Are push pin pliers to remove clips worth buying?

[impactsocket]

Are push pin pliers to remove clips worth buying? Or should I just stick with using a screwdriver?

 

[toyman]

They work great - just got a pair few months back. Much faster than the screwdriver!!

 

[impactsocket]

The HF Push Pin Pliers look identical to the Craftsman Push Pin Pliers.

http://www.harborfreight.com/push-pin-pliers-67400.html

 

[M6erfan]

Agree, much better than screwdriver. The right tool for the job

 

[Fedwrench]

In a word, YES.

 

[bassfiend316]

As a body tech, I always grab my prybars style clip tool instead of those pliers. Way more versatile and I a lot faster for me.

 

[impactsocket]

Can you post a pic or a link to the prybars style clip tool?

 

[Qualitytools]

As a body tech, I always grab my prybars style clip tool instead of those pliers. Way more versatile and I a lot faster for me.

Care to show us a photo of the tool? I am still trying to find one while working on my cars as they have different size heads and some are buried deep.
Thanks,

 

[bassfiend316]

http://m.harborfreight.com/6-piece-panel-trim-removal-tool-set-66188.html this kind. And I only go with the cheap ones because theyare clip tools but turn into prybars, hammers, punches, whatever. I can justify another $3 HF or whatever cheap one, but I'd be scared to use a snapon one the same way haha

 

[M6erfan]

http://m.harborfreight.com/6-piece-panel-trim-removal-tool-set-66188.html this kind. And I only go with the cheap ones because theyare clip tools but turn into prybars, hammers, punches, whatever. I can justify another $3 HF or whatever cheap one, but I'd be scared to use a snapon one the same way haha

IMO the pliers work better than the pry bar style tool you linked, for pushpin type clips anyway

 

[OHMS LAW]

Other guys at work tell me I need those pliers. But I like this better

 

[smittyjones]

I have this set, and I use the plier things on the far right much more than the others. I usually have trouble getting into the space where the other pliers will fit.

 

[Fedwrench]

We are talking about two different things here. The push pin pliers are about as good as it gets for pulling the center pin out, then the HF or Snap-on pry tools shown above are great for pulling the whole clip out. The HF and Snap-on pry tools are useful on many different clip styles whereas the pin pliers are really only useful if you have vehicles that use that specific style trim clip. Other vehicles use different style clips or have pin clips where the pin is just a rod with no enlarged head and you just push it in instead to shrink down the tabs of the clip. I like my straight pin pliers, but I also have a pair of I think 60 degree angled pin pliers and I use those more often.

Yes & no. Many times if the push pin isn't recessed, I'll take a thin bladed trim tool or pry bar as pictured above & slide under the edge of the center push pin and lift up on it, and then slide the tool under the pin base to remove it. It's pretty quick with the right technique.
For those headless push pins, my favorite tool is this SK tool #6648
https://www.toolsource.com/riveters...-puller-and-punch-p-177311.html?tsqtid=569446
you use the pin end to push the pin inward and then the other end to lift the base out. SK makes some nice trim tools

 

[94EG8]

These are probably the best I've ever used and combine the best features of a push pin pliers and a trim tool. http://www.steckmfg.com/21720_SureGripTrimClipPliers.html

The Snap-On long handled trim tool is easily the best trim tool I've ever used and well worth the money as well.

 

[jsaw]

I have a pair like those, and use them a lot

 

[Duster346]

Other guys at work tell me I need those pliers. But I like this better

Similar to what I use, but in the black SO hard handle.

 

[jeejay]

We are talking about two different things here.

Must be for the long thumb tacks...

 

[kblee27]

I bought it, but seldom use it.

Instead, I use the plastic trim removals.

I think plastic on plastic is less destructive.

 

[1950mercury]

 

[Sine Swept]

I have the set that comes with straight on, 45degree offset pin pliers as well as the panel popper tool (only allows one inch of movement from closed to open - awesome for really tight door panels that have never been popped off before)

I don't use them all the time, but when I do, those pins come out like butter.

I watched my friend use a really cheap pair of mini needlenose pliers that had the ends bent to get underneath the pin. He had the right idea, I just hate junky tools. The tips were like butter too.

 

[wafrederick]

I use my SK set now which is a prybar set up.I have the pliers and don't use them a lot now.

 

[Sine Swept]

I would use them more if they could be pistol gripped. Using a tool that interferes with being able to see what you are doing is somewhat defeating.

 

[MattVette89]

I use them and I think they work way better than a screwdriver. That being said, those Steck pliers posted above look nice.

 

[Brownsfan]

I just push the pin in to unlock and pull with my regular panel tool. I have those pliers. I have never once used them. So to me no they are not worth it.

 

[Lassen Forge]

Absolutely... beats messing up the clips, or worse, the interior panels.. Between those and the SK set in the youtube above, you're pretty well covered.

 

[bassfiend316]

There is one clip type that I do still struggle with a bit. What is everyone's best solution for the phillips head pin clips? I don't know how many vehicles use them, I mainly encounter them in older Acuras, but I think I remember encountering them on a couple Ford vehicles as well. It seems like about 30% of the time when I try to unscrew them it doesn't work and the center pin just spins. You have to be very light with your screwdriver pressure for the pin to unscrew but if you are too light the screwdriver won't stay in the screw head at all. The center pin has a head on it so it can't be pushed in to release, and there is usually no lip around the perimeter of the pin to get a pair of pin pliers in to pull it out. If I just pry on them and try to pull them out without doing anything to the center pin, one or more of the legs that spread to hold the clip in place will often break off and render the clip unusable. I pretty much just end up having to break a couple and have a few replacements on hand at all times. There has to be a better way.

I typically just use a small 45* pick to pry the center up enough to get my normal clip tool under it, then treat it like any other center pin push clip. The threads very rarely work after the first use anyway.

 

[PSYKO_Inc]

I have a couple Saturn vehicles that use a million of these fasteners, I use a pair of HF push pin pliers to pull out the center pin (I sharpened the points on my bench grinder so it gets under the head of the center pin easier), then use a Tekton panel popper to take the body out. The panel popper is also great for door panels that use the "Christmas tree" clips. For the Phillips head pins, there's really no good way to reuse them. They strip out or spin the first time you use them.

 

[K-Dog]

Another body guy chiming in.
I have about a dozen clip tools including the pliers in question.
I use all of them often enough I would not want to be without one or the other.

Different clips in different locations all require a different mode of attack.

BTW thanks to the guy who posted the SK video. Clip tools I do not have, but will be getting soon.

 

[Skin]

Yes they do work and are worth having but if your roads get brine/salted/sanded its worth buying some of the Chinese knock-off clip sets as there are many instances you'll break them no matter what. One of the few areas i'd advocate cheap aftermarket, OE prices on the things is stupid and im not a huge fan of doing what most do which is zip tie everything.

 

[kblee27]

There is one clip type that I do still struggle with a bit. What is everyone's best solution for the phillips head pin clips? I don't know how many vehicles use them, I mainly encounter them in older Acuras, but I think I remember encountering them on a couple Ford vehicles as well. It seems like about 30% of the time when I try to unscrew them it doesn't work and the center pin just spins. You have to be very light with your screwdriver pressure for the pin to unscrew but if you are too light the screwdriver won't stay in the screw head at all. The center pin has a head on it so it can't be pushed in to release, and there is usually no lip around the perimeter of the pin to get a pair of pin pliers in to pull it out. If I just pry on them and try to pull them out without doing anything to the center pin, one or more of the legs that spread to hold the clip in place will often break off and render the clip unusable. I pretty much just end up having to break a couple and have a few replacements on hand at all times. There has to be a better way.

I often have to remove these plastic screws with phillips head.

What I'll do is use a normal phillips screwdriver on it and use the plastic trim I mentioned earlier to get beneath the head.
Turn the screwdriver lightly to get a separation, while trying to insert the trim tool beheath.

Then lever out slowly while turning the screwdriver.
This works even if the phillips head is already slightly damaged.