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looking for sheet metal bending pliers...

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gotmud13613

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I know you said you were looking for USA, but I have been bending alot of sheet metal with these HF :shocking:sheet metal pliers. nice crisp bends, no sign of tool wear or breakage and at only $5 I consider them kinda disposable :thumbup:
 

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Stephenw

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They're called hand seamers. You can get the Wiss brand, U.S.A. made, from Home Depot for $28.
 

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Rickster

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I have an old-school Pexio 794 I could sell you for $10 plus a couple of bucks for shipping, if your interested!

802983_294_full.jpg
 
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danski0224

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eschoendorff said:
Like these, but from a USA company if possible:

http://grizzly.com/products/H5958

Anyone got any favorites? I'd really like them made by Channellock, but I cannot find any....
Click to expand...

The best: http://www.klenktools.com/Main/Products/Tongs-SeamersNew.asp

The Malcos ****- the handles mash together over time.

There are European versions available through places like NA Bocker, but they are quite (like over $100.00) expensive. These are similar to the Fairmont tongs, but built better... I have had my Fairmonts for 10 years.

I suppose an architectural sheet metal person would spend the extra money on the Euro stuff.

The vintage Pextos are not flat inside the jaw area (there is a step by the hinge area), so they are not so good for flattening... at least I have not yet seen a pair with 100% flat jaws. Nice tools, though.
 
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goodfellow

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NoVA
gotmud13613 said:
I know you said you were looking for USA, but I have been bending alot of sheet metal with these HF :shocking:sheet metal pliers. nice crisp bends, no sign of tool wear or breakage and at only $5 I consider them kinda disposable :thumbup:
Click to expand...

+1 on the HF pliers. They work well --

Grizzly pliers are Asian -- probably the same as the HF
 
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Stuey

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Malco, Wiss, Klein.

I believe that Malco and Klein offer compound action tools, but the Wiss does not.

Malco 3" seamer - this has been in my Amazon shopping cart for several months now. Maybe I'll bite if someone here offers a good review on it.
 
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wantedabiggergarage

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I bought my pair from an estate sale of a friend, and then I saw them at Sears, once I knew what they were. Prior to that, I had ALWAY seen them used by glass people for breaking off pieces.
 
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rsanter

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visalia ca
I have a set of the HF ones and they work fine for the limited use they get. I have also seen where people make their own with some simple fab work. also there is a version that was make by vise-grip that I have that are rather helpfull.

one that I saw that a guy made (and that I want) was made from a 12" or 14" crecent wrench, they welded some flat stock that looked to be about 5/16 in the jaws and about 3 in wide. you can clamp them into the metal and then give it a pull

bob
 
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eschoendorff

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Wow, thanks guys.

I saw teh Malcos at HD, but I do not like teh handles - They just didn't feel like they would hold up very well.

I guess my problem is that I have been looking for sheet metal pliers instead of hand seamers.
 
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eschoendorff

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I'm kinda bummed that I cannot find any by Knipex, Channellock or Snap On. Those were the brands that i was really hoping to shop....
 
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Bob Paulin

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The "Big Box" stores also have a set of pliers - usually in the roofing area - that have diffferent sized - up to about 12" - replacement jaws available.

Many of the metalworkers I know, also keep a set of glass pliers handy for tight areas.
 
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Uncle Buck

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I have 3-4 different versions of the Malco seamers, and a notcher or two. I bought them used and paid 5-8 per pair years ago. I have no issues with them. Hang in there and find them used if you do not have an immediate need.
 
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TheToolMan

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N.J.
Stuey said:
I would NOT recommend those to anybody. They're so sheety that they heavily gauged my sheet!
Click to expand...

HUH i never had a problem maybe i just dont know what good sheet metal pliers are. They have done everything i have ever asked of them. Never once have the ever ''gauged my sheet'':)
 
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rickairmedic

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I have had the same full set of Malco's for over 10 years and the only ones that I am ready to replace are the 3" straights which get the most use of the 3 differant ones . I do alot of hand seaming and bending and Malco is the brand you will find most often in HVAC supply houses.


Rick
 
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eschoendorff

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hholmberg said:
I have 3-4 different versions of the Malco seamers, and a notcher or two. I bought them used and paid 5-8 per pair years ago. I have no issues with them. Hang in there and find them used if you do not have an immediate need.
Click to expand...

Good to know. I think I'll probably go with the Malcos eventually.:thumbup:
 
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eschoendorff

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TheToolMan said:
i have the vise grip brand and would suggest them to anybody
Click to expand...

Not looking for locking pliers... but if I were, I would definitely try the Snap On/Grip Ons. I was playing with some Vise Grips in the store the other day.... they just don't seem to be as good as the used to be.
 
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danski0224

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eschoendorff said:
Good to know. I think I'll probably go with the Malcos eventually.:thumbup:
Click to expand...

Malcos are good if you do not abuse them.

If you are doing sheet metal every day, the Malcos will be abused.

If the seamers are needed just once in a while, then you should get decent use out of them.

The Fairmont tongs are a much better tool, for not much more money than the Malcos or Wiss versions.

The Vice Grip versions do **** for finish work- there is a crown in the jaw that results from being welded to the Vice Grip tool body, and it will gouge the metal you are working with. It can be fixed, and the "new" retail versions are not US made.
 
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speed bump

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Butte Montana
eschoendorff said:
I'm kinda bummed that I cannot find any by Knipex, Channellock or Snap On. Those were the brands that i was really hoping to shop....
Click to expand...

Why? I work in the refrigeration business and everytime I go do AC work for tin benders they all have the Malcos or the Kleins.
 
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eschoendorff

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Merkava_4 said:
They look significantly different is why I was wondering. :headscrat
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I dunno... but I bought the tongs because they seem much heavier duty. Solid forged pieces instead of bent sheet metal. I don't intend to simply bend thin gauge duct metal with these things... and the tongs seemed like they could stand up to more heavy use.
 
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