Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_April_2021 - 59

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION:

KNIPEX
Cobra XS Water
Pump Pliers

The reviewer appreciates the KNIPEX Cobra XS
Water Pump Pliers' handy size and simple,
reliable functionality.

The KNIPEX Cobra XS Water Pump Pliers,
No. 87 00 100, feature a compact design that
is just under 4 " in length. The Cobra XS features self-locking abilities on pipes and nuts for
reduced hand-force and no slipping, as well as
jaw geometry, hardened teeth, a pinch guard,
and a one-handed adjustment for fitting various workpiece sizes quickly and easily. Other
features of the Cobra XS include a secure gripping capacity up to 1 " , a compact, slim-head
design for reaching in tight areas, traditional
texturized handles for improved grip, and 11
adjustment positions.

by Brittany Vincent, Managing Editor

Circle 83 on card, or enter at " e-inquiry "
on VehicleServicePros.com

THE REVIEW:

hen it comes to servicing water pumps,
the right tool makes
all the difference. But sometimes, finding the right size can
be difficult, as you may need a
smaller tool than what you currently have in your inventory.
That's where the KNIPEX Water
Pump Pliers Series comes into
play - particularly, the KNIPEX
Cobra XS Water Pump Pliers,
No. 87 00 100.
Tool reviewer Randy Kaiser, diagnostic
technician at Rost Motor, Inc. in Manson,
Iowa, appreciates the KNIPEX Cobra
XS Water Pump Pliers' versatility and
" perfect size. "
" The pliers are so handy, " says Kaiser.
" They saved me numerous trips to the
toolbox to get a wrench or a different pair
of pliers. "
Kaiser ensures he has the tool in his
pocket at all times, which he found makes
them even more convenient.
" Think of your typical water pump pliers (and KNIPEX makes a great one), and
then shrink it down to pocket size with

the same great quality and
features, " Kaiser says. " That makes for
one very useful tool to have. "
The technician states the pliers were
well-packaged upon arrival, arranged
in an " impressive " presentation box
that would be " suitable for gift-giving. "
They came paired with a demonstration
device to show " how adept [the pliers]
were at gripping nuts and bolts as well as
round objects. "
Everything came safe and secure in
foam padding, with a manual included for
good measure. Kaiser found no need for
the manual, but thought it was simple and
easy to understand after checking it out.
" I looked through the pamphlet, but at
this point, I don't really need an instruction manual for water pump pliers, "
Kaiser jokes.
In addition to the pliers' size, Kaiser
appreciates their comfortable handle as
well as the tool's metal components, noting that it didn't bend or deform when
used. The pliers' jaws have the " typical
KNIPEX design, " he says, for better grip
on round objects and nuts.
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APRIL 2021

" The adjustable portion of the pliers
seems to fit very well, and appears to be
very strong, " Kaiser reports. " Being very
small and slim made it easy to use the pliers in tighter places than would have been
possible with larger water pump pliers. "
Kaiser put the pliers to use across a variety of different jobs, including removing
nuts and bolts across different systems. He
found that it worked great on the smallest of nuts up to the pliers' maximum
opening size.
" I also used them on some bolts that
the head was partially rusted off of, and it
gripped those and removed them as well. "
The technician did note that the pliers have a few limitations because of their
size, but that's also the same reason they're
so handy. It's a " tradeoff, " he says, but a
worthwhile one when weighing benefits,
and " there's probably a larger pair of water
pump pliers in your toolbox already. "
Overall, Kaiser felt the KNIPEX Cobra
XS Water Pump Pliers hit a home run
when it comes to durability, sturdiness,
and usefulness.
PROFESSIONAL TOOL & EQUIPMENT NEWS

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Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_April_2021

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