I came across new limited edition Klein Tools D2000 series lineman pliers at Lowe’s and had to check them out.
They’re certainly different from the Klein pliers I’ve used or seen before.
Like other Klein D2000-9NE lineman pliers, these have heavy duty cutting blades, dipped handles, and a wide gripping zone.
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Unlike the regular pliers, these have a new look.
The pliers’ have a dark finish and decorative design that emphasizes the tool’s USA manufacturing and celebrates Klein’s 166 year legacy.
But that’s not all – the handles sparkle with a shimmering glittery color.
Sparkly for sparkies?
This was unexpected, but who says electricians can’t have nice tools?
I fiddled around with the pliers, and while the design didn’t do much for me, the pivot seemed smooth.
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Klein linemans pliers with a smooth pivot? Mine are nothing like that. I could use a recently-produced Klein to compare against the new USA-made Milwaukee models.
I bought it, brought it home, and wow – the tool feels smooth and nicely broken in, about as good as Milwaukee’s new USA-made perfect-pivot lineman pliers, which are $40 for the dripped grip at Home Depot and $45 for the comfort grip version.
I own other Klein linemans pliers, and none feel as easy to open and close as this one.
There’s a less expensive model, D213-9NE. My understanding is that the D2000-9NE, limited edition or not, have upgraded cutting blades.
I was dazzled a bit by the design at first, but I’m glad – so far – that I took a risk on them.
I can’t tell if Klein changed anything up, or I picked up the one tool off the shelf with a flawless pivot.
But in contrast to this, there were Klein D213-series lineman crimping pliers with yellow dipped handles on the same shelf, and the cutting edges of the two I picked up looked jagged and not at all befitting of their price tag.
Klein’s pliers will need to be perfect if they have any hope of pushing back against Milwaukee Tool’s advancements in the electrical and USA-made hand tool markets.
The new pliers look to be available exclusively at Lowe’s, both in-store and online.
Price: $39.98
fred
I thought it was just me that found Klein Pliers to be “stiff”. I don’t recall ever having a new Klein pliers that pivoted as smoothly as German brands like Knipex or NWS. Since they sell lots of pliers to electricians – I almost concluded that it might be a preference for that trade – and “stiff to break-in” pliers are certainly better than ones with slop or poorly aligned jaws.
frobo
I have the same problem with a pair of Klein long nose pliers. They’re so stiff I rarely use them, even after trying to work them repeatedly to get them to break in. They’re just stiff and probably always will be.
Dave
I always break mine in using cutting oil,then keeping working until when I old them with the hande down until it falls down by it self
Jim Felt
Totally agree. And in some cases after years of normal use still aren’t “broken in” as well as their German branded counterparts.
Scott Fulton
Every electrician uses wd40 and works the pliers till they fall open….
Makes one handed work much easier…
Nathan
I have a pair of knipex bent needle that are stiff and stayed stiff. I think it just happens on occasion
I agree with the other comment. I’d rather a bit stiff than sloppy. Especially when it comes to crimping or gripping operations.
Meanwhile neat gimmick pliers I’ve liked most of the Klein tools I’ve owned or used.
SWobig
I like the blacked out look over chrome. Hides dirt better, plus for me; they just look better. I’ve seen some Craftsman wrench sets like this and almost bought them. The smooth pivot Milwaukee, USA made pliers I just bought are very nice. I can recommend them and don’t imagine there will be any long term sloppyness…
Jared
A wee bit silly? Sure, but it seems fun to me. I don’t mind the look.
IronWood
Not crazy about the engraving, but man I want sparkles on my grips now! Klein are by far my favorite lineman pliers.
Jeremiah D
Id like a pair with sparkle grips too. Id prefer a brighter color in the next pair of linesmans I buy though.
Patrick T
Agree on both counts. You’d think more companies would follow the lead of the tool trucks and offer different colored grips. Sparkles would be pretty awesome!
MM
I’d like to see more of that too. It’s nice to be able to choose high-vis colors if you want, or to color code tools, or just to pick what color you happen to like. More companies should offer color options like this. One that I can think of is Dramm garden tools.
3J
I agree with you, HD2000 by Klein are the best. Why would you buy second rate had tools?
Wayne R.
For new pliers or old, any that are stuck/stiff will resolve with valve grinding compound. The trick is to flush it out before it’s as loose as you want it to get, otherwise it’ll end up too loose.
I get it that it seems sketchy, and I agree that new pliers should be slick & smooth, but…this does work, and it’s foolproof with the caveat above. Try it out on something you don’t care too much about to get the feel for it. Really only takes a few minutes.
frobo
I’ve thought about that, thanks for the tip. Maybe I’ll give it a try.
Jim Felt
Wayne R.
Great suggestion. What do you consider the most foolproof “flush” technique? WD40 via the extension nozzle? Or ??
Thanks!
Wayne R.
I’ve used both WD40 and, believe it or not, the strong spray of a water nozzle. (I wasn’t worried about rust because I try oil first, and here in Denver it’s dry enough that I can expect the water to evaporate anyway, and add more oil after I’m done.) I’ve been expecting to try the “50/50” spray that’s half ATF and half acetone, but haven’t yet. I bet it’ll work even better.
This process has worked perfectly for even rusted solid pliers. Work them with oil to get a little movement, keep working for more, then get a dab of valve compound in there and pretty soon it’s like they’re better than factory new.
Back to the flea market this weekend for more “project” pliers…
StiffSam
Yes, I had kliens that were stiff for months, thought I just had to keep using them to break in. But nothing. Sprayed some penetration oil in the grooves, worked them for around a minute then let it sit in there over night. The next morning I used my Klein’s they felt absolutely perfect.
Pete M
Using this trick for years on all of my pliers that didn’t open/close to my liking. Works wonders. As mentioned remove the grinding compound when the pliers are a little stiffer to what you wanted it to be.
Eric
Very interesting, I did happen to come across these (there’s also a needle nose version) on I think Amazon like 2-3 weeks ago and they were like $80 a piece and the regular versions were around $40 each, odd the price difference is so much
Steve Giannascoli
I have owned both Milwaukee and Klein cutting tools. And I find Klein to be superior to Milwaukee in both quality and cutting. As far as stiffness I have many Klein pliers and they all fall right open. Not sure what the stiffness complaint is about
Chris
Old Milwaukee or the new Milwaukee tools?
Seth
I prefer Knipex, I got the comfort grip lineman’s for 40$ on the internet and they spank Klein and Milwaukee’s offerings at the same price… I had Klein stuff till I got a knipex starter kit for Christmas, then I sprung for the combo wire strippers and those are the best thing ever! Now some time later my whole kit is knipex and I love all my hand tools. Klein does make good screwdrivers though.
JMDavis
I still have a pair of Klein lineman pliers in my bag that I got used around twenty years ago. Six years ago I tried a couple of Milwaukee electrician’s tools and wasn’t impressed. (I snapped a flathead bit in a 10-in-1 with little enough torque that I was shocked it had happened, and the needle nose pliers felt flimsy.)
My solution for tight Klein pliers has always been a few drops from a zoom spout oiler. It loosens the joint without damage.
Jake
If you have stiff Klein’s dip them in engine oil.
Work them open and closed for a few minutes.
If they aren’t bent they almost always ways break loose perfectly smooth.
Repeat yearly.
Scott ALKB
It’s called spangled.
M.V.
I’ve never loved any of the Milwaukee hand tools. I admit some of the Klein pliers can be a little stiff. I’ve also had some that I thought were extremely smooth. I agree with one of the comments from earlier, just put some wd40 on it if it’s not smooth enough for you.
Dave
Back in my youth we used our 9 inch kline for twisting, and cutting and a hammer to nail up boxes
Jason
I went to Lowes yesterday to get a pair of these and I had to look at about 10 different sets of pliers before I found one that the jaws closed tight on. Most had about a 1/32 to 1/16 inch gap when closed.
Stuart
That’s normal for lineman pliers; there’s usually a gap to allow the wire cutting blades to meet perfectly flush.