Hose Pinch Pliers

[steelespeed]

I have a $50 gift card for Sears and I am thinking about adding a set of hose pinch pliers to my toolbox.

Sears sells two versions, one made of metal and the other of plastic. The metal versions look like they might do less potential damage to a hose, but they are also kind of bulky.

Are they worth it? Do they work? Which version is preferred?

Thanks.

 

[Big Bad Jon]

The KD tools re-branded c-man ones are great. I have the "same" blue point ones and they do not damage hoses at all.

 

[Stuey]

I have the two smaller sizes from this set, one KD branded, one Craftsman branded.

I used the pliers on soft PVC tubing, and while they did create a few small marks on the tubing, it wasn't any more than was expected.

I cannot seem to find a link to the plastic ones, but I remember what they look like. Personally, I much prefer the metal ones as they have a much more secure feel to them.

 

[volpster31]

i use the metal craftsman ones almost daily...they work great & the new style are much better..the older versions had a locking mechanism that i wore out on a few sets.the new ones dont use that anymore..ive seen the plastic ones,but the metal ones are so good i stick with them

 

[rsanter]

I have both
they work well
I think I like the metal ones better

bob

 

[Tool Pants]

I have this and used them a few times. The jaws are wide and did not cause damage.

 

[mrshaun]

I left a pair of the blue point ones on a hose for 9 months on my truck. the heater control cable broke and I didnt want to rip the front end off this truck to fix it. SO i just used a pair and after 9 months of outside road film and exposure they came right off and worked well.

 

[rsanter]

I think I may have a couple of the plastic Cman type (2 smaller sizes) that are spare

bob

 

[JWink]

I have the metal ones and they do work great. I deffinatly recomend them. I do wish I had a smaller pair like in the picture above.

 

[Joe B.]

I have the plastic ones but I have not needed them yet. If I rememeber correctly, they were made in Australia. That was kind of uncommon for Craftsman.

 

[isr2kba]

Are they worth it? Do they work? Which version is preferred?

Thanks.

Yes, Yes and metal. I had a metal set in my emergency Jeep tool kit. When I blew a rear brake hose, I clamped that sucker on and duct taped it to the axle. It stayed like that for two years and held up just fine under plowing and four-wheeling conditions.

The self respecting members might be annoyed with me, but when I took it apart to fix the damage, I found that it was rusted solid so I swapped it out under warranty at Sears. I bought another one at the same time so I can have one in my Jeep bag and the other in my toolbox.

 

[bgott]

Needle nose Vise Grips. Yes, you can screw up a hose if you cramp 'em down too tight. I'm careful and have never screwed up a hose.

 

[Rnz520]

While the needle nose ones work really well if you wrap a rag around the hose first the others ones are much better in the sense that you can clamp it tighter without worrying about it.
Use them a lot to find air leaks when brake chambers in trucks are bleeding back.

 

[Valsmere]

I have the plastic ones but I have not needed them yet. If I rememeber correctly, they were made in Australia. That was kind of uncommon for Craftsman.

I just noticed that yesterday while I was messing with my set. I was planning on getting a set of the metal ones also in the near future.

 

[ossaguy]

I have both,and use the plastic ones the most.When I clamp the metal ones,unless the hose is exactly the center of the pivoting blade,they slide off.Anyone else experience that? Maybe I'm not doing it right.I wish they had a sandpaper-rough surface on them.I was going to try to apply some of that 3M no-slip adhesive backed paper on the jaw insides,see if that would help.
The plastic ones never slip.Putting rubber fuel line over the jaws of a needle nose vice grip works real good,also.

Steve

 

[Joe69]

.
Use them a lot to find air leaks when brake chambers in trucks are bleeding back.

That's a great idea, too bad many of our trucks have copper lines.

Joe

 

[caper]

Wow Joe you must have some old trucks.I haven't seen a truck with copper line in the shop in the last 15 yrs and it was an old truck then.

 

[caper]

I have metal and plastic ones.The orange Craftsman ones in this pic were bought on clearance at Princess Auto for $2 for a blisterpack of 2.I bought every set they had in the store.Got about 16 pairs for $16.

 

[Monte]

The plastic pinch off pliers from Australia and 2 different Grip-On versions

 

[Mr.Nutcase]

Yes, Yes and metal. I had a metal set in my emergency Jeep tool kit. When I blew a rear brake hose, I clamped that sucker on and duct taped it to the axle. It stayed like that for two years and held up just fine under plowing and four-wheeling conditions.

.

Really?? are you cheap?

 

[dede2897234]

The plastic pinch off pliers from Australia and 2 different Grip-On versions

Monte,

Can you please give us a mini review of the plastic Australian and 2 Grip-on pliers in terms of their effectiveness in pinching rubber and metal (just the right most Grip-on plier) automotive hose tubing?


Thanks,

Dave

 

[Joe H]

It stayed like that for two years

Two years!? wow

 

[Monte]

Monte,

Can you please give us a mini review of the plastic Australian and 2 Grip-on pliers in terms of their effectiveness in pinching rubber and metal (just the right most Grip-on plier) automotive hose tubing?


Thanks,

Dave

Hi Dave,

both the plastic and also the hose pinch off tools from Grip-on work without problems with small hoses:

On larger hoses there is no problem with the plastic tool - you just pinch the hose and slip the rectangular plastic ring towards the end of the handles. The Locking plier pinch off tool don`t work as good on larger hoses since you have to pinch the hose with your hands and then attach the pliers otherwise the pliers jaws have a gap which is too big so if you pinch the hose it is not tight enough so fluid can escape.

The Grip-on 129-07 pinch off tool can also pinch small hoses, but only very small ones. I didn`t try them with metal lines (didn`t find any) but i guess they work

But maybe these are the best (since they are automatically locking and have self leveling jaws) My brother once had the KD version (older ones with chrome metal handles like in the 2nd pic)

 

[Danglerb]

Lisle, HF, others sell a small hose clamp, basically a round metal bar bent in a L shape and threaded with a wingnut. Tighten the nut and L pulls up against a flat spot.

 

[Coach James]

HF also sells the plastic ones which is what I have. Only used once to change a fuel filter, but no problems.

Coach

 

[superautobacs]

The plastic ones sold at Sears/HF/Princess Auto are made by PBT (Private Brand Tools) in Queensland, Australia. They're called "Turtle Jaws"; click here for product features and info.

Caper, I got the same set from Princess Auto for dirt cheap.

 

[Monte]

 

[Jbullfrog]

I have had the orange Craftsman versions for over 10 years. They were a Craftsman new inovation back in the day. None of the trucks had anything like them for a few years. They work great on hoses, and they can be used for spark plug wires, as they are plastic. The plastic ones won't rust or corrode and they don't become slick when wet like the rubber grips on the metal ones.

Snap-on and the other trucks have the plastic ones in different colors, but they are all from the same tooling.

 

[itwnexus]

Radiator and Fuel Hose HD Pinch off Pliers $22.95

http://mercedessource.com/store/fluid-maintenance-radiator-and-fuel-hose-hd-pinch-pliers

Video comparing many versions of pinch off pliers:

 

[itwnexus]

Has any one tried the harbor freight Pittsburgh Radiator Hose Pinch-Off Pliers $14.99?

http://www.harborfreight.com/media/...b33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/i/m/image_12261.jpg

 

[cgv69]

Just recently got and used the 2.5" Sears model (metal). I used them to pinch off the brake line when replacing a caliper and they worked great. I used to use vice grips for that purpose but like these hose pinch pliers better. Now I have to find me the smaller 1.25" model

 

[mrborohachi]

I have this and used them a few times. The jaws are wide and did not cause damage.

the center ones are great they are some type of a friction locking mechanism. I remember when i bought my first pair when Mac came out with them in the early 2k's

 

[mrborohachi]

HF also sells the plastic ones which is what I have. Only used once to change a fuel filter, but no problems.

Coach

yeah don't forget about these http://www.shopperschoice.com/item_...=19250232502&gclid=CNSloeavvrYCFQ_ZQgodwT8AvA

Ive seen them at Sears before

 

[itwnexus]

A reviewer on amazon.com said the Lisle Hose Pinchers Set - 2 Pc. are part plastic and cheaply made. Only the wing nuts and thread are metal.

http://www.amazon.com/Lisle-22850-H...dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

 

[foreverfalcon40]

Radiator and Fuel Hose HD Pinch off Pliers $22.95

http://mercedessource.com/store/fluid-maintenance-radiator-and-fuel-hose-hd-pinch-pliers

Video comparing many versions of pinch off pliers:

I made a thread about this two weeks ago...

I was weary of the Cman Grips b/c there were a few reviews stating that they are hard to release and are knuckle busters. I did quick Search on Youtube came across that MBenz video. I fellow GJ member noted they were HF Pitsburg brand at a higher price. Ironically, there was 25% off coupon and I bought one (should have gotten two) for around $12 and they work like a charm!

Since you guys rated the C-man, I am going to purchase one myself on a F&F night.

Since we are on the topic of cutting hoses...is it wrong to ask what do you guys use to cut them? I ask this as I usually use a razor blade or razor bladed knife and I was a frowned upon at work...guy handed me this exact tool...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HOSE-CABLE-...521?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item460e222939

Worked Like a champ! Only thing that scares me, no name brand and these would see daily usage!

 

[itwnexus]

There is only one review of the harbor freight Pittsburgh Radiator Hose Pinch-Off Pliers $14.99 on harborfreight.com

foreverfalcon40, can you post a link to your thread about the harbor freight Pittsburgh Radiator Hose Pinch-Off Pliers? Are the harbor freight Pittsburgh Radiator Hose Pinch-Off Pliers better than the Craftsman Hose Pinch-Off Pliers?



http://www.harborfreight.com/radiator-hose-pinch-off-pliers-99704.html

 

[foreverfalcon40]

Link to thread: http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=194064

Which one is better? I am not sure since I stated before the reason why I elected not buy the CMan is that there were a few reviews that they were Knuckle busters b/c hard to release them. I choose Sears before I venture out onto the truck or some other brand. Is this case I was forced to use some other brand. Seems like the Cman design was similar to KD, SO, and Mac design. A guy in my thread even recommended making my own LOL. But I like these bc they have vise grips and vise grips are easy to release. I used the twice and one time was in a tight knit area. My knuckles are OK. Honestly if I were you...get the Cman since it is different sizes and if they do not work then you know where to return them and where to get them. I am going to bite the bullet on Family and Friends and get myself the set.

 

[itwnexus]

You can get 2 harbor freight Pittsburgh Radiator Hose Pinch-Off Pliers for $25 with a 20% off coupon. What is the advantage of buying the Cman Hose Pinch-Off Pliers?