Klein Tools

Klein Tools makes pliers, wire strippers, cutters, drivers and electrical testers for electrical and telecommunications work. You can build a kit around preparing wire, making connections, fastening devices and checking circuits. Start with the tools for the work you repeat.

Klein Tools is a family-owned American tool manufacturer. Mathias Klein founded the business in 1857 in Chicago. Its first tool was a pair of side-cutting pliers for a telegraph lineman, and the Klein family still owns and manages the company.

Hand tools for wire and fasteners

Klein makes pliers and cable cutters. Start with lineman’s pliers for gripping and working wire, then choose cutters for the material you’re cutting. Cable construction and cutter capacity decide the choice. Match the cutting tool’s rated capacity to the cable before putting force on the handles.

Klein’s screwdriver and nut-driver range covers the fastening side of the kit. Dedicated drivers suit repeated work; interchangeable bits help when several tip types need to fit in the pouch. Access comes first. The shaft and bit holder have to reach the screw inside the recess.

For nuts on projecting studs, Klein’s hollow-shaft magnetic power nut drivers provide clearance for long bolts, studs and threaded rod. They’re impact-rated. Match the driver to both the nut and the length of stud sticking through it.

Klein’s wire-bending screwdrivers use a metal stud to form loops in solid wire for outlet and switch connections. The cabinet-tip and Phillips versions detailed below handle 10, 12 and 14 AWG wire. De-energize the circuit before using either driver.

Stripping, crimping and circuit checks

Klein makes wire strippers and crimping tools. Match the stripper’s marked range to your conductor size and whether the wire is solid or stranded. A nick in the copper can become a weak point when you bend the wire into the box. For crimping, match the tool to the terminal as well as the wire.

Klein’s electrical testing range includes multimeters and outlet testers. Choose a multimeter by the measurements you need and the electrical environment where you’ll use it. The circuit-troubleshooting meter detailed below has a CAT IV 600V safety rating, IP67 dust and water protection, and specified drop protection of 3 meters or 10 feet. Check the functions and electrical ratings of the meter and test leads against the work.

Before connecting a meter, use its instructions to select the function and lead sockets. Use resistance and continuity functions on de-energized circuits. For checking absence of voltage, verify the tester on a known live source before and after the circuit check.

Klein’s defect coverage runs for the normal life of hand tools, two years from purchase for electrical test and measurement tools, and one year from purchase for ratcheting hand tools, including ratcheting cable and bolt cutters. Coverage applies to materials and workmanship under normal use, with exclusions including normal wear, misuse and insufficient maintenance; product packaging can specify different terms.

Origin and tool storage

Klein says most of its products are made in the USA and some are sourced internationally. If American manufacture is a requirement for your kit, check the country-of-origin marking on the particular tool.

Tradesman Pro includes an electrician’s hacksaw bag with 48 pockets and a lined top-loading hacksaw pocket. MODbox includes a multi-depth three-drawer toolbox.

Selected tool specifications

Tool	Model	Specifications
Cabinet-tip wire-bending screwdriver	605-6B	1/4-inch flat tip; round 6-inch shank; bends 10, 12 and 14 AWG solid wire; Cushion-Grip handle; Tip-Ident markings
Phillips wire-bending screwdriver	603-4B	#2 Phillips tip; round 4-inch shank; bends 10, 12 and 14 AWG solid wire; Cushion-Grip handle; Tip-Ident markings
Circuit-troubleshooting meter	MM500	CAT IV 600V safety rating; IP67 dust and water protection; specified drop protection of 3 meters/10 feet

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you use a Klein Tools multimeter?

Start with the instructions for your particular meter so you select the right function and lead sockets for the measurement. A CAT IV 600V safety rating doesn’t establish which measurements a meter can take. For an absence-of-voltage check, verify the tester on a known live source before and after checking the circuit.

What are Klein Tools pliers used for?

Lineman’s pliers give you a firm grip on wire while you work it into position. The range also includes heavy-duty-cutting ironworker’s pliers and slim insulated long-nose side-cutting pliers. Choose the jaw shape for the access you have, and match the cutting rating to the material.

What do Klein Tools wire-bending screwdrivers do?

They have a metal stud that forms loops in solid wire for outlet and switch connections. The wire-bending versions described here handle 10, 12 and 14 AWG solid wire. Their Cushion-Grip handles provide no electrical-shock protection, and these drivers aren’t for prying or chiseling.

How do you choose Klein Tools wire cutters?

Match the cutter’s rated capacity to the material and size you’re cutting. Klein makes cable cutters, including ratcheting cable cutters, as well as wire-cutting pliers. A ratcheting mechanism changes how you operate the cutter; you still need a cutting rating that covers the cable.