OTC vs Gearwrench hose clamp pliers
- Thread starter GophersGarage
- Start date
richfinn
Well-known member
I have the Knipex, brilliant tool worth every penny, use them daily
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Ricky Joe
Well-known member
I’ve got several brands based off of the K-D model. I’d just get cheap ones. Sometimes you don’t need premium brands at premium prices.
jsmeece
Well-known member
I think I have a pair or two of that type, can't remember what brand but I don't like them very much. I have the Astro cable version which are much nicer.
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619DioFan
Well-known member
I have the 2 piece otc set shown. work very well for me.
dnschmidt
Well-known member
As is always the case the best answer is Knipex. But they cost a fortune. According to Fedwrench he prefers the 7 inch model over the ten inch. Fed's a very wise man so I'd take his word for it.
pooterguy
Well-known member
My favorite is Diamond KC-18. Made in USA , but rather pricey - $1.00 at garage sale.
dnschmidt
Well-known member
Worked on Corbin style clamps but useless on constant tension clamps which have been industry standard for the last 30 years. There is a reason you got them for a buck. It is true that Diamond Tool and Horseshoe made really great pliers.My favorite is Diamond KC-18. Made in USA , but rather pricey - $1.00 at garage sale.
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I purchased the Knipex ones like @richfinn posted above several years ago and really like them. I have both sizes and they work as advertised.
However, I recently purchased a pair of these Assenmacher ones and these are now my "go-to" pliers for constant tension hose clamps.
www.jbtools.com
However, I recently purchased a pair of these Assenmacher ones and these are now my "go-to" pliers for constant tension hose clamps.
Assenmacher SCP2014 Spring Clamp Plier
Buy Assenmacher SCP2014 Spring Clamp Plier with an everyday low price and fast shipping! JB Tool Sales
www.jbtools.com
pooterguy
Well-known member
But is it okay for me to use them anyway since I don't own industry-standard anything manufactured in the last 30 years?
dnschmidt
Well-known member
Interesting. It looks to me that you could take any pair of slip joint pliers and a die grinder and make a do-it-yourself version of these quite easily.I purchased the Knipex ones like @richfinn posted above several years ago and really like them. I have both sizes and they work as advertised.
However, I recently purchased a pair of these Assenmacher ones and these are now my "go-to" pliers for constant tension hose clamps.
Assenmacher SCP2014 Spring Clamp Plier
Buy Assenmacher SCP2014 Spring Clamp Plier with an everyday low price and fast shipping! JB Tool Sales
I have these pliers as well, along with Craftsman pliers like in the OP’s pictures and Mayhew cable actuated ones.My favorite is Diamond KC-18. Made in USA , but rather pricey - $1.00 at garage sale.
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Yes you could. I just didn't have any I wanted to sacrifice and these were reasonably priced and work great. I actually have only used my Knipex ones once since I purchased these.
I have the OTC set and they work great. I also have the Knipex, I bought them years after having the OTC, and yes they're crazy expensive, but they are also great. I have both sizes of the Knipex, but I don't think I've ever needed to use the larger size.
If I was buying now, I'd get the smaller Knipex.
If I was buying now, I'd get the smaller Knipex.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Not really. The AST and countless clones on amazon jaws are about twice as thick as a regular pair of slip joint pliers. if access isn't an issue requiring the use of cable operated hose clamp pliers, the AST style are outstanding and simple.
SE tools also make some simple constant pressure hose clamp pliers.
And the 10" are $15 less than the 7"?
vssjim
ALLIANCE MEMBER
KD is now GearWrench and many of the part numbers are still the same
I am a DIY'er and purchased the Gearwrench 3976D hose clamp pliers. I think they are difficult to use. I usually end up trying them and then switching to a regular pair of pliers. Maybe it's user error, but I just don't like them. Those Knipex looked nice, until I saw the price.
Between the Knipex and these in Mac Tools flavor handle all my spring clamp needs.I purchased the Knipex ones like @richfinn posted above several years ago and really like them. I have both sizes and they work as advertised.
However, I recently purchased a pair of these Assenmacher ones and these are now my "go-to" pliers for constant tension hose clamps.
Assenmacher SCP2014 Spring Clamp Plier
Buy Assenmacher SCP2014 Spring Clamp Plier with an everyday low price and fast shipping! JB Tool Sales
WWheeler
Well-known member
I've never used hose clamp pliers like the ones mentioned so far. Perhaps they are best used on some type of clamp I've just not yet ran into yet.
Of the two I have, the locking vise grip style are my most used. They are easy and familiar to use and lock on and stay on a clamp really well when attacking it from any angle. These are Gearwrench which I've had for 10 years or so and AFAIK they don't sell any more but Mac and Eastwood have similar versions.
Eastwood 9" ($27) : https://www.eastwood.com/eastwood-9-hose-clamp-locking-plier.html
Mac 9" ($47) : https://www.mactools.com/products/hcp901
Mac 7" ($42) : https://www.mactools.com/products/hcp900
The Mayhew cable type hose clamp pliers I have also work very well, even easier to use tbh, but are more bulky to grab and put back. I tend to reserve them for those hard to get to ones especially where the last person to touch a clamp looks like they tried to purposefully put it in an awkward position for the next guy (or gal) to get to, which is unfortunately not rare.
Of the two I have, the locking vise grip style are my most used. They are easy and familiar to use and lock on and stay on a clamp really well when attacking it from any angle. These are Gearwrench which I've had for 10 years or so and AFAIK they don't sell any more but Mac and Eastwood have similar versions.
Eastwood 9" ($27) : https://www.eastwood.com/eastwood-9-hose-clamp-locking-plier.html
Mac 9" ($47) : https://www.mactools.com/products/hcp901
Mac 7" ($42) : https://www.mactools.com/products/hcp900
The Mayhew cable type hose clamp pliers I have also work very well, even easier to use tbh, but are more bulky to grab and put back. I tend to reserve them for those hard to get to ones especially where the last person to touch a clamp looks like they tried to purposefully put it in an awkward position for the next guy (or gal) to get to, which is unfortunately not rare.
Mayhew Pro 28680 (I think snap-on rebranded these for a while) and Gearwrench locking hose clamp pliers are my go tos. I don't think Gearwrench sells this type any more, shame though because they work great. They bite and hold until you're ready to move the clamp back for install. IIRC Eastwood was selling a lookalike tool these days.
visionguru
Well-known member
I have this:
Quite handy when I was replacing the radiator hoses on my Honda. It was less than $20, the same OTC brand, and model number.
Wow, $58! quite a mark up.
OP
GophersGarage
Well-known member
I saw these ones from Lisle (long version)
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OP
GophersGarage
Well-known member
these are Muller-Kueps
OP
GophersGarage
Well-known member
short version of Lisle
OP
GophersGarage
Well-known member
Regarding Cable style I was going to go with Mayhew version which is same as snap on and mac but which version is better ?
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
The main advantage the one on the left has over the pair on the right, is ease of cable replacement. There's also more plastic in the cable end (the part that compresses the ears on the constant tension type hose clamp. To me the important part of cable operated pliers, is the latch or locking lever in the middle of the pliers. You want one the that has several teeth like a saw blade over the single notch type. The one with several teeth can lock in a number of positions whereas, the single notch only locks in a single position requiring more hand tension on your part when trying to reposition a clamp during installation.Regarding Cable style I was going to go with Mayhew version which is same as snap on and mac but which version is better ?
OP
GophersGarage
Well-known member
Great info. Thanks for taking the time to explain. So the one on the left is the updated version and I can see the the teeth are more so better clicking options from what you are trying to describe correct?The main advantage the one on the left has over the pair on the right, is ease of cable replacement. There's also more plastic in the cable end (the part that compresses the ears on the constant tension type hose clamp. To me the important part of cable operated pliers, is the latch or locking lever in the middle of the pliers. You want one the that has several teeth like a saw blade over the single notch type. The one with several teeth can lock in a number of positions whereas, the single notch only locks in a single position requiring more hand tension on your part when trying to reposition a clamp during installation.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Yes.