They say that you never forget your first.
You never forget your first car or your first salary payment. In the world of tools it shouldn’t be a surprise if your first KNIPEX tool springs to mind.
My first experience of KNIPEX tools was actually during a boiler repair when I borrowed a set of 250mm Cobras from a colleague who was present but working elsewhere within the customer’s house, to remove a stuck flow turbine on a Baxi Combi boiler.
This brass component is screwed into a brass manifold and has a hexagonal spindle which should allow for removal. It’s particularly awkward to access and notoriously hard to remove. This one in particular was so stuck fast it seemed like it had welded itself shut or had been tightened by the world famous strong man Magnus Ver Magnusson himself. Having used several suggested methods and other tools to remove this part, I found myself running out of time and patience. Like many things in life, time is money and when it’s all going wrong you’ll pay anything to make the issue a thing of the past.
I was at my wits’ end. The Cobra grips were handed to me, almost as a last resort. The spindle was no longer hexagonal at the top, having been rounded off and ground by the other tools and previous attempts, it was do or die now and that part needed to be changed there and then. The handles felt slim and comfortable in my hand and the teeth sharp to the touch. If this didn’t budge it then nothing was going to.
I adjusted the opening to the correct size using the button and managed to position the grips effortlessly. I gripped and pushed with all my might, the boiler case twisting with the pure torque being applied brass crumbling away at the sheer might of the German steel. I’ll never forget the pure and utter joy of watching the part finally releasing from what would seem like Hell’s grip.
You know that stubborn nut that refuses to budge but eventually gives way to pure power. The part was free. Sharp shards of brass notwithstanding the rest of the removal and replacement were….. well uneventful. I reflected soon after that without that tool, our customers would have been without heating and hot water and a return visit would have been inevitable. This was a serious tool with serious capability and not to be scoffed at. I had had grips before but nothing like these. I had to have a set of my own. As you can imagine, it didn’t take me long to realise that there was more to KNIPEX than I had initially thought. These guys make great tools and mark my words when I say, there are only great things said when I speak to people about them.
What was your first experience with KNIPEX and was it as eye opening for you as it was for me?
About Grant Gundelfinger
I am a dedicated UK-based heating engineer with a passion for my work, always striving to deliver the best service possible. I had the honour of being named the HIOTY National Champion in 2021, a testament to my skills and commitment to excellence in my field. Beyond my professional achievements, I am also an advocate for ADHD awareness, working to support and educate others about this condition. Additionally, I proudly serve as a KNIPEX ambassador, promoting the exceptional quality and reliability of their tools, which have become an integral part of my daily work.
