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From a 100 mm XS to a 400 mm XL, the Pliers Wrench range is built to replace a set of spanners with a single, self-adjusting tool.
Most installers carry a fair few spanners, enough to cover a decent spread of metric and imperial sizes for the fittings they come across. The KNIPEX Pliers Wrench range is designed to cut that down. Rather than reaching for a full set of open-end wrenches, the pliers wrench adjusts to the workpiece at the push of a button and grips it with smooth jaws that won’t cause any damage or leave any marks, ideal for chrome or brass fittings.
What sets it apart from an open-ended or adjustable spanner is the handle itself. A built-in cam mechanism keeps the jaws moving in a perfectly parallel motion and a push button lets the tool slide freely up and down its full range of adjustment. Where a spanner can move on a workpiece when under pressure, enough to slip off a nut or bolt, the parallel jaws of the Pliers Wrench find their perfect fit the moment pressure is applied. So the harder you squeeze, the harder it grips.
The way the handle works pays off most in enclosed spaces such as a panel or enclosure box. Unlike a traditional spanner that has to be removed and repositioned once it hits the limit of movement, simply releasing the Pliers Wrench handle releases the jaw too, so you can turn the nut, release, slip round to the next face and reapply pressure for a perfect fit, all without taking the tool off the workpiece.
Finish and handles
The range is available in two main finishes and the choice comes down to where and how the tool is used. Atramentised pliers have a dark phosphate coating that cuts glare on bright or reflective workpieces and gives a good grip. Chrome-plated versions trade the matt look for stronger corrosion resistance, making them the better option for anyone working in damp conditions or storing tools in a van all year round.
This tool comes in a choice of handles too. The 86 01 180 for example, keeps things simple with a non-slip plastic coating and grips up to 40 mm, a classic choice for plumbing and installation work. The 86 05 150 steps up to comfort handles, adding cushioning for repeated use and KNIPEXtend interfaces for ColourCode Clips or tethers.
For live or potentially live work, the 86 06 250 brings the same pliers-and-wrench principle to a 1000 V VDE-insulated tool, with 19 adjustment positions and a jaw capacity of up to two inches, built for installers who need the versatility of a pliers wrench without stepping outside insulated tool requirements on site.
From XS to XL
At one end of the family sits the Pliers Wrench XS. At just 100 mm long, it still grips continuously up to 21 mm through 10 adjustment positions. Its slim head and one-handed fine adjustment make it useful in confined spaces a full-size tool simply won’t fit into.
At the other end is the 86 03 400 XL, with opening widths of up to a huge 85 mm, replacing the large, expensive open-end wrenches needed for big union and pipe joints.
Whether it’s a compact version in a top pocket, the insulated tool for live work, the XS for the jobs nothing else can reach or the XL for the biggest joints on site, the Pliers Wrench family is built around one idea: fewer tools, less weight and a grip that gets better the harder you work.
To view the full KNIPEX Pliers Wrench range, visit https://www.knipex.com/en-uk/products/pipe-wrenches-and-water-pump-pliers/pliers-wrenches-pliers-and-a-wrench-in-a-single-tool?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=installer&utm_campaign=sponsored_story&utm_term=pliers_wrench&utm_content=sept
