Kobalt Tool issue

[Rick B.]

View media item 99709
I have a set of the above pliers and I really dislike the big rubber grips. If possible I would like to remove the grips and just rubber dip the handles. Any ideas on how to remove the grips?

 

[jg4660]

Try slitting them with a razor.

 

[Holt]

Maybe put them In a deep freeze and break them off.

 

[seber]

Maybe put them In a deep freeze and break them off.

Let us know if that works. It would be a brand to avoid if it does.

 

[thin_concrete]

Soak the grips in Simple Green or Purple Zep, then slice them off with a razor.

 

[JDotson]

The ones as work come off by themselves half the time.

 

[bob15]

Razor blade or heat them with a hair dryer or heat gun.....

Might need to use a shot of carb cleaner or acetone to clean the handles themselves before re-dipping.

 

[ganymede]

Id try running them under hot water for a minute or two, then see if theyll slide off.
That way you might be able to get the grips back on if the handles are worse without em.

 

[ganymede]

The adjustable Kobalt pliers are junk. I guess it doesn't matter if you have handle coatings or not.

 

[darkzero]

I say heat em too.

Maybe put them In a deep freeze and break them off.

I highly doubt that would work unless you use liquid nitrogen. Would definitely be more fun then heating them though.

 

[darkzero]

Anyone had any luck dipping tool handles? I dipped a screwdriver handle in plastidip once, it wasn't very thick didn't last long. I only dipped once though. Or is there a better product?

 

[ganymede]

Anyone had any luck dipping tool handles? I dipped a screwdriver handle in plastidip once, it wasn't very thick didn't last long. I only dipped once though. Or is there a better product?

Kinda liking the aftermarket plastic handles Klein sells. Klein Kote.

 

[darkzero]

Kinda liking the aftermarket plastic handles Klein sells. Klein Kote.

I had no idea those existed. I may have to try them out someday. Thanks.

 

[seagull369]

If you wanted to salvage the grips in case you change you mind down the road, try spraying some 40WD down each one. Work it in, let it sit for a bit then see if you can pull them off. You could also try pouring boiling water on them.

 

[measuredtwice]

Are you planning on using Plasti-Dip? It's not nearly as nice as commercial dipped handles.

Frankly, I think you'd be better off putting the money toward new pliers instead of Plasti-Dip. The Plastic-Dip will cost around 1/2 the price of the 5 piece set of Kobalt pliers. Add the value of your time spent coating 5 pliers and you could have paid for a new set and had money left over.

Kinda liking the aftermarket plastic handles Klein sells. Klein Kote.

5 packs of Klein Kote would cost more than double the price of his 5 piece set of Kobalt pliers.

 

[mudflap]

Start a bonfire with skids..toss them in..dig them out of the ashes later and the grips will be gone. Then toss them in a mud puddle. Will solve your problem, plus the home forging job will probably be better than how they were.

 

[bob from indiana]

Maybe make them a car set and get another brand for the shop.

 

[bwringer]

Dip them in boiling water for a few minutes (bend some wire to rig up a rack of some sort across the pan to keep the grabby bits out of the water), then don good hot pads and pull the grips off.

I really, really hate these stupid gigantic greebly plastic grips, and I've done this several times.

That said, sometimes what you're left with underneath works pretty well, sometimes it doesn't. No way to tell until you're committed.

That said, if you don't like what's revealed, you can sometimes get the grips back on the same way. Make sure the grips and handles are completely dry, and maybe some sort of adhesive would be a good idea.

 

[RTM]

That said, if you don't like what's revealed, you can sometimes get the grips back on the same way. Make sure the grips and handles are completely dry, and maybe some sort of adhesive would be a good idea.

Hair spray used to be a nice choice for bike hand grips, lubed to apply, then dried sticky afterwards.

 

[seber]

I always used acetone to apply motorcycle grips. It will evaporate right through the plastic.

 

[Davefr]

Plasti-Dip is total ****. It's just thick paint and will quickly wear off. Don't waste your money.

Thick wall heat shrink tubing will be better.

Does anyone know if Snap On or Swanstrom style cushion grip sleeving is available in bulk? It's the perfect grip and nearly indestructable?

 

[measuredtwice]

Plasti-Dip is total ****. It's just thick paint and will quickly wear off. Don't waste your money.

Thick wall heat shrink tubing will be better.

Does anyone know if Snap On or Swanstrom style cushion grip sleeving is available in bulk? It's the perfect grip and nearly indestructable?

It would seem that Tronex handles (same/similar to Swanstrom?) are made by Harman Corp since they prominently show Tronex branding on a pliers. I had intended to call them for minimum order quantity but forgot and then lost their web page when I closed my browser. After reading your post, I dug up the link.

If someone looks into ordering from them, please report back with the details. I'm interested but just haven't gotten around to contacting them.

https://www.harmancorp.com/search-by-industry/hand-tools/

 

[mickeyone]

Sell and by the Quinn pliers at HF way better than Kobalt

 

[Busted Knucles]

Shave them down to your liking.
Plastidip sux. Crumbles right off.