handed ( open palm ) so I don't bust my knuckles. I have 8",10", and 12" and I trust and depend on them. I'm curious what your opinion of them would be.
The Kobalt is a smarter design. Pity about the build quality but id buy it over the knipex simply because it can be operated by one hand. But also because i can buy 4 or 5 Kobalts for the price of 1 Knipex.
I bought the Kobalt self-adjusting pliers also, just because I was interested in seeing if something would act like a decent cheaper version of pliers wrenches myself. My guess is that the pins inside the handle, and in the joint for the self adjusting mechanism maybe common failure points. They're pretty tiny for the amount of force that one would have to put on these to use in a lot of situations. For something that's probably much higher quality than these that has the design advantage that you're looking for, check out the Wiha pliers wrenches. They have a reputation for slightly poor production quality so far, and they may be a bit overpriced for what they are, but they look very interesting to me. The build quality complaints that I've seen have to do with the surface finish mostly, and weird stinky oil. I haven't tried them myself, but if at some point you do, I'd be curious about your impressions.
Yes these are a nice option for people who want to see how well wrench pliers work for them without having to buy the really expensive knipex. If they find they really like them then they can get the premium tool from knipex
I have the older models of the Kobalt pliers. The grip is a bit different, but they look pretty much the same. They're not bad, but I must admit that I haven't used mine in quite a while.
I got those. for the price they are just OK. actually I find use for the smaller ones in my garage as small kombi pliers. but the finishing is poorest I've ever seen on any kind of tool. even north Korean spanners we used to have in Eastern Europe looked like piece of art next to the kobalts.
As soon as I can I'm going to try the Cobalt one I don't care about the finished look of them I can't afford to knipps I'm only going to be able to get what I can't afford
Are they similar to the robo grip. I don’t think the craftsman robo grip are made any more I have one pair I used to have multiple pairs how expensive were the rigid ones
No that's the point these Cobalts are like the knipex wrench pliers they have much more gripping Force but you don't have to manually adjust them so they're a combination of the high force of the knipex and the automatic adjustment of the robo grips
Does anybody know of sharp cutters simular to side ends cutters that have the head shaped like the robogrip or channel locks..the metal in trying to notch regular cutter heads doesn't get in where I need to cut..any help plz thanks
You didn't recognize Knipex have mach stronger leverage thav cobalt , Knipex is 1:10 ratio so if you push 50 ftp on handle you will have 500ftp on nuts , cobalt us not close to that that are best of the best
I hate those things. What they WON'T do, is bend anything. If you need to squeeze two bits together - there is zero torque in the self-adjusting mechanism. TRY IT! Once you lock down on a fastener it grips fine. So when I have to squeeze say seat mount wires, no can do, and I'm reaching for more conventional Channellocks.
Kobalt grips are shit on them. Have the same set and the grips slipped off, had to super glue them back on. Got them on a great sale $13 for the set so I did get what I paid for 😂
Kobalt is garbage....had a set of adjustables break right out of the package....the Pittsburgh black n yellow handlE vise grips are garbage too...I may have a few KOBALT sockets n the 3 in 1 Rachet ...most of my tools are craftsman
Do not buy these! Garbage! If you need to be able to get a good grip on something, these cannot do it. I returned the set after one day on the job. Good concept, crappy mechanism that cannot apply force.
I used those Kobalt grips for 2 years as a welder in a metal shop. They took tons of abuse, heat, and metal dust. They are the best $20 on a tool I spent in years. The rubber by the locking button falls off, but it slips back on.
I just came home with this pair and they are everything you say just as all of your accurate assessments. Thanks, but I fear I may go broke! You are a great salesman of sorts. Thanks for what you're doing for us.
Those kobalt seem to be a good set of "loaner" tools. When your neighbourghs want to borrow a tool, give them the kobalts and keep the knipex for yourself
Indeed
True , i dont even lend my knipex to family - old excuse "they"re in work" lol :)
😂
Knipex work better, last a bunch longer. They are also thief magnets. Junky looking tools get the job done cost less to buy, & you find yourself replacing them less often for less money.
I end up using my kobalt a lot more because how fast and easy they are compared to my knipex! great review and thanks for your time!
Thank you
I have an unusual pair of Stanley grips that they have not made for decades. I could never understand the way they sort of slip because the mechanism is covered with sheet steel. You demonstrate it here and explain the leverage mechanical gain so well. Thank you very much - decades old mystery solved.
*Whoa, talk about a hidden gem discovery! I've been knee-deep in the world of Kobalt tools for a while now, but stumbling upon this video completely blew my mind. Can you believe I didn't even know these babies existed until now? It's like finding buried treasure while searching for something totally unrelated! And get this: I did a little digging online and found out they come with a lifetime warranty? Sign me up, I'm all about that peace of mind! I've gotta give these a whirl, they sound like they could be a total game-changer for my tool arsenal.*
Thanks for this -- I just bought the Kobalts today. I learned from your video that I don't have to grip both handles when turning the tool, and that's a big plus, since those handles are very far apart on the larger pliers when you have them on big fastener. Thanks for that info in advance
I just bought these on a whim for $15 for both. Upon opening, the jaws did not line up at all. Very flimsy. So I took the jaws to a upside down belt sander and sanded them down so that they did line up. Much better now.
Informative information greatly appreciated
The lock switch on the kobalt pliers is a key feature for me. I use them to fix wire fence and can hold and lock 2 ends of wire, freei g my hands to crimp a splice to join them.
Kolbalts dont hold up long just a tip for anyone thinking about buying lasted about a month
Those Knipex pliers wrench like the ones in your video are extremely popular among Bicycle mechanics. Practically every bike tech on the Tour De France carries them in their tool kits.
That doesn't say much for bicycle mechanics 😲
It makes sense those are so popular on all the little Fasteners on road bikes.
@@cbmech2563 You clearly don't own any. Go buy yourself a pair and you will get it.
Most pro mechanics now have them and even Snap On sell them branded as Snap On.
@@harveysmith100
Uhhhhhhhhh no. I AM a professional heavy truck mechanic and I don't use pliers on nuts and bolts unless some moron has used pliers of them before me and fd them up and then I use vise grips
@@cbmech2563 Like I said, try a pair, they are not pliers as you think of them.
The mating surface is flat, no teeth, they are more like an adjustable wrench but without the slop.
I use them when I am plumbing on chrome bathroom fittings and have never had them leave a mark.
I honestly recommend them. If you have a Snap On truck that comes to you, ask to see them.
I am absolutely OCD when it comes to tools, I wouldn't recommend them unless I valued them.
Since the patent ran out, there are lots of copies of knipex but none came close. Mine survived 15 years of professional use and abuse. Love them.
'A bit worded' is an understatement. But, I think of it as you cover everything about the tools your reviewing for us. In this case you start out as, here is a tool that is cheap and you get what you paid for and then slowly change to what seems like 'hey, these are pretty good and almost compare them to the Knipex'. There ended up to be be a lot of 'I like that', about these "very low priced" pair of adjustable pliers.
What you failed to mention was, being Kobalt, from Lowes, maybe they have a lifetime warranty. That and their low price of $20 for the pair is really not that bad. How much are the Knipex, huh?
Until you factor time, and fuel cost returning to Lowe's and waiting in line for customer service. I assure you those cheap pins in the handle mechanism will fail with little use.
I like the concept of the Kobalt. Look up the antique Eifel Plierench. It was a tool made for almost 100 years (1916-2014) that was a cam driven design like this. Plus the jaws were interchangeable. I have two of them (large and small) and love them.
I had a feeling this was a tool that was probably invented a long time ago thank you for telling us about that
I have a pair of 1930s era plierench that I still use daily as a plumber. They're great.
maybe filing the teeth out on the kobalts would help strengthen them... would definitely benefit em overall seeings that they are so fine/shallow
on the knipex. the reason why it can get such a good grip is that it works like a normal adjustable wrench in a way that most of the stress is on the rails of the jaw and only some of the stress is on the pins
anyways. i think ill pick up a set to toss around the shop. ill keep my Knipex and Gedore plier wrenches for work use
Having seen all the positive reviews of the knipex pliers wrench, I bought a pair and honestly don't like them. I still haven't figured out how to adjust them with one hand. I have to press the button with one hand and move the fixed jaw with the other. Many times I'd be holding another tool in my left hand so I have to put that down to adjust the tool. Then the other problem is that the teeth are so fine that a single tooth in the wrong position will make it the wrong size for the fitting or fastener. Maybe it's because I have small hands or something but the comfort grips are too bulky to use properly. I have the knipex cobras in regular grip and it's much easier to use.
THANKS FOR THE GREAT VIDS.
A small pair of these would be perfect for changing MIG welding tips and consumables
i like that the kobalt are affordable and self adjusting. my only worry is the serrated damaging bolts that you need to reuse constantly(my work). i bet they would shine really well in removing a bolt with a damaged head, between the leverage and the serrated teeth
OMFG! the finish on those cobalts! throw them out!
I notice that the Kobalt pliers only use one tooth rack (and as mentioned, smaller) where the Knipex uses two. I would guess that because of this the Knipex would be able to withstand much greater pressure without the teeth disengaging?
I have a set of Irwin Groovelock pliers that I use daily. They have to be manually adjusted but will grip one handed ( open palm ) so I don't bust my knuckles. I have 8",10", and 12" and I trust and depend on them. I'm curious what your opinion of them would be.
I have to take a look at this someday
I have a feeling those are going back to the store lol
Color me shocked HF doesn't have these, maybe under that new Doyle brand.
Thanks for the review; will pick up a pair today I think.
They really aren't that bad and yes it seems like a perfect Harbor Freight item
The Kobalt is a smarter design. Pity about the build quality but id buy it over the knipex simply because it can be operated by one hand. But also because i can buy 4 or 5 Kobalts for the price of 1 Knipex.
Rory RoRy knipex makes a set that you can use one handed. There is 3 variations of this tool.
I bought the Kobalt self-adjusting pliers also, just because I was interested in seeing if something would act like a decent cheaper version of pliers wrenches myself. My guess is that the pins inside the handle, and in the joint for the self adjusting mechanism maybe common failure points. They're pretty tiny for the amount of force that one would have to put on these to use in a lot of situations. For something that's probably much higher quality than these that has the design advantage that you're looking for, check out the Wiha pliers wrenches. They have a reputation for slightly poor production quality so far, and they may be a bit overpriced for what they are, but they look very interesting to me. The build quality complaints that I've seen have to do with the surface finish mostly, and weird stinky oil. I haven't tried them myself, but if at some point you do, I'd be curious about your impressions.
Thanks for the comment someday I'll check out those whia's
Enjoyed the video, thanks.
Robogrip might be good for bottle caps, if you don’t have grip strength
The Ridgid looks like the Quinn pairs being sold at harbor freight
I have the old version of the kobalts. Where the jaws are made of many pieces of stamped steal all pinned together
I had rigid Robo grip fail as u apply lot of force ,the gear /teeth slip once it happen u cannot securely turning any bolt as it slip open to max .
Thanks for the review. I picked them up a few days because of the 'self-adjusting' and thought they'd be useful. Affordable for the DIYer.
Yes these are a nice option for people who want to see how well wrench pliers work for them without having to buy the really expensive knipex. If they find they really like them then they can get the premium tool from knipex
Craft man had an adjusting plier some twenty years ago......
I have the older models of the Kobalt pliers. The grip is a bit different, but they look pretty much the same. They're not bad, but I must admit that I haven't used mine in quite a while.
They're pretty good at breaking loose hoses and fittings
How are they on hex nuts small and medium sized?
Are they like the Craftsman Robo grips from years past?
The Rigid are like the old Craftsman version
@@MajorWeakness I saw that because I put this question up less than 15 seconds into the video
The Rigid's are exactly like the old Craftsman which I have from years ago.
I put that up, before I watch the entire video, shame on me
I got those. for the price they are just OK. actually I find use for the smaller ones in my garage as small kombi pliers. but the finishing is poorest I've ever seen on any kind of tool. even north Korean spanners we used to have in Eastern Europe looked like piece of art next to the kobalts.
Yes I was disappointed by the bill kwali because the plier engineering does work well
As soon as I can I'm going to try the Cobalt one I don't care about the finished look of them I can't afford to knipps I'm only going to be able to get what I can't afford
Good comment on exactly why I make videos and such a variety of tools and so many price ranges
I wish they made the Kobolt in smoothjaw
That would be amazing
no worries! in gritty situations you can just wash em with your waterbottle
the knipex has much larger teeth on both sides of the slide.
Are they similar to the robo grip. I don’t think the craftsman robo grip are made any more I have one pair I used to have multiple pairs how expensive were the rigid ones
No that's the point these Cobalts are like the knipex wrench pliers they have much more gripping Force but you don't have to manually adjust them so they're a combination of the high force of the knipex and the automatic adjustment of the robo grips
Does anybody know of sharp cutters simular to side ends cutters that have the head shaped like the robogrip or channel locks..the metal in trying to notch regular cutter heads doesn't get in where I need to cut..any help plz thanks
Thanks great video and I will have to get those tools
Thanks
Knipex makes a self adjustable tool. Look it up.
You didn't recognize Knipex have mach stronger leverage thav cobalt , Knipex is 1:10 ratio so if you push 50 ftp on handle you will have 500ftp on nuts , cobalt us not close to that that are best of the best
At least you say Knipex the correct way
nip-ex? oh dear, you didn't pronounce that right at all
I hate those things. What they WON'T do, is bend anything. If you need to squeeze two bits together - there is zero torque in the self-adjusting mechanism. TRY IT! Once you lock down on a fastener it grips fine. So when I have to squeeze say seat mount wires, no can do, and I'm reaching for more conventional Channellocks.
I had to adjust the playback speed to 1.25 otherwise I would have to pee.
"Focus you fuck"!
Not a fan of the kobalt due to easily rusting, much rather have channellocks
Had them, they sucked lmao
Kobalt grips are shit on them. Have the same set and the grips slipped off, had to super glue them back on. Got them on a great sale $13 for the set so I did get what I paid for 😂
Kobalt is garbage....had a set of adjustables break right out of the package....the Pittsburgh black n yellow handlE vise grips are garbage too...I may have a few KOBALT sockets n the 3 in 1
Rachet ...most of my tools are craftsman
Nighpex? 😂
Do not buy these!
Garbage!
If you need to be able to get a good grip on something, these cannot do it. I returned the set after one day on the job. Good concept, crappy mechanism that cannot apply force.
Robot grips are awful. Best use might be for tightening a hose to a spigot.
Kuh-nee-pex
"Kuh -Oh- Vult"
@@socksonfeet8125 kuh junk
Kuh-nip-ex
In case anyone is wondering, it's "kuh-nip-ex"