How to reduce snap ring plier tip size?

[Joelk]

I shop at a lot of surplus/discount places. They often get good stuff in at good prices, but usually not a good selection.

I have several sets of SR Pliers with interchangeable tips. They usually work OK, but I like a set of fixed tip SR Pliers a lot better, I just don't like the typical cost to own a quality set.

I recently bought and used some SR Pliers and they seem to be of good quality, but the tips are too big for a lot of the snap rings that I work with. The tips are not interchangeable and all of the SR Pliers that they have, have that same tip size.

The price is good and the quality seems to be good so I bought another pair with intentions of modifying the tips.

I am a fairly good fabricator and have made/modified a lot of tools over the years, but I am NOT artistic, and not great at extreme precision work.

I could probably get a good result by manually grinding the tips down with a bench or hand held grinder, BUT is there a better way, some way that I could be assured of getting a near perfect result. If so, how?

Another option would be to weld tips on. I am a fairly good welder. Should I just weld on a set of "interchangeable tips"? Would the welding of the tips remove the heat treatment and turn them into something that would bend easily?

Any other (cheap and easy to obtain) material that would work good as weld on tips? If so, what and from where?

 

[lilredex]

You could get this set and adapt them to yours...don't weld.

https://www.gearwrench.com/pliers/g...e-tips-for-internal-snap-ring-pliers-445.html

 

[Joelk]

I have interchangeable tip SR Pliers, but have found that good quality fixed tips work better. That is why I want to modify a set.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Most people grind them, but that can affect the heat treat on the tips. I'd recommend buying two or three high quality pair in the sizes you use frequently. I'm a big fan of knipex, which you can sometimes find on Amazon warehouse for a very good price

 

[matt_i]

The tips are likely hardened so that rules out files.

However diemakers' stones are well within play. A 150 grit stone will go pretty fast.

A magnifier light might be another good tool to have, as well as a test-snap-ring which you can use to gauge progress.

Its not how I would go about it (I'd go buy a set of Knipex) but that's how I'd proceed without that option.

 

[dogdog]

$5 item ? I think sears used to have it for $3.95 or something. (NVM that was the clearance price)

anyways

just search for snap ring pliers tip plenty in amazon. Not sure, I would grind it though if I have to reduce some size on the ones I already have duplicates. If I have to...

Or sacrifice a set and see if it is something that is quench hardening like normal carbon steel does... I think it was to heat it to cherry red, then let it cool to anneal, and harden is quench for steel... don't remember the details...not all steel are anneal and harden that way though.

 

[dnschmidt]

Anything as cheap as snap right pliers aren't worth screwing with. I have the Lang set which has a bunch of sizes in both straight and bent.

 

[ChevyEFI]

I was fed up with replaceable tip style SR convertible pliers. I had a set. I got a new set of tips. I got another set. I tried to use small lock ring pliers, picks, etc. to make-do, but the actual problem was the replaceable tip styleis inferior to other options.

I bought a few sizes (not the whole set) I specifically needed in the the convertible forged tip Snap-On red handles. I think they have 4 tip sizes in 0deg, 45, and 90. I needed the bottom 3 sizes. So I don't have 9 extra pair taking up room.

There comes a time when you find the "didn't work well enough / failed / just didn't make me happy" tool needs replaced with higher-end quality tool. Then you can spend time getting work done instead of chasing your budget ideals handed down from your relatives who lived through the depression.

 

[Bogie1632]

You can get a 11 piece set on Amz for like $25. I'd bet even that Chinesium set would last longer than filing or grinding your existing tips.

I've had to grind many tips before to get a job done. While they got the job done they all ended up breaking at some point after. For long term use, IMHO, it's not worth it.

Just a thought.

Good luck.

V/R
Bogie

 

[fourjeepin]

I thought I was doing it wrong with the replaceable tip snap ring pliers are they always broke. Nothing but the fixed one for me now.

 

[bwringer]

Maybe a diamond file?

Mostly seems like a waste of time unless you're just that bored.