You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
This is a good price for a [url= http://www.amazon.co.uk/KNIPEX-Pliers-Wrench-pliers-plastic/dp/B000U3LRZE/ ]pair of these[/url] - too big for trailside use, but ideal for home DIY. I'm not a fan of "adjustable" wrenches, but these do actually work really well.
What do you actually use this for?
Is it one of those tools that you keep in the house and use cos you can't be arsed to walk to the shed and get the right size spanner / socket set?
I have a cheaper version. Normally referred to as the "pliery spanner things".
Very useful for as above ^^
I've got a couple of pairs of them, used for plumbing generally. Always called them grips, cos that's what me dad always called them.
Didn't pay that much though!!
amazon.de is the place to get 'em IME
Different from pipe grips ads678.
These are like a hybrid of the best bits of an adjustable spanner and a set of pipe grips.
The are brilliant, I have three different sizes and get used loads (never used them on a bike though, different toolbox)
In the machine shop in Italy where I served my apprenticeship these were called a 'cagna' which literally means 'bitch'
#uselessfactoftheday
When I served my time if we were ever caught with anything similar to the above (adjustables etc) in the workshop our foreman would confiscate them and cut them in half with the oxyacetylene.
And quite rightly too.
Think of them more as pliers with lots of grip and leverage than an adjustable spanner, good for heavy grinding work instead of burning your hands or cooling stuff off every 10 seconds
Edit: these are the ones we had, quite different actually on closer inspection
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0002BUGZ6/ref=pd_aw_sim_60_3?ie=UTF8&dpID=31%2BRAyYd5oL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL115_SR115%2C115_&refRID=0D9D8XRNRJBWP454RGQ8
What do you actually use this for?
Is it one of those tools that you keep in the house and use cos you can't be arsed to walk to the shed and get the right size spanner / socket set?
Getting into hard to access pipe fittings, when you can't get a spanner on it, you can turn unions very small amounts, which you can't with the right size of spanner.
When I served my time if we were ever caught with anything similar to the above (adjustables etc) in the workshop our foreman would confiscate them and cut them in half with the oxyacetylene.And quite rightly too.
Which is fine if you work in one area,and can have a full set of spanners and socket set by your side. Once working out in a huge plant, an adjustable is your go to tool.
Edit: these are the ones we had, quite different actually on closer inspection
Aye those are standard pipe grips.
The ones in the op are designed to replace adjustable scanners really, not to replace pipe grips.
What do you actually use this for?
If you don't have much of a tool kit they're a good do it all - better than a adjustable spanner at being an spanner, better leverage than pliers, do less damage to things than stilsons and molegrips.
The cleverness is the jaws grip with the same hand action as pliers but have a parallel motion and smooth jaws like an AJ so they grip nuts and bolts really well without damaging them, when you get the hang of them you can sort of ratchet them as you turn a nut - works really well when access is difficult.
Their value for money is limited a little if you have all those other tool - but when I'm working they're they keep-in-your-pocket tool - these, a knife and drill driver to hand saves you having to keep rummaging in your kit for stuff
when it comes to any adjustable tool quality is key. You really do get what you pay for.
something like this:
is much better than the cheap silver ones you get with short rattly jaws.
I've got the Barco above, excellent piece of kit.
when it comes to any adjustable tool quality is key. You really do get what you pay for.
Its true - but the grips the OP linked to are a better way of doing the job and AJ does (in most instances) rather than a better manufactured tool.
Not comparing them to the OP ones. But I have no doubt they are better than some £2 silverline equivalent which is my point with the adjustable above.
Same with molegrips. Got some originals but one day I left them in Bristol and needed them at the house here so picked up a cheap set of Rolsons - utterly pish compared to the proper ones.
I have a set of them. Brilliant when you muck around with old bikes with odd nut sizes and don't have the right spanner.
Unlike most adjustables they won't round your nuts and will grip them real tight...
Which is fine if you work in one area,and can have a full set of spanners and socket set by your side. Once working out in a huge plant, an adjustable is your go to tool.
I've got by for the past 20 odd years without them over the length and breadth of the UK.
Tell a lie, I have one emergency pair of 18" Bahcos (lovingly referred to as 'Big Dave') that I'm on occasion forced into using sorting out the mess that other adjustable regulars have left.
Having no adjustables is just an excuse to buy more spanners. Every man needs more spanners.
I have a set of Rothenburger pipe grips from a previous life. One of the most useful tools I have ever owned.
Having no adjustables is just an excuse to buy more spanners. Every man needs more spanners.
Amen
I have a set of Rothenburger pipe grips from a previous life. One of the most useful tools I have ever owned.
Yea. If you're a plumber or pipe fitter. Anything else they'll chew to pieces. Not even in the same tool category as the ones the OP is talking about.
These Knipex plier spanners are really good.
None of the slippage that you get even on really good adjustables, as you are putting force on the jaws as you squeeze the handles. The parallel path of the jaws is excellent unlike normal pliers. They really are the best of both worlds.
I own some top quality sockets and spanners (adjustable, open ended and ratchet), but these are still my go-to tool when I'm tinkering on the bike or need something to stick in the back pocket whilst working.
If you haven't tried them you don't know what you're missing!
As someone posted above - the best/cheapest place for them is generally Amazon.de
You need 2 sets of these really. One to hold things such as hole saws, core drills, SWA glands etc and the other to turn the thing your trying to tighten or loosen.