CMU School of Drama


Tuesday, October 28, 2025

These Harbor Freight Parrot Nose Pliers Are A Knipex Alternative — What To Know Before You Buy

www.slashgear.com: For mechanics, DIYers, and anybody else looking for a cheaper alternative to Knipex's famed Raptor Pliers, Harbor Freight's ICON brand has 10-inch Multi Slip-Joint Parrot Nose Pliers that might be worth a shot. Priced at $21.99 and available in-store only, the ICON model gives you many of the same core features as the Knipex 10-inch Raptor Pliers – but at a pretty nice discount.

1 comment:

Alex Reinard said...

I've never used parrot nose pliers before, and they seem really interesting. I will say that I don't really know the difference between parrot nose pliers and water pump pliers (AKA channellocks). After researching it, it seems like they do the same thing: they both turn rounded things, like pipe, but they can also turn hex-shaped hardware. I know that Harbor Freight tools aren't always as bad as people say, although I do think it depends on what type of tool you're buying. I'd be interested to see how these pliers hold up long-term, especially because there are more moving parts on this type of plier than other hand tools. It does seem to me like this type of plier is a little bit of a gimmick; it seems like they’re marketed as a tool that will turn any type of fastener or object. I’m probably wrong, though, and I’d still like to try them out.