Description
KNIPEX 09 11 240 9-1/2″ High Leverage Lineman’s Pliers with Fish Tape Puller & Crimper
The KNIPEX 09 11 240 9-1/2″ High Leverage Lineman’s Pliers are built for electricians who need serious cutting and gripping power along with an integrated fish tape puller and crimper.
Made in Germany from forged, multi-stage oil-hardened vanadium steel, these New England-style lineman’s pliers combine a high-leverage joint, cross-hatched gripping jaws, hardened cutting edges, fish tape pulling capability, and a universal mandrel crimping point in one professional hand tool.
KNIPEX states that the optimized transmission ratio requires approximately 50% less cutting effort than conventional combination pliers. The 9-1/2″ overall length provides additional leverage for cutting, twisting, gripping, and pulling compared with shorter general-purpose pliers.
High-Leverage Cutting Performance
The 09 11 240 is designed to cut soft and hard wire, nails, and piano wire within its specified capacities.
Published cutting capacities:
- Hard steel wire: up to 1/8″ diameter
- Medium-hard wire / nails: up to 3/16″ diameter
- Cutting edge hardness: approximately 64 HRC
- Cutting edge shape: Bevel
- Cutting edges: Induction hardened
The combination of hardened cutting edges and a high transmission ratio gives these lineman’s pliers the cutting capability needed for demanding electrical and construction work without requiring excessive hand force.
Built-In Fish Tape Puller
A dedicated fish tape puller is integrated into the joint gap, giving electricians a secure gripping point when pulling fish tape and conductors through conduit.
This is especially useful during rough-in, remodel, commercial electrical, and service work where the same pair of pliers may be used to pull fish tape, grip conductors, twist wires, and make cuts throughout the installation.
Integrated Mandrel Crimper
Below the joint is a universal mandrel crimping point with one crimping position.
This gives the 09 11 240 another useful electrician-specific function without requiring a separate tool for appropriate general-purpose crimping tasks.
For electrical connections that require a specific listed or manufacturer-approved crimping tool, follow the connector manufacturer’s crimping requirements.
Cross-Hatched Gripping Jaws
The jaws feature an aggressive cross-hatched knurled gripping surface designed for strong gripping and pulling.
This gripping pattern helps maintain control when:
- Twisting electrical conductors
- Pulling wire
- Holding cable
- Gripping hardware
- Pulling fish tape
- Manipulating material during electrical installation
A second serrated gripping area below the joint provides additional leverage for gripping and pressing.
Practical Uses for Electricians
The KNIPEX 09 11 240 lineman’s pliers are well suited for everyday residential, commercial, and industrial electrical work.
Common uses include:
- Pulling fish tape through conduit
- Pulling conductors through conduit
- Twisting copper conductors together
- Cutting THHN and similar electrical wire
- Cutting hard steel wire
- Cutting medium-hard wire and nails
- Crimping compatible connectors
- Gripping and bending wire
- Holding and manipulating electrical hardware
- General electrical installation and maintenance work
For electricians who regularly move between pulling, cutting, gripping, twisting, and crimping, the 09 11 240 reduces the need to switch tools for many routine tasks.
9-1/2″ vs. 8″ Lineman’s Pliers
The primary reason to choose 9-1/2″ lineman’s pliers instead of an 8″ tool is leverage.
A longer handle provides greater mechanical advantage. That can reduce the effort required for difficult cuts and provide more leverage when twisting, gripping, or pulling wire.
Choose 9-1/2″ Lineman’s Pliers When:
- Cutting performance is a priority
- You frequently work with heavier wire
- You regularly pull or twist conductors
- You want greater leverage
- You use lineman’s pliers as a primary everyday electrical tool
Choose a Shorter 8″ Tool When:
- Working in confined spaces
- Lower weight is more important than maximum leverage
- The tool is primarily used for lighter-duty work
- Compact tool storage is a priority
The KNIPEX 09 11 240 is therefore better suited to applications where leverage and heavy-duty performance matter more than minimum size.
High-Leverage Lineman’s Pliers vs. Standard Combination Pliers
These are not simply oversized combination pliers.
KNIPEX designed the 09 11 240 with an optimized transmission ratio that the manufacturer says reduces cutting effort by about 50% compared with conventional combination pliers.
The tool also includes electrician-specific functions not normally found together on standard combination pliers:
- 9-1/2″ high-leverage design
- Fish tape puller
- Universal mandrel crimper
- Cross-hatched gripping jaws
- Additional gripping area below the joint
- Approximately 64 HRC induction-hardened cutting edges
For an electrician using pliers all day, those differences can mean less hand effort and fewer tool changes.
Specifications
Manufacturer: KNIPEX
Part Number: 09 11 240
UPC: 843221011277
Country of Origin: Germany
Overall Length: 9-1/2″
Width: 2″
Height: 5/8″
Weight: 0.905 lb. — approximately 14.5 oz.
Material: Vanadium steel, forged and multi-stage oil-hardened
Cutting Edge Hardness: Approximately 64 HRC
Handle Type: Plastic coated/dipped
Handle Color: Red
1000V Insulated: No
Gripping Surface: Cross-hatched
Head Surface: Polished
Other Surface Finish: Black atramentized
Crimping Profile: Mandrel crimp
Crimping Positions: 1
Joint Type: Rivet
Hard Wire Cutting Capacity: 1/8″ diameter
Medium-Hard Wire / Nail Cutting Capacity: 3/16″ diameter
Cutting Edge Shape: Bevel
DIN Standard: DIN ISO 5746
ASME Standard: ASME B107.20
REACH: Does not contain SVHC
RoHS: Not applicable
Important Electrical Safety Information
The red handles have a plastic coating, but the KNIPEX 09 11 240 is not a 1000V insulated tool.
Do not use these pliers on live circuits.
The plastic-dipped handles should not be interpreted as electrical insulation. KNIPEX specifically warns users to switch off power before using this model on electrical systems.
KNIPEX Lifetime Limited Warranty
KNIPEX Tools North America provides a Lifetime Limited Warranty covering the original purchaser against deficiencies in materials and artistry for the lifetime of the tool.
After inspection, KNIPEX may repair or replace a qualifying defective tool. If the exact model is no longer available, KNIPEX may provide a comparable replacement or, at its option, refund the purchase price.
The warranty does not cover failures caused by misuse, abuse, alteration, accidents, lack of maintenance, or normal wear from use. Proof of purchase and verification that the claimant is the original end-user purchaser may be required.
See KNIPEX’s current warranty terms for complete conditions and claim procedures.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the KNIPEX 09 11 240?
The KNIPEX 09 11 240 is a 9-1/2″ high-leverage New England-style pair of lineman’s pliers with a built-in fish tape puller and universal mandrel crimper.
How long are the KNIPEX 09 11 240 lineman’s pliers?
They measure 9-1/2 inches long.
The longer handles provide greater leverage than shorter pliers, making them particularly useful for cutting, twisting, gripping, and pulling.
How much do the KNIPEX 09 11 240 weigh?
They weigh 0.905 lb., or approximately 14.5 ounces.
What is the cutting capacity of the KNIPEX 09 11 240?
KNIPEX rates the pliers for:
- Hard steel wire: up to 1/8″ diameter
- Medium-hard wire and nails: up to 3/16″ diameter
What is the hardness of the cutting edges?
The cutting edges are also induction-hardened to approximately 64 HRC.
Can KNIPEX 09 11 240 lineman’s pliers cut THHN wire?
Yes. These lineman’s pliers are designed to cut electrical conductors and can be used for copper THHN within the tool’s appropriate capacity.
KNIPEX specifies the primary cutting capacity of this model by wire material and diameter rather than by THHN AWG size, so you should not infer an unsupported maximum AWG rating from the steel-wire specifications.
Will these pliers cut 12 AWG or 10 AWG copper wire?
Those common copper conductor sizes are substantially smaller than the tool’s published hard-wire capacity. Actual cutting performance varies with conductor material and construction, but cutting common branch-circuit copper conductors is a typical application for professional lineman’s pliers.
Do these lineman’s pliers have a fish tape puller?
Yes. The KNIPEX 09 11 240 has a fish tape puller built into the joint gap.
It provides a dedicated gripping location for pulling fish tape and conductors through conduit.
Do the KNIPEX 09 11 240 pliers have a crimper?
Yes. They include a universal mandrel crimping point below the joint with one crimping position.
Are the KNIPEX 09 11 240 insulated?
No.
The handles are plastic coated, but this model is not rated for 1000V insulated work and should not be used on energized circuits.
What are these lineman’s pliers made from?
They are manufactured from forged vanadium steel that is multi-stage oil-hardened.
The cutting edges are also induction-hardened.
Where are KNIPEX 09 11 240 pliers made?
They are made in Germany.
How do 9-1/2″ lineman’s pliers compare with 8″ pliers?
A 9-1/2″ tool provides greater mechanical leverage, which can make heavy cutting, twisting, gripping, and pulling easier.
An 8″ tool is generally lighter and more compact, making it useful when working in restricted spaces.
For electricians who prioritize cutting power and leverage, the 9-1/2″ size is often the more practical everyday tool.
How much less effort does the KNIPEX high-leverage design require?
KNIPEX states that the optimized transmission ratio requires about 50% less effort than conventional combination pliers.
What warranty comes with KNIPEX lineman’s pliers?
For U.S. and Canadian customers, KNIPEX Tools North America offers a Lifetime Limited Warranty to the original purchaser against deficiencies in material and workmanship, subject to the company’s warranty terms and exclusions.
