It seems nobody can agree on how to say Knipex. For those of you who are curious here is an example of how the German Knipex employees say it. th-cam.com/video/YfZwJ3_f1WQ/w-d-xo.html
I've used Knipex professionally for years, and have had 0 complaints about them since my first pair back in the 90's. However, recently picked up a pair of the HF Doyle clones, and have to admit that they are a perfectly usable substitute. I keep them in my go bag, along with other lower priced, but perfectly usable tools.
I could see using them in higher risk situations where loss or theft would be more likely. I like to keep a few spare tools in my travel trailer so it would be good for that. At least if I left them behind I’m not out much.
I agree 100% on the Warranty and exchanging them is a Huge advantage. You can beat the crap out of them then when they break you get a brand new one same day
You can't rip harbor freight for this. How many of you got a genuine colt 1911 or armorlite 16? Exactly! All you guys are rocking the clones 1911s and ar15s!
@@brad3741 uhhhh well no. Vicegrip makes sheet metal clamps. Champion-DeArment Tool Company in 1934 under the brand name Channellock (after which the company was later renamed) but are also now produced by a number of other manufacturers. They are actually called "pump pliers."
@@1mikewalsh he's not talking about water pump/tongue and groove channel lock pliers. Hes talking about vice grips/locking pliers. I believe irwin is the original vice grips/locking pliers. Everyone makes them now. They have the screw on the bottom to adjust how far they open or close. After they make contact with the fastener you give an extra squeeze and they lock. Theres a lever inside the handle to release the lock. Nothing like channel locks/water pump pliers/tongue and groove pliers. This video is the new style water pump pliers. Far more adjustability than channel lock/tongue and groove pliers. Irwin also make a version of these. They also come with a straight tooth jaw similar to chanel lock as well as a v toothed jaw. These smooth jaw are more for polished surfaces so they dont get sratched/marred up.
@@jacksmith2315 The first locking pliers, with the trade name Vise-Grip, were invented by William S. Petersen in De Witt, Nebraska, United States in 1924. Irwin bought them out moved production overseas and the are still ok pliers. They are not built anything like the Peterson tool company made in Nebraska. I have gone through several Irwin pliers that have broke. The one pair of original USA pliers are still going.
I had the knipex 10 in version. Still do, but they broke and knipex semt me replacement parts but the wrong size. Im definitely going woth harbor freight now. Its literally on my way home from the shop. The knipex replaced my snap on adjustable wrench. Just wait until i tell my snappy dealer hf replaced them
At least now you know how to correctly say it, unlike 99% of the internet. :D Knipex made a shirt because people kept saying it wrong. It reads "Kuh-Nip-X". But Germans do not pronounce "i" like we do, they stretch it a bit making it sound more like an "ee". When they say it, it sometimes comes out like Kh-knee-pex, also with a hard K at the beginning. Here is a very good example of how it is said coming from one of their Managing Directors in Germany. th-cam.com/video/YfZwJ3_f1WQ/w-d-xo.html
Crazy how well companies can make just about the same product for much cheaper, I was stuck on brands for a while thinking they are so much better, but I’m starting to realize there are some great alternatives for some tools, not all but more than I originally thought. For new comers it’s great , they can have quality tools and not break the bank when they start their career.
It’s understandable why though, I don’t know how long knipex has been selling this tool but they have to recoup the costs of developing a tool from scratch. After that they could probably be more competitive but I don’t think they want to, they have a solid customer base. It’s amazing the bang for your buck you can get with a lot of items if you do some research. I most recently have been into high power flashlights and nice pocket knives and it’s unbelievable the quality of items I’ve found for the money. With both the flashlights and knives you can get the same performance and quality as the biggest brands for about 1/3 the price once you dig deep enough. I’m happy to see the same seems to be true with tools.
They can make it for much cheaper because they did not have to do any R and D on the product...the design is stolen...so that is why they can sell it for less.....
Im curious as to the actual material quality and hardness of the Icons. Generally if a clone is heavier than the original its because the original is a better quality forging with tighter/stronger grain and better toughness/hardness. I'm not saying this is necessarily the case here. Just that I'd like to see them tested.
This is an exciting development to me. Im a big fan of Knipex and while I'll willingly spend 30-some-odd dollars on a 4" mini-Cobra pliers, for some reason i have a mental block about scaling up my Knipex spending to all the (many, many) $40+ items which includes anything bigger than 8". So this larger tool for $40 is useful because it helps me avoid confronting my own hypocrisy. Pound-foolish, tool wise? Eh, who am i kidding.
I could see some deciding knipex is the way to go, for sure! Especially at a 10 dollar difference! That being said, the 25% off coupons do work for these and that brings them down to 30 bucks. The metal quality is pretty good, I've kept this set on my service truck and they still look good, just as good as my knipex sets. Adding the return policy is better at harbor freight, I could also see why people would buy them from Harbor Freight. There are really no wrong answers ! Life is about options. ;)
My only concern would be the quality of the steel of the HF ones. I have had a set of Knipex Cobra Pliers for 10+ years now and the teeth on those are in the same shape as when I got them. I have the Icon equivalent and the teeth are worn out after just a year. Something to be said for the strength of German steel.
I love my knipex cobras, was the reason i started buying more knipex tools, then i had the pleasure of going through their, knipex, warranty process.... lost me as a customer forever, i already paid $60 for your tool and because of your company quality defect you make me pay another $40 to ship. HF warranty is so much better
“Harbor Freight did an outstanding job of creating their own version…” Hmmm… I’d actually say that they did a straight up copy. Even down to the red color grips! I’m not downing the Icon version - what an outstanding value for what looks like a quality tool. But let’s call it what it is, a carbon copy.
Why would you even need to warranty these? I’ve had the knipex version forever and jaw as well as the handles are in exceptional shape. I’m sure ICON will do the job just as well since they shared the same design, but only time will tell how they hold up over time.
The fact that you worry about the warranty tells all. What's the steel used for the Harbor Freight? You might need that warranty sooner than you think. Also, when has an exact copy become 'their own version'?
Thanks for the comment as I had forgotten all about this video and I'd like to add an update. I've been using them on my service truck and they have been holding up surprisingly well. Zero nicks and dings in the metal and like a dumbass, I even use the back side of them like a hammer. I really do hope that by me mentioning the warranty it doesn't make you think the tool is inferior. If that is the case, I don't want you to be worried about Knipex, as I have done the same thing when reviewing their tools. I personally feel it is just part of doing a good tool review. ;) As far as "their own version", I'd like to clear this up. I really was just implying that they sell wrench pliers now, sorry that wasn't obvious to you. But now that Knipex has abandoned this design, it really does seem like HF has now has their own version. :D
The old HF warranty is amazing. I own the Knipex pliers wrench, and I’ve never even considered their warranty. Guess I know I won’t likely ever need it. Remember TommyBoy? “I can crap in a box and slap a warranty on it, but you do have”?
Could you please measure the total length of the Harbor Freight/Icon 10" pliers wrench in mm and post it here as a response? (Photos are appreciated with ruler side by side or add it as a separate video.) Thanks
Not arguing for or against HF, but am curious about the type and quality of steel they used versus Knipex. Weight and/or thickness alone doesn’t tell us anything.
Me too! That was my first concern when I bought them. But I will say I've been keeping them in my utility truck since I posted this video and they look just as good as my Knipex sets.
I really wish ICON would make a full line of pliers and cutters to compete with Knipex. I have the "parrot head" ICON version of the wrench/pliers and it is awesome!
With what is going on in the world today I have had to think twice on a few purchases lately. What might be a deal today may have to be paid for tomorrow.
I've never used these so I'm struggling to see the point. They seem like they're doing the same job as an adjustable wrench. Do they not slip due to the constant tension applied through the handle?
The more force you apply, the harder they grip. Due to the way they're designed you get quite a bit of force multiplication in the sense that closing the grips lets say 10cm results in the jaws closing 1cm or so (completely made these numbers up). Adjustable wrenches have the tendency to work themselves loose after a few turns, these will not. They also have the advantage that you can use them as a "ratchet" in a way.
Not any kind of a "showdown"!! No strength tests, no jaw tests, just a couple of 'touchy-feely' comments, and raving about HF warranty... BUT, I don't want a tool that *NEEDS* a warranty exchange! I don't want a tool that fails me in some remote location, or damages a fastener, or bloodies my knuckles but gets a warranty easily. Unless you are many kilometers from HF store, or even have one close to you, or can afford to blow off the time and expense to go there to exchange a $40 tool. In 30 years with Knipex Cobra's (multiple sizes, multiple locations), I've never had one fail me, and learned the lessons about tool warranties a long, long time ago. Better to spend $30, or so, more, and never need the warranty :-)
Thanks for the comments! And you're right! Everyone had different reasons for buying what they need. I have a toolbox full of knipex and over the years have broken a few jaws, hence why the warranty is important to me.
Found yer vid on Hazard Fraught's own website, hopefully they make these in other sizes too. They look like they're out of the same friggin factory so the price on the Knipex is just bonkers.
The Icons look nice minus the thick grips. I have several of the knipex 7” and 10” I love them. I bought them when they were cheaper than the icons. $32 and $37 respectively. I personally do not like the thicker grips on any of my pliers. Knipex makes slim design tools for a purpose and thick ass grips just make a tool harder to get into tighter areas .
I totally agree. That comfortable big grip is anything but when there is little room. The hardest part of mechanic-ing is when there is little space to do what would otherwise be easy to get done!
I appreciate your comment. I thought the exact same thing but I'd consider myself a novice in this department so I tend to doubt my own opinions. Now I can make a more educated purchase
I've got three knipex pliers sizes. They are great but I got all in a pack years ago for around 100. At full price I'd give the hf ones a try. Look good based on initial reviews I've seen. For home use the 6 and 8 inches ones get the most use. They are all very handy.
Welcome to the real world. As soon as patents are up on anything, you will see other manufacturers make exactly the same item. From medicine, electronics, furniture, to tools, firearms, etc.
So what. I am a consumer and I want the very best for my money. I happen to have 2 Knipex pliers (2 different sizes, 10” and 6”). And course I paid good money (European prices) for these and honestly, I am not impressed with the quality of the finish on the knipex; my 10 inch appears to have damage on the gripping surface. I think it came from the factory that way, because the only thing that I’ve done with it is parallel push a couple light pins into a fixture. It did that OK, but for the money, they’re asking if I were to need to buy them again, I would consider icon before knipex. And once again, I find German quality to be an oxymoron.
I see a lawsuit coming in the near future over these things. They are just way too similar. Right down to the cosmetic cutout patterns on the sides of the jaws. Even the same color of red on the handles. If Knipex was making these for harbor freight then of course there wouldn't be a problem. But from what I've read so far, Knipex does not make these for harbor freight. It will be interesting to see how this goes.
I'm pretty sure the pronunciation is KNEE--PEX. I've worked overseas where these tools were used by European crews & I worked with a lot of these guys & they pronounced it the way I have suggested.
It is very controversial! Most of the folks overseas pronounce the k. At one point knipex made a t-shirt and they even have done videos on how to pronounce it. The k is intended to be pronounced, though the Germans make that I sound more like an EE. images.app.goo.gl/iQSKMt5wEBzeVkic9
What about the tool steel grade, can you prove that they're just as good? Like a Rockwell test would be even slightly useful. If they're made out of rubbish steel or not the same grade as the Knipex, then they are a subpar tool. The one thing that really makes a tool last is the quality of tool grade steel that they are made out of. Because that tool steel grade is so hard to machine and work with the cost is usually more to produce a tool with quality steel. It really irritates me that this is not even a point/question in your review.
You are absolutely correct, the quality of the metal is more important than anything else I talked about in the video. I probably should get some testing files and start pointing out at least how hard the metal is, though that alone doesn't test the integrity of the steel. I did toss them in my service truck, I figured in a year I'll come back and we will take a look at them to see how they are holding up. If they fail or show signs of weakness, I will make sure I pin a comment and post the details. Sorry to disappoint.
I agree, I also would like to see a comparison of the teeth quality of the harbor freight compared to the knipex it's not easy to manufacture the teeth and have 100% land all the way across the teeth and no break or taper from stamping or forging I have Knipex and the teeth are always straght and they also match, and again hardness of teeth is important
@@AtimatikArmy I mostly agree with you. However, you might be surprised; Knowing and or finding the correct blend of materials isn't that difficult. It's the integration of the alloys and tempering/annealing/forging process that makes a real difference as well.
@@davidmaye3580 It's the whole combination of the alloys being used along with the heat treating and tempering process. The Germans understand this very well while China has historically always fallen short in this one critical area. That is going to be all the difference in the world.
Durability is also important. I can fold a penny twice (into a pie piece) with my Knipex and there was barely a mark in the finish. Still, Harbor Freight is doing well with their hand tools. Unfortunately, that’s not universal for their products. I recently purchased a hand winch that was so poorly designed as to be dangerous. Return was very s easy, though.
A bunch of squawking in the comments about these pliers being a copy of the Knipex brand. Duh, it's Harbor Freight. What did you expect? The copy complaint is running neck and neck with the name pronunciation complaints. Click on the link in the pinned comment to hear the name spoken by someone who should know the correct way to say it. And then go outside and get some fresh air, some of you sound like you need it.
NippleX got nip hurt by those who use them pliers here and there, occasionally. If they all were to be pinching nipples day in and day out they all would also get them Knipplexes.
I have my knipex plierwrenches since 2009. Still flawless today. I have never owned anything from HF that lasts more than a year before it starts to fall apart. HF is good for loaner tools when porters and service writers come and ask to borrow tools because they want to diagnose and "repair" stuff in the parking lot before they realize they have to pay a technician who will actually fix it right. You will never see me handing out my knipex to them or sloppy green techs who get their tools from Wal-mart. Knipex good, HF meh.
Some of our best mechanics have cheaper tools and some of our worst mechanics have snap-on. You can't always judge a mechanic by their tools. That being said, the Icon brand is pretty dang good, expensive but good. And that is what typically gets Harbor Freight in trouble. People wil buy their "cheap" tools, break them and complain. Meanwhile had they spent a little more, they would of have a really good product that would of lasted their lifetime.
@@1D10CRACY i agree. A techs best tool is his brain by far. But that said, I have tried to tackle a job using HF tools, the tool fails, and i throw the tool right in the trash because it is a complete waste of time and money. I replace the tool with a snap-on and the tool lasts years and years and years without failure. My opinion is based in first hand experience. Hf tools have their place, my expensive tools have a higher place because I have better success with them over and over again. The job is already difficult, i can't stand it when i have to fight the tool instead of the problem i am trying to fix. If you do light work then HF tools are probably ok, but if you have to fight rusted stuck, heavy fasteners then snap-on, matco, and mac tools kick ass
You’re very narrow minded and ignorant, just saying. I’m a technician and a mechanical engineer. While I love my Snap-On and Matco tools that I bough foolishly for the name, I still use a lot of harbor freight tools as a full time line tech and in my personal shop. A tool doesn’t make a technician, you’ll learn that when you get older. You have a lot to learn and maybe the reason your tools don’t last is because you have the mindset that because they are not off of the tool truck, they are simply not as good as a tool truck tool so you try your hardest to find the flaw in the tool rather than use it as intended. You do the same “torture” to a tool truck tool, and it’s gonna break the same way. I’ve had to warranty my Snap-On and Matco ratchet wrenches over 5 times the last 2 years from simple light jobs whereas my Icon and Milwaukee wrenches have yet to fail me.
@@bananapuffcream1 You have got to be kidding me. I'd say your credibility totally went out the window if you think Harbor Freight tools are on par or even better then the counter parts they stole their designs from. They are not even close to the same quality, not by a long shot. Now, are they usable in most general cases for most people, sure, but better? They simply are not. A mechanical engineer should know this, at least one who is worth their salt. And just because you followed an outline and got your degree doesn't mean you are some type of authority on the subject as most mechanical engineers aren't getting into the thick of it hands on turning wrenches and getting their pretty hands dirty.
Great Video.. makes me want to drive to Harbor Freight to buy a pair of pliers, even at $39.99. I will say that at the 2:03 mark on the video, it looks like the Knipex has a little better fit where the cam/pawl fits into ident on the plier jaws.. Does it feel like there is more slop when closing the grip? I'd also be curious to know if Knipex uses hardened steel in their pliers, or at least a harder steel than the Icon. I can see how these would wear alot more if a softer metal was used..
Yeah, metal hardness is what I've been wondering about. Project Farm's test showed that Icon's tounge and groove pliers had teeth that were nearly as hard as Knipex's and better than any other brand. But when he tested a different tool (I think it was diagonal cutters but I'm not sure), the Icons had softer metal and suffered way more damage than Knipex and the multiple other brands. I suppose with the flat jaws on these, the metal hardness doesn't matter as much so I'll buy the Icon.
Thanks for your video. Knipex makes their pliers wrench in several sizes including a very small one that I use as part of my secondary EDC along with a small version of their Cobra water pump pliers. The pliers wrench has replaced a small crescent in my toolset and larger sizes will eventually replace all of my crescent wrenches. I'm sure that someday I will find a situation where the crescent is the best choice; but the fact that the pliers wrench will not work loose and is rapidly reset in use makes me think that use case for the crescent wrench is going to be very rare.
Cresent wrench is NEVER the best choice as it is inferior to a properly fitting fixed size wrench in every respect. The one thing they have going for them is they are adjustable and so are the Knipex.
@@AtimatikArmy I have had situations where I didn't have a full toolkit at hand, and an adjustable wrench was great, but the handles would fit, or there wouldn't be room to grip them. I keep a lookout for a superior adjustable wrench, but I like both the Crescent and Knipex smooth-jaw. BTW, Crescent and Milwaukee and others each have a smoothjaw pliers type wrench design of their own. I don't think either is the same compound action.
It's been a while since I purchased tools from tool trucks, but I suppose this would work for some. The problem I would of had is our tool truck guys only came around once every other week, so I would of had to wait on the truck to return before getting a replacement or tried to meet up with the guy.
True and see my tool trucks comes by and one comes Monday then another Tuesday then Friday for me but I see we’re your getting at some people don’t have that
LOL I don't think anyone is really saying it correctly. They made shirts on how to say it and it reads "Kuh-Nip-X". But Germans do not pronounce their i's the same as we do. Their i's sometimes end up sounding like "ee" instead. A good example is here: th-cam.com/video/YfZwJ3_f1WQ/w-d-xo.html
warranty only works when the company will still have the same item 2 years from now. plus i lost count on how many harbor freight tools i have broken. now cant say the same for knipex. i NEVER have broken, stripped, or damaged any of the 20 plus pair of knipex. i abuse the hell out of them and my small cobras are one of my most used tools.if the tool is made awesome and never brakes then the warranty doesnt matter.
You are absolutely correct and I normally try to stress this in my videos! This is exactly why I like to buy tools from HF. I have one just a few miles away from me and they are always willing to just exchange a broken tool, no questions asked. The Knipex has a great warranty too, but you are expected to pay to ship them back and you'll have to wait to get the replacements. Harbor Freight usually gets a bad name from folks who go in there and buy the "cheapest" things they can find and when they break, those folks are the first to complain.
Decidedly not a Harbor Freight fan here. Tools should be made not to break when used for their intended purpose. Cutting edges will wear, but these kinds if pliers aren’t really wear items. We shouldn’t need to be replacing pliers under warranty. It’s not free - you still have to expend time and fuel to get to the store. I have never worn out or broken a Knipex pliers. Or Estwing striking tool. Or any properly built tool aside from things that are considered normal wear items. That said, great video. I enjoy your channel.
Wow, the harbor freight clone is on point, you can't beat that return at harbor freight no questions asked. I'll keep my eye open for them at my store. Thanks for sharing.#PEACE ✌🏾
Really? You purchased an innovative design of German origin and you feel ripped off. But you would feel better to purchase a copy at a slightly reduced price.
R&D never stops, it's backed by the patent laws. The expiration of the patents keeps monopolies from happening. Hence why 99% of the things you own today are copies.
When the patent runs out, it no longer is considered theft. Hence why most of the things you own today were once created by someone else, whose patent expired.
It's been a while since I purchased tools from tool trucks, but I suppose this would work for some. The problem I would of had is our tool truck guys only came around once every other week, so I would of had to wait on the truck to return before getting a replacement or tried to meet up with the guy.
Great review but those were the old version of those knipex pliers I have two of the updated once and they have the same handles as the Harbor Freight also instead of being shiny they are now black
You seem to be the only one so far that has noticed these are a clone to the gen ones! I'm betting the patent expired and that is why they are making them. Knipex always said they trimmed them down to make them lighter.
Your assumption may very well be true. As far as a hardness check, my file skates across both of them. But yes, that doesn't test the integrity and German steel is known to be of very high quality. Harbor Freight's better quality Icon brand is normally really good and keep in mind, they are not made in China. I bet they are fine, maybe not better, but better than most brands of tools made for the general public. Superior is a pretty strong word and I would probably agree with any other brand Harbor Freight carries, but they seem to be pretty serious about their Icon products. All of that being said, I don't regret buying anything Knipex and will probably continue to do so. I will toss a pair of the Icons on my service truck, we will see how they old up over time.
Channellock does the “harder you press on back handle the tighter it gets” also. No need to pull the front part. You can use a cheater bar on just the back handle
0:38 There is absolutely no way the HF copies could be better than the Knipex (not Kneepex!). In fact, everything you claimed as a better feature on the knock offs would be a detriment or short fall in my esteem. And, all the ways that you said the Knipex were better... well, you didn’t seem to point any out leading me to the conclusion that this tool showdown was one-sided from the onset. The HF copies do seem to be good pliers from what I can tell from your video. Either pair is probably well worth the money. As for the warranty, I’ve never ever needed to warranty a Knipex tool in the nearly 10 years I’ve been using them. Harbor freights warranty is the only thing that keeps people taking the risk on their tools. And everybody knows there’s a high likelihood you’ll need to use it. (The price is often a factor, too, but HF prices are not always much better than the good stuff. Those are my thoughts on what seemed to me more a review of the HF version of the Knipex (NOT Kneepex!) Pliers Wrench than a true head-to-head showdown. I appreciate the review, but didn’t see a realistic comparison of quality. Thanks for your time and effort to share. I didn’t even know HF was copying this tool.
"Kneepex" tough crowd... I did a video once and pronounced them "ni-pex" (dropping the k, like in knife) and professional youtube commentators corrected me and told me it was "ka-ni-pix". I started saying "Ka-ni-pix" in the newer videos then the Germans told me the "I" was pronounced more like an "Eee". So in the Knipex review of the wrench pliers I did, I started saying "Ka-nee-pix" and in that video there are lots of Germans thanking me for saying it correctly, but the Americans made fun of it. So now I just say it like the Germans and I keep a pinned comment with a link so other people can hear how they say it. I figure it is a proper name and needs to be said like a German would say it out of respect. Can't please everyone I suppose. LOL Not sure if you noticed or not, but the HF pliers wrench looks like a clone of the first generation of the knipex pliers wrench. Knipex improved them a few years back, thinning them down a bit and tweaking the design.
@@1D10CRACY You’re right. You won’t please everyone no matter how you pronounce it. Hope you took my light-hearted picking with grace. Sounds like you did. I hope it brings a little humor to my nitpicking of your review. As for the HF clones... imitation is the highest form of flattery. Worthy pliers I’m sure. I do love every pair Knipex (pronunciation optional) I own.
Go watch an advertisement in the German language and you will see that you are wrong. The k is pronounced and its nee not nih. I bet you say Porshhhh too?
Oof, they even copied the coutout shapes on the moving jaw to a tee. I wonder why / if knipex can't / doesn't sue them for this, that is egregious. I have the knipex with the more padded hanles (model 86 05 250) and I love them. I paid 42 euros for them.
Well they didnt try hard to disguise that they ripped of pretty much the entire design. Just make molds of a existing design, make it out of Chinesium and sell it for half the price. Plenty of brands make pliers wrenches but this is a bit much. Shame on them.
@@1D10CRACY Well yeah they probably didnt have enough money to get a newer design and bought a old second hand knipex pliers wrench to make the molds with. And then they were like "oooh new gen has numbers on them, we can copy that too" These Icon pliers are made in China or Taiwan and with whatever Chinesium steel. Shameful stuff.
@@TheSir2005 You know Knipex makes locking pliers that are an exact copy of the original Vise-Grips right? That goes for all the locking pliers on the market. What about all the slip joint pliers on the market, those are copies as well. Just about ever commen tool design on the market was someone's original idea that had a patent at one point in time. The patents run out and the entire market copies it.
@@brad3741 They are nothing like original vise grips. Otherwise how come we call it Euro style vise grips? There's a lot of difference in vise grips. Their jaw design, the locking design, the release design etc etc And jokes on you, Knipex doesn't even make vise grips themselves and really are not great. So if you don't know better you might not want to get into discussions about subject you clearly don't know much about, just a tip.
Thanks for the nice review, I have been a fan of knipex pliers for 20 plus years. The only question I have is what is the purpose of a wrench plier, doesn't a wrench work just as well?
A wrench would be better and thats ok in your garage next to your toolbox...wrench pliers are for your field tool kit that you dont want to weigh 500 pounds
LOL I know right! Probably the only word in my vocabulary that I pronounce semi-correctly. When I pronounced it like that in my first Knipex video, I had tons of Germans who thanked me for pronouncing it correctly! Then there were battles in the comments from professional commentators and Germans arguing how to say it! LOL You can listen to a German say it here: th-cam.com/video/YfZwJ3_f1WQ/w-d-xo.html ▼
![[ENGSUB] UNPRODUCTIVE DAY ใช้ชีวิต (เปื่อยๆ) ด้วยกัน 1 วัน! | OUROAD CLOSEFRiEND SS2 EP.9](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/pyYKZ3kra9w/mqdefault.jpg)
It seems nobody can agree on how to say Knipex. For those of you who are curious here is an example of how the German Knipex employees say it. th-cam.com/video/YfZwJ3_f1WQ/w-d-xo.html
if only harbor fright had a 5 inch one!
I've used Knipex professionally for years, and have had 0 complaints about them since my first pair back in the 90's. However, recently picked up a pair of the HF Doyle clones, and have to admit that they are a perfectly usable substitute. I keep them in my go bag, along with other lower priced, but perfectly usable tools.
I could see using them in higher risk situations where loss or theft would be more likely. I like to keep a few spare tools in my travel trailer so it would be good for that. At least if I left them behind I’m not out much.
Doyle or Icon…?
@@jimalcott760 Well, at the time I wrote this, Icons didn't have any pliers...
I bought a pair and can 100% vouch for the Harbor Freight pair being amazing. If you’ve never used a pair before it is a total game changer!!
It can't be a game changer if it's a copy .... The game was changed when knipex came out with them.... Harbor freight just entered the game
I like the Knipex a little better-I have three sizes of them-but not $30 better. If you're patient you can get the Icon for even less with a coupon.
I agree 100% on the Warranty and exchanging them is a Huge advantage. You can beat the crap out of them then when they break you get a brand new one same day
You can't rip harbor freight for this. How many of you got a genuine colt 1911 or armorlite 16? Exactly! All you guys are rocking the clones 1911s and ar15s!
Right, and everyone who owns locking pliers that are a copy of the original vise-grips.
Not me, after hundreds of guns i realized the 1911 design sucks, doesn't matter who made it.
@@brad3741 uhhhh well no. Vicegrip makes sheet metal clamps. Champion-DeArment Tool Company in 1934 under the brand name Channellock (after which the company was later renamed) but are also now produced by a number of other manufacturers. They are actually called "pump pliers."
@@1mikewalsh he's not talking about water pump/tongue and groove channel lock pliers. Hes talking about vice grips/locking pliers. I believe irwin is the original vice grips/locking pliers. Everyone makes them now. They have the screw on the bottom to adjust how far they open or close. After they make contact with the fastener you give an extra squeeze and they lock. Theres a lever inside the handle to release the lock. Nothing like channel locks/water pump pliers/tongue and groove pliers. This video is the new style water pump pliers. Far more adjustability than channel lock/tongue and groove pliers. Irwin also make a version of these. They also come with a straight tooth jaw similar to chanel lock as well as a v toothed jaw. These smooth jaw are more for polished surfaces so they dont get sratched/marred up.
@@jacksmith2315 The first locking pliers, with the trade name Vise-Grip, were invented by William S. Petersen in De Witt, Nebraska, United States in 1924. Irwin bought them out moved production overseas and the are still ok pliers. They are not built anything like the Peterson tool company made in Nebraska. I have gone through several Irwin pliers that have broke. The one pair of original USA pliers are still going.
I’m unreasonably excited to go to Harbor Freight and buy those lol
Harbor Freight if you're listening make the 5", 6", 7", 12", and 16" pliers wrenches.
I had the knipex 10 in version. Still do, but they broke and knipex semt me replacement parts but the wrong size. Im definitely going woth harbor freight now. Its literally on my way home from the shop.
The knipex replaced my snap on adjustable wrench.
Just wait until i tell my snappy dealer hf replaced them
Great review but… when was the last time you broke pliers and needed a warranty?
Just when I think I’ve heard every pronunciation of Knipex there could ever be, this guy hits me with the Kuh-kneeee-pex lmao.
At least now you know how to correctly say it, unlike 99% of the internet. :D Knipex made a shirt because people kept saying it wrong. It reads "Kuh-Nip-X". But Germans do not pronounce "i" like we do, they stretch it a bit making it sound more like an "ee". When they say it, it sometimes comes out like Kh-knee-pex, also with a hard K at the beginning. Here is a very good example of how it is said coming from one of their Managing Directors in Germany. th-cam.com/video/YfZwJ3_f1WQ/w-d-xo.html
what I really like about the icon version is it has the snap-on 'style' dipped handles
Crazy how well companies can make just about the same product for much cheaper, I was stuck on brands for a while thinking they are so much better, but I’m starting to realize there are some great alternatives for some tools, not all but more than I originally thought. For new comers it’s great , they can have quality tools and not break the bank when they start their career.
It’s understandable why though, I don’t know how long knipex has been selling this tool but they have to recoup the costs of developing a tool from scratch. After that they could probably be more competitive but I don’t think they want to, they have a solid customer base. It’s amazing the bang for your buck you can get with a lot of items if you do some research. I most recently have been into high power flashlights and nice pocket knives and it’s unbelievable the quality of items I’ve found for the money. With both the flashlights and knives you can get the same performance and quality as the biggest brands for about 1/3 the price once you dig deep enough. I’m happy to see the same seems to be true with tools.
They can make it for much cheaper because they did not have to do any R and D on the product...the design is stolen...so that is why they can sell it for less.....
Thanks for this. I have two of the 7" knipex pliers wrenches but will be grabbing a set of the 10" icons to round out the collection.
Im curious as to the actual material quality and hardness of the Icons. Generally if a clone is heavier than the original its because the original is a better quality forging with tighter/stronger grain and better toughness/hardness.
I'm not saying this is necessarily the case here. Just that I'd like to see them tested.
You can see where knipex has lightened their tool by machining away material at non critical areas...seems to be more refined in design
This is an exciting development to me. Im a big fan of Knipex and while I'll willingly spend 30-some-odd dollars on a 4" mini-Cobra pliers, for some reason i have a mental block about scaling up my Knipex spending to all the (many, many) $40+ items which includes anything bigger than 8". So this larger tool for $40 is useful because it helps me avoid confronting my own hypocrisy. Pound-foolish, tool wise? Eh, who am i kidding.
Love my mini xs. Comes handy when ur in a pinch and u don't have ur tools with u.. but I got the xs in my pocket 😁😁
Dude get on ebay,you can get the 7,10,12s for 100 bucks
I know your fear, it's called not buying tools for somebody else!
This is one of the tools I would have went name brand with before the icon line came along, I’m going to have to pick these up now.
You can regularly find knipex for 50$ .... And for $10 difference the metal quality and the original design on knipex is the way to go
I could see some deciding knipex is the way to go, for sure! Especially at a 10 dollar difference! That being said, the 25% off coupons do work for these and that brings them down to 30 bucks. The metal quality is pretty good, I've kept this set on my service truck and they still look good, just as good as my knipex sets. Adding the return policy is better at harbor freight, I could also see why people would buy them from Harbor Freight. There are really no wrong answers ! Life is about options. ;)
My only concern would be the quality of the steel of the HF ones. I have had a set of Knipex Cobra Pliers for 10+ years now and the teeth on those are in the same shape as when I got them. I have the Icon equivalent and the teeth are worn out after just a year. Something to be said for the strength of German steel.
True, that warranty is pretty awesome at hf though
I love my knipex cobras, was the reason i started buying more knipex tools, then i had the pleasure of going through their, knipex, warranty process.... lost me as a customer forever, i already paid $60 for your tool and because of your company quality defect you make me pay another $40 to ship. HF warranty is so much better
We round the teeth of a Cobra every year, they are nice and the best out there but not made out of magic steel.
Greetings from Germany.
Well these definitely look like a winner to me. Thank you so much. 😀
“Harbor Freight did an outstanding job of creating their own version…” Hmmm… I’d actually say that they did a straight up copy. Even down to the red color grips! I’m not downing the Icon version - what an outstanding value for what looks like a quality tool. But let’s call it what it is, a carbon copy.
Did you notice it is a copy of the first generation knipex wrench pliers?
Knipex patent ran out. It’s healthy completion from a quality brand
Why would you even need to warranty these? I’ve had the knipex version forever and jaw as well as the handles are in exceptional shape. I’m sure ICON will do the job just as well since they shared the same design, but only time will tell how they hold up over time.
Never know, but with Harbor Freight's warranty you could run over them with a D8 and they would probably replace them. LOL
I’d be interested to see the comparison of metal quality and hardness of these two tools
As well as the durability of the finish, which is outstanding with Knipex.
The fact that you worry about the warranty tells all. What's the steel used for the Harbor Freight? You might need that warranty sooner than you think.
Also, when has an exact copy become 'their own version'?
Thanks for the comment as I had forgotten all about this video and I'd like to add an update. I've been using them on my service truck and they have been holding up surprisingly well. Zero nicks and dings in the metal and like a dumbass, I even use the back side of them like a hammer. I really do hope that by me mentioning the warranty it doesn't make you think the tool is inferior. If that is the case, I don't want you to be worried about Knipex, as I have done the same thing when reviewing their tools. I personally feel it is just part of doing a good tool review. ;) As far as "their own version", I'd like to clear this up. I really was just implying that they sell wrench pliers now, sorry that wasn't obvious to you. But now that Knipex has abandoned this design, it really does seem like HF has now has their own version. :D
I'm excited to see all the new Icon pliers coming out, they're really nice quality. The grips are awesome, I love the texture and cushioning.
Awesome review, they look really nice... Are they made in Taiwan?
Yes they are!
German craftsman far exceeds anything created by the Asians
The old HF warranty is amazing. I own the Knipex pliers wrench, and I’ve never even considered their warranty. Guess I know I won’t likely ever need it. Remember TommyBoy? “I can crap in a box and slap a warranty on it, but you do have”?
Dang you, I just started buying knipex. But I’m a sucker for a smart deal, for a decent quality and similar look.
Hey as long as they work properly, hell yeah! Power to the people make these companies drop prices 😅 more savings for us
I bought my Knipex at Menards. Menards said they will warranty the tools for Knipex. No questions asked.
Could you please measure the total length of the Harbor Freight/Icon 10" pliers wrench in mm and post it here as a response? (Photos are appreciated with ruler side by side or add it as a separate video.) Thanks
Not arguing for or against HF, but am curious about the type and quality of steel they used versus Knipex. Weight and/or thickness alone doesn’t tell us anything.
Me too! That was my first concern when I bought them. But I will say I've been keeping them in my utility truck since I posted this video and they look just as good as my Knipex sets.
I really wish ICON would make a full line of pliers and cutters to compete with Knipex. I have the "parrot head" ICON version of the wrench/pliers and it is awesome!
Dude I hate mine. It s damn good tool don’t get me wrong but I hate them
@@beefysghost867 I don't hate mine, but it rarely gets used. It requires a lot more hand pressure to keep a firm grip than a pliers wrench.
Assuming they are Taiwanese, I'll get a set when they get around $30.
With what is going on in the world today I have had to think twice on a few purchases lately. What might be a deal today may have to be paid for tomorrow.
Y’all are funny
Wait for the 20% off coupon. That'll get it close.
Sure validates the theory knipex is tooling up and rebranding in Taiwan.
how do the irwins compare to these? I saw you did a review on those as well, but didn't see a direct comparison to the icon.
thanks.
Irwin sucks
The Irwins spred the force uneven because of the locking design. I would avoid them.
I've never used these so I'm struggling to see the point. They seem like they're doing the same job as an adjustable wrench. Do they not slip due to the constant tension applied through the handle?
The more force you apply, the harder they grip. Due to the way they're designed you get quite a bit of force multiplication in the sense that closing the grips lets say 10cm results in the jaws closing 1cm or so (completely made these numbers up).
Adjustable wrenches have the tendency to work themselves loose after a few turns, these will not.
They also have the advantage that you can use them as a "ratchet" in a way.
Making my own video this week. But I enjoy hearing others opinions. Good video man
Not any kind of a "showdown"!! No strength tests, no jaw tests, just a couple of 'touchy-feely' comments, and raving about HF warranty... BUT, I don't want a tool that *NEEDS* a warranty exchange! I don't want a tool that fails me in some remote location, or damages a fastener, or bloodies my knuckles but gets a warranty easily. Unless you are many kilometers from HF store, or even have one close to you, or can afford to blow off the time and expense to go there to exchange a $40 tool. In 30 years with Knipex Cobra's (multiple sizes, multiple locations), I've never had one fail me, and learned the lessons about tool warranties a long, long time ago. Better to spend $30, or so, more, and never need the warranty :-)
Thanks for the comments! And you're right! Everyone had different reasons for buying what they need. I have a toolbox full of knipex and over the years have broken a few jaws, hence why the warranty is important to me.
Yes but do they sell a 7-inch version? That's my main one I use at work
Not.yet and that is the version I use mostly too.
Just picked up a pair with the 30% off coupon.
Found yer vid on Hazard Fraught's own website, hopefully they make these in other sizes too. They look like they're out of the same friggin factory so the price on the Knipex is just bonkers.
The Icons look nice minus the thick grips. I have several of the knipex 7” and 10” I love them. I bought them when they were cheaper than the icons. $32 and $37 respectively. I personally do not like the thicker grips on any of my pliers. Knipex makes slim design tools for a purpose and thick ass grips just make a tool harder to get into tighter areas .
I totally agree. That comfortable big grip is anything but when there is little room. The hardest part of mechanic-ing is when there is little space to do what would otherwise be easy to get done!
I appreciate your comment. I thought the exact same thing but I'd consider myself a novice in this department so I tend to doubt my own opinions. Now I can make a more educated purchase
I've got three knipex pliers sizes. They are great but I got all in a pack years ago for around 100. At full price I'd give the hf ones a try. Look good based on initial reviews I've seen.
For home use the 6 and 8 inches ones get the most use. They are all very handy.
Same. I'm surprised how much I use the smallest one. When I bought them I was sure I'd use the largest one the most.
It looks like the Icon set has slightly smaller teeth, which may give it more slots for adjustability and also make it slightly weaker overall
Regarding the return policy at HF, what did you mean by: “I have done it many times myself”? It appears you and HF have a habitual process.😜
Absolutely! I have a bad habit of putting star sockets on an impact.
@@1D10CRACY that’s funny, right there!😂
Do they come in other sizes other than 10"?
Jeez that's one shameless copy
Lol have you ever seen tools?
Welcome to the real world. As soon as patents are up on anything, you will see other manufacturers make exactly the same item. From medicine, electronics, furniture, to tools, firearms, etc.
More like a shameless design that can be so easily replicated it can be offered at a 1/9th the cost.
So what. I am a consumer and I want the very best for my money. I happen to have 2 Knipex pliers (2 different sizes, 10” and 6”). And course I paid good money (European prices) for these and honestly, I am not impressed with the quality of the finish on the knipex; my 10 inch appears to have damage on the gripping surface. I think it came from the factory that way, because the only thing that I’ve done with it is parallel push a couple light pins into a fixture. It did that OK, but for the money, they’re asking if I were to need to buy them again, I would consider icon before knipex. And once again, I find German quality to be an oxymoron.
Is it available on Amazon?
I see a lawsuit coming in the near future over these things. They are just way too similar. Right down to the cosmetic cutout patterns on the sides of the jaws. Even the same color of red on the handles. If Knipex was making these for harbor freight then of course there wouldn't be a problem. But from what I've read so far, Knipex does not make these for harbor freight. It will be interesting to see how this goes.
Patent expired
You won't see any lawsuit - the functional patent has expired, and there is no trademark or trade dress involved.
those aren't cosmetic cutouts, they're the indexing from the casting process I'd imagine.
@@hogwashsentinel No, they don't serve a function other than to cleverly reduce some unnecessary weight in the tool in stylized fashion.
I'm pretty sure the pronunciation is KNEE--PEX. I've worked overseas where these tools were used by European crews & I worked with a lot of these guys & they pronounced it the way I have suggested.
It is very controversial! Most of the folks overseas pronounce the k. At one point knipex made a t-shirt and they even have done videos on how to pronounce it. The k is intended to be pronounced, though the Germans make that I sound more like an EE. images.app.goo.gl/iQSKMt5wEBzeVkic9
What about the tool steel grade, can you prove that they're just as good? Like a Rockwell test would be even slightly useful. If they're made out of rubbish steel or not the same grade as the Knipex, then they are a subpar tool. The one thing that really makes a tool last is the quality of tool grade steel that they are made out of. Because that tool steel grade is so hard to machine and work with the cost is usually more to produce a tool with quality steel. It really irritates me that this is not even a point/question in your review.
You are absolutely correct, the quality of the metal is more important than anything else I talked about in the video. I probably should get some testing files and start pointing out at least how hard the metal is, though that alone doesn't test the integrity of the steel. I did toss them in my service truck, I figured in a year I'll come back and we will take a look at them to see how they are holding up. If they fail or show signs of weakness, I will make sure I pin a comment and post the details. Sorry to disappoint.
I agree, I also would like to see a comparison of the teeth quality of the harbor freight compared to the knipex it's not easy to manufacture the teeth and have 100% land all the way across the teeth and no break or taper from stamping or forging I have Knipex and the teeth are always straght and they also match, and again hardness of teeth is important
There is no way in hell the icon steel is on par with that of Knipex, period.
@@AtimatikArmy I mostly agree with you. However, you might be surprised; Knowing and or finding the correct blend of materials isn't that difficult. It's the integration of the alloys and tempering/annealing/forging process that makes a real difference as well.
@@davidmaye3580 It's the whole combination of the alloys being used along with the heat treating and tempering process. The Germans understand this very well while China has historically always fallen short in this one critical area. That is going to be all the difference in the world.
‘’Their own version” had me 😂
Yeah that is a fancy name for a Clone.
Durability is also important. I can fold a penny twice (into a pie piece) with my Knipex and there was barely a mark in the finish. Still, Harbor Freight is doing well with their hand tools. Unfortunately, that’s not universal for their products. I recently purchased a hand winch that was so poorly designed as to be dangerous. Return was very s easy, though.
A bunch of squawking in the comments about these pliers being a copy of the Knipex brand. Duh, it's Harbor Freight. What did you expect? The copy complaint is running neck and neck with the name pronunciation complaints. Click on the link in the pinned comment to hear the name spoken by someone who should know the correct way to say it. And then go outside and get some fresh air, some of you sound like you need it.
NippleX got nip hurt by those who use them pliers here and there, occasionally. If they all were to be pinching nipples day in and day out they all would also get them Knipplexes.
The best way to correctly pronounce knipex is to nipx the nipple while kneelpexing down.
Great review! Cheers
I have my knipex plierwrenches since 2009. Still flawless today. I have never owned anything from HF that lasts more than a year before it starts to fall apart. HF is good for loaner tools when porters and service writers come and ask to borrow tools because they want to diagnose and "repair" stuff in the parking lot before they realize they have to pay a technician who will actually fix it right. You will never see me handing out my knipex to them or sloppy green techs who get their tools from Wal-mart. Knipex good, HF meh.
Icon is their premium line i have a few of their stuff and its actually good tools
Some of our best mechanics have cheaper tools and some of our worst mechanics have snap-on. You can't always judge a mechanic by their tools. That being said, the Icon brand is pretty dang good, expensive but good. And that is what typically gets Harbor Freight in trouble. People wil buy their "cheap" tools, break them and complain. Meanwhile had they spent a little more, they would of have a really good product that would of lasted their lifetime.
@@1D10CRACY i agree. A techs best tool is his brain by far. But that said, I have tried to tackle a job using HF tools, the tool fails, and i throw the tool right in the trash because it is a complete waste of time and money. I replace the tool with a snap-on and the tool lasts years and years and years without failure. My opinion is based in first hand experience. Hf tools have their place, my expensive tools have a higher place because I have better success with them over and over again. The job is already difficult, i can't stand it when i have to fight the tool instead of the problem i am trying to fix. If you do light work then HF tools are probably ok, but if you have to fight rusted stuck, heavy fasteners then snap-on, matco, and mac tools kick ass
You’re very narrow minded and ignorant, just saying. I’m a technician and a mechanical engineer. While I love my Snap-On and Matco tools that I bough foolishly for the name, I still use a lot of harbor freight tools as a full time line tech and in my personal shop. A tool doesn’t make a technician, you’ll learn that when you get older. You have a lot to learn and maybe the reason your tools don’t last is because you have the mindset that because they are not off of the tool truck, they are simply not as good as a tool truck tool so you try your hardest to find the flaw in the tool rather than use it as intended. You do the same “torture” to a tool truck tool, and it’s gonna break the same way. I’ve had to warranty my Snap-On and Matco ratchet wrenches over 5 times the last 2 years from simple light jobs whereas my Icon and Milwaukee wrenches have yet to fail me.
@@bananapuffcream1 You have got to be kidding me. I'd say your credibility totally went out the window if you think Harbor Freight tools are on par or even better then the counter parts they stole their designs from. They are not even close to the same quality, not by a long shot. Now, are they usable in most general cases for most people, sure, but better? They simply are not. A mechanical engineer should know this, at least one who is worth their salt. And just because you followed an outline and got your degree doesn't mean you are some type of authority on the subject as most mechanical engineers aren't getting into the thick of it hands on turning wrenches and getting their pretty hands dirty.
Great Video.. makes me want to drive to Harbor Freight to buy a pair of pliers, even at $39.99. I will say that at the 2:03 mark on the video, it looks like the Knipex has a little better fit where the cam/pawl fits into ident on the plier jaws.. Does it feel like there is more slop when closing the grip? I'd also be curious to know if Knipex uses hardened steel in their pliers, or at least a harder steel than the Icon. I can see how these would wear alot more if a softer metal was used..
Yeah, metal hardness is what I've been wondering about.
Project Farm's test showed that Icon's tounge and groove pliers had teeth that were nearly as hard as Knipex's and better than any other brand.
But when he tested a different tool (I think it was diagonal cutters but I'm not sure), the Icons had softer metal and suffered way more damage than Knipex and the multiple other brands.
I suppose with the flat jaws on these, the metal hardness doesn't matter as much so I'll buy the Icon.
Well hate to tell y'all but channel lock I call them beak nose channel. They are the best hands down
I'm glad you told us. :). Do you have a link to the model of channel locks you are referring to?
410 nut buster I think
I've never owned a pair, I may pick a pair up and try them! Thanks!
Thanks for your video. Knipex makes their pliers wrench in several sizes including a very small one that I use as part of my secondary EDC along with a small version of their Cobra water pump pliers. The pliers wrench has replaced a small crescent in my toolset and larger sizes will eventually replace all of my crescent wrenches. I'm sure that someday I will find a situation where the crescent is the best choice; but the fact that the pliers wrench will not work loose and is rapidly reset in use makes me think that use case for the crescent wrench is going to be very rare.
Cresent wrench is NEVER the best choice as it is inferior to a properly fitting fixed size wrench in every respect. The one thing they have going for them is they are adjustable and so are the Knipex.
@@AtimatikArmy I have had situations where I didn't have a full toolkit at hand, and an adjustable wrench was great, but the handles would fit, or there wouldn't be room to grip them. I keep a lookout for a superior adjustable wrench, but I like both the Crescent and Knipex smooth-jaw. BTW, Crescent and Milwaukee and others each have a smoothjaw pliers type wrench design of their own. I don't think either is the same compound action.
Adjustable wrench vs a smoothjaw-pliers wrench
A tool truck can warranty the knipex pliers and even if you don’t buy it off of them they should be able to take care of you
It's been a while since I purchased tools from tool trucks, but I suppose this would work for some. The problem I would of had is our tool truck guys only came around once every other week, so I would of had to wait on the truck to return before getting a replacement or tried to meet up with the guy.
True and see my tool trucks comes by and one comes Monday then another Tuesday then Friday for me but I see we’re your getting at some people don’t have that
That’s the 3rd pronunciation of the brand I’ve heard…. Will this ever end..?
LOL I don't think anyone is really saying it correctly. They made shirts on how to say it and it reads "Kuh-Nip-X". But Germans do not pronounce their i's the same as we do. Their i's sometimes end up sounding like "ee" instead. A good example is here: th-cam.com/video/YfZwJ3_f1WQ/w-d-xo.html
warranty only works when the company will still have the same item 2 years from now. plus i lost count on how many harbor freight tools i have broken. now cant say the same for knipex. i NEVER have broken, stripped, or damaged any of the 20 plus pair of knipex. i abuse the hell out of them and my small cobras are one of my most used tools.if the tool is made awesome and never brakes then the warranty doesnt matter.
You are absolutely correct and I normally try to stress this in my videos! This is exactly why I like to buy tools from HF. I have one just a few miles away from me and they are always willing to just exchange a broken tool, no questions asked. The Knipex has a great warranty too, but you are expected to pay to ship them back and you'll have to wait to get the replacements. Harbor Freight usually gets a bad name from folks who go in there and buy the "cheapest" things they can find and when they break, those folks are the first to complain.
Decidedly not a Harbor Freight fan here. Tools should be made not to break when used for their intended purpose. Cutting edges will wear, but these kinds if pliers aren’t really wear items. We shouldn’t need to be replacing pliers under warranty. It’s not free - you still have to expend time and fuel to get to the store. I have never worn out or broken a Knipex pliers. Or Estwing striking tool. Or any properly built tool aside from things that are considered normal wear items. That said, great video. I enjoy your channel.
LIFETIME WARRANTY FOR HALF OF THE PRICE IS A NO BRAINER!
Wow, the harbor freight clone is on point, you can't beat that return at harbor freight no questions asked. I'll keep my eye open for them at my store. Thanks for sharing.#PEACE ✌🏾
I wish the harbor freight was availible in the UK, i just got the knipex version and feeling slightly ripped off.
Really? You purchased an innovative design of German origin and you feel ripped off. But you would feel better to purchase a copy at a slightly reduced price.
@@ShainAndrews slightly reduced, the icon ones are 40 dollars vs 67 for the knipex that's a pretty substantial saving for a near identical tool
It's too bad the HF only comes in a 10" version. Knipex comes in five sizes from 6" up to 16"
How amazing a knock off a german design I'm sold on the cheap Chinese copy
And it's not even made in China.
I’m waiting for Icon to make the next 2 smaller sizes.
thanks!
They should've brought these out on the Doyle line
Wish they also made the 12 inch
Has Icon done something illegal by copying the Knipex?
Nope, the patent expired and knipex changed their design with a new patent.
You can not compare Knipex with any other brand!Just buy them and you are good for life!
Maybe... I have a lot of knipex products, but I'll toss these in the service truck and see how well they hold out.
they need to make a 6in size as well imo
If you only ever buy the knockoff version of stuff then your putting less support in to the R&D of new tools and innovations
R&D never stops, it's backed by the patent laws. The expiration of the patents keeps monopolies from happening. Hence why 99% of the things you own today are copies.
When is "creating your own version" also "theft of intellectual property"?
When the patent runs out, it no longer is considered theft. Hence why most of the things you own today were once created by someone else, whose patent expired.
Buy knipex off of any tool truck and dealer will warranty if they ever mess up. Even though it is highly unlikely (best plier manufacturer)
It's been a while since I purchased tools from tool trucks, but I suppose this would work for some. The problem I would of had is our tool truck guys only came around once every other week, so I would of had to wait on the truck to return before getting a replacement or tried to meet up with the guy.
They are also $100 more on the truck. So is that warranty Worth it?
They sell them at box stores no need to go all tool truck
Do they have smooth jaws? I need a universal type that I can tighten up all thread rod. 3/8 to 1/2" will this work for me
They do have smooth jaws.
Damnit I just bought the Knipex one the other day not knowing horror fright had there own.
Don't worry, you are better off in the long run.
How much are the icon?
Need to get me a pair yet
Mae shure mants
Sold!
These are NEVER available. Not sure what's up with HF.
Great review but those were the old version of those knipex pliers I have two of the updated once and they have the same handles as the Harbor Freight also instead of being shiny they are now black
You seem to be the only one so far that has noticed these are a clone to the gen ones! I'm betting the patent expired and that is why they are making them. Knipex always said they trimmed them down to make them lighter.
The steel used in the Knipex is superior to the Icon
LOL you say that like you know.
@@1D10CRACY yep, I do.
Your assumption may very well be true. As far as a hardness check, my file skates across both of them. But yes, that doesn't test the integrity and German steel is known to be of very high quality. Harbor Freight's better quality Icon brand is normally really good and keep in mind, they are not made in China. I bet they are fine, maybe not better, but better than most brands of tools made for the general public. Superior is a pretty strong word and I would probably agree with any other brand Harbor Freight carries, but they seem to be pretty serious about their Icon products. All of that being said, I don't regret buying anything Knipex and will probably continue to do so. I will toss a pair of the Icons on my service truck, we will see how they old up over time.
Channellock does the “harder you press on back handle the tighter it gets” also. No need to pull the front part. You can use a cheater bar on just the back handle
K not silent?
Nope, they even sell a t-shirt teaching people how to say it.
0:38 There is absolutely no way the HF copies could be better than the Knipex (not Kneepex!). In fact, everything you claimed as a better feature on the knock offs would be a detriment or short fall in my esteem. And, all the ways that you said the Knipex were better... well, you didn’t seem to point any out leading me to the conclusion that this tool showdown was one-sided from the onset.
The HF copies do seem to be good pliers from what I can tell from your video. Either pair is probably well worth the money.
As for the warranty, I’ve never ever needed to warranty a Knipex tool in the nearly 10 years I’ve been using them. Harbor freights warranty is the only thing that keeps people taking the risk on their tools. And everybody knows there’s a high likelihood you’ll need to use it. (The price is often a factor, too, but HF prices are not always much better than the good stuff.
Those are my thoughts on what seemed to me more a review of the HF version of the Knipex (NOT Kneepex!) Pliers Wrench than a true head-to-head showdown. I appreciate the review, but didn’t see a realistic comparison of quality.
Thanks for your time and effort to share. I didn’t even know HF was copying this tool.
"Kneepex" tough crowd... I did a video once and pronounced them "ni-pex" (dropping the k, like in knife) and professional youtube commentators corrected me and told me it was "ka-ni-pix". I started saying "Ka-ni-pix" in the newer videos then the Germans told me the "I" was pronounced more like an "Eee". So in the Knipex review of the wrench pliers I did, I started saying "Ka-nee-pix" and in that video there are lots of Germans thanking me for saying it correctly, but the Americans made fun of it. So now I just say it like the Germans and I keep a pinned comment with a link so other people can hear how they say it. I figure it is a proper name and needs to be said like a German would say it out of respect. Can't please everyone I suppose. LOL Not sure if you noticed or not, but the HF pliers wrench looks like a clone of the first generation of the knipex pliers wrench. Knipex improved them a few years back, thinning them down a bit and tweaking the design.
@@1D10CRACY You’re right. You won’t please everyone no matter how you pronounce it. Hope you took my light-hearted picking with grace. Sounds like you did. I hope it brings a little humor to my nitpicking of your review.
As for the HF clones... imitation is the highest form of flattery. Worthy pliers I’m sure. I do love every pair Knipex (pronunciation optional) I own.
I cringed every time he said “Kneepex”. But, it took me a while to figure out how it was pronounced also lol
Go watch an advertisement in the German language and you will see that you are wrong. The k is pronounced and its nee not nih. I bet you say Porshhhh too?
I hate having nice tools, anyone who comes over to work on something and uses my tools, everything is NOT a hammer. I have yelled at so many people.
These are a blueprint copy of the conifex pliers before they changed the design to the lighter weight version
OMG no way! LOL
Yes the icon just copied the old wersion of the knipex.
I'll just my knipex over harbor freight tools any day
Oof, they even copied the coutout shapes on the moving jaw to a tee. I wonder why / if knipex can't / doesn't sue them for this, that is egregious.
I have the knipex with the more padded hanles (model 86 05 250) and I love them. I paid 42 euros for them.
Well they didnt try hard to disguise that they ripped of pretty much the entire design. Just make molds of a existing design, make it out of Chinesium and sell it for half the price. Plenty of brands make pliers wrenches but this is a bit much. Shame on them.
Except these are generation 1 design of the Knipex Wrench pliers and they are not made in China.
@@1D10CRACY Well yeah they probably didnt have enough money to get a newer design and bought a old second hand knipex pliers wrench to make the molds with. And then they were like "oooh new gen has numbers on them, we can copy that too"
These Icon pliers are made in China or Taiwan and with whatever Chinesium steel. Shameful stuff.
LOL actually the patent expired on the old design. Probably 95% of the items you shamefully own are based on expired patents.
@@TheSir2005 You know Knipex makes locking pliers that are an exact copy of the original Vise-Grips right? That goes for all the locking pliers on the market. What about all the slip joint pliers on the market, those are copies as well. Just about ever commen tool design on the market was someone's original idea that had a patent at one point in time. The patents run out and the entire market copies it.
@@brad3741 They are nothing like original vise grips. Otherwise how come we call it Euro style vise grips? There's a lot of difference in vise grips. Their jaw design, the locking design, the release design etc etc
And jokes on you, Knipex doesn't even make vise grips themselves and really are not great.
So if you don't know better you might not want to get into discussions about subject you clearly don't know much about, just a tip.
It’s Ryobi not Ryobi.
Thanks for the nice review, I have been a fan of knipex pliers for 20 plus years. The only question I have is what is the purpose of a wrench plier, doesn't a wrench work just as well?
A wrench would be better and thats ok in your garage next to your toolbox...wrench pliers are for your field tool kit that you dont want to weigh 500 pounds
I’m surprised you don’t pronounce icon as Econ lol
Ka-nip-ex!
The k is silent
The manufacturer disagrees. ;) th-cam.com/video/4OWs7a9jww8/w-d-xo.htmlsi=F5BLIXaRX5yuf4vl
The way he pronounces it lol
LOL I know right! Probably the only word in my vocabulary that I pronounce semi-correctly. When I pronounced it like that in my first Knipex video, I had tons of Germans who thanked me for pronouncing it correctly! Then there were battles in the comments from professional commentators and Germans arguing how to say it! LOL You can listen to a German say it here: th-cam.com/video/YfZwJ3_f1WQ/w-d-xo.html
▼
@@1D10CRACY yea I listened to the tool rep at the tool show this year explain how to pronounce it.
The K is silent!!
Unless you want to say it correctly.