Tools - Pliers Wrench, Chrome (8603250), 10-Inch

My biggest disappointment about these, is that i didn’t either come up with the idea for them myself a long time ago. My next greatest disappointment is that I only discovered these a few months ago. These pliers have changed the way i work. Mated with the straight model, I literally have witnessed my crescent, end, and socket wrenches gather dust. Now i also will be the first to admit that I am not a mechanic, and don’t use wrenches every day, but at the same time have a complete set of tools. The other benefit is instead of hauling pounds of wrenches around, i can typically just carry these. Likewise, all but the best crescent wrenches have travel/play in them. It is frustrating when a common big box brand slides off because because there are a few millimeters of play in them. So if crescents are ineffective that forces you to carry metric and English sizes...all of this is inordinately frustrating. The knipex tools adjust and stay where you want them. what’s more since they are pliers your grip can close down to make contact if guessed too big. These offset pliers are truly a freak of nature since you can reach nuts/bolts squarely without being in line with them. I have a growing number of knipex tools, and i can safely say that none have disappointed. I wish they were less money, but i have to say buying huge lots of average tools is gets old. I am one of those people who has bought several 200, 300, and even 400 piece tools sets over the last 20 to 30 years. As a result my tool bag would be called a mutt because i have so many breads🙂. Over that same period i have strategically added more and more high end tools - and i find that i go to them - the tool kits are great for making sure you have all the possible sizes you need, but the great tools are the ones i reach for first.

Why would someone pay 2 to 3 times what they could get a comparable 'cheapo' adjustable wrench? Because it is worth it. I already had the 10 inch, and found the 12 inch is just as high of quality, with a little longer handles for more leverage, and appears to be a little stouter all around. For those who have never used a wrench like this, I'll give a quick rundown. You adjust the opening by pressing a spring loaded button, and sliding the movable jaw to a wider or narrower opening, as needed. Once set, it does not move, until you re-set it, unlike some adjustable wrenches, that will wiggle more open or shut. There is a little lever on the movable handle, that engages the movable jaw, so that the tighter you squeeze the handles together, the tighter the grip on the bolt. I have yet to have them slip, even on rusted or partly rounded bolts, in fact I believe one would be more likely to twist off a smaller bolt, than have the jaws slip, they hold that well. The jaws are as close to absolutely parallel as I have ever seen, so much so that I can grip half a penny with the 12 inch pair, the other half with my 10 inch, and with a twist of the wrist, the penny is cleanly sheared in two. The biggest bolt size I have used it on so far, is 1 1/2 inch, and they open just a little wider than that. One other nice feature, is that about 95% of the time, you can size it, so that it grips the bolt tightly, but when you open the handles up, the jaws open enough to allow them to rotate around the head. This makes for fast turning of bolts, as with a little practice, you just squeeze, turn, release, allow the jaws to rotate around the head as far as you can, and when you squeeze again, they grab the next flat. One other very, very handy use for these, would be in assembling roller chains. I do maintenance on a farm, and used to have difficulty assembling the master links on large roller chains. With their parallel jaws, and cam action to squeeze the jaws together, they make the job much, much simpler. I am thinking of getting a small pair, for doing the o-ring style chains, like on motorcycles, they help that much. About the only negative to them, other than price, is that they are directional, in that pulling them one way, they will almost never slip, but pulling the other way, they are not so secure. This can be a problem in a situation where there is not enough room to flip the tool over. A small quibble, for such a good tool. If you can justify the price, you will not be disappointed.

Super helpful, work perfectly. Easy to use. Durable and reliable

Excellent quality

These pliers are really nice, but I returned them because I couldn't justify the cost for such a small tool. But if you need something like this, then these are the ones to get.

I've been relying on the Knipex Pliers Wrench (86 03 180) for almost two years now, and it's become an indispensable tool in my toolbox. Here's what makes it a standout performer: Versatility Personified: Replaces Multiple Wrenches: This pliers wrench eliminates the need for a whole set of wrenches. It adjusts smoothly to fit various nut and bolt sizes, saving you time and effort searching for the right tool. Gently Does It: Unlike traditional wrenches, the pliers wrench grips surfaces securely without damaging them. This makes it ideal for working with delicate fittings like cable glands, where marring the surface is a concern. Efficiency at Work: One-Handed Wonder: The easy one-handed adjustment allows you to quickly change sizes without fumbling for multiple wrenches. This is a huge time-saver, especially when working in tight spaces. Stays Put: The secure locking mechanism ensures the adjusted size stays fixed, preventing accidental slipping and ensuring a proper fit every time. Metric and Imperial: No more guessing! The wrench displays both metric and imperial measurements, allowing you to tackle any job with confidence. Additional Strengths: Built to Last: The forged steel construction feels incredibly sturdy, and the quality materials ensure long-lasting performance. Comfortable Grip: The handles are designed for comfort, even during extended use.

I bought these about 8 months ago, and they’ve been right with me every single work day in my shirt pocket and many regular days. I work facility maintenance at a weld plant (mostly HVAC, electrical, controls, etc.). With these, my trusty extended reach Klein 6 in 1, and my Cobra ES pliers, there’s very little that can’t be disassembled or adjusted with ease. Anyway, they are perfect for maintenance. I use them to turn things, crush things, hold things, bend things, you get the idea.. The flat parallel jaws are perfect for not completely destroying what you’re working on. The fit and finish are exceptional. The smoothness of operation is exemplary (especially smooth after a few months of regular use and oiling), I often find myself playing with the pliers like a fidget toy. I’ve even used them as a hammer in a pinch a few times and it didn’t hurt them, they’re extremely tough. The button adjustment is quickly and easily done one handed, just sit the lower jaw in place, hit the button, and let gravity situate the top jaw. The plier action makes them like a faster wrench as well, loosening the grip is usually enough to come back and get another grip on the nut or whatever you’re turning so you can go without slowing down much if at all. I find the 180mm to be a perfect balance of size and power. The 250mm are a little heftier than I’d like for EDC, and it’s pretty rare in my work that they provide much advantage, but they definitely have their place as well- the team works exceptionally well for taking apart fluid lines and plenty of other automotive tasks. I rarely even bother looking for my standard wrenches anymore. 10/10 I’d replace these if lost without question.

This is a five-star product that is to small for my paw. My fault for having large paws. I wouldn't even call them large. But, I don't have quite the dexterity to manuever these guys. The 6" are handy for me. I kinda get a palm-grip....if you need little perfect!