Better than the Knipex Cobra XS? 2 EDC Pliers Face Off and a Simple Low Cost Mod Might Just Win
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 20 พ.ค. 2024
- A simple modification to Irwin's 4" low cost vise grip locking pliers might give the Knipex Cobra™ XS water pump pliers a run for its money as the preferred plier of everyday carry enthusiasts around the world. The Irwin mini pliers have got a trick up it's sleave that might just make it the perfect fit for your EDC pouch or Pocket Rack™ organizer. If you carry mini EDC tools you might be surprised by the results of this video.
#edc #everydaycarry #edcorganizer #everydaycarry #tools #edccommunity #miniEDC #pouch #edcgear #edctools #knipex
- POCKET RACK™ GIVEAWAY ! -
For those interested in participating in our Pocket Rack™ EDC organizer giveaway, we are going to be giving away one Pocket Rack™ mini. It is the same design that was featured in this video:
• Latest Mini Pouch & Po...
It will include a set of the new custom made elastic bands that were featured in this video. To enter the giveaway:
1. Subscribe to the EarthlingEDC channel at / @earthlingedc
2. Then submit your email address at earthling.com/pages/contact
If you have entered one of the previous giveaways, you are already entered for this one. Giveaway entries will close on Jun 30th 2024. The winner will be randomly selected on July 1st 2024 and notified shortly after. One entry per person.
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HOW TO FIND THE ITEMS IN THE VIDEO
The free downloadable PDF file covering all the items that are mentioned in this video can be viewed here: bit.ly/4atTokH
The file does contain links to online retailers. If discounts are offered and I am aware of them, I will include that information next to the link.
After viewing the video, please share your suggestions and thoughts in the comments section below. I do read and reply to all comments.
Also, please check out the Earthling EDC community page at: / @earthlingedc. . for more information on the custom made Pocket Rack EDC organizers that our community has been building .
ENJOY ! - แนวปฏิบัติและการใช้ชีวิต
This was a particularly fun video to make. A bit of a surprise ending for me. I did not think it was going to turn out the way it did. Curious ot get your thoughts on this build. Do you prefer Irwin pliers or the Knipex?
As usual, there is a link in the description for this video with information about the items shown in the video. This month I'm also giving away another pocket rack and I'm including custom made elastics with it as well. You can find more information about the giveaway in the description. ENJOY!
Great video ...
Your mods on the irwin vice grip are really excellent.
Would you sell these ?
@@davidjacobs828 - Thanks for your post. It was fun to make one and show people how to do it, but I can't see myself making a bunch of these to sell. You might see if there is a local machine shop that could assist you in make the mods. Thanks you again for asking.
I think the major advantage the Knipex has is adjusting the size, while maintaining a parallel head.
@MikeNewman-ss3kq - VERY true although you do get some of that when adjust the locking screw on the vise grips. Maybe not as much, but the geometry of the jaw does shift. The Knipex is a very impressive tool
I love the mods you did on the Vice Grip pliers. The grooves you cut into the jaws that allow you to hold a small saw blade is especially nice and adds versatility to your kit. I am a huge fan of the Knipex pliers as well. I would have a difficult time picking one over the other.
@Swamp-Fox Thanks for for posting. The idea for the video was to show that there are low cost alternatives to the Knipex xs that might also give EDC enthusiasts some added versatility. I was really impressed with how well the T-Rex held up to the Knipex
I was impressed when I was able to loosen a 1/2” Swagelock fitting with the Knipex. I use it here and there to see what it’s capable of and it does a pretty good job in a pinch.
@criznitty - It's an impressive tool. If you are going to really put some pressure on the handles I would suggest a padded glove or a leather glove as I had used in the video. It will really save your hand. Thanks for your post.
Can see that the modified "T-Rex" needle nose Vice Grips is better suited to holding blades than the shorter jawed regular 4" Irwin. Longer area of parallel surfaces to grab the blade, worth doing the work of the mods for that use case. Great idea.
@bkanegson - Thank you for your feedback. It is sincerely appreciate.
Here's a possible tweak to the Irwin 4LN Needle-nose pliers (I have not tried this myself).
First some background: The shape of the tips of the Irwin 4WR Vice-Grips are curved and there is a reason. It allows gripping something with just the tips of the jaws. For example, if one has a round-head or pan-head screw whose screwdriver slot or Philips cross has been mangled, it can be hard to remove when the head is tight up against a surface. Even with Vice-Grips sometimes it is difficult to come at the head from the side because of the surface the head is tight up against and the rivets of the pliers get in the way. With the curved tips of the 4WR Vice-Grips, one might be able to attach the tips of the pliers to the screw head with the pliers perpendicular to the surface that the screw head is up against and lock the tips onto the screw head. Then use the Vice Grips to turn the screw out, or hold the screw head in place while turning the nut on the back side.
Now the tweak: Grind the same curve to the tips of the 4LN Needle-nose pliers. I don't know if grinding a curve onto the cut off 4LN will grip as well as the 4WR, since the knurling on the 4WR is a cross or diamond pattern compared to the straight pattern of the 4LN. I would also suggest to pay particular attention when grinding the tips to have a pliers 'tooth' right at the end of the tip of each jaw so that when the jaws are closed there is no gap at the tip where they come together. I think this would provide the most surface/gripping area of the straight knurling right at the edge. The slot that is ground to hold a sawblade may work to one's advantage for gripping the screw head since each jaw might have two 'point surfaces' to contact the screw head which might give more bite.
@thartley6181 - Thank you for your post and for taking the time to provide the details of your mod suggestion.
I have the knippex and I use it almost daily. It, along with my gerber center drive are the most useful tool I own
@rbrookstx - Thank you for your post. The Knipex XS is a great little tool. For the size and weight it's amazing what you can accomplish with it. When you combine those pliers with a good bit driver, you can get a great deal done. Enjoy them!
Excellent work. I’m still working on finding the right balance of tools for my pocket rack. I found that Irwin makes both a 4” needle nose and stub nose vise grips. You just confirmed that either should make a good less expensive option than the Knipex. Thanks for all your contributions to our edc community.
@Olyphoto7 - Thank you for your post nad your feedback. The needle nose vice grips are definitely not 4". I have no idea why they give that dimension on their packaging. I went with that size for the mod because I wanted the straight jaw for the u-shank saw blades. I'd like to get one of the curved jaw 4" just to see what it can do :-)
I carry a small pair of Vice Grips made by Task Force. They 're about 4 inches and work great!
@CheapGeek - Thanks for taking the time to post. I've never heard of the Task Force brand. I did look them up after your post. It does look like an interesting and inexpensive pair of locking pliers. Do you carry them daily?
@@EarthlingEDC I do carry them frequently.
I don’t carry them all the time.
That be said, if I have them in my pocket they have a tendency to be transferred from pants to pants until I have too much in my pockets. Then I lighten the load. 😉👍
Ive been wanting to EDC locking pliers but they are too big for what I cary. I never thought to cut them down! Thank you for this, I love seeing your videos, they are always insightful and make me think about EDC differently!
@AD-dc6qd Thanks for taking the time to post. It's a pretty easy mod to make with the right tools. Some of our viewers are suggesting other tools that can be cut down to size. Might be a subject for a future video. Glad you are enjoying the video!
Great idea with the small vice grip. Ingenious idea with the jig saw blades.
@tommyd5642 - Thanks for posting and your feedback. The saw blade idea has been round for quite some time. I wish I knew who originally came up with it. I used it with this mod to see if it would still work and it did, so now you get to try it out :-)
@@EarthlingEDC im pretty sure the leatherman crunch has a slit, probably one of the bigger products to come out that has that feature from the get go
Pretty cool. Gotta make one. Thanks.
@paulkresky1465 - It's a fun little project. Take your time making it and it should come out great for you. Enjoy!
No me puedo perder sus videos. Gracias
My pleasure 🙂
Excellent video man, I carry the non needle nose form of those vicegrips at work. Highly recommend the 125mm cobra and pliers wrench
@vexor7 - Thanks for posting. What's the exact length of the regular mini vise grips. I've noticed that they are pretty loose with how they measure their length and am wondering what it actually is. In regard to the 125mm Cobra, several viewers have mentioned how much they like them. I might just get a pair to see how they work.
Modifying Vise Grips is brilliant! Kudos! I'm doing it tomorrow. fwiw The right sawzall blade is the way. Subscribed!!
@fflife6730 The steel used with the Irwin was tough. I actually broke an older blade while trying to cut it. A new one had no problem though. It was definitely tougher than the steel on the $4 locking pliers that I used to make this mod originally. Thanks for posting and subscribing !
Love your ideas. Thank you.
@aubreyleonae4108 - Thank you!
These are some great mods and a nice comparison of the two pliers!
There is a short nosed version of that vice-grip that maybe an easier starting point. It looks like you have the 4LN, the 4WR is the short nosed version.
@Incendium87 - You are correct, there is a short nosed version with a curved Jaw. The reason I used the long nose is that that it does not have the curved jaw and will give more contact area for the jigsaw blades when I make the cut along the center of the top and bottom of the jaws. The 4" is very nice on it's own though. Thanks for posting.
@@EarthlingEDC oh, ok that makes sense. Thanks for letting me know the reasoning.
Thanks! Very interesting video.
@ruzzellp - Thank you ! I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts about this video.
Ingenious and fun to watch!
Geez Mike, don't you ever sleep? :-) As always, thanks for the feedback !
Does the Irwin "T-Rex" have wire cutters? If it does, it's a major advantage over the knipex and deserves to be mentioned.
Yes they do, but when you trim off the needle nose, you also need to carefully file down the flat side of the cutters. I would suggest doing this manually with a small flat sided jewelers file and not with the electric grinder that I used.
🇬🇧 Wow! What great idea, thanks for sharing that one 👍👍👍
@NashRathbone Glad you like it. Thanks for sharing your thoughts about it.
I love those Irwins. I am going to add them to my kit. I have the next size up Knipex Cobra mainly because I prefer having a button to adjust them.
Sometimes being able to lock something in place while you reorient your hands is helpful. The saw blade holder is also pretty interesting. Can’t figure out how often I will end up using it but I’ve got a box of jigsaw blades so I might as well try it.
@gf2e - Thanks for posting and being a subscriber. The ability to clamp, hands free is a big advantage of the locking pliers. The U-shank saw blades are the way to go if you want to give this a try. Figuring out if you actually need it is definitely important though.
@@EarthlingEDC Yeah, I am not sure how much I need this. That’s one of the reasons that budget EDC stuff attracts me: I’m willing to pay $$$ when I have determined that something is definitely useful. But when I’m really unsure, it’s got be cheap.
That makes sense. Curious to hear what you decide :-)
Think you might like Vise-grip model 4LW. I use it as a bit and blade holder as well.
That's a really interesting design.www.zoro.com/irwin-4-in-irwin-vise-grip-knurled-thumb-screw-plain-grip-locking-wrench-4lw/i/G1141621/ I'll see if I can find one locally. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.
Difference is that you can put your foot on leading handle of the Knipex, there are a few videos showing people standing on the Knipex to generate more force.
@MrDkgio - That's very true and exactly what I experienced when I had the Knipex on the torque wrench. I did not have to compress the handle at all. The Irwin does give you the option of clamping small items together without having to hold it. In some situations this might give you the ability to use both hands while working on a small item. Thanks for posting.
Great modification, thanks for sharing YAH bless !
@MichaelR58 - Thanks for your feedback. It is sincerely appreciated.
What a nice video. Just be careful with the Dremel tool., I saw the cutting disk way too close to the tip of your fingers 😊 anyway it was a real pleasure to see
@Javier_FH - Thank you! It does not really have a serrated edge. It more of a compound that deteriorates as the wheel comes in contact with the metal. I'm still very careful with it. Thanks for your concern . Glad you liked the video and thank you again for your feedback.
Have you tried the leatherman crunch? (Sadly discontinued). It has the groove to hold saw blades
Also why grind off the wire cutters?
@sazeus Thanks for your post I did not grind it off, but I did have to grind it down a bit so that the pliers would close all the way. You just need to be VERY careful when grinding down the flat side of the wire cutter surface. I would use a thin hand file to do this rather than what I featured in the video.
These are totally different tools that really shouldnt be compared. The task determines what is 'best'.
@aussiehardwood6196 Thank you for your post. I think you have a good point, but in my experience using both of them quite a bit, I've found that there is a great deal of shared utility. As an example, I can use both of them them to tighten and loosen bolts. As shown in the video the design of the Knipex minimizes the grip tension required to keep it from slipping. The Vise Grips accomplish this by locking onto the bolt or nut. Both have the capability of accomplishing the same task, they just do it differently. Where it gets interesting for me is that I want to only carry one of them in my mini kit, so determining what additional benefits each one offers and how that enhances it as a daily use tool will decide which one to carry. Thank you for you for bringing this point up.
I would be curious how a crescent brand of tongue and groove pliers (10$) would compare to the knippex?nI know the small channel lock version is too flexible. I just can’t justify the extra cash for the knippex when the crescent or channel lock does the job. Enjoyed the video and all the tool mods you try.
@cgolf100 - That would be a pretty easy mod to make if you have a Dremel type of tool for cutting and grinding. Might make a good video for your channel. Thanks for posting
I like the slot for blades. The cobra will grab a larger diameter I believe and I like mine for narrow spaces. Plus the cobras are more pocketable imo. Cost is a factor but utility outweighs cost.
@richh5392 Thanks for your post. Both of them did very well at grabbing and holding the 1/2" connector on the torque wrench I could see the T-Rex going up to maybe 3/4". The Knipex would go a bit further. The ability to clamp and hold small objects with the vise grips is also interesting. I think it really comes down to see how each of these will fit into your EDC.
Good video. What is the weight difference between the Knipex and the modified Vise-Grips pliers? Thanks.
@Bob-I-am - Good question ... 60g for the Cobra xs and 97g for the Vise Grips
Is this the weight for your modified version? @@EarthlingEDC
I was close. I just reset the scale and checked it again. 97 grams for the modified version of the long nose pliers.
Can you take off garden hose fittings with the Irwin
@AMERICANPRIDE1100 - Good question. If you purchase the 4" "Curvd Jaw" vise grips, they will open to 15/16" or if you are going to Mod the long nose locking pliers, you can modify where you cut the nose to accommodate the hose fitting. I don't think the mode featured in this video would be able to fit though.
Cool video 👍🏽
@thewatcher7211 - Thanks. I sincerely appreciate your feedback.
The Temu links in your PDF file doesn’t go to any specific product rather it defaults to the main landing page. Might want to double check those after publishing.
Thank you for your post. That usually means that the products are sold out or no longer available, so Temu redirects to their home page when that occurs. If you do a search for the product on their website, there is a good chance you will find another seller offering it. Best of luck.
Love my 5 inch Vice Grips, In comparison I could buy exactly 6 of them for one Knipex, can't justify the price for a tool I abuse quite a bit.
@adrianjagmag - Thanks for your post. Cost is definitely an important consideration. I waited quite a while before buying an XS, but now after using one and pushing it to extremes, I've found that it is a very good fit for my mini kit and can accomplish most of the tasks I attempt with it. That being said, there are alternatives and these 4.5" vise grips are jus tone of them and like you mentioned, you can buy several of them for the cost of just one XS.
I really like your mods to the formerly 5" vise grips. That being said, I am very much committed to the cause of pocket tools right now since I am working on a book about these. Therefore, I did a ton of research and thinking about pliers. My solution ist that they are hardly exchangeable. If you can, carry various to them simultaneously, which is, of course, a matter of space. A vise grip is among the most useful, since it can also function as a little vise and 3rd hand. That's why I'm very fond of Leathermans Crunch. I consider it to be the most functional multitool of all times, still. But the Knipex Cobra ist the queen of pliers (In German, I'm from Germany and here they're about half the price than in the U.S., pliers are female). It has such an awful capacity... Because of my hand size, which probably exceeds even yours, I don't use the XS, but only the 125mm (5") and 150mm (6") models, the latter being a revelation: that thing can really GRIP. Of course there are others, needle noses and pliers wrench and so on.
For my various EDCs (I prefer to call them Vademecums as the Latin word) I always have at least one pair of pliers with me, but I love to combine the Cobra with the aforementioned Leatherman Crunch and then either a LM Style PS or a SOG power Pint. Next step would be the pliers wrench - and I'm good to go!
A vise grip is very helpful but cannot replace a Cobra.
@muxmurki1497 - Interesting post, thanks for sharing that info. A couple viewers have mentioned cutting the handle size of the 5" cobra so that it will fit a pocket rack or mini EDC pouch. My priority is having a mini kit that is light weight, compact size and can accomplish a lot for me in an urban environment. I'm trying to avoid duplication of tools and keeping the tool set to things that actually get used on a regular basis. This channel has been a tremendous resource for me to experiment with ideas and get feedback from other EDC enthusiasts. Thanks again for posting and best of luck with your book.
Gracias por el vídeo y las modificaciones presentadas, es un interesante remplazo para las pinzas alemanas, pero en realidad yo no cambio las pinzas, por su forma como cogen las piezas metálicas, la ergonomía de los mangos, su pesó, la punta tan polivalente que tiene, para arreglar un bote, una moto, en fin ayudan mucho, en Colombia nos toca pedirlas y demoran dos meses para llegar y cuesta mucho más, 45 dólares.
A la pinza que se modifico le llamamos "Hombre sólo" .
Yo realicé las modificaciones, inclusive realice un surco más profundo y del mismo ancho y tamaño de la sierra para cortar metal, pero con el uso tiende a soltarse, pues tampoco la puedes apretar más de la cuenta, pues se dañan o parte la sierra de metal, la verdad me fue más eficiente haciendo un mango de madera con un pin de tornillo y por ser un mango, fué más eficiente en el momento de cortar metal (tornillos, clavos, alambre grueso, cárdenas), gracias por las enseñanzas y felicitaciones por el diseño de esta tarjeta plástica, me parece una forma eficiente y eficaz de organizar un equipo en forma compacta, un saludo desde Bogotá Colombia Sur América.
(English translation of post) - "Thanks for the video and the modifications presented, it is an interesting replacement for the German pliers, but in reality I do not change the pliers, due to the way they grip the metal parts, the ergonomics of the handles, their weight, the versatile tip that It has to fix a boat, a motorcycle, in short they help a lot, in Colombia we have to order them and they take two months to arrive and cost much more, 45 dollars.
We call the clamp that was modified "Man only".
I made the modifications, I even made a deeper groove and the same width and size as the saw to cut metal, but with use it tends to come loose, since you cannot tighten it more than necessary, otherwise the saw will be damaged or broken. metal, the truth is that it was more efficient for me making a wooden handle with a screw pin and because it was a handle, it was more efficient when cutting metal (screws, nails, thick wire, cardenas), thanks for the teachings and congratulations Due to the design of this plastic card, it seems to me to be an efficient and effective way to organize a tools in a compact way, greetings from Bogotá Colombia South America."
(Reply from Phil) - Gracias por tu publicación. Colombia es un país hermoso. Estuve allí hace muchos años como periodista fotográfico, en 1985, tras la erupción del volcán Nevado del Ruiz y la tragedia de Armero.
Con respecto a sus comentarios sobre el Vise Grip modificado, es interesante que las mordazas para sujetar la hoja se aflojen. No he experimentado eso con la versión modificada que tengo. Me pregunto qué tipo de hoja de sierra estaba usando y qué tornillo de banco estaba usando. Creo que esto podría ser significativo. Gracias de nuevo por tu publicación.
I sure like the wire cutting ability of the original
@billclancy4913 - Thanks for your post. These also have that capability, you just need to be VERY careful when grinding down the flat side of the wire cutter surface. I would use a a thin hand file to do this rather than what I featured in the video.
Nice vid👍
@tratajueteru177 - Thank you. I appreciate the feedback.
You should file a pattern for this design.
@jimlee3725 Thanks for your post - If you are referring the the modifications to the Vise Grips, they have been around for a long time. I'm not sure it would qualify for a patent. If you are referring to the Pocket Rack design, its an open source design that can be downloaded and printed by anyone for personal use. You just can't sell it. There is also a utility patent pending on the design.
I reckon that groove could be deepened at one place so that you can use t-shank blades.
@JK-pg2qn That might be a tough cut to make, but If you used a curved jaw vise grip is might not be necessary. I think I've seen this mod done that way. In my mind the U-shank with the straight jaw is going to give you more contact area between the saw blade and the locking pliers. Thanks for posting. I was thinking about this while making it. :-)
@@EarthlingEDC I'm not sure how common u-shanks here in Germany are, I've only seen t-shanks. It seems to me that if I were to mod my grip vise this way, I'd have to account for just that.
The other option you have are Sawzall blades which have a rectangular shanks that is similar to a U-shank. The T-shanks might work out for you as well, I have not tried them out though.
Nice mod!
@PoorWays Thanks for taking to time to share your thoughts. Much appreciated !
What's the link for the pouch in this video?
@Edward_ZS Thanks for asking. Checkout the pouch video that we posted a few weeks ago. Look in the description for that video for links to the pouches that were featured. I think it's item #12 in the PDF for that video, but there are some other interesting mini pouch options you might want to check out as well. Enjoy!
The Knipex Cobra XS quickly became my favorite EDC item...it comes with me everywhere. Worth it's cost compared to anything else I have personally. I love the mods you made except I think for me the width/depth of the modified vise grips still makes them too big for me.
@efenili - Thanks for the post - TO be clear. I still like the Knipex xs as well. The vise grip mod is a low cost option, but it's still going to weigh 90grams vs 60 for the XS and the dimensions are going to be small as well. But the vise grips can also do some things that the XS can't do. It's up to the person carrying the tools to determine what they need to prioritize in their carry.
Amazing video what an inspiration you gave me, ordered an irwin right away to hack
@ArrOShooter Thank you for your post. I'm glad you liked it. I'd be interested to see what you come up with.
Vice grips today are not the same as the past 😢. IMO the ones from harbor are as good as the new Irwin.
@cal1776 - Thanks for your post. I just took a look at the Harbor Freight 4" locking pliers and they look very similar in design to the no brand locking pliers that I bent in the testing. The Vise grips use a different mechanism in the grip/handle used to release and lock the pliers. I might head over to Harbor Freight to actually compare the two. Thanks for bringing this to my attention.
@@EarthlingEDC Breman, is the house brand I believe. I was wandering why you cut down the needle nose instead of using the regular nose?
@@cal1776 Another good question :-) I wanted the relatively flat jaws of the needles nose which will give more contact points when using the saw blades. The pliers on the regular 4" are curved making the slit that I would need to cut into the upper and the lower jaws a bit more complex. Also the long nose gives me the option to size the tool so that is fits perfectly on the organizer. Thanks for the follow -up question.
I couldn't figure the name. Definitely T Rex.
@aubreyleonae4108 Thanks for the feed. Yes, it's definitely a T-Rex
The XS models suck compared to the larger ones with the button as they slip out of position when bearing down more easily. If you buy the 5 inch and cut the handles down to the height of an XS model then nothing can beat it.
@cashdingo6386 - Thanks for your post. You've hit on a key concern when determining what to carry. My EDC is based on size & weight of the tools. I want them to be small, light weight, but as functional as possible. Determining that balance for your EDC can be quite a complex decision. I was impressed with how the XS held up for the torque wrench test. The added bonus with that tool is it weighs only 60 grams vs 90 grams for the vise grips. But I like the clamping ability of the vise grips. I might try you mod for the 5" Knipex. That sounds very interesting
I agree. I used to carry the XS but didn't like losing the button functionality.
You sound like dr house
@Tym-mf4of That's interesting since he's a British actor who who normally speaks with a British accent but uses an American accent for that character. :-)
Just found your videos and I really like them. Thanks for making them, although my EDC odds tin, which is full of trial makes and adaptations, will now have to get quite a lot bigger. ;-) I've previously modded a mini vice plier to take a jigsaw blade, and it works very well. I have also used the SAK jigsaw trick described by Felix Immler, and that works better than I expected it to with my SAK Compact.
th-cam.com/video/WqX7Wd5AhVs/w-d-xo.htmlsi=E8nfr5CPPyjHi0G8
I will now go down the rabbit hole of all your previous videos, and your community ones also. I may be some time...
@rogward - Thanks for your post and for being a subscriber. I'm so glad that you are enjoying the videos. I'd like to see how these mods look as well as what your EDC kit(s) looks like. If you have some time to share some photos, post them to : www.reddit.com/r/Earthling_EDC/ Thanks !