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Old 19th Sep 2020, 9:02 am   #1
mole42uk
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Default What are the best pliers?

I need a new pair of general purpose pliers, about 5" or 6" snipe-nose. I usually buy Lindström but I wondered if there is another brand that is of similar quality but maybe priced at less than £75?

Any advice gratefully received.
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Old 19th Sep 2020, 10:44 am   #2
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Default Re: What are the best pliers?

You might like to try Knipex https://www.knipex.com/en/homepage-2020/.

Pliers from their Insulated Tools, ranges 25, 26 and 30 might suit your needs if it's what in Post Office speak is known as '81s' (pliers, long nose). The quality is good and the price is reasonable.

If you like tools, their website is worth a visit just for its own sake.

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Old 19th Sep 2020, 11:40 am   #3
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Default Re: What are the best pliers?

Search Amazon for 'Engineer pliers', they are quality precision tools made in Japan for electronic work and not that expensive.
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Old 19th Sep 2020, 12:02 pm   #4
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Default Re: What are the best pliers?

Oh Dear, the likelihood of my losing any hand tool rises exponentially with the price I paid for it. I couldn't consider paying more than about £15 for anything like that.
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Old 19th Sep 2020, 12:25 pm   #5
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Default Re: What are the best pliers?

Another happy user of the Engineer brand, I have a decent collection of their tools, very well made indeed.


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Oh Dear, the likelihood of my losing any hand tool rises exponentially with the price I paid for it. I couldn't consider paying more than about £15 for anything like that.
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Old 19th Sep 2020, 1:31 pm   #6
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Default Re: What are the best pliers?

I can't properly answer the original question as mine were either gifts, or cheapies, but:

As most of us probably have a set of portable tools that are less theft-prone than our 'best' set, i am quite impressed with my Magnusson obstruction pliers. (They also do snipe-nose pliers.) I believe Magnusson to be one of the many disguised B&Q/Screwfix brand 'exotic sounding smokescreen' brands, but for an uber-cheapie- not bad.

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Old 19th Sep 2020, 1:45 pm   #7
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Default Re: What are the best pliers?

There is IMHO a lot to be said for Lindstrom, secondhand if in good condition. Keep an eye on ebay and local charity shops.
I have several Lindstrom tools all secondhand, and mainly from charity shops.

For heavier work or rough work, not requiring a snipe nose, government surplus "pliers, linesman's and general purpose" are reasonable, and cheap enough that loss or damage is of less concern.
I have several of these purchased from various surplus dealers.
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Old 25th Sep 2020, 8:12 pm   #8
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Default Re: What are the best pliers?

Another vote for Knipex. I have a pair of “81’s and various sizes of side cutters. Had them since 1996 and still as good as new, and a pleasure to use.
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Old 25th Sep 2020, 8:23 pm   #9
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Default Re: What are the best pliers?

And another for Knipex. I have several pliers of various types and have recently bought a pair of electricians scissors which are proving to be very effective.
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Old 25th Sep 2020, 9:55 pm   #10
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Default Re: What are the best pliers?

For a lower price option of small cutters/long nosed pliers and loop forming pliers I find those on sale at Hobbycraft
https://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/pink-bl...ck/630699-1000
@ £7 a good buy.
For those ex PO/BT, the cutters and long nose are similar in size to the mini cutters and what we referred to as "41"'s , but the Hobbycraft ones have a cutting blade.
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Old 26th Sep 2020, 4:31 am   #11
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Default Re: What are the best pliers?

I have bought a pair of Engineer brand PR-16 Long Nose pliers, not expensive but there’s a detail that I don’t like. They have a wire cutter and the usual circular relief close to the joint but in manufacture the grinding for the flat jaw face has extended into the wire cutter and has removed a small part of the cutter.

I know Knipex - I have a pair of their slip joint grips which are very good so I might return the Engineer tool and buy Knipex.
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Old 11th Oct 2020, 8:48 am   #12
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Default Re: What are the best pliers?

As a final word on this thread, I have now bought some Knipex pliers and relegated the Engineer ones to the garage. The Knipex are so much better, not as good as Lindström but half the price....

Here's some photos:
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Old 11th Oct 2020, 9:12 am   #13
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Default Re: What are the best pliers?

I've never found smaller pliers to be subject to much in the way of quality issues and have just bought the kind of thing you see in Wilkos etc.
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Old 11th Oct 2020, 11:52 am   #14
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Default Re: What are the best pliers?

A friend of my son's is an electrician for Network Rail. He recommends Knipex and I have been slowly building up a collection of them. They do seem to be good quality, especially the small cutters
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Old 11th Oct 2020, 11:59 am   #15
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Default Re: What are the best pliers?

BT used a lot of Knipex, in the 90s, probably still do?
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Old 11th Oct 2020, 12:02 pm   #16
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Default Re: What are the best pliers?

Probably the same ones!
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Old 11th Oct 2020, 3:42 pm   #17
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Default Re: What are the best pliers?

Quote:
BT used a lot of Knipex, in the 90s, probably still do?
Rob
Where do you think I got mine!
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Old 12th Oct 2020, 12:29 am   #18
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Default Re: What are the best pliers?

For many years at work I had a pair of small long nosed pliers by 'Klein Tools' came out of the tool stores at HP and had an HP corporate part number, so might have been American, but the name suggests Germany... 'Little Tools'

I can't say whether or not they were the best, but they were very good and they lasted. As good as Lindstrom... possibly, but small hand tools are very personal choices. There may be a best one for each individual user, but they will likely be different.

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Old 12th Oct 2020, 9:23 am   #19
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Default Re: What are the best pliers?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Radio Wrangler View Post
For many years at work I had a pair of small long nosed pliers by 'Klein Tools' came out of the tool stores at HP and had an HP corporate part number, so might have been American, but the name suggests Germany... 'Little Tools'
You were right first time David. Klein Tools are indeed American https://www.kleintools.com/.

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Old 12th Oct 2020, 9:48 am   #20
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Default Re: What are the best pliers?

I got a nice pair of Knipex cutters in the charity shop for 50p recently. Rusty and seized, but good as new after 10 minutes with some oil and wire wool. They have a lovely, precise action.
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