Hose Clamp Pliers?

[CatfishXpress]

What's everyone using to remove hose clamps like these?

I have been using channel-locks, but when they are in a hard to get to space, it can be very frustrating. I'm ready to buy the right tool for this job, but a search revealed several different types of pliers. Which works the best?

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Apart from standard combination pliers or Channellocks, i use Vice-Grips. Works well as they lock on them. When thos clips, especially the big ones, go ping you wanna watch out.

 

[wythors]

Dude, once you try these you will wonder how you ever got along without this tool in your box. One of the best designed tools ever.

 

[PowderKeg]

Does the remote portion of those pliers grip the hose clamp ends firmly without letting it slip off and go "ping!!!"? Might have to make room in the plier drawer for a set - or better yet, another reason to buy a bigger top chest....

 

[Merkava_4]

http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/shop/MAY-28640.html

These pliers are on my short list, but as you can see, they cost about a million dollars.

 

[CatfishXpress]

I'm definitely trying to avoid the "ping".

I hate those kind of clamps, everytime I get one off, its replaced with a stainless steel old type hose clamp.

Has anybody tried this style? KD tools part number KDT 3706

 

[Moose-LandTran]

http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/shop/MAY-28640.html

These pliers are on my short list, but as you can see, they cost about a million dollars.

Alternatively, there's the Blue Point equivalents for a dollar more.

 

[Merkava_4]

Alternatively, there's the Blue Point equivalents for a dollar more.

Gee thanks.

 

[Merkava_4]

Dude, once you try these you will wonder how you ever got along without this tool in your box. One of the best designed tools ever.

I'm curious as all hell who makes the pliers for Craftsman; anybody know?

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Gee thanks.

Haha, i'm in the same boat.

Serious Snap-on addiction.

 

[PoorOwner]

I think I will pick up a craftsman soon and let you know..
I rather spend $40 to have the tool than not wanting to spend $80 and have no tool

 

[MAD]

I'm curious as all hell who makes the pliers for Craftsman; anybody know?

They are made in France by (or for) Mayhew.

 

[Merkava_4]

I'm wondering what the advantage of having the right angle configuration as opposed to being straight like the Craftsman pliers would be.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

I doubt there's any since the "head" is remote anyway. i suppose it's just design.

 

[Fedwrench]

I'm wondering what the advantage of having the right angle configuration as opposed to being straight like the Craftsman pliers would be.

I think you need to lay the Mayhew version on top of the Craftsman version to see if the handle spread is the same size. How big are your hands? Does the right angle provide you with more leverage?
As I have posted before, you want a set with a ratcheting lock for ease of operation. I haven't found a dealer yet that will warranty the cable assembly.

 

[MAD]

I haven't found a dealer yet that will warranty the cable assembly.

Both the package of the Craftsman version and the Mayhew catalog exclude the cable from the lifetime warranty.

 

[Joe B.]

Here is the patent that is stamped on my Craftsman version. The patent was issued in 2001 so we won't see a copy of this one for quite a while. It even has separate drawings for the straight and 90-deg versions but I'm too lazy to read what the difference is. It is amazing the price range you see on different versions of this tool.
http://www.google.com/patents?id=tbsEAAAAEBAJ&dq=6189190

<a href="http://www.google.com/patents?id=tbsEAAAAEBAJ&zoom=4&dq=6189190&pg=PA3&ci=49,207,859,1056&source=bookclip"><img src="http://www.google.com/patents?id=tbsEAAAAEBAJ&pg=PA3&img=1&zoom=4&hl=en&sig=TCl5ESDBfVlTG7K9esG-0j8rRGE&ci=49,207,859,1056&edge=1" border="0" alt="Text not available"/></a>
<a href="http://www.google.com/patents?id=tbsEAAAAEBAJ&zoom=4&dq=6189190&pg=PA3&ci=49,207,859,1056&source=bookclip">System for the remote handling of equipment particularly adapted to elastic rings Pascal Gillet et al</a>

 

[PowderKeg]

Are these the ratcheting type you're talking about?

http://www.skhandtool.com/Default.aspx?fusemode=10&pid=90246

Look identical except for the extra length and teeth/stop added to the locking bar.

Well, that and the 90 degree angle on the plier ends. There I go again, looking for the small differences and missing the obvious.....

Amazon has them for $60 + ship.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002NYB9Q/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Joe B.]

Are these the ratcheting type you're talking about?

http://www.skhandtool.com/Default.aspx?fusemode=10&pid=90246

Look identical except for the extra length and teeth/stop added to the locking bar.

That is the ratcheting type. I don't think ratcheting is worth another $100.

 

[Fedwrench]

That is the ratcheting type. I don't think ratcheting is worth another $100.

I don't think any hose clamp pliers are worth a $100. The prices on the SK site and SK stuff at sears online are pure insanity. You can easily find those pliers for $65 or so if you shop around.
I can assure you that the ratcheting locking teeth are worth the money especially if you need to pause while compressing a clamp to reposition it or to adjust it.

 

[warbirdta03]

Hey guys im new here, been reading the site for awhile now but this is my first post. Anyways these are the ones i use. http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...&group_ID=1506&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

 

[Merkava_4]

Anyways, these are the ones I use.

How do those work out for you?

 

[billymade]

I did some research in the past on the Craftsman pliers and the results of what I found out is posted here; anyone remember this thread? http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17030&showall=1

 

[warbirdta03]

How do those work out for you?

They work out fine, i like the ratcheting action especially. Very well made.

 

[64merc]

Huh, I thought all hose clamp pliers like the Crafsmans linked to are ratcheting???

 

[JayL]

How about this?

http://www.gearwrench.com/catalog/pliers/ratcheting_pliers/index.jsp?view=sets

 

[bchee]

How about this?

http://www.gearwrench.com/catalog/pliers/ratcheting_pliers/index.jsp?view=sets

Those GearPliers look pretty cool, with interchangeable tips. They are not cheap though.

 

[PoorOwner]

Looks like the craftsman you can only lock at full squeeze to me.

 

[DavidtheDuke]

Hey guys im new here, been reading the site for awhile now but this is my first post. Anyways these are the ones i use. http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...&group_ID=1506&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

Makes me wonder what makes these better: http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...&group_ID=1506&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

 

[eschoendorff]

Looks like the craftsman you can only lock at full squeeze to me.

Yup... that is true. But they work plenty good for me.

 

[Stephenw]

I hate those kind of clamps, everytime I get one off, its replaced with a stainless steel old type hose clamp.

The spring type clamps are actually superior to the old style worm drive clamps.

They are called constant tension clamps. As temperature changes, they maintain a constant pressure on the hose to prevent small leaks.

The old worm drive style clamps have a fixed pressure. As temperature changes, their tension changes, either increasing or decreasing. This can result in small leaks or seepage.

 

[wythors]

Does the remote portion of those pliers grip the hose clamp ends firmly without letting it slip off and go "ping!!!"? Might have to make room in the plier drawer for a set - or better yet, another reason to buy a bigger top chest....

The tips of the clamps seat into two very deep grooves in the jaws of the pliers. I've never had one go "ping" and I think you'd have to try pretty hard to make it happen.

 

[Merkava_4]

The spring type clamps are actually superior to the old style worm drive clamps.

They are called constant tension clamps. As temperature changes, they maintain a constant pressure on the hose to prevent small leaks.

The old worm drive style clamps have a fixed pressure. As temperature changes, their tension changes, either increasing or decreasing. This can result in small leaks or seepage.

This is very true.

 

[eschoendorff]

The spring type clamps are actually superior to the old style worm drive clamps.

They are called constant tension clamps. As temperature changes, they maintain a constant pressure on the hose to prevent small leaks.

The old worm drive style clamps have a fixed pressure. As temperature changes, their tension changes, either increasing or decreasing. This can result in small leaks or seepage.

Mine on by 1994 Chevy Silverado must be deteriorating, because they don't seem to be keeping a good steady pressure on the hose... things be leaking. I was gonna replace the hose and get the worm clamps, but now I think I'll just get new spring steel ones...

 

[Merkava_4]

Matco says they're ratcheting, but I don't see the ratcheting mechanism; do you?

 

[wilbilt]

Matco says they're ratcheting, but I don't see the ratcheting mechanism; do you?

Yep. Its that lever on the side.

It's a single-click ratchet.

 

[Merkava_4]

That lever on the side is just the lock; isn't it?

 

[krusty the clown]

yes but it ratchets

 

[bchee]

are you guys messing around or what? It's a single click ratchet mechanism, so technically it ratchets? pure evil

 

[wilbilt]

are you guys messing around or what? It's a single click ratchet mechanism, so technically it ratchets? pure evil

Actually, I don't own one, so maybe it does click more than once.

I am almost always messing around. Hopefully, people don't take my comments too seriously when I am in humor mode.