HF Snap Ring Pliers

[gdocktor3]

I have some older snap ring pliers from HF that have served me pretty well so far, but one of the pliers tips are bent. So I have two questions. First, has anyone been able to swap out 1 pair of pliers? I think they come in sets, but I don't have all of them anymore. The second question is how are they these days? My set is probably 8-10 years old. It seems as time goes on, their stuff either gets a lot worse or a lot better.

 

[Ign]

The morality police are going to be strong here. They're going to say you got your use out of them, go buy a good pair, at least in the size you need. I don't think you're a dishonest slimeball (as others will insinuate) if you try to warranty them, but I personally wouldn't bother.

The other loud group will be the HF haters who will just point out you never shoulda bought anything from HF and you get what you pay for.

My guess? Unless you find a VERY helpful employee, you're gonna have to buy a full set, swap your bent one in, and return that set. But don't post here if you do it, people will have a fit. If you can afford it, I'd look for a higher-quality, name-brand replacement. Tools are rarely a bad investment.

 

[Hiball]

The morality police are going to be strong here. They're going to say you got your use out of them, go buy a good pair, at least in the size you need. I don't think you're a dishonest slimeball (as others will insinuate) if you try to warranty them, but I personally wouldn't bother.

The other loud group will be the HF haters who will just point out you never shoulda bought anything from HF and you get what you pay for.

My guess? Unless you find a VERY helpful employee, you're gonna have to buy a full set, swap your bent one in, and return that set. But don't post here if you do it, people will have a fit. If you can afford it, I'd look for a higher-quality, name-brand replacement. Tools are rarely a bad investment.

Why would the "Morality police" Show up? Sounds like the OP was the original purchaser.... Weird.


@OP I'll skip the BS and get to the point in attempt to actually try and answer your question, the pliers arent doing you any good in there current condition. I would box up the entire set and head to HF, Explain the situation and attempt to get the one with a bent tip warranted. I can't comment on the quality whether it's gone up or down, but you don't have much to lose. Good luck

 

[Antique Engine]

It looks like the 5 piece set is about 8 bucks so if they beef with you on warrantying an individual from an incomplete set, you're not taking much of a beating. Throw a coupon down and the 8 dollar replacement will probably cost about the same as the gas you burned driving up there. Nothing to get worked up over I'd imagine.

 

[bwringer]

Honestly, you're lucky to have gotten any use out of them at all. HF has lots of stuff that works great, but their snap ring pliers are well-known total lemons.

It's really not worth spending one second of your time or once cent of your money on these. Toss the bent pair in the garbage, and if you need snap ring pliers, get some good ones somewhere else.

 

[Antique Engine]

What's wrong with morals?

Don't they have multiple wives ?

 

[gdocktor3]

LOL the funny thing is I have Proto, Bluepoint, Lisle, and a brand new pair of Craftsman internal/external pliers that I use all the time. I absolutely, positively hate 99% of HF stuff, but if I could get something free from them, I will.

All I wanted to know is if they are still any good? It's difficult to get just answers to questions on here these days...

 

[winlinmac]

Just buy the Channellock / Wilde. The replaceable tips are easy to misplace, but should serve you well if properly organized. Or if you need a set containing discrete pliers, invest in Knipex. Definitely not endorsing a company here, but at least you will have a peace of mind as far as lifespan of the tool is concerned. We shouldn't have to travel 40 miles round trip to warranty a tool.

Nothing wrong with Harbor Freight other than the fact that their inventory can be hit or miss. Inconsistencies in quality control especially when they contract with multiple manufacturers making the same thing.

 

[1982fxr]

Honestly, you're lucky to have gotten any use out of them at all. HF has lots of stuff that works great, but their snap ring pliers are well-known total lemons.

It's really not worth spending one second of your time or once cent of your money on these. Toss the bent pair in the garbage, and if you need snap ring pliers, get some good ones somewhere else.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/LIL-49200?seid=srese2

 

[Hondarancher4435]

The new HF snap ring pliers are garbage usually bend on the first use. Atd makes a fantastic set that's the same you get on the trucks that's been relabeled. It's about $75 on Amazon for a 12pc set I use them daily working on heavy equipment haven't bent a tip yet

 

[gdocktor3]

Some of these comments are amazing. Thanks anyways.

 

[Adam.C]

I'm sure you don't want to hear this but the forged snap ring pliers are SO much nicer to use. I have Knipex- they look like what Snap On used to sell??? Maybe its time to upgrade.

I used to have craftsman and other sheet metal fabricated pliers like the HF, all made in China. I couldn't justify spending real money for tools I so rarely used. But every time I used them, they bit me. The ends would bend. To be fair, automotive snap rings are a fiddly affairs at the best of times. So what should take one minute, used to take me much longer. They can corrode, get caked with gunk.

I would ask the question, who else makes forged snap ring pliers? The Knipex ones are nice and I don't love Knipex like everybody else here does.

I have the 4 pc set and I've never needed anything else.

 

[CutterFarms]

I see several posters that told you they are no good, not worth hassling with, posters that gave you good advice to focus on something else instead, etc. What's the problem? It sounds to me like you got your answer from multiple sources. If a few people add a joke to the thread or go off on a little bit of a tangent who cares, that's how a conversation works. This is a forum where everyone interacts with each other, it's not just about you, what you want, and how you want it. Did you just want a rapid number of posts with only yes or no answers to your questions and that's it?

If the answers provided aren't good enough for you you could always just skip starting new threads and find the answer to your question yourself, it is not hard. Spend 30 seconds on the HF website and you will quickly see that their snap ring plier sets have a bunch of reviews and only a 2-3 out of 5 star average which is almost always a bad sign for any HF product.

Posters on GJ also know not to give advice about whether or not you can return only one plier for exchange or not, because that will depend on the specific individual you interact with at your store more than anything else. You know this already though, it is not new. Every deal related thread on this site shows countless examples of some people getting things that others don't, one person being allowed a return and another being denied, etc.

Please drop the attitude in your posts, it's unbecoming.

Awesome answer, 2 thumbs up to you sir

 

[gdocktor3]

Please drop the attitude in your posts, it's unbecoming.

I asked two simple questions. Has anyone exchanged one set of pliers and how are they now a days. I then explained I have numerous other sets. It seems every post somehow gets sidetracked with other members talking about what they have and what they like. The jokes don't bother me one bit, I just wanted info on harbor freight snap ring pliers.

On another note, I was deemed a fool by other members on here for having taken advice from HF reviews. I thought that was funny too.

 

[winlinmac]

This is on my Wishlist.
Adam, what's the part number for the Knipex Set? I think Zoro is e-mailing us all a decent coupon very soon

I'm sure you don't want to hear this but the forged snap ring pliers are SO much nicer to use. I have Knipex- they look like what Snap On used to sell??? Maybe its time to upgrade.

I used to have craftsman and other sheet metal fabricated pliers like the HF, all made in China. I couldn't justify spending real money for tools I so rarely used. But every time I used them, they bit me. The ends would bend. To be fair, automotive snap rings are a fiddly affairs at the best of times. So what should take one minute, used to take me much longer. They can corrode, get caked with gunk.

I would ask the question, who else makes forged snap ring pliers? The Knipex ones are nice and I don't love Knipex like everybody else here does.

I have the 4 pc set and I've never needed anything else.

 

[Adam.C]

This is on my Wishlist.
Adam, what's the part number for the Knipex Set? I think Zoro is e-mailing us all a decent coupon very soon

Yeah, I looked that up earlier. My set is 00-19-57. Its sometimes written as 1957. It includes only the straight pliers, for inside and outside. The size of the ring is each tool is designed for is printed on the grips. The A1/J1 small ones are for 10-25mm (pretty small). The others are for 19-60mm. These are the most useful.

The 6pc set includes right angle versions of 2 sizes above.

 

[winlinmac]

Awesome, thanks! $79 on Zoro, looking forward to see if the next coupon they send is applicable to this item. It's stands at 50/50 right now.

Yeah, I looked that up earlier. My set is 00-19-57. Its sometimes written as 1957. It includes only the straight pliers, for inside and outside. The size of the ring is each tool is designed for is printed on the grips. The A1/J1 small ones are for 10-25mm (pretty small). The others are for 19-60mm. These are the most useful.

The 6pc set includes right angle versions of 2 sizes above.

 

[Shaners256]

I can answer the question on how they are nowadays. They are junk.

Now, I want to just say that I buy a lot of stuff from HF, and you are correct, they products sometimes get much better in quality, but I fear that the snap ring pliers are pretty bad.

We use the snap ring pliers in the shop at work for new machine designs and we basically have no tips left that aren't broken. They just snap off easily.

We haven't tried to return them, so i'm not sure on that, sorry.

 

[gdocktor3]

I can answer the question on how they are nowadays. They are junk.

Now, I want to just say that I buy a lot of stuff from HF, and you are correct, they products sometimes get much better in quality, but I fear that the snap ring pliers are pretty bad.

We use the snap ring pliers in the shop at work for new machine designs and we basically have no tips left that aren't broken. They just snap off easily.

We haven't tried to return them, so i'm not sure on that, sorry.

Yea that's what I figured. That's why I was hoping I could just exchange one and not all. I've literally beat on these pretty hard and even the one I want to exchange isn't broken, just bent.

 

[Aqua-Andy]

Yea that's what I figured. That's why I was hoping I could just exchange one and not all. I've literally beat on these pretty hard and even the one I want to exchange isn't broken, just bent.

Can you bend it back? I use Knipex at work and I agree they are great but I have bent those also. When they bend I just carefully bend them back.

 

[gdocktor3]

Can you bend it back? I use Knipex at work and I agree they are great but I have bent those also. When they bend I just carefully bend them back.

I guess I can try. Even if they break who cares right?

 

[zendriver]

I guess I can try. Even if they break who cares right?

I have the small HF set, with the interchangeable heads, that work good, but honestly, I have only used them a few times.

However, I have also bent and broke, some of the good "name brands", if the ring was wedged in, the groove damaged or corroded, or the wrong size used.

I'd try to return them, to HF. They will probably make it right. If not feel free to complain here.

 

[gdocktor3]

However, I have also bent and broke, some of the good "name brands", if the ring was wedged in, the groove damaged or corroded, or the wrong size used.

I'd try to return them, to HF. They will probably make it right. If not feel free to complain here.

See its funny you say that because I have a Proto set that have bent tips. I contacted Proto who told me to bring them in to a Proto dealer in my area. I asked them if Grainger was acceptable and it was. I went to Grainger, showed them the tool and the email, but they wouldn't replace them because I did not buy from them. I contacted Proto again, but never heard back. That was over a year ago. Maybe I will try again.

 

[winlinmac]

You never heard back from Proto? I'm really contemplating my recent sockets acquisiton now, lol. Hopefully, their customer service is similar to SK's when and if I ever need warranty service.

 

[kctyphoon]

Honestly, the ChannelLock versions sold in HD are pretty great I must say. They are only like $22 and do both internal and external using a reversible switch that keeps the handles spring loaded in both directions...

 

[anndel]

HF is so inexpensive just buy a new one or a new set. I own and use SK Snap Ring Pliers.

 

[Adam.C]

Can you bend it back? I use Knipex at work and I agree they are great but I have bent those also. When they bend I just carefully bend them back.

They work hardened when they bent the first time. When you bend them back, you wont bend the work hardened region, you will create a new work hardened region adjacent to the first. Next time you use them in anger, they will simply crack, likely between the 2 work hardened areas.

The only way to repair them is to reheat-treat them. Anneal them, bend while hot, then re-harden and temper. I could give you instructions. You would need some sort of make shift forge. You could make one out of fire bricks and use MAPP as a heat source. If the alloy is half way decent, you can make them better than new.

 

[winlinmac]

I like them too, with the only exception being that the tips are easy to loose, but hey, if you're not organized, that's your fault

Here's another set to consider, discrete pliers by the way---
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005MVB6TG/?tag=atomicindus08-20

SK is expensive in this regard, the 12 pliers included in Kaster's (Lang) may just be the best choice, especially since they're made in the USA and used and well regarded by the pro's, check out the reviews. Some reviews do stress on the ends bending though, may be they got a fluke?

I'd have to say, overall the Channellocks are pretty versatile and definitely worth it, never had issues, may be I should just keep a few extra tips aside.

Honestly, the ChannelLock versions sold in HD are pretty great I must say. They are only like $22 and do both internal and external using a reversible switch that keeps the handles spring loaded in both directions...

 

[gdocktor3]

Honestly, the ChannelLock versions sold in HD are pretty great I must say. They are only like $22 and do both internal and external using a reversible switch that keeps the handles spring loaded in both directions...

Those are the same ones I bought from Sears. They're rebranded Kastar/Lang. Snap On sells them as well. I like them a lot. They also came with a pouch with spare/different tips.

 

[stage20]

Those are the same ones I bought from Sears. They're rebranded Kastar/Lang. Snap On sells them as well. I like them a lot. They also came with a pouch with spare/different tips.

ive got the craftsman professional version. same as the others. they are excellent compared to those lil cheap sum-bishes i promise. night and day. makes working with rings a little easier.

 

[1982fxr]

Lang 12 piece and be done