I try not to argue with you tool gurus on stuff because I’m no expert, most of the time. This time however I am as qualified as anyone in the world to speak on alligator vs Kobra as a service plumber. I’ve been a service plumber for 16 years and have supported a family of four with a pair of water pump pliers in my pocket everyday. If they are your most used tools you will hate the push button adjustment. I can dial alligator style into place in an instant with 1 hand while laying on my back under a house or sink. I can’t stand the button adjustment style and I’ve never seen anyone who wasn’t an apprentice buy that style. Pliers wrench is ok as it is not a water pump plier but kobra is a waste of great tech to me until the alligator saved it. I still prefer a flat jaw with no angles in it. For my uses Douglas and Rigid make the best water pump pliers. Milwaukee’s 10” is pretty damn good for it’s price as well. If you are an efficient plumber you should be able to quickly adjust your pliers with one hand when in a compromised position. Kobra pliers are great for mechanics and stationary workers but not as useful for field guys.
I thought I was the only person who doesn't like the Cobra button. I like the pliers once adjusted. I have the adjustment issue Doc described on the Gator but with the Cobra's. I have to have the handles in the exact position to adjust them on the Cobras. It's sometimes a PITA. I didn't know Knipex made the Gators. If I were to do it again probably buy the pliers wrench as is but Gator's instead of Cobra's. The good news is I just use them DIY so no need to replace. Just use, bitch at using them, put them back until next use.
I have hated every button having plier that's ever existed and all the ones I've owned myself have failed. Except my cobra. Love it and wouldn't go to work without it. Don't like the alligator but I see the benefits and do keep it around.
I have both & prefer the Alligators for jobs requiring a lot of adjustments, & Cobras for little or no adjustment jobs. For one offs I'm usually reaching for the Alligators. They're both great tools, its entirely personal preference... and yes, the Alligators are much easier to clean.
I’m always looking for my next best tool, hoping it will be the last. Never is though! Just wanted to say your channel brings me a lot of joy. As I get older, my horizon of possibilities in my life seems to get smaller and smaller. Tools though never fail to fill me with a sense of infinite possibility, especially good tools. I think that’s why we get obsessed with them as we age as men who like to make things. Keep up the content. Ps you’re channel is a great place for any wives of handy men who are struggling to find an amazing gift for their husband. You should totally do a video series about gifts for men.
I just lost my baby gators and was deabting if I should stick with them or try the cobra, which is how I ended up here. And you made that very easy for me. I'm a plumber. You pretty much just reinforced that the simplest design is the most reliable. Thanks.
I had a pair of cobras first and noticed the button adds to the width, meaning, if you have to get in to a space where just the head of the cobras will fit, you won’t be able to get them in deeper than the button. For this reason I switched to alligators. If you have to reach in further to get to a fastener, the slimmer profile (due to the lack of the button) allows you slightly better access. You lose the quick and smooth adjustment, but if you need to be in a tight space, thats the trade off in my experience.
I'm a farmer and I have never used the Cobra series however I have the complete Alligator range and use them everyday now for 20 years and they're great.
Hi There I used the alligator pliers for years and never had a issue with it. And with more use the muscle memory sets in and it doesn’t bind, snag or slip. The Cobras are just as awesome but slightly different. Haha. If I had to live with either of them for the rest of my life I would be happy with both of them. They are really good! Im a service engineer and used both in all environments: water pipes, dirt, metal shavings, high heat ( where springs fail!!) and ice cold. So both had there place!!
One small snag I've found with the cobra type is if your using them close up to a flat surface to undo something (in my case, usually trying to remove an old cable gland from a panel), you have to be careful not to push the adjustment button on the flat surface when they'll slip. Flipped over for tightening, no problem. I have and use both types.
I had a pair of the Milwaukee equivalent to the cobra and I agree I had the same problem. Either the button gets in the way or it presses and adjusts when you go to loosen something. It now collects dust and rust on the shelf while my alligators and regular old channellocks are in my every day work bag.
As an electrician working on building sites I asked my Co worker for "a pair of grips" and he handed me the alligators which has very few adjustable positions so when I came back down from the tower I grabbed my cobras as I prefer the range
I have cobras and one pair of alligators. Back in the day I had a pair of alligators that were branded with a different name from Germany (I don’t recall the name, came with a threading set) and I absolutely loved them. I still find myself grabbing the alligators over the cobras from my tool bag on service calls lol. But both work great 👌
Have a pair of alligators that were my goto in the field for removing sensors and cables for pressure transducers. Always dirty, dropped in the mud, full of grease, never had an issue with them. A simple shake or a spray with wd40 or maybe contact cleaner got them functioning just like new. Great little pliers. Also as stated the one hand adjustment really is useful, when your arm is down deep somewhere and you have one size cable to remove and then the sensor itself is a different size and need to adjust. Although as I stated on another one of your videos, I found the self adjusting knipex to be even better for those circumstances, which I moved to from the alligators, but always carried them as a backup.
I am a farmer and have an 10“ pliers wrench in my pocket for all the nuts and fasteners you come across When i‘m greasing equipment I just put a little in the mechanism to drive out any dirt and wipe it away. This way they always stayed really smooth.
Knipex 10" alligator wrenches are the only wrenches I know of that are grippy enough, long enough, and thin enough to allow me to safely install certain blades on a certain type of poultry processing equipment. Great for other tasks, too.
I have a few points, but i think the bottom line is you're going to prefer the tool that 1) gets the job done easiest and 2) you can get used to using the quickest. as for the Cobra vs Alligator: 1) the Cobras with the fine adjustments are a lot more forgiving if you don't set it to exactly the right size for whatever you want to grip. if the alligators are not set very close to the right size, the handles are going to be too far apart to comfortably grip with one hand and work on your material, or too close together to grip on your material. 2) if you are trying to loosen something that is very flush to a surface, the button on the Cobra will get in the way. the button will also get in the way if you're trying to reach the jaws into a very narrow and deep space. 3) the alligators are easier to transition to if you're used to using channellocks. if you've ever been stuck in an awkward position holding 2 things together with one hand while adjusting your pliers with the other hand, the alligators are closer to muscle memory. however, I've gotten used to adjusting the Cobras one handed by pushing down the button while gripping the handle it's on with one hand and either letting gravity close the jaws by dropping the other handle, or pushing the end of the other handle into my hip to open the jaws. it's pretty easy once you get used to it. 4) if you're adjusting the Cobras and land in between two sizes, it's almost never a deal breaker to give one of the handles a push into either one of the next sizes over, because you don't have to push the button again and the sizes are so close to each other that it won't make it uncomfortable to grip if you're a little off. the alligators, on the other hand, are a lot more difficult to nudge if you land part way between sizes, because you have to open the jaws almost all the way again and hope you don't lose the notch you're aiming for. not that difficult if you're used to channellocks, but not as easy as Cobras. 5) alligators are definitely more left handed/ambidextrous/awkward angle friendly. I'm a sparky and i use 250 Cobras everyday, but I also have a pair of 180 alligators in my tool bag, because that size alligator is useful for me.
I agree with most of what you mentioned. Point 3 is also definitely something I do most of the time. I either open the pliers all the way and drop it on what I need to tighten/loosen (mostly with Knipex pliers wrench) so that I have the correct size right away, or I do what you mentioned for only having one hand available. I have also comparatively never used tongue and groove when growing up compared to push button or slip joint pliers, so button was easiest for me to get used to. I've also ordered the 22" cobra pliers a couple days ago which I'll use for pipework in HVAC/R along with my standard Tractor Supply 18" pipe wrench. From what I've seen online, it might make for a decent pipe wrench, especially with grabbing unions because of the "v grip". That thing will just live in my installation/demo bag though. Too heavy to be carrying in my service bag (6.1 lbs) lol
Maybe I'm just slow, but it took me years to realise that water pump pliers were named for their resemblance to pump handles, not because they were intended for working on water pumps! Re: Alligators vs. Cobras, there's no question that Cobras are the ones which have made Knipex the go-to brand for pliers, but I can see the argument that Alligators are more robust and have fewer moving parts to clog or break. They are also a more left-hand friendly design - Cobras aren't so easy to adjust with the left hand. And of course, Alligators are that bit cheaper.
I noticed in the newer fine-toothed version of the Cobras, in the smaller-mouth settings the handle doesn't rotate as much vs at the largest mouth setting. The Alligators has wide freedom of rotation at all settings.
88 01 180 gators are what I edc to work, I work outside and will only use the gators due to the simple design and ease of use, the old school frustration "getting hung up" passes once you get some hours on them!
As a fellow German i can tell you you speak the K rlly hard and short like you did first At my Workplace they have both because people are so used to there Typ they dont wanna use the orther one if i can i will allways use the Cobra i never had Problems with it even If it got dirty think its just that people are so used to If you Work in tight Spaces you often wanna open or close it on handed and it works on both but a little different in handeling Great video !
Out of passing interest, Knipex does make a smattering of channel lock types... marketed as 'groove joint' pliers. I've seen a pair, they're nice, but lack the adjustment range of the Alligators & Cobras.
As you build a collection, especially in larger sizes that cost difference adds up and that makes me lean towards alligators. Others have mentioned the button mechanism getting damaged or dirty and I can see that happening too. I have the old Sears Craftsman branded version of the Cobra which was cheaper but still made by Knipex in Germany I believe and had a good experience with it on rounded over nuts and bolts on cars and getting it's slim nose into places my Channel locks couldn't go. Now sometimes you want the parallel jaws of the Channel locks but those V shaped jaws on the Cobras are great on round things and rounded off things when you don't have specialty tools that handle that as is the case with many especially when in the field. The Cobras will definitely budge things Vise Grips won't! Even Vise Grips clamped on with great force by two men! That feature with Cobras, where they work like a pipe wrench basically is why I bought them and I'm told the Alligators do that too and that's why I bought a pair of Craftsman's version of the Cobra, Made in Germany, a decade ago...I already had Channel locks from small to ridiculously big in parallel jaw format. I've had no problem with mine but I can see the potential for problems and going larger than the 10" ones that price difference makes Alligators look pretty appealing! I have some pliers that use a similar adjustment mechanism as do the Alligators and they work okay so, I wouldn't let that stop you. Elegance versus durability? I'm going for durability! Cost is also a concern especially if you buy several sizes... The guy who said he sheared off a button using two next to each other really made an impression on me as I am thinking of using these instead of pipe wrenches going forward in some sizes.
I always gotta go with the alligators! Im always a fan of "less is more". I find the best way to avoid the "binding" is by making sure i put just a little bit of pressure on the rounded side of the pin, or away from the flat side of the pin while selecting my size. Helps keep the pin centered in the cutout so that it doesnt catch when you go to close them.
lovin the content doc! it's nice to watch someone who appreciates quality tools as much as I do. I'm a big fan of the Knipex cobras pt#87 01 125. im a mechanic so I carry a pair in my pocket everyday. definitely one of the most used tools I have. great video as always
yeah, cheaper, fewer points of failure for dependability, better in the muck. Maybe the real question is, why get the alligators rather than Channellocks? I use Alligators for my work on the pumps for cooling systems in medical radiological equipment. I use Channellocks for working at home, often in the yard on the sprinkler system.
I have both but my savior is the alligator. And that reason for me is one time I was using my cobra to turn a stripped bolt and the button hits and prevents me to losses bolts. Aligators are flat on Both sides and never get caught in anything
For me the number one reason to use the alligators over the cobras is that, you can change the alligators with one hand, if you get the hang of it. But not or not as easy with the cobras. This is real handy at times when youre in a small space holding one thing. Plus the different sizes or positions on the alligators are perfect for the sizes you need for plumbing at least in the eu
I would disagree about which is easier to adjust with one hand. With the slip joint/tongue and groove pliers, you need to open them all the way to change the size and they don't have as many adjustments as the button adjustment pliers. That may mean that you need to take them out of a confined space in order to be able to open the handles wide enough to adjust them or that one adjustment may be too big while the other has the handles too far apart to get a good grip on them. The push button cobras on the other hand, I think are easier to adjust because you can push the button and then push the handle against your side, or any other hard surface, to open them. You can also just open the jaws all the way, put the bottom jaw against your fastener, push the button, and then the top jaw drops on the fastener to the perfect size. Also, the slip joint "alligator" pliers have only 9 adjustment points while the newer button adjustment cobra pliers have 20. I know that it ultimately comes down to personal preference, but that's just what I think of the two on what you said.
I have not bought either yet but was looking into investing in them, your video helped a lot. I'm going to get the alligators and this is my reasoning, as an electrician I get into tight positions where the push button mechanism gets bumped against the side of a panel under a machine and many other instances I am not thinking of, which causes the jaws to loosen.
Hello again Doc Thank you for another Great Video. I have a pair of alligator pliers. And your right they are awkward to use. So they don't get used as other pliers. Again thank you
Great video doc! Never thought about the outdoors point but makes perfect sense. I usually go for the cobras because the "alligator" I own is of a cheap "Incco" brand and it's more cumbersome to acquire that good first purchase on whatever you are trying to hold. If you accidentally let go of the pivoting handle which could happen while trying to adjust to the closest size, the slip joint will slip and fall all the way to the lowest position, but the cobras will remain at whatever position you were in. I guess I could fabricate a removeable "locker" for the slip joint that will lock between the unused upper and lower positions. Again good content doc!
I have a set of both the only benefit of the alligator over the cobra is in certain really tight spaces the button on the cobra can get in the way limiting turn range.
Right on time. I was looking at the gator 7.25 to compliment my pliers/wrench. Outdoors...99.9% 🔧 Dirty...muddy, frozen ...all the time. Button ...Indoor/Precision. No Button...Outdoor/Recon, General Repair. $25 for the 7.25 gator @ Menards. With 11% rebate.
I've been doing ranch work recently and If had to repair an irrigation line in the mud I would definitely go for the alligators I have cobras and wouldn't want to put them through that let alone clean them after ...now I need a set of alligators lol
i am curious to see how these work for me. As an auto tech, I already have a set of Irwin vice grips, and I do find myself at times fighting with my pliers. Think i may have gotten an updated set with the 87 51 250's. Very curious to see how their precision helps/hinders in day to day work. How often I grab them will be a big factor once the newness wears off. Time will tell. Hell, my Grandfather gave me a 98 year old patented thread pitch gauge yesterday lol
Some industries require techs to use tools with no removable parts. If a push button falls of in a turbine rebuild and the checklist for the tool used was checked… who’s to blame for the silence just after start up?
A while back I watched a German Knipex product video from the company itself and they pronounced their product "Kuh-knee-pex". I used to think the "k" was silent, too.
Personally I like the knipex cobra I have all the sizes except for the XXL version. And I have one quickset version with the comfort handle, I think only available in the 250mm size. I also have one alligator style but from rothenberger, but I prefer the knipex cobras. They can be adjusted in smaller steps, and the handle position is more ergonomic in some situations just like on the pliers wrench.
I only posted, because you _replied_ to my comment. Given that context, your response lacks relevance no matter how you slice it. Perhaps upload your post as its own entity - can't believe that I have to explain this to someone who makes videos - and it'll stand as is. Good luck.
I have the cobra and I like it because I can drop the tool and not lose the adjustment I can pick it up and grip it quickly it just takes a bit more effort the first time, but if you’re using multiple sizes at once the alligator would work best
Can I ask the community a question? How much side-to-side play is there in a Knipex cobra or alligator plier? I was expecting tight tolerances. I recently purchased a 12 inch cobra and am dismayed by how much it rattles and how much side-to-side play there is where the jaws meet. It will do the job, but I was expecting a “tighter” tool. I don’t know if this is normal or if I got a poorly made pair of cobra pliers.
In my experience that is normal for Knipex, I think that’s the trade of for them being so easy to adjust is that the box is a bit bigger for no chance of binding on itself, just my 2 cents
I noticed a both of your alligator is 180mm, why does one come in 7 hole and the other one have 9hole? Do they have the same part number? thank you great videos
I use the Knipex auto adjusting 250’s everyday. Hate to love them because after heavy torque applications they will become stuck. Has anyone else experienced this with these pliers. Model #85-01-250
Not that it matters much. But the American i sound doesn't exist in the German language. It's an e sound. Like k- nee- pex. Either way favorite plier company and great informative video.
I Much Rather my 10" Knipex Alligator pliers than Knipex Cobras. I install Fire Sprinkler Systems an I Keep my 10" Knipex Alligator pliers in my Side pocket on my Carhartt Pants. I use these Pliers Daily an Frequently at work. They Are MUCH Better than Channel lock pliers."
Hey on cp s live I was about any good non sds bits. I'm hanging up solar lights around the shed. But I'm drilling in stucco Block concrete quite a bit lately
They're called water pump pliers not because of the shape of the handle being like a pump, but because they're (originally) used for undoing the unions on water pumps.
Hmmm... early cars/trucks had water pump shaft 'packing gland' nuts that _frequently_ required 'snugging' to mitigate leakage. A long pair of pliers was just the thing for remaining clean while doing the chore; & most every car had a pair or two on the floor. They evolved into the pump pliers we have today.
I bought a set of alligators, only because I saw how much everyone raved about knipex pliers. Absolutely love them, except, as you said, getting the adjustment just right can be a pain at times. But they work so well and I like them so much, I can live with it. Because I like them so much I bought a set of cobras just for poops and giggles, and wow, I absolutely hated them. I didn't like the button adjustment, but the REAL kicker for me was the limited opening range on the cobras. They will only open so far, so if you've adjusted them too small, you have to readjust them to fit them on the piece. With the alligators, even if your adjustment is smaller than it should be, they still open fully and you're able to get a bite and turn it. Just saves a ton of aggravation for me. Returned the cobras almost immediately
I never use my Alligator pliers and always use my Cobra pliers. They are 50% more costly because they are at least 50% better. I always keep my expensive Knipex pliers clean and remove any dirt after use, so I am not worried about them getting clogged. The Cobras are superior because once they are set they are locked in that position. It takes longer but for non-professionals that doesn't matter. It is professionals that like Alligators due to their speed and efficiency. While the newer Cobras have more adjustment notches that really doesn't make much of a difference. Probably more significant is the notch track is curved rather than straight.
@@allemander There are folks here from all over the world. Many are not native English speakers, others are used to an alternate dialect. Now you know.
Knipex is a german company so in German you pronounce it Ka-nipex, In English speaking countries it is pronounced nipex. The same goes for Wera, which is again a German company so in German it is pronounced Vera. Wiha is another German company, in German it is pronounced Viha. The German car manufacturer VolksWagen is prounounced FalksVagen in German, but English speaking countries we pronounce these companies as they are spelt.
I hear people pronouncing these German brands correctly far more often than incorrectly. Also, I have only ever heard young children say "Volks Wagon". That brand is usually mispronounced, but as "Volks Vagen". W -> V is well known, but V -> F not so much.
You won't regret it, I been using Knipex 10 " Alligator pliers for few years now an I luv them I carry them Daily at work an use them Frequently. I install Fire Sprinkler Systems.
damnmit youre right i just looked up the knipex pronouciation on knipex' youtube channel and youre right lol still sounds weird to me so im gonna say knipex like knife
Germans actually pronounce it like Kih-nee-pix. If they don't they're incorrect as you can go to the German Knipex channel and see they all pronounce it as I've written.
Doc, I'm the person who gave the first "thumbs down" vote. Your information and assessment is actually quite spot on, but your constant hand manipulation gets in the way of an otherwise good visualization. Stop with the hands!
to end this "confusion" hopefully once and for all.... if someone wants to pronounce it the american way - it's likely (K)nipex.... BUT if you want to sound smart or correct or just true to the brand.... it's Knipex with a big, hard K. No room for interpretation. It's just how you would pronounce it correctly in german and that's how it should be used. 🤷🏻♂️ It's really not that "hard".... 🤔 or actually it is. 🤣🤣 Same as american names should be pronounced correctly. You say Ford - not Furd or Fard or Ferd. Or I hope at least 🤔😎 Now try to pronounce Mercedes correctly. 😁
Actually the Germans say Ka-Nee-pex.. not Ka-nip-ex.. most people think they're saying it right just because they use a hard K ... but they aren't.. In America call it what you want... everyone knows what you mean anyway...👍
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I try not to argue with you tool gurus on stuff because I’m no expert, most of the time. This time however I am as qualified as anyone in the world to speak on alligator vs Kobra as a service plumber. I’ve been a service plumber for 16 years and have supported a family of four with a pair of water pump pliers in my pocket everyday. If they are your most used tools you will hate the push button adjustment. I can dial alligator style into place in an instant with 1 hand while laying on my back under a house or sink. I can’t stand the button adjustment style and I’ve never seen anyone who wasn’t an apprentice buy that style. Pliers wrench is ok as it is not a water pump plier but kobra is a waste of great tech to me until the alligator saved it. I still prefer a flat jaw with no angles in it. For my uses Douglas and Rigid make the best water pump pliers. Milwaukee’s 10” is pretty damn good for it’s price as well. If you are an efficient plumber you should be able to quickly adjust your pliers with one hand when in a compromised position. Kobra pliers are great for mechanics and stationary workers but not as useful for field guys.
I thought I was the only person who doesn't like the Cobra button. I like the pliers once adjusted. I have the adjustment issue Doc described on the Gator but with the Cobra's. I have to have the handles in the exact position to adjust them on the Cobras. It's sometimes a PITA. I didn't know Knipex made the Gators. If I were to do it again probably buy the pliers wrench as is but Gator's instead of Cobra's. The good news is I just use them DIY so no need to replace. Just use, bitch at using them, put them back until next use.
I'm a diesel mechanic so I definitely prefer the cobras
@@willc5979 I get the Kobra being better for that application. You probably deal with more shit that’s German tight than I do too so I get that.
I have hated every button having plier that's ever existed and all the ones I've owned myself have failed. Except my cobra. Love it and wouldn't go to work without it. Don't like the alligator but I see the benefits and do keep it around.
Thank you for the genuine informative input, sir.😊
I have both & prefer the Alligators for jobs requiring a lot of adjustments, & Cobras for little or no adjustment jobs. For one offs I'm usually reaching for the Alligators. They're both great tools, its entirely personal preference... and yes, the Alligators are much easier to clean.
alligators have always been more durable for me being a industrial mechanic, I have had the cobras button break off especially in tight areas.
I Agree, I luv my Knipex 10 " Alligator pliers 💪 been using them a few years now.
I got both and use the alligators as my daily driver. Much easier to change sizes.
I’m always looking for my next best tool, hoping it will be the last. Never is though! Just wanted to say your channel brings me a lot of joy. As I get older, my horizon of possibilities in my life seems to get smaller and smaller. Tools though never fail to fill me with a sense of infinite possibility, especially good tools. I think that’s why we get obsessed with them as we age as men who like to make things.
Keep up the content.
Ps you’re channel is a great place for any wives of handy men who are struggling to find an amazing gift for their husband. You should totally do a video series about gifts for men.
Handy men in general don't appreciate quality tools as usually they have not worked in the industry at professional level.
I just lost my baby gators and was deabting if I should stick with them or try the cobra, which is how I ended up here. And you made that very easy for me. I'm a plumber. You pretty much just reinforced that the simplest design is the most reliable. Thanks.
I had a pair of cobras first and noticed the button adds to the width, meaning, if you have to get in to a space where just the head of the cobras will fit, you won’t be able to get them in deeper than the button. For this reason I switched to alligators. If you have to reach in further to get to a fastener, the slimmer profile (due to the lack of the button) allows you slightly better access. You lose the quick and smooth adjustment, but if you need to be in a tight space, thats the trade off in my experience.
I'm a farmer and I have never used the Cobra series however I have the complete Alligator range and use them everyday now for 20 years and they're great.
Hi There
I used the alligator pliers for years and never had a issue with it. And with more use the muscle memory sets in and it doesn’t bind, snag or slip.
The Cobras are just as awesome but slightly different. Haha.
If I had to live with either of them for the rest of my life I would be happy with both of them. They are really good!
Im a service engineer and used both in all environments: water pipes, dirt, metal shavings, high heat ( where springs fail!!) and ice cold. So both had there place!!
One small snag I've found with the cobra type is if your using them close up to a flat surface to undo something (in my case, usually trying to remove an old cable gland from a panel), you have to be careful not to push the adjustment button on the flat surface when they'll slip. Flipped over for tightening, no problem. I have and use both types.
I had a pair of the Milwaukee equivalent to the cobra and I agree I had the same problem. Either the button gets in the way or it presses and adjusts when you go to loosen something. It now collects dust and rust on the shelf while my alligators and regular old channellocks are in my every day work bag.
Ive actually sheared part of the button off on my cobras when I had to use two pairs at once
@@zillpickle8910 The burton came off my first pair too, but I’d had them ages, and they’re well used 👍
You are correct, the k is pronounced. I speak German - and a k at the beginning of the word, even before an n, is always pronounced.
As an electrician working on building sites I asked my Co worker for "a pair of grips" and he handed me the alligators which has very few adjustable positions so when I came back down from the tower I grabbed my cobras as I prefer the range
I have cobras and one pair of alligators. Back in the day I had a pair of alligators that were branded with a different name from Germany (I don’t recall the name, came with a threading set) and I absolutely loved them. I still find myself grabbing the alligators over the cobras from my tool bag on service calls lol. But both work great 👌
Have a pair of alligators that were my goto in the field for removing sensors and cables for pressure transducers. Always dirty, dropped in the mud, full of grease, never had an issue with them. A simple shake or a spray with wd40 or maybe contact cleaner got them functioning just like new. Great little pliers.
Also as stated the one hand adjustment really is useful, when your arm is down deep somewhere and you have one size cable to remove and then the sensor itself is a different size and need to adjust. Although as I stated on another one of your videos, I found the self adjusting knipex to be even better for those circumstances, which I moved to from the alligators, but always carried them as a backup.
Luv my 10" Knipex Alligator pliers 💪
I am a farmer and have an 10“ pliers wrench in my pocket for all the nuts and fasteners you come across
When i‘m greasing equipment I just put a little in the mechanism to drive out any dirt and wipe it away. This way they always stayed really smooth.
Knipex 10" alligator wrenches are the only wrenches I know of that are grippy enough, long enough, and thin enough to allow me to safely install certain blades on a certain type of poultry processing equipment. Great for other tasks, too.
I have a few points, but i think the bottom line is you're going to prefer the tool that 1) gets the job done easiest and 2) you can get used to using the quickest.
as for the Cobra vs Alligator:
1) the Cobras with the fine adjustments are a lot more forgiving if you don't set it to exactly the right size for whatever you want to grip. if the alligators are not set very close to the right size, the handles are going to be too far apart to comfortably grip with one hand and work on your material, or too close together to grip on your material.
2) if you are trying to loosen something that is very flush to a surface, the button on the Cobra will get in the way. the button will also get in the way if you're trying to reach the jaws into a very narrow and deep space.
3) the alligators are easier to transition to if you're used to using channellocks. if you've ever been stuck in an awkward position holding 2 things together with one hand while adjusting your pliers with the other hand, the alligators are closer to muscle memory. however, I've gotten used to adjusting the Cobras one handed by pushing down the button while gripping the handle it's on with one hand and either letting gravity close the jaws by dropping the other handle, or pushing the end of the other handle into my hip to open the jaws. it's pretty easy once you get used to it.
4) if you're adjusting the Cobras and land in between two sizes, it's almost never a deal breaker to give one of the handles a push into either one of the next sizes over, because you don't have to push the button again and the sizes are so close to each other that it won't make it uncomfortable to grip if you're a little off. the alligators, on the other hand, are a lot more difficult to nudge if you land part way between sizes, because you have to open the jaws almost all the way again and hope you don't lose the notch you're aiming for. not that difficult if you're used to channellocks, but not as easy as Cobras.
5) alligators are definitely more left handed/ambidextrous/awkward angle friendly.
I'm a sparky and i use 250 Cobras everyday, but I also have a pair of 180 alligators in my tool bag, because that size alligator is useful for me.
I agree with most of what you mentioned. Point 3 is also definitely something I do most of the time. I either open the pliers all the way and drop it on what I need to tighten/loosen (mostly with Knipex pliers wrench) so that I have the correct size right away, or I do what you mentioned for only having one hand available. I have also comparatively never used tongue and groove when growing up compared to push button or slip joint pliers, so button was easiest for me to get used to. I've also ordered the 22" cobra pliers a couple days ago which I'll use for pipework in HVAC/R along with my standard Tractor Supply 18" pipe wrench. From what I've seen online, it might make for a decent pipe wrench, especially with grabbing unions because of the "v grip". That thing will just live in my installation/demo bag though. Too heavy to be carrying in my service bag (6.1 lbs) lol
I'm left-handed and I wish there was a left-handed model
Maybe I'm just slow, but it took me years to realise that water pump pliers were named for their resemblance to pump handles, not because they were intended for working on water pumps! Re: Alligators vs. Cobras, there's no question that Cobras are the ones which have made Knipex the go-to brand for pliers, but I can see the argument that Alligators are more robust and have fewer moving parts to clog or break. They are also a more left-hand friendly design - Cobras aren't so easy to adjust with the left hand. And of course, Alligators are that bit cheaper.
They're named because they're used for working on water pumps :)
Is that true? I never knew that.
@@MD-en3zm No, he's pulling your leg. The pliers resemble water pumps, that's where the name comes from.
I didn’t know that
I noticed in the newer fine-toothed version of the Cobras, in the smaller-mouth settings the handle doesn't rotate as much vs at the largest mouth setting. The Alligators has wide freedom of rotation at all settings.
88 01 180 gators are what I edc to work, I work outside and will only use the gators due to the simple design and ease of use, the old school frustration "getting hung up" passes once you get some hours on them!
I only use the 125 cobra’s because there are no alligators that small.
I use the 7” alligators daily, up from there it’s channellock for me
As a fellow German i can tell you you speak the K rlly hard and short like you did first
At my Workplace they have both because people are so used to there Typ they dont wanna use the orther one if i can i will allways use the Cobra i never had Problems with it even If it got dirty think its just that people are so used to If you Work in tight Spaces you often wanna open or close it on handed and it works on both but a little different in handeling
Great video !
Been carrying a cobra 125 as an EDC for years - invaluable pliers 👌
@Hand Tool Reviews - True , i use the 180s mostly (or 250) but for my pocket the 125 is perfect 👌
I'd always figured the design was for folks who preferred the tongue and groove style pliers, same sort of operation.
Out of passing interest, Knipex does make a smattering of channel lock types... marketed as 'groove joint' pliers. I've seen a pair, they're nice, but lack the adjustment range of the Alligators & Cobras.
I have both models, I prefer the alligator as they should last almost forever. I see The spring and screw as a potential failure point on the cobra.
As you build a collection, especially in larger sizes that cost difference adds up and that makes me lean towards alligators.
Others have mentioned the button mechanism getting damaged or dirty and I can see that happening too.
I have the old Sears Craftsman branded version of the Cobra which was cheaper but still made by Knipex in Germany I believe and had a good experience with it on rounded over nuts and bolts on cars and getting it's slim nose into places my Channel locks couldn't go.
Now sometimes you want the parallel jaws of the Channel locks but those V shaped jaws on the Cobras are great on round things and rounded off things when you don't have specialty tools that handle that as is the case with many especially when in the field.
The Cobras will definitely budge things Vise Grips won't!
Even Vise Grips clamped on with great force by two men!
That feature with Cobras, where they work like a pipe wrench basically is why I bought them and I'm told the Alligators do that too and that's why I bought a pair of Craftsman's version of the Cobra, Made in Germany, a decade ago...I already had Channel locks from small to ridiculously big in parallel jaw format.
I've had no problem with mine but I can see the potential for problems and going larger than the 10" ones that price difference makes Alligators look pretty appealing!
I have some pliers that use a similar adjustment mechanism as do the Alligators and they work okay so, I wouldn't let that stop you.
Elegance versus durability?
I'm going for durability!
Cost is also a concern especially if you buy several sizes...
The guy who said he sheared off a button using two next to each other really made an impression on me as I am thinking of using these instead of pipe wrenches going forward in some sizes.
I always gotta go with the alligators! Im always a fan of "less is more". I find the best way to avoid the "binding" is by making sure i put just a little bit of pressure on the rounded side of the pin, or away from the flat side of the pin while selecting my size. Helps keep the pin centered in the cutout so that it doesnt catch when you go to close them.
Just get both, problem solved! I use the Cobras and Channellocks and reach for the Cobras.
lovin the content doc! it's nice to watch someone who appreciates quality tools as much as I do. I'm a big fan of the Knipex cobras
pt#87 01 125. im a mechanic so I carry a pair in my pocket everyday. definitely one of the most used tools I have. great video as always
Got the Knipex cobra pliers and the Wiha slip joint! 👍👍 Both are just wonderful to use
yeah, cheaper, fewer points of failure for dependability, better in the muck. Maybe the real question is, why get the alligators rather than Channellocks? I use Alligators for my work on the pumps for cooling systems in medical radiological equipment. I use Channellocks for working at home, often in the yard on the sprinkler system.
I have both but my savior is the alligator. And that reason for me is one time I was using my cobra to turn a stripped bolt and the button hits and prevents me to losses bolts. Aligators are flat on Both sides and never get caught in anything
For me the number one reason to use the alligators over the cobras is that, you can change the alligators with one hand, if you get the hang of it. But not or not as easy with the cobras. This is real handy at times when youre in a small space holding one thing. Plus the different sizes or positions on the alligators are perfect for the sizes you need for plumbing at least in the eu
I would disagree about which is easier to adjust with one hand. With the slip joint/tongue and groove pliers, you need to open them all the way to change the size and they don't have as many adjustments as the button adjustment pliers. That may mean that you need to take them out of a confined space in order to be able to open the handles wide enough to adjust them or that one adjustment may be too big while the other has the handles too far apart to get a good grip on them. The push button cobras on the other hand, I think are easier to adjust because you can push the button and then push the handle against your side, or any other hard surface, to open them. You can also just open the jaws all the way, put the bottom jaw against your fastener, push the button, and then the top jaw drops on the fastener to the perfect size. Also, the slip joint "alligator" pliers have only 9 adjustment points while the newer button adjustment cobra pliers have 20. I know that it ultimately comes down to personal preference, but that's just what I think of the two on what you said.
I have not bought either yet but was looking into investing in them, your video helped a lot. I'm going to get the alligators and this is my reasoning, as an electrician I get into tight positions where the push button mechanism gets bumped against the side of a panel under a machine and many other instances I am not thinking of, which causes the jaws to loosen.
Hello again Doc
Thank you for another Great Video. I have a pair of alligator pliers. And your right they are awkward to use. So they don't get used as other pliers. Again thank you
Great video doc!
Never thought about the outdoors point but makes perfect sense. I usually go for the cobras because the "alligator" I own is
of a cheap "Incco" brand and it's more cumbersome to acquire that good first purchase on whatever you are trying to hold.
If you accidentally let go of the pivoting handle which could happen while trying to adjust to the closest size, the slip joint will
slip and fall all the way to the lowest position, but the cobras will remain at whatever position you were in.
I guess I could fabricate a removeable "locker" for the slip joint that will lock between the unused upper and lower positions.
Again good content doc!
After a week of using a new pair of Knipex Alligator pliers they get smooth in selecting a size.
I have a set of both the only benefit of the alligator over the cobra is in certain really tight spaces the button on the cobra can get in the way limiting turn range.
Right on time.
I was looking at the gator 7.25 to compliment my pliers/wrench.
Outdoors...99.9% 🔧
Dirty...muddy, frozen ...all the time.
Button ...Indoor/Precision.
No Button...Outdoor/Recon, General Repair.
$25 for the 7.25 gator @ Menards.
With 11% rebate.
I had them both and the button becomes more of a hindrance overtime with heavy use. It gets worn out and slips causing you to bust your knuckles.
I've been doing ranch work recently and If had to repair an irrigation line in the mud I would definitely go for the alligators I have cobras and wouldn't want to put them through that let alone clean them after ...now I need a set of alligators lol
i am curious to see how these work for me. As an auto tech, I already have a set of Irwin vice grips, and I do find myself at times fighting with my pliers. Think i may have gotten an updated set with the 87 51 250's. Very curious to see how their precision helps/hinders in day to day work. How often I grab them will be a big factor once the newness wears off. Time will tell. Hell, my Grandfather gave me a 98 year old patented thread pitch gauge yesterday lol
Was gonna go with the cobras but the alligators are better suited for my type of work. Thanks for the breakdown
Sometimes the button gets in the way. The alligator can fit in a tighter spot.
I definitely prefer the Alligators. The button on the cobra is just a pain. I can adjust my Alligators way faster.
Some industries require techs to use tools with no removable parts. If a push button falls of in a turbine rebuild and the checklist for the tool used was checked… who’s to blame for the silence just after start up?
A while back I watched a German Knipex product video from the company itself and they pronounced their product "Kuh-knee-pex". I used to think the "k" was silent, too.
love the aliggators as you can make one handed quick adjustments with em
Personally I like the knipex cobra I have all the sizes except for the XXL version. And I have one quickset version with the comfort handle, I think only available in the 250mm size. I also have one alligator style but from rothenberger, but I prefer the knipex cobras. They can be adjusted in smaller steps, and the handle position is more ergonomic in some situations just like on the pliers wrench.
I have both and usually reach for the Cobras. Quicker to adjust on a fastener. Cleaning the pliers isn't much of a feature in my world.
@Hand Tool Reviews Not sure how one can make a declarative statement in hopes of quantifying a preference based on pure assertions. Yet, there it is.
I only posted, because you _replied_ to my comment. Given that context, your response lacks relevance no matter how you slice it. Perhaps upload your post as its own entity - can't believe that I have to explain this to someone who makes videos - and it'll stand as is. Good luck.
I have the cobra and I like it because I can drop the tool and not lose the adjustment I can pick it up and grip it quickly it just takes a bit more effort the first time, but if you’re using multiple sizes at once the alligator would work best
Can I ask the community a question?
How much side-to-side play is there in a Knipex cobra or alligator plier? I was expecting tight tolerances. I recently purchased a 12 inch cobra and am dismayed by how much it rattles and how much side-to-side play there is where the jaws meet. It will do the job, but I was expecting a “tighter” tool. I don’t know if this is normal or if I got a poorly made pair of cobra pliers.
In my experience that is normal for Knipex, I think that’s the trade of for them being so easy to adjust is that the box is a bit bigger for no chance of binding on itself, just my 2 cents
I noticed a both of your alligator is 180mm, why does one come in 7 hole and the other one have 9hole? Do they have the same part number? thank you great videos
Also the button is more difficult if you're left handed.
Everything is for us 😂
This is excellent, thank you.
Perfect explanation.
I use the Knipex auto adjusting 250’s everyday. Hate to love them because after heavy torque applications they will become stuck. Has anyone else experienced this with these pliers. Model #85-01-250
ruclips.net/video/FqZfLfw5MJQ/видео.html
Alligator for me, I have a flat jaw Cobra but the button drives me nuts !
The cobras have more fine adjustments to them versus the alligator
Not that it matters much. But the American i sound doesn't exist in the German language. It's an e sound. Like k- nee- pex. Either way favorite plier company and great informative video.
Almost right, As a German with some experience in the U.S.: the American "i" is "ei" in German ... plus some bubblegum in your mouth. LOL
I Much Rather my 10" Knipex Alligator pliers than Knipex Cobras.
I install Fire Sprinkler Systems an I Keep my 10" Knipex Alligator pliers in my Side pocket on my Carhartt Pants. I use these Pliers Daily an Frequently at work. They Are MUCH Better than Channel lock pliers."
Hey on cp s live I was about any good non sds bits. I'm hanging up solar lights around the shed. But I'm drilling in stucco Block concrete quite a bit lately
What do you need a pouch full of saws for ? You only need one.
It all comes down to being able to use the alligators with one hand.
They're called water pump pliers not because of the shape of the handle being like a pump, but because they're (originally) used for undoing the unions on water pumps.
Hmmm... early cars/trucks had water pump shaft 'packing gland' nuts that _frequently_ required 'snugging' to mitigate leakage. A long pair of pliers was just the thing for remaining clean while doing the chore; & most every car had a pair or two on the floor. They evolved into the pump pliers we have today.
@@rwbishop well there you go! Thanks :)
I bought a set of alligators, only because I saw how much everyone raved about knipex pliers. Absolutely love them, except, as you said, getting the adjustment just right can be a pain at times. But they work so well and I like them so much, I can live with it. Because I like them so much I bought a set of cobras just for poops and giggles, and wow, I absolutely hated them. I didn't like the button adjustment, but the REAL kicker for me was the limited opening range on the cobras. They will only open so far, so if you've adjusted them too small, you have to readjust them to fit them on the piece. With the alligators, even if your adjustment is smaller than it should be, they still open fully and you're able to get a bite and turn it. Just saves a ton of aggravation for me. Returned the cobras almost immediately
Sum up: Alligator when you are working outdoor and Cobra for Indoor. Video 8:27 = 12 Words.
I never use my Alligator pliers and always use my Cobra pliers. They are 50% more costly because they are at least 50% better. I always keep my expensive Knipex pliers clean and remove any dirt after use, so I am not worried about them getting clogged. The Cobras are superior because once they are set they are locked in that position. It takes longer but for non-professionals that doesn't matter. It is professionals that like Alligators due to their speed and efficiency.
While the newer Cobras have more adjustment notches that really doesn't make much of a difference. Probably more significant is the notch track is curved rather than straight.
$10 to repair something with a lifetime warranty?? Guess that's one advantage of buying them off the tool trucks vs amazon
Which size to get for simple House / Residential work? 180mm? 250mm?
250
My 16 inch gators, the pin/hinge falls out
Which one would you rather use with gloves on?
Definitely alligator
When you go to seat the alligator just pull down with the handle attached to the bottom jaw
How about a Video of say 25 hand tools you would keep if for some reason you had to sale everything 🤔
*sell
@@allemander There are folks here from all over the world. Many are not native English speakers, others are used to an alternate dialect. Now you know.
@@felixf5211
Thanks. Each one teach one.
🤓✌🏼
The alligators will be easier to use wearing thick gloves.
I bought the alligators cause I didn't trust that adjusting mechanism on the cobra
Отлично!правильное решение!
Knipex is a german company so in German you pronounce it Ka-nipex, In English speaking countries it is pronounced nipex. The same goes for Wera, which is again a German company so in German it is pronounced Vera. Wiha is another German company, in German it is pronounced Viha. The German car manufacturer VolksWagen is prounounced FalksVagen in German, but English speaking countries we pronounce these companies as they are spelt.
I hear people pronouncing these German brands correctly far more often than incorrectly.
Also, I have only ever heard young children say "Volks Wagon". That brand is usually mispronounced, but as "Volks Vagen". W -> V is well known, but V -> F not so much.
Cobras knipex are prone to the push button breaking off once that happens it’s bish to use them
So weird I was just thinking about getting the Alligator
You won't regret it, I been using Knipex 10 " Alligator pliers for few years now an I luv them I carry them Daily at work an use them Frequently. I install Fire Sprinkler Systems.
damnmit youre right i just looked up the knipex pronouciation on knipex' youtube channel and youre right lol still sounds weird to me so im gonna say knipex like knife
Germans actually pronounce it like Kih-nee-pix. If they don't they're incorrect as you can go to the German Knipex channel and see they all pronounce it as I've written.
I like the alligator because I can lock it in the vise to sharpen the teeth.
Knipex Hussle 🥰
Please slow down with handling the tools. Its kinda hard to follow. Thanks
Rolex and wrenches.. subscribed
👍
Alligators all day
Right, they didn‘t call it NIPEX 😂
First
Didn't like the video. First part about folding saws??? Second part too much talk about a pair of pliers.
Poorly explained
Doc, I'm the person who gave the first "thumbs down" vote. Your information and assessment is actually quite spot on, but your constant hand manipulation gets in the way of an otherwise good visualization. Stop with the hands!
to end this "confusion" hopefully once and for all.... if someone wants to pronounce it the american way - it's likely (K)nipex....
BUT if you want to sound smart or correct or just true to the brand.... it's Knipex with a big, hard K.
No room for interpretation. It's just how you would pronounce it correctly in german and that's how it should be used. 🤷🏻♂️ It's really not that "hard".... 🤔 or actually it is. 🤣🤣
Same as american names should be pronounced correctly. You say Ford - not Furd or Fard or Ferd. Or I hope at least 🤔😎
Now try to pronounce Mercedes correctly. 😁
Actually the Germans say Ka-Nee-pex.. not Ka-nip-ex.. most people think they're saying it right just because they use a hard K ... but they aren't..
In America call it what you want... everyone knows what you mean anyway...👍
alligator is better for the job, cobra is better for youtube videos
The Knipex alligator design has been around for at least 2 decades. Never cared much for them. Now the cobra on the other hand wew lad
1:20 for the start of the video