Electrician here. I own all 3 brands. They are all GOOD. Klein i prefer for alot of splices. The top heavy feel of the tool aids in splicing multiple wires and wires of different sizes. The weight also makes it a great hammer in situations. The cutters generally hold up the longest between the three. Rectangle cutout can hold a 3/8s nut and be used a 9/16 wrench in a pinch. Knipex. Balance and finish are unmatched. This tool is awesome, metallurgy makes it rust and corrosion resistant, round cut allows to cut heavy gauge wire. They cut very well. Ive cut 1/4 bolts several times, very minor depressions in blades occured still cut well. Gripping nose is slightly smaller than Klein. Channellock. A cheap USA made no frills tool. Probably cut the best but rubber handles slide off, the tool rusts pretty easily and the tool head is slimmer than the competiton, a big downside. If you need to splice 3 or more 12awgs your SOL, wish they would fix that. Channellock used to make wiremaster plier that the old timers swore by.
Couldn’t have said it better myself. I found a place that had a few wire masters still for sale about three months ago. Also own the CRFT. I’d also add Klein feels broken in from day one. Channlock is my work horse, gets used and abused. Klein is in all my bags Knipex is so nice I don’t want to use it. 😂
@@thunderhammer1937 Agreed. I have 5 year old Knipex Cobras that have held up well, but I watch them like a hawk on job sites. My Knipex Lines & dykes are now backups and stay in the truck. Their dykes suck, dont buy them unless its the 10", but thats a large tool to be running abd gunning all day. I have a sweet spot for Channellock. I have quite a few of their pliers at home. Their "Nut busters" are amazing when you need them. I think when my Knipex Cobras take a dumo theyll be replaced with 430s or 440s. Klein tongue and groove flat out suck.
@@thunderhammer1937i will add that Knipex blades will chip if you cut hardened materials. Had to cut deck screws and other screws and ultimately chipped the blades. Ive cut same materials with the other two and theyve held up. Still a solid tool though.
@Scradee I'm aware. They replaced my Linemans awhile back & ultimately the same thing started to happened with the current pair. The current pair is still usable but won't cut tape or jetline very well. The same issue also happened to their 8" dikes, i'll live with that cos their leverage is subpar compared to Channellock or Klein equivalents so theyre house tools rather than field tools now. Not knocking on the brand just a buyer beware.
The Kliens with the Journeyman grips are $39.99 at Home Depot. Nothing holds up as well as the Klien 2000 series. Not even the Knipex. You don't cut wire all day long barely squeezing the pliers like your test. You did not cut any 6/32 or 8/32 screws. The snap of the Knipex wears on your hands. The Kliens eliminate that snap. Channel locks can not cut any screws and rust quickly. 25 five years in the trade. Had numerous pairs of Knipex also that had too much daylight between the cutting blades. Can use the Kliens to remove knock outs hammering on a screw driver. If you do that with the Knipex the small pivot loosens and pliers get wobble in them.
The 2000 series hold up great their heavier than competitors but the cutting edges on mine chipped on the first drywall screws I had to cut with them I haven’t had my Knipex jaws chip out yet I switched to the D201 Klein and their holding up pretty well
The gap in the Klein's is actually a design feature from what I recall. The idea is the slight gap is so when you squeeze the handles, the gap closes, but doesn't press into the opposing blade.
I don't know what is up with your Klein's.. I have several Klein Lineman and diagonal cutters and every single one of them are perfect. No gap whatsoever and cut like butter
You can't go wrong with any one of them. Those are top of the line of the living history pliers brands. Knipex have a combination pliers version (the European type), 9" - which is almost twice as cheap as the lineman's, but also with a high leverage pivot and powerful and comfortable.
I use a Harbor Freight "Doyle 9-in" pliers that for $18 I don't care beating the crap out of them. I also have a Tekton 9 in that are also pretty good but those are for DIY auto repairs. In the car's tool bag I carry a Wal Mart Hart 8-in.
Channellock pliers - amzn.to/3JY7Tmb
Knipex pliers - amzn.to/4bEAOHJ
Klein pliers - amzn.to/4bdg5e4
Electrician here. I own all 3 brands. They are all GOOD. Klein i prefer for alot of splices. The top heavy feel of the tool aids in splicing multiple wires and wires of different sizes. The weight also makes it a great hammer in situations. The cutters generally hold up the longest between the three. Rectangle cutout can hold a 3/8s nut and be used a 9/16 wrench in a pinch.
Knipex. Balance and finish are unmatched. This tool is awesome, metallurgy makes it rust and corrosion resistant, round cut allows to cut heavy gauge wire. They cut very well. Ive cut 1/4 bolts several times, very minor depressions in blades occured still cut well. Gripping nose is slightly smaller than Klein.
Channellock. A cheap USA made no frills tool. Probably cut the best but rubber handles slide off, the tool rusts pretty easily and the tool head is slimmer than the competiton, a big downside. If you need to splice 3 or more 12awgs your SOL, wish they would fix that. Channellock used to make wiremaster plier that the old timers swore by.
Couldn’t have said it better myself. I found a place that had a few wire masters still for sale about three months ago. Also own the CRFT.
I’d also add Klein feels broken in from day one.
Channlock is my work horse, gets used and abused.
Klein is in all my bags
Knipex is so nice I don’t want to use it. 😂
@@thunderhammer1937 Agreed. I have 5 year old Knipex Cobras that have held up well, but I watch them like a hawk on job sites. My Knipex Lines & dykes are now backups and stay in the truck. Their dykes suck, dont buy them unless its the 10", but thats a large tool to be running abd gunning all day. I have a sweet spot for Channellock. I have quite a few of their pliers at home. Their "Nut busters" are amazing when you need them. I think when my Knipex Cobras take a dumo theyll be replaced with 430s or 440s. Klein tongue and groove flat out suck.
@@thunderhammer1937i will add that Knipex blades will chip if you cut hardened materials. Had to cut deck screws and other screws and ultimately chipped the blades. Ive cut same materials with the other two and theyve held up. Still a solid tool though.
@@KeystoneOutdoorsmanI'd contact them. I was just looking at maybe getting knipex and the package says "cuts hardened steel"
@Scradee I'm aware. They replaced my Linemans awhile back & ultimately the same thing started to happened with the current pair. The current pair is still usable but won't cut tape or jetline very well. The same issue also happened to their 8" dikes, i'll live with that cos their leverage is subpar compared to Channellock or Klein equivalents so theyre house tools rather than field tools now. Not knocking on the brand just a buyer beware.
The Kliens with the Journeyman grips are $39.99 at Home Depot.
Nothing holds up as well as the Klien 2000 series. Not even the Knipex. You don't cut wire all day long barely squeezing the pliers like your test. You did not cut any 6/32 or 8/32 screws. The snap of the Knipex
wears on your hands. The Kliens eliminate that snap. Channel locks can not cut any screws and rust quickly. 25 five years in the trade. Had numerous pairs of Knipex also that had too much daylight between the cutting blades. Can use the Kliens to remove knock outs hammering on a screw driver. If you do that with the Knipex the small pivot loosens and pliers get wobble in them.
So you're using your pliers as a hammer, and it's not that efficient? Got it 👍
@@michaelwhitby25Never heard of the electrician's hammer? 😂
The 2000 series hold up great their heavier than competitors but the cutting edges on mine chipped on the first drywall screws I had to cut with them I haven’t had my Knipex jaws chip out yet I switched to the D201 Klein and their holding up pretty well
The gap in the Klein's is actually a design feature from what I recall. The idea is the slight gap is so when you squeeze the handles, the gap closes, but doesn't press into the opposing blade.
I don't know what is up with your Klein's.. I have several Klein Lineman and diagonal cutters and every single one of them are perfect. No gap whatsoever and cut like butter
Knipex 😍 , also Wiha makes some quality tools, I don't know how much they cost in USA, in Europe Wiha is cheaper then Knipex 😊
Whia 3 piece set are money with the 9"5 NE ASTYLE LINEMENS
You can't go wrong with any one of them. Those are top of the line of the living history pliers brands. Knipex have a combination pliers version (the European type), 9" - which is almost twice as cheap as the lineman's, but also with a high leverage pivot and powerful and comfortable.
Your bias is showing XD
I use a Harbor Freight "Doyle 9-in" pliers that for $18 I don't care beating the crap out of them. I also have a Tekton 9 in that are also pretty good but those are for DIY auto repairs.
In the car's tool bag I carry a Wal Mart Hart 8-in.
Yep, I recently got the Doyle linemans, they're pretty good.