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Topic: Snap Ring Pliers |
Jon Light
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 26 Jun 2022 7:18 am |
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I just broke the tip off a pair of these Klein Tools C-Clip pliers. Argh!!! Right in the middle of some Sho-Bud tweaking (and fortunately after a bunch of major p/p work)
I got enough good years out of these and I'd probably just get the exact same thing but I can't find them.
I'm seeing a similar looking tools on Amazon but they have interchangeable tips --- sounds good in principle but I am skeptical that they would just fall apart in my hand.
I'm also seeing some options at Harbor Freight -- I just might make a run up there.
But first, I'm looking for a recommendation of a decent pair of pliers.
Old photo from better days.....
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Jerry Overstreet
From:
Louisville Ky
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Posted 26 Jun 2022 8:38 am
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Look at Snap-On or Mac Tools online. They are not cheap, but are much higher quality.
Those HF and Amazon tools are pretty chintzy. They might work in some situations, but the points on the cheap ones will twist and sometimes break off when you apply pressure.
After many years spent in the auto industry and especially on A/C compressors and other systems, cheap snap ring pliers will only frutstrate you. JMO. |
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Jon Light
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 26 Jun 2022 8:46 am
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That fits with my general impressions (and observations). But I also considered these yellow ones to be barely worth the $7 or whatever it was that I spent, 25 years ago. I figured those tips would not be long for this world. Go figure....they served me well. Those tiny Sho-Bud & Emmons (p/p) c-clips don't stress them much. Dropping them on the floor, on the other hand.........
I am heading up to HF because I don't want to be on hold for several days. But I'll be looking at those better ones later. |
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Jerry Overstreet
From:
Louisville Ky
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Posted 26 Jun 2022 8:57 am
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Probably OK for light duty work. Those interchangeable tips are nice for different size clips and rings. There are also 90° pliers or tips that might be handy some times working in pedal steel mechanics.
Last edited by Jerry Overstreet on 26 Jun 2022 9:03 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Jon Light
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 26 Jun 2022 9:03 am
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Yes. The old ones were 45 and that was much better for tight access than straight would have been. 90 may even be better. I'll get a chance to eyeball the selection at HF.
Here's hoping I can walk out without a ridiculous bag of other stuff that I don't need. |
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Jerry Overstreet
From:
Louisville Ky
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Posted 26 Jun 2022 9:08 am
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OK, I see those tips now that you pointed it out.
Yes, I know what you mean. I have a collection of Harbor Freight products myself.  |
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Kelcey ONeil
From:
Sevierville, TN
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Posted 26 Jun 2022 9:28 am
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John,
From my experience you will need another set like the ones you had, I use a seemingly identical set from Imperial tools, but they are often unavailable as apparently they're something of a specialty item. 0.031" tips at 45 degrees is the best thing I've found, everything else is more trouble than not it seems.
_________________
Co-owner and operator: Emmons Guitar Co. |
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Jim Palenscar
From:
Oceanside, Calif, USA
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Posted 26 Jun 2022 10:17 am
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| I commonly use a single sided razor blade. |
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Jon Light
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 26 Jun 2022 11:04 am
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Kelcey -- thank you. I came home with a Harbor Freight multi-tip tool and the tips are too large for the holes in the clips. I'm out all of $5 which means that I won't think twice about seeing if I can file them down a bit. Probably I can. But as I said at the top, those old ones served me well and now I see that they serve you well too. I will begin my search for them.
Jim, my friend -- did you mean to post that in some other thread? |
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Jim Palenscar
From:
Oceanside, Calif, USA
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Posted 26 Jun 2022 11:19 am
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| No I didn’t Kelsey. I’m so frustrated w snap ring pliers I usually forgo reaching for them and instead use a sturdy single sided blade to slip between the rings and elevate one side to slip it off. |
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Jon Light
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 26 Jun 2022 11:32 am
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Jim -- that was me, not Kelcey.
But how do you slip it on?!
Especially on a puller already installed on a shaft?
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Jim Palenscar
From:
Oceanside, Calif, USA
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Posted 26 Jun 2022 12:01 pm
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| Usually by ruining my fingernails |
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Jon Light
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 26 Jun 2022 12:02 pm
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Looks like I'm back in bizniz.
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Jon Light
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 26 Jun 2022 12:12 pm
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| Jim Palenscar wrote: |
| Usually by ruining my fingernails |
You can borrow my Dremel for a mani. |
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George Biner
From:
Los Angeles, CA
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Posted 27 Jun 2022 7:16 pm
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I recently bought some of these pliers made in the USA by Channellock, with different size tips -- worked great for me. I avoid Harbor Freight like the plague.
_________________
Guacamole Mafia - acoustic harmony duo
Electrical engineer / amp tech in West Los Angeles -- I fix Peaveys
"Now there is a snappy sounding instrument. That f****r really sings." - Jerry Garcia |
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Larry Dering
From:
Missouri, USA
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Posted 28 Jun 2022 5:56 pm
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| The auto parts stores used to carry decent snap ring pliers. Even KD or Lisle were US made. |
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Larry Allen
From:
Kapaa, Kauai,Hawaii
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Posted 28 Jun 2022 7:13 pm
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I don’t know if there is still a Sears store,,but I bought a set there in 1970 and they haven’t worn out.. machine shop guy..I saw a set in a second hand tool store last year.. ‘d keep an eye out! 
_________________
Excel steels & Peavey amps,Old Chevys & Motorcycles & Women on the Trashy Side |
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Jon Light
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 29 Jun 2022 4:05 am
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Everything I see is pretty much the same as the set I just bought.....a little awkward changing attachments, a bit oversized in the hand and with tips that are too large (that I ground down successfully).
I used my new replacement and the job is done. So I've got a tool that works.
The original Klein is discontinued but I may have a line on one.
It seems that the small fit-in-the-hand tool for our tiny rings is a very small market. |
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Harley James
From:
Longview, Wa USA
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Posted 29 Jun 2022 4:17 pm Snap ring pliers
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| The ones that I use are something that my employer had in stock that work better than anything else I've tried. Knipex 46 21 A01 they're made in Germany. I saw some on ebay, they're still available. |
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Jon Light
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 29 Jun 2022 5:36 pm
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That's a great lead, Harley. And a hell of a rabbit hole. I spent a lot of time searching and a lot of hits don't give tip dimensions and of those that do, I could only find one item with the .035 I need......and then even that one says elsewhere in the listing that the tip is .046 like all the rest of the small ones seem to be. I'd chance it for $10. Too uncertain for $40.
This thing is elusive. |
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Patrick Timmins
From:
Seattle
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Posted 1 Jul 2022 5:05 pm
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I'm with Harley.
This model of KNIPEX works well too, especially for the really small clips.
This model has a 45 degree angle that I find easy to use. I think Harleys model may be 90 degrees.
Worth the $30 or so off amazon.
Good stuff.
_________________
Microphones, Recording, and lots of pedal steel guitars! |
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