Knipex 1396200 Pliers for Electrical Installation. Needle Nose, Stripper, Cutter, Crimper, And More!

The Knipex 1396200 Pliers for Electrical Installation are a Needle Nose, a Stripper, a Cutter, a Crimper, and have some additional features including 1000v rated handles, a strong, corrosion resistant chrome finish, and perhaps the coolest features, a spread-limiting lever that allows realistic use of all tool features except the sharp cutting knives.

These electrical-oriented pliers have moved into my favorite spot. A very well designed and executed tool.

On Amazon with Chrome Finish and VDE handles and limiter switch:

with Black finish, VDE handles, no limiter:

Black with Comfort Grip handles, no limiter:

Black with dipped handles and no limiter:

[HumanBeingOnPlanet]

Fantastic pliers these are. Have these for some years now and absolutely love them.

[toddthomas]

FYI, they also have a crimping feature. Thanks for sharing

[machine]

Hey Knipex! You need to sponsor this this channel. I've bought several of your tools due to his reviews. Well done and informative.

[spevakdesigns]

Those knipex pliers are a joy to use. I've been wiring up my new shop and done myself holding those, an M12 impact and a knife for 90% of the install.

[usarmyprepper]

I know content will probably slow but your video's are part of my morning routine. I appreciate the content.

[bearded_electrician]

I have a pair of 13 81 8 the dipped grips without a lock. I love them.
I could see why your insulated version would have the auto lock feature, you don't want to have them potentially spring back open if you just cut a live conductor.

With that being said, if I were to use them, that feature would drive me nuts.

[MORGANSMaintenance]

I have these pliers in the comfort grip and dipped handles but mine aren’t spring loaded with the lock. I didn’t realize they had these with that feature.

These are my “go to” pliers for electric work. My favorite from Knipex so far.

Thanks for all your content, I really enjoy it.

[rgoring]

As an industrial electrician i have multiple sets of these with and without the lock/spring, and different handles. My favorite by far is this set you have. I prefer the 1000v handles because they are so long i actually put the finger guard inbetween my index and middle fingers for better control when stripping/cutting/crimping.

[baronamru]

With that Knipex pliers and a screw driver you can handle 90% + of electrical installation tasks.

[ptstouring]

Excellent as always doc. I have the 13 88 8 sometimes shown as 13 88 8 (US) which are VDE, not chrome, no lock and I will explain about the 8 below. I also have the same set in dipped (not near them to check the number). I was kind of miffed because I love chrome pliers (in spite of them not being quite as sharp) and I like spring loaded pliers, but the ones you have (13 96 200) are not for AWG (American Wire Gauge — I know you know what AWG means doc but others read comments) but rather metric wire (and are labeled as such with metric I think they say 2mm and 1.2-1.5mm). I did not get the ones you have for that reason (I may now if they strip 12 and 14). For the AWG tools (like the forged wire strippers), Knipex labels them with 8 as the last number (rather than 200 which is for 200mm). So my 13 88 8 says 12 and 14 for the stripper holes and they fit those sizes perfectly (which us 99% of residential 120v wire in the US).

I think the lock snapping back to lock is a feature. The reason being is that way you don’t have to touch the lock if it may be live, but I don’t know.

One feature you did not mention on them is that the very tip of the pliers is smooth, not cross hatch, so you can use that for looping wires without damaging the wire. This has never been an issue for me using long nose pliers, but you know, German made so I am trying to think like a German.

[ABH]

I have the non insulated version and I love them so much!

[fuloplehel]

I have the same model but without the opening spring and locking mechanism. They are great pliers for electrical work.

[burnedupsparkytipsandrevie]

I have the black oxide vde ones and they are on my side daily. Mine don’t have that locking feature but you forgot 2 of their best functions, with enough practice they can strip everything from 18-4gauge wire and the built in ferrule crimper is great for control work

[chrisfyfe]

I own both, both are great ! The super strippers, have basically superseded my Lineman pliers . If I’m using Wago Levernuts, I schlep the pliers for Electrical installation ( either comfort grip, or VDE, depending on the job .

[chiphill]

Follow-up: These have become my favorite auxiliary tool for DC wiring. The needle nose are grippy and precise. The cutters will cut larger battery cable, I've had luck up to 2awg. I accompany these with a pair of automatic Knipex strippers so I only use these as strippers on problem wires that need a little extra insulation cutting. They grab bolts in a pinch and overall are just super handy.

[amnelruin]

The VDE pair you have are more popular in Europe where twisting wires is unnecessary because wagos are the norm. The 13 72 8 are better for eletricians in the US. I've been using them for about two years and love them. The fact that they don't open all the way is one of the main reasons I love them. They open just enough for twisting a bunch of #10 wires together. Meaning I don't have to put my pinky under the handles to open them after every twist giving me more control and allowing me to twist faster.

[MeuReview]

Hi Doc, Great Review! About the opening when these VDE pliers are Locked it's a feature from knipex, they work partially with some functions of grip and strip. But the "Auto lock" that you said seems a production problem to me, this does not happen here with me. Knipex did a small update on these pliers changing the lock button, what I understand is that this button is a little bit loose and closes automatically. In the old version the lock button is very stiff and does not close automatically. Cheers

[scotts]

I have a pair of Klein Romex strippers that lock like that. I actually called them to complain about it. I find it very annoying that it locks up after every use. I have since bought the Southwire Boxjaw for Romex. I realize this wasn't about Romex only but that lock thingie reminded me why I hate those Kleins.

[LWRC]

Two interesting pliers for sure. Considering folks who work in the trade, regardless of the type, want to minimize the number of tools they carry without sacrificing functionality, I would think the forged wire stripper would be the one to get vs the electrical installation pliers. It would appear the forged wire stripper can do everything the installation pliers can do but the installation pliers can't do everything the forged wire stripper can!!

[chiphill]

Thanks! Been waiting for this review!