KNIPEX Story Forge

KNIPEX Cobra® and the dear Relatives: Variants of the High-Tech Water Pump Pliers

Written by KNIPEX EN | Jan 23, 2024 2:14:10 PM

The KNIPEX Cobra® water pump pliers have long been regarded as the benchmark for high-quality tools for a wide range of applications in the field of hand tools. In addition to the large family of the "original" Cobra, you can also find several related variations of the KNIPEX classic in our range. Today we take a look at these variants and highlight their unique advantages and wide range of applications.

KNIPEX Cobra® ES - The extra-slim water pump pliers

The 87 51 250, also known as KNIPEX Cobra® ES, are water pump pliers with extra slim dimensions and serrated gripping surfaces. These pliers are particularly suitable for service and maintenance work, appliance repairs, the entire automotive sector and industrial applications - in other words, anywhere where things can get very tight. Their long, pointed jaws allow excellent access to the workpiece thanks to the slim design in the entire head and joint area.

The highlights of the Cobra® ES are the adjustment at the touch of a button directly on the workpiece, the fine adjustment for optimum adaptation to different workpiece sizes, and the firm grip even on flat parts thanks to the three-point support. A self-clamping function on pipes and nuts prevents slipping on the workpiece, enabling effort-saving work. The box joint ensures high stability and the anti-pinch protection prevents crushing injuries.

The Multiple Slip Joint Spanner or: The Raptor

The 87 41 250, our multiple slip joint spanner, also known as the Raptor (although many users repeatedly give the feedback that the pliers look more like a parrot), are equipped with smooth gripping surfaces and are ideal for metric and imperial nuts and screws with spanner widths from 10 to 32 mm (3/8" to 1 1/4"). These pliers are particularly useful in the range from 17 mm, as they are self-clamping and therefore prevent slipping on the workpiece.

It also impresses with its impressively reliable gripping of hexagon screw heads, which are not rounded with these pliers. In addition, the Raptor securely and firmly grips nuts and screws that have already been rounded, rusted and painted over and reliably loosens them.

The multiple slip joint spanner is perfect for working on vehicle brake systems and enables quick tightening and loosening of screw connections using the ratchet principle. As with the KNIPEX Cobra®, adjustment is made at the touch of a button directly on the workpiece, even with one hand. The box joint, the secure engagement of the hinge pin and the anti-pinch protection ensure optimum force transmission while at the same time preventing crushing injuries.

KNIPEX SmartGrip® - The water pump pliers with automatic adjustment

The 85 01 250, or the KNIPEX SmartGrip®, are water pump pliers with automatic adjustment and serrated gripping surfaces. These pliers offer optimum comfort for frequent gripping of different workpiece sizes.

The automatic adjustment can even be carried out using one-handed operation, which is suitable for both right-handed and left-handed users. This means: open the pliers, place them on the workpiece, close the pliers and you're done. The SmartGrip adjusts itself automatically to the workpiece size and therefore always guarantees an ideal work width.

The KNIPEX SmartGrip® is also characterised by its slim design in the head and joint area, flush joint pins and self-clamping properties on pipes and nuts. The specially hardened teeth offer a permanently secure grip quality and the anti-pinch protection prevents injuries. The locking lever enables space-saving transport with reliably closed handles.

KNIPEX Cobra®...matic - The modern high-performance water pump pliers

The 87 11 250, or the KNIPEX Cobra®...matic, combines all the features of the tried and tested KNIPEX Cobra® 87 01 250: 25-position fine adjustment for optimum adaptation to different workpiece sizes, self-clamping, large gripping width up to SW 46 mm / 2 inch tubes, high user comfort thanks to the hand-friendly handle position even at the largest gripping width, ideal for round and square workpieces.

In addition, automatic adjustment is carried out at the touch of a button directly on the workpiece thanks to the protected spring. The pliers close automatically when the push button is pressed (one-handed operation), which is particularly time-saving and efficient.

KNIPEX Cobra® QuickSet - The quick high-tech water pump pliers

The 87 21/22 250/300, or the KNIPEX Cobra® QuickSet, are high-tech water pump pliers with serrated gripping surfaces. These pliers allow you to work particularly quickly in tight and inaccessible areas. True to the motto "Open all the way, close, grip!", quick adjustment is achieved by simply pushing the pliers towards the workpiece, and the tried-and-tested locking of the hinge pin is combined with an additional sliding function.

The grip width of the pliers is fixed once it has been locked in place and can only be adjusted by pressing the button. The pinch protection is also provided here to prevent crushing injuries. The joint pin can be pressed out at the touch of a button to reactivate the sliding function.

Conclusion

The modified versions of the KNIPEX Cobra pliers offer a wide range of applications for tradesmen, mechanics and industrial workers. With clever and innovative features such as automatic adjustment (KNIPEX SmartGrip®, KNIPEX Cobra®...matic), sliding functions (KNIPEX Cobra® QuickSet) and special gripping surfaces (screw pliers/Raptor) or a particularly space-saving head (KNIPEX Cobra® ES), these pliers set standards in terms of efficiency, precision and reliability. Whether in the workshop, in service or in industry - the KNIPEX Cobra® and its relatives are reliable companions for demanding work.