Are Snap On Pliers (96ACFG) all this tight?

[Ohio Andy]

It was recommended that I try the Snap On 96ACF (Talon Grip Needle Nose Pliers) because they make the best, so, I got a pair.

The handle is very comfortable and the fit is excellent, but they are very tight. When I say very tight, I mean that I am able to operate them with one hand, but my hand will tire very quickly if I try to use these.

Most of my pliers will open on their own if I hold one handle with the other handle facing down. These do not.

My Milwaukee pliers, the weight of the handle will open the jaws. I took 11oz hearing protection and hung them over the handle and the handle did not open. So call it roughly one pound of force to open the handles.

Does this seem normal?

I oiled this and worked the oil in and it improved, but the numbers I am showing are the improved numbers.

 

[d.mcfarland]

Almost all Snap-On pliers need broken in. It's the only downside to them for the most part.

 

[Dave455]

They are all a bit tight from new.

Unlike some others though, when they get heavily used they don’t tend to get wobbly.

If they are still too tight, break them in a bit. Don’t use any lubricant. As you have already used some oil flush it out with a few drops of alcohol or spirit.

Then work the pliers open and closed. You can do a hundred opening / closing cycles quite quickly. repeat 5 or 10 times and they will initially get stiffer then looser.

When you are done, flush out the joint again, then oil. They will be beautifully smooth.

There are a few other makers, generally quite good quality ones, who make pliers with similar characteristics.

 

[Ohio Andy]

They are all a bit tight from new.

Unlike some others though, when they get heavily used they don’t tend to get wobbly.

If they are still too tight, break them in a bit. Don’t use any lubricant. As you have already used some oil flush it out with a few drops of alcohol or spirit.

Then work the pliers open and closed. You can do a hundred opening / closing cycles quite quickly. repeat 5 or 10 times and they will initially get stiffer then looser.

When you are done, flush out the joint again, then oil. They will be beautifully smooth.

There are a few other makers, generally quite good quality ones, who make pliers with similar characteristics.

Thanks, I will give that a try. I have lots of alcohol! Probably more than is reasonable since I mix my own Shellac flakes.

They have lots or promise, I just did not expect them to be so tight.

 

[Dave455]

Thanks, I will give that a try. I have lots of alcohol! Probably more than is reasonable since I mix my own Shellac flakes.

They have lots or promise, I just did not expect them to be so tight.

Good luck! I initially tried oiling, but realised you have to remove the oil to, effectively, grind them in!

Broadly speaking, the newer pliers seem to be tighter than the old ones used to be, but once broken in they’re nice to use.

I got a pair of cutters on a deal a few years back (free with a HH ratchet) that were very stiff to use. I wasn’t bothered about the cutters initially, but now they’re broken in they are one of my favourites.

 

[f121]

This is my complaint with SO pliers/cutters/crimpers, too tight to work one handed. I’d rather buy knipex and throw them away if they ever get loose, than bother trying to break in snap on

 

[KnurledNut]

I haven’t been impressed with Snap-on pliers regarding their joints.
I have seen some used ones so loose they were dangerous to use.
And I’ve seen newer ones so tight, they couldnt be used.

 

[Wrench97]

In the last thread on Snappy pliers the compliant was they were too loose.........
Mine are 10+ years old and not tight at all but still won't open on their own.

 

[woody 73]

I don't have the talon grips, but all my other snap on pliers have been very tight when new, what I tend to find is the longer I use them the problem will go away.

 

[Wamsutta]

They need broken in like a pair of Red Wing boots. Only difference is you won't be needing a foot surgeon after breaking in the pliers.

 

[Ohio Andy]

Used the alcohol then maybe 200 open/close.

Already significantly improved. Will do a few more then oil it and retest the weight.

 

[AJHD]

Faster method is put one handle of the pliers in a vise and GENTLY pull on the other handle. It will loosen almost immediately. But like I said, be gentle and go slow. It shouldn't take much force.

My dealer has literally done it in front of me on the truck.

 

[F-22]

Mine are on the loose side since new. I was a bit disappointed they aren't tighter but they're usable... They should have used a box joint like the twingrips.

 

[Hakeem]

Rig a sawzall + a couple zip ties to one handle, chuck the other handle in a vise, and let it rip for 1-2 minutes

 

[jobo1004]

Rig a sawzall + a couple zip ties to one handle, chuck the other handle in a vise, and let it rip for 1-2 minutes

This is more or less what I had to do to mine in order to get them to loosen up.

 

[mikey03]

How much tightness you guys like in pliers personally I like when they flop open on their own. It’s any kind of lateral play I don’t like. I want the joint to be lose in the open and close angle but tight in the lateral and twisting angles if that makes any sense

 

[toolenthusiast]

Faster method is put one handle of the pliers in a vise and GENTLY pull on the other handle. It will loosen almost immediately. But like I said, be gentle and go slow. It shouldn't take much force.

I’m not following. Are you saying to secure one handle in the vise, then fully open the handles, then gently attempt to hyperextend them? Or is it something else?

 

[Ohio Andy]

So these are still tight but they are workable for me to use one-handed to open them. I considered working them more but I think they're usable now. They absolutely were not before.

So thanks a lot for that help. Also curious about the question above about what you do with them in the vise.

 

[RTM]

Rig a sawzall + a couple zip ties to one handle, chuck the other handle in a vise, and let it rip for 1-2 minutes

Read somewhere that a person tried it, and they went from too tight to too loose on the first burst. Go gently, they are typically 2000 strokes per minute or more.

 

[Ohio Andy]

Read somewhere that a person tried it, and they went from too tight to too loose on the first burst. Go gently, they are typically 2000 strokes per minute or more.

I thought it was a joke... Figured it would be pretty aggressive

 

[Hakeem]

Read somewhere that a person tried it, and they went from too tight to too loose on the first burst. Go gently, they are typically 2000 strokes per minute or more.

Certainly good advice , but I’ve never heard of a bad outcome.

I thought it was a joke... Figured it would be pretty aggressive

It’s quick and easy. If you have the time and patience, doing it manually is likely better.

 

[Ohio Andy]

Certainly good advice , but I’ve never heard of a bad outcome.


It’s quick and easy. If you have the time and patience, doing it manually is likely better.

Yeah I did it manually. Very happy with the result.