Milwaukee locking pliers Vs Snap On Locking pliers

[Stooge]

Yeah, right after I ordered them, I thought I should have found the Grip On flavored bright orange ones so they wouldn't blend into a cluttered work bench as easily. the hex is actually just a jam nut, for I guess if you are repeating something, it would make it easier to lock it in at the correct spacing every time? $21 through MSC with corporate discount.

20180330_095311 by Dan Haas, on Flickr

 

[Stooge]

The HFT Bremen locking pliers are actually pretty nice. The 1/4" drive recess is a great idea and doesn't add any bulk. They are definitely a step down in terms of overall finish quality compared to the Milwaukees...something about them just seems a little "cheap" - hard to describe. However, they're like half the price...and they're definitely not half the quality. They still seem pretty tight overall. And the effortless return policy. I don't know...they seem like an excellent value. I plan on giving the 18" one a shot.

how long has Bremen been a brand at HF? I have a pair of the 18" HF ones that I bought a few years ago and they are really sloppy but I chalked it up to being extra long. most of my welding C clamps are from there, but I haven't bought any new ones in in probably 4 or 5yrs, (im guessing mine are Pittsburgh brand ones?). I don't remember how sloppy the 6" and 11" ones were when they were new, but they've served their purpose, are getting pretty beat up, and i need some new ones. although i'll probably buy a few pairs of the Proto/ Grip On ones, if the new HF ones are much better than the old HF ones, I might have to grab a handful of them.

 

[Locker537]

Can anyone recommend a pair, or at least the throat size, for compressing brake caliper pistons?

Given my timely need, I might just grab what I can find at home depot or HF.

 

[DerekV]

how long has Bremen been a brand at HF? I have a pair of the 18" HF ones that I bought a few years ago and they are really sloppy but I chalked it up to being extra long. most of my welding C clamps are from there, but I haven't bought any new ones in in probably 4 or 5yrs, (im guessing mine are Pittsburgh brand ones?). I don't remember how sloppy the 6" and 11" ones were when they were new, but they've served their purpose, are getting pretty beat up, and i need some new ones. although i'll probably buy a few pairs of the Proto/ Grip On ones, if the new HF ones are much better than the old HF ones, I might have to grab a handful of them.

All of the Pittsburgh ones have always been the total bottom of the barrel. They make Irwins looks top shelf. The Bremmen ones are completely different in every way. They've been out for a few months now I think. I messed around with the 18" ones in the store and they are seemingly on-par with my 18" Milwaukees, which are really good. The pliers and 11" clamps seem just ok compared to the Milwaukees, but they're definitely not bad and they're half the price. Important to note: I've never actually used the Bremmens, so they could be great or total junk. Short story = they are not the same as the Pittsburgh.

 

[Stooge]

Can anyone recommend a pair, or at least the throat size, for compressing brake caliper pistons?

Given my timely need, I might just grab what I can find at home depot or HF.

cant help you there, I've always just used a big C clamp to compress calipers unless they were the style that needed to be turned back. if the calipers are the standard style, just go to home depot, HF or lowes and get whatever heavy duty c clamp they have that has atleast a 6 or 8" opening. or a big pair of water pump/ tongue & groove pliers that would fit the caliper, though I would opt for the c clamp. Not sure what the advantage to a pair of locking pliers would be for compressing calipers.

 

[Locker537]

Stooge, the advantage is you can often compress individual pistons in say, a 4 piston caliper. But your point is valid. I don't think it's absolutely necessary.

 

[Stooge]

All of the Pittsburgh ones have always been the total bottom of the barrel. They make Irwins looks top shelf. The Bremmen ones are completely different in every way. They've been out for a few months now I think. I messed around with the 18" ones in the store and they are seemingly on-par with my 18" Milwaukees, which are really good. The pliers and 11" clamps seem just ok compared to the Milwaukees, but they're definitely not bad and they're half the price. Important to note: I've never actually used the Bremmens, so they could be great or total junk. Short story = they are not the same as the Pittsburgh.

thanks, i'll to go check them out, as I've been having to dig through my cache of them to find some working, non warped, non cut ones when I need to use them lately. time to thin the heard and replace the really junk ones with slightly less junk ones!

 

[Stooge]

Stooge, the advantage is you can often compress individual pistons in say, a 4 piston caliper. But your point is valid. I don't think it's absolutely necessary.

ah, gotcha, didn't think about the calipers with more than 2 pistons, I guess I could see that being helpful. I've always just layed the old brake pad over the pistons and compressed against that so they compress evenly, but 4 pistons could be a little more finicky.