Here’s the list of products reviewed. More details in the video description. Thank you! Performance Tool: amzn.to/3CuZ2n7 Kobalt: amzn.to/3CvdwUo Stanley Fatmax: amzn.to/3KlQaTM Craftsman: amzn.to/35JQsF9 Irwin: amzn.to/3tIuMBl DeWalt: amzn.to/3JdmuYZ Channellock: amzn.to/3hStcri Milwaukee: amzn.to/3Cww2f4 Southwire: amzn.to/3sUnjQq Knipex: amzn.to/3HY6ubN Klein Tools: amzn.to/3i9SIsd Wiha: amzn.to/3CqqrH7 Vampliers: amzn.to/3Kua7aT
I think we all have. I wouldn't be surprised if hardware retailers followed the channel and based their stock decisions on the recommendations. They would be fools not to.
When it comes to needle nose pliers for me, toughest isn't really the most important factor. You can beef them up to survive twisting and bolt cutting but that makes them heavy, stubby and uncomfortable. Its helpful to know how strong they are, and I appreciate knowing the weight, but its much more important how comfortable the angles and curves are, how far they reach, how precise and smooth the movement is and how much they loosen up with use. As usual though this is a terrific video and the accurate, consistent testing apparatus continues to impress me.
exactly the ones he said were good would actually suck at doing the needed job of getting in to small places that they are meant to do. like the Knipex ones i use those in real life yeah they may not be the best for cutting nails or twisting the tips but getting in to small places and doing their job they are the best
@@huethehand1 I love Knipex tools but was kinda disappointed in their needle nose. The tip bent on mine while using it and I didn't think I applied that much force to it.
@@thezfunk Knipex is overrated. And No, the ergonomy shouldnt prevent the company from using a decent spring steel. I'd rather breake mine. I hate when I have to straighten pliers like it's mild steel
I agree. Use the right tool for the job. Most of the needle nose pliers tested here are unwieldy for the job, and basically have become tapered or combination lineman-needle nose pliers.
Considering that needle nose pliers are often used to reach into tight spaces to pull thing out, I am surprised you didn't do a linear pullout test. That would seem to be a more important metric than cutting deck screws or 16p nails. Quite frankly, if you are using a pair of needle nose to cut deck screws or large nails you probably shouldn't be using tools in the first place.
Before Project Farm, I used to have matching tools. Now my tool box looks a mess but each of them excel at what they do. Thank you, as always, for helping us choose the right tools for what we need them to do most. I will echo everyone else's comments about including the relative diameter and depth the pliers can enter. I usually use my needle nose for extraction, pulling cables through holes or twisting out broken screws. Looks like my need is the Vampires, but looks fairly wide.
Update: got the Vampliers japanese brother: Engineer pz-60 (I believe) with the green handle. It's half the price of the Vampliers but exactly the same in every other way. It is double the thickness of a needle nose pliers tip, but the screw extractor got out a screw that's head broke off 10 years ago and couldn't get it out without damaging the wood. Yet again thank you Project Farm!!!
@@Nitecrow314 That is specially true with electric tools. In my experience, I have (and prefer) the better tool from another manufacturer, than to have "all of them in the matching yellow (or blue, or teal, or white-with-green, or red, or whatever). Fanboyism is equal to stupidity, as NO brand has every tool perfect. And that stoopid trend of having every tool on cordless, regardless of any real need to have it battery operated, an expensive way to keep the manufacturer's pockets full of our hard earned money!
It would be helpful to add a measure of accessibility in tight spaces. Something like "what is the widest width of the nose while inserting it one inch into a space". Something to show how useful they are in the tight spaces that needle nose pliers are typically used for. Many of these are trading their accessibility for strength and that should be a consideration made. As always, great video!
Agreed. And the pliers which excel at needle nose tasks are penalized in the torque test for being needle nosed. Sure, lots of knuckle heads twist needle nose pliers like that, but that's really what flat nose or linesman's pliers are for. Same with the nail cutting test. The pliers with the best reach (and thus shortest handles) are penalized for not being able to cut a screw.
Difficult access and a straight pull is what they're for. We're spoiled by these videos but it was harder watching this one. I've got four different pairs at the moment and the knipex is my favourite because of the narrow profile and the smaller handles. I've got NWS, Channellock and some off brand ones too.
I always buy an extra pair of needle nose pliers and grind down the tips so it will fit into things like door lock keyways, etc. They're not good for much else but they're invaluable for those special circumstances.
I love this channel! With that said I work in a industry where needlenose pliers are our primary tool. It would have been nice to have a test to see which pliers would pick up and hold firmly the smallest item? Such as a small wire,string etc. The tolerance between the jaws when closed is super important!
EXACTLY! Needle nose pliers are a "saver" or "rescue" tool, so they need to pick up and hold small pieces at the extreme end. Some are thinner and thus can get inside deeper, but then fail miserably to hold the spring or piece I need to pull or turn. The twisting test is revealing, but most pliers will just slide before any real twisting occurs. Perhaps a more related-to-daily-use test could be devised, in the Project Farm tradition...
While I enjoy the tests performed on this channel I've often wondered who would actually mistreat their tools like this. Then my neighbors kid borrowed some tools from me.
Yeah. Loaning out your tools is the ultimate in mistreatment. It reminds me of letting a friend drive my car when it had only 5k miles on it. The clutch has shuddered a bit when cold ever since. makes me mad just thinking about it.
I would have loved to see jaw force generation and a straight pull. I use my needle nose for getting in tight spaces and pulling connections or ripping something off. Still, another great video with a great selection of accessible brands!
Similar to holding strength of the screw. But definitely a different test that is specific to these tools. I end up using needle nose ViseGrips for this, but they don’t always fit.
Doesn't this translate to the turning testing? If a needle nose can hold something from just twisting, it's certainly going to hold something on the pull out.
I would think an important characteristic of needle-nose pliers would be how deep into a hole or crevice can they reach to grip something. That doesn't appear to be accounted for here, they were just run through similar tests as regular pliers or cutters. Some were relatively think and fat, less nimble.
This is true, however, I also fear there is no one perfect set of needle nose pliers. I have come very long narrow ones for exactly what you mention, other smaller ones with very precise fitment for pulling cactus needles out of people, and then others for higher torque applications. Its like looking at the tweezer section in the Wiha catalog.. who knew there would be that many pages of different shape and size tweezers.
I agree. I for one do not really care about the wire cutters on my needle-nose pliers (I have plenty of other, better ways to cut metal), but I care a lot about how long and skinny the nose of the pliers is!
@@treyhart6861 Yeah. It seemed that the Knipex were a different type of needle nose compared to the others, but for most things I use needle nosed pliers for, that's the type I reach for.
I've ground down a few different pliers for specific task, but I also tend to break a lot of needle nose so fatter ones are good for some stubborn fasteners task
Thank you for your diligence. I can only imagine the effort, time and money it takes to document all these tests including many different camera angles and even close up images. Amazingly useful.
Your videos and unbiased reviews are awesome. For the last 10ish years I worked at an auto parts store and everytime someone asked me questions about products, I had answers because of your videos. Every chance I had, I would tell every customer to look up your videos! I don't work in retail anymore but I still tell litteraly everyone about your channel! Thanks for all your awesome work!
The Knipex pliers you tested were much longer than the others. They do have a shorter model that is much more stout and closer to the other brands tested. Thanks for the content!
Yes, it is clearly a different design of the europe and US needle nose pliers. The US are made for heavy duty and look beefier. Maybe the europe ones were developed from electrical pliers.
@@berndrosgen1713 Yes, Knipex in Europe is definitely made for electrical use, and only knipex had 1000V insulation and grip protection. I working with Knipex tools (im an electrician) and for electrical use, knipex is the best.
@@itachione2483 not only for electrician's work, i have some knipex tool's and work in the automotive industrie. especially the cobra's are amazing, cant really live without one😅 ergonomics are also on-point and the fact my dads 30 year old set is like new says enough...
I really liked the Knipex pliers due to the long nose. I can get into various nook and cranny due to the long nose, granted they are not tough enough to withstand twisting and bending however, they have helped me greatly through some odd jobs.
Excellent work! I thought the Knipex would destroy everything else. I own a set of snips from Knipex after trying sets from several other vendors. It's the best set of snips I've ever used, and is exceptionally well-built.
Well, Knipex offers a host of different models of the same general type. Using a screwdriver to drive in a nail also won't get the best results... You want pliers to exert force, use the ones built for that purpose. Knipex has a whole bunch of them with long handles and short, broad tips.
I think the knipex got a bit of a short straw for these tests because the 8" knipex needle nose is in the same "class" if you will as smaller 5 or 6 inch needle nose by other brands, they just made them nice and long. They aren't made for the same purpose as say the Klein 8" needle nose which are beefcake and essentially linemans with a long nose.
The way he tested these, because of its longer nose, it was going to lose most of these tests(it should of done better in cutting stuff). The real use-case for this tool is not to cut nails but reach into hard to reach areas and pull something, like a cable.
Not sure this is a fair test, some of the pliers, such as the Knipex, have long thin noses and seem to be designed more for electronic and small component applications, rather than the heavy mechanical uses the tests focussed on.
well this was a test for mechanical use of pliers. electronic pliers are much easier to judge by feel. it’s hard to judge mechanical strength before buying
I get it - but we also have to remember that Knipex only makes pliers - but has like 254 models - so which ones should he pick? I bought a great pair of Knipex that are extra long and pointy - and the jaws are actually a bit flexible. So yeah. Tough to get a perfect 1-1 comparison with such a specialized company with Knipex vs Stanley that makes 2.
Yes! I’m so glad you did this video , I always find myself grabbing this tool especially for setting springs in hard to reach places like clutch pad springs
Considering all the tests you do with hand tools like this, I would love to see a comparison of pruning shears! Like, the ones that advertise being able to cut 1" branches, because it always feels like a lie.
There is a lot of technique involved in using hand sheers. An expert watched me struggle with a thick branch then showed me a technique that made it feel like butter!
I remember when I was a teenager, I paused to question the guy demoing a ratchet pruner at a fair, and the only answer he would give was along the lines of "these aren't a toy, look how easily they cut through this quarter inch dowel? finally I said, "considering I normally cut inch and a half to two inch material with the one I use, and you can't claim to match that; as far as I'm concerned, yours IS a toy"
Thanks for helping the working folks like us make choices to have quality tools at a reasonable budget! bottle jacks or wire strippers would be great to see!
Some of these have rather limited reach into tight spaces. That gives them an advantage in these tests but is not what I'd want in needle nose pliers ...
I've bought quite a few Kobalt tools over the years, including a ratcheting breaker bar and automatic adjustable pliers. They have always impressed me and experienced less corrosion when compared to other tools that were left in the same conditions. If I ever need another set of needle nose pliers I know which one to buy. Their miniature pliers set is also really good.
My only tool from kobalt that rusted was my driver bits from 5 years ago that I left out for a few months accidentally. Of course, I broke several other bit sets in that time, so not a huge complaint.
i have a kobalt adjustable spud wrench and it's got the sloppiest action out of any adjustable i've ever used. but, the tool IS highly resistant to rusting, so you may be on to something
A pulling strenght test would have been nice. Since thats what I mostly use needle nose pliers for. Get into tight spaces and pull something out, when I cant do it with my fingers
I always enjoy Your revues and tests , one thing that is becoming fairly obvious is that regardless of the tool tested , the Kobolt products whilst not necessarily Winners in any particular category or test , they consistently rate in the top 5 and are some of the cheaper products available , they really do appear to be pretty good value for the money and should certainly be a serious consideration for those of us on a tight budget . Your attention to detail and consistency in testing methods is Admirable and an example for All other testing channels , Thanks for all Your hard work & effort . Catch You next video , Stay Safe & Stay Well .
These pliers are not all the same concept, the Vampliers are not long nose, but more like flat nose. And there are a few others that I wouldn't call Needle/Long nose pliers, but short(er) nose pliers. The thickness of those are not in comparison with the real Needle/long nose pliers. So it's a bit like Apples and Pears.... But thanks, as always!
Awesome video! Would love to see one on the various modular tool storage systems on the market now (Milwaukee packout, craftsman tradestack, ryobi link, etc.)
Interesting effect of cultural differences. I’m German, living in the US for 20+ years. Needle nose pliers are used very differently in both cultures. For most of the tests you showed one would use a ‘Kombizange’ in Germany (combination pliers?). Needle nose are mostly used for electrical work and other light duty stuff. Might be similar in Japan maybe? Love the channel! Thanks.
I can't wait to see you test out pliers wrenches. Harbor Freight just announced the Icon brand is making a version of the Knipex. I'd be interested to see how they match up.
I do think obtaining Knipex and Wiha in equivalent models would be a test for the future, those pliers are visually more akin to extra long nose or fine versions!
Watching this at 6am for absolutely no reason and it really just reminded me of those infomercials I used to see after the cartoons went off when I was young. His voice just tranquilized me.
Great job! As a lineman most of our tools were Klein and some Irwin. They rarely let us down. I do like Kobalt too, so this video was a win-win-win for me. :)
I really appreciate my Knipex needle nose. Most other needle nose have a bass ackwards design. Longer handles and a shorter needle nose. It makes them virtually useless. I can reach much more in tight spaces with my Knipex. I’m not worried about grip strength that’s why I have lineman pliers.
It is Project Farm and he’s a farmer so used to bodge-jobing to get things done. Obviously he won’t understand specific trade necessities. He’s been informed about these issues and said he will include changes in his future videos. Very smart man who is very good at learning and adapting, just like most hard working farmers I know. (Not sure of his specific farm or farming work though).
I have to say that I doubt that I would ever use a long set of pliers to cut through nails, deck screws etc....matter of fact, I havent ever used them for that purpose...there are other, more adept tools for that purpose. If they can get into a small hole to pick something up without damaging it or retrieve it easily, then that would be good enough for me. I can appreciate your approach but I don't think that it is pertinent to these specific tools. Maybe tests of how well they can pull eg. wire through a hole without losing grip or how well they feel in your hand when using them in similar situations would have been more appropriate?
I love the consistency in this channel. Presenter in same position at start of each video with same patter. Same dialogue during testing. 'We are going to test that!' Always makes me smile as it's a bit tongue in cheek sometimes with outrageous claims from manufacturers! Keep up the good work..
Other than 14 or finer ga. mild steel wire, I'd Never cut steel wire with them. And it's obvious to me that they weren't designed for cutting bigger or harder wire (nails and screws) because hand grip with a single pivot is insufficient to generate that much power.
Klein tools have always held up well for me and I'm rough on tools. I've been brutal with their side dike, lineman pliers. I hope they can continue in quality and not be sucked into poor Chinesium. Thanks for another great comparison!
Roger that Kevin. I've been going out of my way to shop for things NOT made in China more than ever. It's not easy. Really missing the old school Craftsman hand tools that always had made in USA embossed on the side of them. 👍 Germany and Japan are often top notch as well.
As an electrician, I can't tell you how many sets of pliers and screwdrivers I've destroyed over the years; kleins are the only ones I've owned that held up better than the rest on most tools.
I have some Klein tools as well and all have been great so far, they may cost a little more then some of the cheaper brands but all the different tools I have bought by them have held up good
I use Channel-Locks for all my hand tools and never had any problems with any of them. I specifically chose this brand since they were made in the USA. I am surprised they did so poorly on the twist test, not that I have ever used them for that level of extreme torque. I think a reach test, smallest item it can pick up, or small access test would have been beneficial, since that is the design purpose of the needlenose pliers.
I had terrible luck with channel locks, but I'm also a mechanic in the rust belt and probably do more forceful twisting with needle nose trying to remove stubborn fasteners etc.
@@dc5723 I have a pair of old Irwin needlenose pliers that have lasted me for almost 20 years now. Probably the only pliers that are not Knipex that ride around with me.
I've never had much love for channelock, maybe just bad experience as I've only used their terrible slipjoints, where a tool is made has absolutely no meaning there are shit tools made everywhere and good tools in all markets too. Just buy the good tool not the flag waving bullshit, you'll end up with a better toolkit picking your tools on merit rather than country.
when ever i am looking for any tools or shop supplies My first stop is to see if you have done any testing on the product I am looking to buy. I realy appreciate how well you test everything. Good job!
Oooh corrosion test for all applicable tools would be sweet! In the humid south, it's a real problem for me if I don't keep my less-often-used ones oiled regularly.
Great testing!! If you do slip-joint/combination pliers make sure to include the Snap-On Talon Grip pliers (47ACF). They have diamond serrated on the nose of the pliers that grip in any direction very well! I have used these pliers for many years working on cars and they hold up much better than any others I have used. Even when holding a nut and using an impact on the bolt head.
@TheCheesePlease not really. Overall it’s a solid brand. Some of their tools are far better than other brands. But they definitely have many tools that are just meh at best. Snap-ons locking pliers (vise grip style) are worse than the cheap ones harbor freight for instance. But those talon grip pliers take a crap ton of abuse and the amount of grip at any angle from the diamond serrated nose is amazing!!! I’ve used many slip-joint pliers and gotten busted knuckles from them slipping when I’m pulling on something and I’m willing to pay extra to prevent that!
First I say great test. Gives a good idea of the toughness of the pliers, however I must say that it is missing an important aspect which is real life usage experience. I don't think that someone buying this kind of pliers will put it - unless no other choice is available - to this kind of abuse. These are mostly used for delicate work, and the test give us no idea how they do in their designed usage. For example - how do they grip a a small diameter wire, how easy it is to do some gentle work with them, I would expect that working with those who have a stiff handle movement will tire the hand when doing delicate work, and so on. Thanks for the time and effort.
Testing is hard. In these tests some random leveraged heavyweight plier would've won, while that's obviously not why you want needle nose pliers. This small knipex with very long and thin tips and short handle is not good here, but it might be a nicer tool to work with if strength is not what you're after. But overall good job as always of course! It does give a rough impression
Great tests as usual, although MOST of the tasks on here I have better tools to do the job and would never use my needle nose pliers for. Example: I’ll use diagonal cutters or mini bolt cutters for nail cutting tasks.
excatly. the real test is the ability to grap small things--springs..cables..and make them do what you want. not cutting nails. not twisting the crap out of them.
As always, spectacular content. But of feedback for the nail cut test; Joe about a standardised distance from fulcrum for where the force is applied to the handle? Say 3" back from the pivot. This would test the cutting faces more comparably, and maybe negate some of the issues faced by shorter handled cutters. We don't apply pressure right at the ends anyway. Just a thought
Probably the best thing to look at there is damage to the cutting blades not the amount of force it took.After all needle nose pliers are not your go to cutters.
One of my favorite channels. I watch all your reviews then immediately put your number one in my Amazon wish list. Thorough and extremely helpful with the insane amount of choices we now have for tools. Thank you.
I have had Channellock and Klein for over 10 years with moderate abuse and they are doing great. And an old pair of Craftsman, 40+ years old, that have stood up to farm use and abuse, and are still good.
Totally agree about the Craftsman +40 and Channellock ~15 but don't have the Kliens However I do have a pair of SnapON 7" 90° bent needle nose that are ~40 years old to and still pristine with lots of abuse. Prefer a long taper also. Typically don't abuse them like cutting hardened deck screws but everything else.
@@pjhalchemy Yep. Usually only use the long nose for copper or small wire, nails and such if in a pinch. Anything heavier, I use lineman or bolt cutters.
Hoping for a spray adhesive comparison. So many brands and product lines (3M alone has multiple popular ones, plus versions from Gorilla, LocTite, etc.)
As an electricians apprentice, I was taught to take my new pliers, spray a little WD40 in the joint, and "exercise" them until the operated smoothly. Good tools will wear in without becoming loose, while still operating easily. Holding one handle, the other handle should drop under its own weight when let go. Another thing to be aware of is that some tool brands, such as Klien Tools, have several different grades of the same tool. One can purchase the tool that meets your needs and your budget.
@@Jack.333 the 3m 60926 cartridge along with one of their full face respirator will provide very good protection for nearly all hazards. A properly sized osha approved dust extractor, and plenty of ventilation is ideal.
I'll definitely do it if there's enough interest. Hoping everyone with provide feedback as to whether or not it's worth a round 2. I'm willingto buy 12-15 brands this time so we can figure out which of many brands is the best.
I feel that to correctly measure relative performance, the screws in the grip tests needed to be placed a fixed distance from the joint of the pliers. All the pliers with longer noses are losing the grip tests because the longer nose translates to less force at the tip. But, there's nothing to keep you from choking up on a fastener with a longer-nosed plier. Also, the use of painted screws means that grip performance is somewhat correlated to the quality of the paint application, and if you have some screws with different paint application quality in the same batch, it could introduce variance. Bare metal might have been a more consistent option.
I've never used long nose pliers for cutting screws or 16d nails, so it's good to see that this type of pliers will hold up to the abuse. For me, I use long nose pliers for holding things, so the grab test was great to see. Also, I do abuse my pliers a little with a straight on twist and the cheapie pliers have bent or become out of alignment - your choice of test was spot on! I was surprised to see how well the less expensive pliers held up. I've owned Klein lineman pliers for years and I'm impressed by the quality and longevity, so I was very pleased to see how well they performed on your test. Your videos are awesome. I appreciate the hard work you do and I look forward to future tests!
I've got a couple of the vamplier pliers but under the original japanese engineer brand and model range Nejisaurus, and I'm really impressed with them, plus under the engineer brand (in the uk at least) they are significantly cheaper. At the time of writing £31.08 vs £14.99 for the mini screw removal pliers.
Great tests as every week. If you haven’t done them yet, how about linesman pliers. Lots of things to test on them, as they get used for so many things. They should prove to be pretty tough as well…
The first tool I bought with my own money (well, a Lowe's gift card) were Kobalt 7" lineman pliers that I've now had for over a decade, and they're still one of my favorite tools. I use them to grab stuff, bend stuff, cut stuff, hammer stuff, and they just seem to keep on working great
Some of these videos are good tests, but this one seemed to me to be unnecessary tool abuse. Wire cutters in general, and especially the small ones in needle nose pliers, are made to cut soft wires. They are not designed for strong gripping, nor for twisting. In both cases there are pliers designed for the job, but the pivot to tip distance in many needle nose approaches the handle length. Once you get to a 1:1 leverage ratio you really might as well just use your hands. Every one of these brands sells pliers more appropriate to these tasks than a needle nose. Maybe testing what they are designed for, like how large an object can it grip when reaching an inch through a 3/4 inch hole, or can it pick up a ball bearing at the bottom of a blind 1/2 inch hole. Maybe if it can reach through an electrical wire clamp to pull wires into an electrical box. Yeah, I know when you don't have the right tool you may need to abuse the wrong one. Yes, I have ground down the tips of a pair of needle nose to remove a snap ring, but when I abuse a tool like that I expect it to ruin the tool, and I would expect cutting nails or trying to apply 10 ft.lbs. of twisting force with a needle nose to most likely ruin the pliers.
Your tests include human error and aren't objective. If not for gripping strength and robustness, there are no other objective factors. And he never tests the subjective ones like comfort etc. The only thing I missed in this video was rust resistance
The tests are exagerated as always. This shows the total durability and you can rougly imagine what durability they have over a livetime. He obviously can't test all the tools the intended way for a life time and then show the results.
The slot for gripping screws with the vampliers is a really nice addition. That really comes in handy more than you’d imagine. Regular pliers do a bad job at gripping screws, they even have special pliers specifically for gripping screws and using them versus standard pliers is just a night and day difference so I’m glad to see that on the vampliers.
Thanks again for such an in-depth review. I've now ordered a pair of Irwins as I need the strength in the tips of the jaws and also a chunky grip. When I need tools I don't look anywhere else for reviews now 👍
I think those are very difficult to compare. Some of those e.g. the Knipex or Fujiya are slim nose, quite delicate and made to adjust stuff, cut some wires etc, while some others are way more general purpose oriented, way heavier and made for different tasks.
Love watching all your videos; especially the creative testing rigs that you build. In addition to focusing on “strength” attributes of the products; it will be great if you can explicitly test “durability” of these products. As a DIY’er who wants to make purchase decisions based on your video; I will rarely push the limits on the strength of the tools; however love to know which ones will last long and do a reasonable job. Thanks.
That twisting torque test was so simple yet to so informative and demonstrative. I've twisted countless pliers at work by either misusing the tool per application or just the tool being plain trash.
Very pertinent. I actually cut the rubber off all my pliers and dykes. It’s surprising how companies actually use their handles to cover up bad metal forging
HE DID DO THE NEEDLE NOSE!!!! I LOVE HIM!!!! I thought he was maybe gonna leave that one out. Definitely glad to see the twist test, cause that's where my last pair got bent at the tip, I need a new pair so this is awesome.
when my man on the discovery channel, rolling around in a $150k F350 4x4, visiting U.S. tool company, imma be like, "i've known dude since he was in his shop exposing the TRUTH!" Salute!
Love the vid, as always. And I'm glad to see Kobalt continuing to deliver a solid product at an affordable price. It might not be the best, but dang do they give a good value.
Long nose pliers are very useful to me, very recently bought a new, picked a moderately slim one over heavy duty. How well the jaws aligned was the thing i checked carefully before choosing.
I love watching your videos. I have to admit it’s not always because of the useful information that you provide (and there is plenty of that.)I appreciate the willingness you show to create tests that you believe will give a reasonable representation of the functionality of the product. you are not afraid to show what a difficult process that is and what a compromise is being made when testing products to a standard. The pointed nose pliers are a particularly interesting problem in that this selection of pliers was clearly made up of tools which were designed for somewhat different applications. I like that you just create the tests that you think do the job and let the chips fall where they do.
Great test video! The Kobalt is the bargain. I like to buy American, Klein or Channellock, but the Vampliers interests me for its gripping tip. Really thinking about their expensive damaged screw extractor pliers.
As a mechanic in the rust belt I seem to break the tips off a lot of pliers removing stubborn fasteners and snap rings, but also have a tiny set of pliers for more delicate work
Could you test different torque wrenches? Like how accurate at different ft lbs setting and then how well they maintain calibration after 50 uses and then maybe how well they maintain after a few minor drops?
Great video as usual Todd! I'd imagine in less abusive enviorments, that the Wiha pliers at 64 Rockwell/ H.R.C. would last/stay sharp the longest, I'm guessing by a large margin. The finish also looks like they'd be more corrosion resistant. I'd be interested if their line carries dikes & linesmans pliers, as their edge retention seems to be outstanding. Just as a side note: While I think your 16d nail cutting is an excellent way to demonstrate abusive edge retention, I think in practice is pretty unlikely. I'm a big fella with XXL mitts. I have some steel knurled grip strengthener/squeeze testers that my buddies and I use. In my experience, the average untrained guy can typically squeeze the 100# relatively easily, but the jump to 150# is a big one and fairly difficult. 200#'s is definitely going to take some serious practice. Anything above that and you're the kinda lad that can rip phone books in half. Thanks for the awesome videos!
@TheCheesePlease The test proved that their serrations could be better, they're not great at cutting nails, or very high torque applications. That steel/h.r.c. would be excellent in a set of cutters, which are used for their intended purpose. My point of corrosion resistance and edge retention is valid.
The worn out ones often end up finding a home in a fishing tackle box. Would have liked to see these tested by trying to remove a treble hook from a fish's mouth!
The easy opening/closing action is a pretty important metric. Sometimes you need to work pliers with only one hand available and it can be a chore to open and reposition and squeeze difficult pliers. Sidenote, many people seem to think that people don't want Chinese made products because they think they're inferior. Although that might be the case sometimes, there are a lot of us that don't want to support companies that use slave labor or people who get paid pennies a day. There will always be people that choose the cheapest product (often by necessity) so those laborers are at no risk of losing their jobs. Although I'm not rich, I'm fortunate enough to be able to support companies who make products in countries that have labor laws and decent wages, so I do my best to support USA, Japan, and European manufacturing. I don't think we should continue to reward companies that only think about the next quarter profits at the expense of humanity. So, I have a lot of Klein, Knipex, Stanley Proto, made in Japan Makita, some SK tools, some older Wiha and Wera, and two Snapon tools. None of them have ever failed me. I can't say the same of the made in China/Vietnam/Taiwan stuff.
The feel of tools is definitely one of the most important characteristics for me and in that what knipex never disappoints. You should definitely be able to hold a handle in one hand and have it open itself with its own weight
I've noticed there's not been a lot of harbor freight brand items included in your testing recently. Is there a specific reason for that? Just curious. Keep up the awesome videos!
Great question. The local HF hasn't had things in stock when I visit their store and for some reason they don't allow online purchasing for some of their products. Possibly supply chain issues?
I enjoy most of your tests for both the information and your presentation. However, this test is an exception as I believe you made several errors in your criteria and comparisons. First, you compared precision pliers with heavy duty. The criteria of 8" becomes arbitrary. The conclusion might have said ***buy Engineer/Vamplier for the best grip on screws, buy Knipex for the longest reach in this class/length, Kobalt as the best value, Klein as best all-around, Irwin for the strongest as long as you don't mind them being stiff...maybe better off with a linesman or combination pliers for heavy duty tasks*** There was no credit given to the unique properties and advantages of each plier because of the bias towards abusive tests that most people would never do with needle nose. For example, Knipex makes "assembly" pliers in pointed and flat nose for twisting tasks, and achieves strength in a very lightweight plier with 28 01 200 and 28 21 200. While these 2 models don't have cutters, who cares b/c I'll never cut a full sized nail or screw with needle nose, that's what linesman or better yet bolt cutters are for. Also, no credit for weight which is an issue for anyone who has tools in a bag rather than a shop. A smooth joint is a top criteria for me, which you mentioned but did not score. I would say any joint that isn't smooth is an automatic loser in the test and I know a lot of people agree, especially for repetitive tasks (fatiguing) and not having to spend time breaking them in (some pliers never break in). You also chose some comfort grips and some vinyl which is odd b/c many of these companies make both. There was no test about grip when wet/oily/sweaty or perceived comfort. Since vinyl is all similar it would be good to test comfort grips against each other. Finally, the teeth pattern handling in this test was bad. There was no test of a soft material to see which pliers did the most/least damage to the grabbed object. Along these lines, the reach wasn't tested. I also think the cutter damage is arbitrary the way you do it. Did you consider to measure your comfortable grip strength, then run a test with that pressure on every cutter? That would be more of a real world application b/c I usually try with the tool in my hand and stop at some point (before maximum) at which point I will reach for a different tool (first both compact cutter then if that doesn't do it I'll probably go to a power tool if the steel is hardened. As I mentioned, most of your tests are great, but this one gave no real worth information b/c I (and many others) would not use a needle nose for these tasks. You didn't test any delicate or tight space tasks which is what needle nose are intended for. I would take the needle nose with smooth joint, comfortable handles, light weight, teeth that don't damage, cutter optional, long reach a plus, precision tips a plus....and for anything heavy duty including cutting and screw extraction I'll be reaching for a combination plier most likely. I hope you consider a "rematch" or edit to acknowledge various awards as I mentioned @ *** above (off topic but, why no Makita in the pole saw test? They are a champion in the yard work arena) Excellent videos normally otherwise I wouldn't bother with this response!
His tests arn't perfect and dont account for everything but they are fairly accurate for the tasks that he does do. I personally have the Knipex one for more everyday use smaller tasks and then the Klien ones for heavier work.
@@rektiumstuff3245 I agree with you completely on both the quality of Project Farm reviews, as well as your choice to value a long nose geared toward delicate work (longer and more pointed precision tip with less aggressive teeth) and another set dedicated to heavier tasks . Regarding the quality of Project Farm reviews, I agree with you. I've watched a lot of his reviews and this is the only one that I've ever seen as a failure. Normally, the end where he suggests products is more nuanced. The pliers in this test are for different purposes and there's almost no acknowledgement of that throughout the test, and zero acknowledgment of that in the recommendations.
Haha I bought the Kobalt ones YESTERDAY so I’m glad to be reassured by this video. Their tools have always impressed me with their price and functionality.
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@@silvialeccis6154 not because of ignorance, it’s just because of the high rate of unprofessional brokers in the Business. you got to see unprofessional brokers but we still got lucrative and profitable professional brokers out there looking for investors
Yeah, My first investment with Ms Alana gave me profit of over €54,000 and ever since then she has never failed to deliver and I can even say she's the most sincere broker I have known
My first investment with Ms Alana gave me profit of over €54,000 and ever since then she has never failed to deliver and I can even say she's the most sincere broker I have known
Curious how Tekton stacks up on this one. I will say that the crosshatch seems to grip better for me when pulling greasy rubber o rings off equipment, and also that the Vampliers will cut through nearly anything if you can stomach the carpel tunnel syndrome that comes along with using them to do so.
While the quality of these videos are still top-notch, I feel they are getting far too formulaic. I miss the older video style which was less structured; more of a let’s doing something crazy and see what happens sort of feel.
@@FishFind3000 I absolutely agree with you. Good science is a very sterile process. My point is more about stepping away from the pure science and going towards the “edutainment” style the channel used to be. At the same time though, I know that channels develop over time which will eventually change the audience too.
