Decent combi pliers for xmas pressie

[kjacko]

Hi all,
step-son is a newly qualified sparky and wants some decent combi pliers for xmas.
He's worse than a woman to buy for!
But after going through a few brand suggestions (C.K., Gedore amongst others) he'd be happy with Knipex.
So i'm thinking of buying these for him
Will these cut faceplate screws easily? His current pair(s) struggle. I know you can get the pliers with a hole in specifically for snipping these types of screws. I'm happy to buy him a spearate pair that does this.
Advice would be most appreciated thanks.

 

[Taylortwocities]

I suggest you get him a pair of these http://www.electricians-direct.co.uk/buy/431008-ck-tools-redline-vde-combicutter3-160mm_969.htm

They have wire bending feature and a special cuttent area for chopping off those pesky faceplate screws.

 

[kjacko]

Thanks,
they were the first things i looked at but when i mentioned C.K. to him he went "Noooo....anything but C.K. they are rubbish...." yadda yadda yadda. We argued a bit, but typical 21 year olds, think they know everything.
Still, there's no point me getting a brand that he clearly doesn't want.

 

[333rocky333]

Never tried combi ones and not sure they do one in the rangge, but I always use the red Knipex 1000volt range, they are big and chunky, though I would never cut box screws with them, no way, RS sell them and CEF used to.

CEF are now selling Klein tools they are supposed to be good, though not cheap
Personally I would let him choose, using them day in day out, you need something you like and will tend to stick with the same type throughout your career.

 

[333rocky333]

Never tried combi ones and not sure they do one in the rangge, but I always use the red Knipex 1000volt range, they are big and chunky, though I would never cut box screws with them, no way, RS sell them and CEF used to.

CEF are now selling Klein tools they are supposed to be good, though not cheap
Personally I would let him choose, using them day in day out, you need something you like and will tend to stick with the same type throughout your career.

No combi but I like this set and its a reasonable price
http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/plier...eproducts-_-FeaturedProductsContent-_-5001474

 

[ban-all-sheds]

step-son is a newly qualified sparky

Tell him congrats.

But after going through a few brand suggestions (C.K., Gedore amongst others) he'd be happy with Knipex.

They are a good make. Not yet outsourced to China, AFAIK.

Advice would be most appreciated thanks.

Find some way to mark them - dunno if anybody here can suggest anything permanent, (e.g. something to brand the handles?) or you might find you've bought them for someone else.

 

[Iggifer]

By combi pliers are we talking combo 'pliers' or cutters. I almost never use my combi pliers. For me my go to tools are

CK Cable Cutters
Knipex Needle Nose Pliers

A lot of people laugh at the CK cable cutters when they first see them, and then once they've used them, they take back their mockery. They're like a hot knife through butter.

I have a pair of CK Combi Cutters in my toolbag, but they're literally only in there because of the screw shear. They're blunt as anything, they're probably my oldest hand tool, but didn't get much use before they were replaced.

CK screwdrivers and normal pliers I wouldn't touch with a bargepole, but those cable cutters are the dogs danglies (I think other brands make very similar styled ones too if he's that against CK)

 

[PBC_1966]

CEF are now selling Klein tools they are supposed to be good, though not cheap

You really can't go wrong with Klein. I have a whole variety of Klein pliers, cutters, screwdrivers, etc. and they're excellent quality, and well worth the money. Their hand tools are also still all made right here in the U.S.A., as they have been for the last 150 years.

I have no idea what CEF might charge after import and their markup, but these mail-order places give a good idea of the sort of prices here:

http://www.internationaltool.com/brand/klein-tools

http://www.mytoolstore.com/klein/klnindex.html

 

[Echo the husky]

CK Cable Cutters
A lot of people laugh at the CK cable cutters when they first see them, and then once they've used them, they take back their mockery. They're like a hot knife through butter.

I use mine extensively!
Plus some old Stanley diagonal cutters which are no longer made in the large size I like. These have been cutting faceplate screws for the last 6 years!

I did try one of those CK combi pliers once but found the stripping holes a pain when trying to cut cables as thy didn't cut where the holes were and you had to carefully position the cable each time. (Just like using regular cutters after cutting through a live cable) The Knipex ones look much better designed. I've never found the need for such a tool though.

My all time favorites were my Elliot Lucas cutters, but I lost them years ago.

 

[ccam108]

I did try one of those CK combi pliers once but found the stripping holes a pain when trying to cut cables as thy didn't cut where the holes were and you had to carefully position the cable each time. (Just like using regular cutters after cutting through a live cable)

Worse - CK Combicutters that have cut through a live cable!

Nothing like having to cut every cable twice due to the line of holes in the cutters.

 

[Adam_151]

CK Cable Cutters
A lot of people laugh at the CK cable cutters when they first see them, and then once they've used them, they take back their mockery. They're like a hot knife through butter.

The only think they arn't good for is snipping off tye wraps (the bite is not at the front of the the jaw)

I use mine almost exclusively. They'll easily go through 25mm tails, yet you can also use them to strip 0.5mm cores on pendant drop flexes

 

[martinxxxxxx]

I love me combicutter 3

Specially on 2 nd fix

 

[Taylortwocities]

I agree, Martin. Everything you need in one tool (except for the screwdriver).

Its just a pity that the blades don't stay as sharp for as long as some others.

 

[eveares]

This may be of interest: https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Tools_Index/Pliars_1/index.html

Has anyone tried the CK Combicutter 3 MAX or the Draper Expert Ergo Plus

 

[Iggifer]

The combi cutter max are just 180mm versions of the 160 combi cutter.

And those draper things look god awful. For £26 I'm sure they're awesome quality