Knipex consistently ranks among the most respected hand tool brands in the trades — but the company's massive catalog can make it tough to know which tools are genuinely worth the premium price tag. In a recent YouTube video, the creator behind American Electrician walks through the nine Knipex tools he won't buy from any other brand, drawing on what he says is more than $2,000 in personal spending across the lineup.
Below is our breakdown of each tool he features, with notes on the use cases, design details, and version warnings he calls out — plus product links so you can take a closer look at the specs yourself.
1. The Knipex Dismantling Tool
The video opens with what the creator describes as one of the least expensive but most effective tools in the Knipex catalog. The dismantling tool houses a small, adjustable blade inside the head, with a black dial on top that controls how far the blade protrudes — allowing users to match the cut depth to the thickness of the cable jacket.
American Electrician points to SO cord stripping as the application that first sold him on the tool. He explains that work which would normally require careful manipulation of a utility knife becomes a quick, repeatable operation with the dismantling tool: set the depth, score the jacket, peel it off.
He cites two main reasons it earns a spot in his bag:
Speed. He recounts racing a more experienced journeyman who was using a competing Greenlee version and winning, attributing the edge to the Knipex tool's faster setup.
Safety. The contained blade reduces the risk of slicing a hand — a meaningful upgrade over freehand utility knife work.
At a typical price of $30 to $40, the dismantling tool is one of the more affordable picks on the list. He notes that Knipex makes a larger version as well but recommends sticking with the smaller one for most use cases.
2. CoBolt Cutters
For cutting tasks that would damage standard diagonal cutters — hardened nails, screws, aircraft cable, and similar materials — American Electrician recommends the CoBolt line. He describes them as the cutters to reach for when you don't want to ruin your dikes.
In the video, he explains that he originally used the 8-inch comfort grip version for years before upgrading to the 10-inch CoBolt XL. While the jaw capacity isn't dramatically different between the two, he notes that the additional leverage on the larger model makes a meaningful difference on harder materials, and the longer handles allow for two-handed operation.
To demonstrate the cutting capacity, he runs the CoBolt XL through a quarter-inch bolt on camera. According to the video, the tool also handles aircraft cable, nails, screws, and hardened wire without issue.
An important caveat from the video: Knipex sells a flush-cut, angled CoBolt that looks similar to the heavy-duty model but is designed for clean trimming rather than aggressive cutting. American Electrician says he bought the flush-cut version by mistake and was disappointed with its performance on hard materials. Buyers should make sure they're getting the standard CoBolt rather than the flush-cut variant if heavy cutting is the goal.
For comparison, he mentions trying a Gedore version that broke and a $12 Harbor Freight knockoff that wouldn't cut at all — concluding that Knipex is the only brand he trusts in this category.
3.Electricians Shears
American Electrician calls these the best electrician's shears he's tested, having tried multiple competing brands including Klein and several Amazon-recommended options.
The video notes that Knipex offers two variants: a standard pair and a similar-looking pair with a wire crimper built into the back. After owning both, he recommends the standard model, saying the crimper feature isn't useful enough to justify choosing it over the cleaner standard design.
According to the video, the standout features are:
- Cutting power. He demonstrates the shears cutting through 14/2 NM cable on camera. While he's clear that they aren't designed for that use and shouldn't be used for it routinely, the fact that they can speaks to the quality of the cutting edge.
- The shear loop. A notch on the inside of the blades works well for low-voltage stripping.
- Ergonomics. The handles are larger than typical electrician's scissors, which he says reduces hand fatigue over a full day of use.
- Included sheath. A leather case with a swiveling belt clip ships with the shears, useful for protecting tool bags from punctures and for clipping the shears to a belt for solo low-voltage work.
He concludes that he's actively tried to find a better pair and hasn't been able to.
4. Plastic Pliers (Fully Insulated)
This pick generated some pushback when American Electrician posted about it on TikTok, but he stands by it. The pliers are fiberglass-reinforced with a soft rubber yellow handle and hard plastic red jaws — no exposed metal anywhere on the tool.
He's clear about what these are and aren't. They aren't an everyday plier and they don't cut. The video frames them as a specialty backup tool for situations where putting a metal tool into an unfamiliar, possibly energized enclosure could create problems — for example, working a service call at night in a weathered exterior junction box where an accidental short would be both hazardous and embarrassing in front of a customer.
While a standard VDE-insulated pair offers shock protection, the all-plastic construction goes a step further by eliminating the possibility of bonding or arcing through the tool itself. American Electrician describes them as inexpensive, lightweight, and small enough to live at the bottom of a bag for the rare occasion they're needed.
5. StepCut XL Cable Shear
The StepCut XL is what American Electrician currently carries as his daily cable shear, having owned multiple pairs from Knipex, Klein, and Wiha. The video walks through three design features that set the model apart:
Single-beak design. Unlike typical cable cutters that use two opposing curved jaws meeting in the middle, the StepCut XL uses one curved beak paired with a flat opposing face. According to the video, this means the jaws don't have to open as wide to accept thick cable — reducing travel distance and hand fatigue when making repeated cuts.
Stepped cutting edge. The blade includes a deliberate notch (the "step") designed to grab and hold cable as the jaws close, preventing the cable from skating forward during the cut. He acknowledges thinking this feature was gimmicky on the smaller version before testing it and concluding it genuinely improves the bite.
Secondary nibbling section. A smaller cutting area near the pivot allows users to nibble at the outer strands of cables that won't fit in the main jaw. By working around the cable's perimeter, oversized conductors can still be brought down to a size the main jaws can finish.
The model is available in 9-inch with comfort grip, dipped, and VDE insulated handle options. American Electrician describes the StepCut XL as the best cutting cable shear he's used.
6. TwinGrip Slip Joint Pliers
American Electrician describes the TwinGrip as a modern reimagining of the traditional slip joint plier. Like the Cobras, the TwinGrip uses a push-button adjustment system instead of the conventional slot-and-pin design, with multiple incremental positions for fine sizing.
The standout feature he highlights is the vertical gripping pocket on the front of the head — a toothed hole running through the jaws designed for grabbing round objects like broken bolt heads, stripped screws, or damaged wire ends. According to the video, this allows users to twist out fasteners that would slip in a standard linesman's jaw.
The horizontal jaws function like a conventional slip joint plier, and because the head sits straight rather than angled (as on the Cobras), the TwinGrip can fit into thinner spaces where the angled Cobra head won't reach.
The TwinGrip is available in 6-inch, 8-inch, and 10-inch sizes. American Electrician notes the 8-inch as his daily-carry option, the 6-inch as a strong choice for EDC pouches, and the 10-inch for users who specifically need the additional reach. He recommends the newer comfort grip handle profile if buyers have the option.
7. Installation Pliers
American Electrician describes the Installation Pliers as a hybrid tool that combines four functions in one design: needle-nose work, shear-style cutting, wire stripping, and reaming. Notably, he mentions that they've replaced his traditional needle nose entirely.
The video walks through the design choices that make them effective at multiple jobs:
- Shear-cut blades rather than the pinch-cut design typical of needle nose. He explains this scissor-style action handles soft metals like copper conductors and MC sheath more cleanly than a standard pinching cut.
- Smooth jaw tips with no teeth at the very end. According to the video, this allows users to grab and manipulate insulated wire without scarring the insulation — a common drawback of toothed needle nose.
- 12 and 14 AWG solid stripping holes built into the jaws, which he says are particularly handy when running MC: the same tool nips the armor and strips the conductor.
The VDE insulated handles get specific praise in the video. American Electrician describes them as among the most comfortable in the entire Knipex lineup, with a thicker profile and prominent palm bumps that fill the hand well — though he acknowledges they don't pocket as easily as slimmer pliers.
The "Big Three" - Diagonal Cutters, Linemans's, and Strippers
American Electrician treats these as a group rather than detailing each individually, since most viewers are already familiar with how they function. His takeaway: if a buyer is choosing one brand for the basic three pliers, Knipex is the way to go.
He notes that the diagonal cutters and lineman's pliers are close enough to Klein that reasonable opinions vary, but says the strippers are simply the best on the market in his experience.
8. Cobra Water Pump Pliers
The Cobras are presented in the video as the gold standard for water pump pliers. American Electrician suggests buyers plan on owning at least two — one to hold and one to turn — and notes that the 10-inch is the size he reaches for most often, though Knipex offers everything from a 7-1/4" up through a 22" XXL version.
Four design features get called out in the breakdown:
Directional teeth. The jaw teeth are angled to bite hardest in the closing direction, which according to the video produces a more aggressive grip than the symmetrical teeth on traditional Channellock-style pliers.
Push-button adjustment. Pressing the button on the head releases the jaw for free movement; releasing the button locks it in. He describes the adjustment as fine-grained, with multiple incremental positions packed into the head, making it easier to dial in an exact fit.
Slim profile. The Cobras' head and jaws are noticeably thinner than equivalent tongue-and-groove pliers, which lets them fit into tighter spaces and reduces overall tool weight in the bag.
Textured handles. American Electrician singles out the red-and-yellow handle option as a personal favorite. Unlike a typical dipped handle, the surface has aggressive texture across the entire grip area, giving it a secure feel with or without gloves.
His overall conclusion: Cobras grab better, weigh less, and adjust faster than traditional water pump pliers, with little reason to use anything else.
9. The Pliers Wrench
American Electrician saves what he calls the most genuinely revolutionary tool in the Knipex catalog for last. The Pliers Wrench can be thought of as an adjustable crescent wrench with significant upgrades to the underlying design.
The 7-1/4" is identified as his preferred size, and as with the Cobras, he recommends owning two so users can hold and turn simultaneously.
The video breaks down four key features:
Smooth, parallel jaws. The jaws are flat and machined to remain parallel as they close, with no teeth. This prevents marring on chrome, painted hardware, polished fittings, and other finished surfaces — a real concern for anyone installing seal-tights or visible fittings.
Push-button adjustment. The same fast adjustment system used on the Cobras.
Mechanical advantage. According to the video, the lever geometry produces roughly a 10x force multiplier between the user's hand and the workpiece. Ten pounds of grip translates to approximately 100 pounds of clamping force on the fastener — enough to crush thin sheet metal flat or break loose connections that would round off under an adjustable wrench.
Ratcheting in tight spaces. When working in corners where a wrench can't fully rotate, users can relax their grip to open the jaws slightly, pivot back, and re-clamp — effectively ratcheting around a fastener without lifting the tool.
He notes that Klein and Milwaukee both produce their own versions of the Pliers Wrench, with Klein's option positioned as a budget alternative, but says Knipex's build quality remains a clear step above.
One purchasing note from the video: American Electrician advises against the VDE insulated handle version unless 1000V insulation is specifically required. He bought the 10-inch in VDE and regrets it, citing the thicker handle as clunkier than the comfort grip or standard multi-component options. For most buyers, the slimmer handle variants are the recommended choice.
Final Thoughts
Knipex tools come at a premium, but American Electrician's video makes a detailed case for where that premium is most clearly earned. The nine tools featured in the breakdown cover a wide range of working electrician needs — from everyday cutting and gripping to specialty applications like all-plastic insulated work and parallel-jaw fastener turning.
For tradespeople building out a Knipex collection, or anyone considering an upgrade from existing standbys, the products featured in the video offer a useful starting framework. Each one is available at Acme Tools through the links in the sections above.
