Pliers; How Many Is Too Many?

[RTM]

These are top 5 favorite pliers in my collection, despite the fact that I have no idea what they're actually intended for. I just appreciate the design (as you can see, they operate on both ends, with specialty jaw configurations on the main ends, and those rings act as stops for the simple leaf springs when they're not in use) and the workmanship. They are very precise with not an ounce of slop. No markings (brand, COO, etc) of any kind.

Think those are a jeweler's tong tool, the ring acts like a vise or vice, depending on the continent.

Benj. Allen & Co. : Catalogue No. 22 of Watch Materials, Tools and Jewelers' Supplies : Benjamin Allen & Co. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

806 p., illus., 23.2 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

 

[Pexto]

My question is to find an adjustable width plier rack to use in a tool chest drawer. This is for daily use pliers, not collectibles. I tried the wire rack and it was inefficient. Anybody use the GearWrench rack?

I've got a GearWrench rack, and a wire Olsa rack. I like the Olsa, except that the fixed width doesn't work well for fat pliers like Knipex with comfort grip. Also, skinny pliers like Cobras flop around a lot. You would think that the GearWrench, being adjustable, would solve those problems, but it doesn't. The problem with the GearWrench is that it doesn't hold its adjustment. As soon as you take a pair of pliers out and close the drawer, everything shifts around and when you open the drawer back up to put your pliers away, they won't fit because the divider moved over. So you end up rearranging your pliers nearly every time you pull one out. Which is a drag.

The pliers drawer is in a bit of an uproar at the moment - I picked up some Toolganizer inserts on Black Friday but haven't gotten around to reorganizing yet.

Sorry for sidetracking the thread; I promise I'll do penance by posting a pic of some old Cronk pliers I've got!

 

[Pexto]

So here's that pair of Cronk pliers ... along with some Sargents. More pics of the Sargents on the parallel plier thread if you're interested (https://www.garagejournal.com/forum...o-keep-the-jaws-parallel.526766/post-10478603).

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Think those are a jeweler's tong tool...

Hey thanks, RTM! I was searching unsuccessfully for the thread where I first posted them, long gone, where someone (maybe you!) suggested they might be jeweler related. They were never ID'ed back then, as I recall, so I appreciate it. And yes, I have used them like a hand vise a few times.

 

[LesserSon]

Think those are a jeweler's tong tool, the ring acts like a vise or vice, depending on the continent.

Benj. Allen & Co. : Catalogue No. 22 of Watch Materials, Tools and Jewelers' Supplies : Benjamin Allen & Co. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

806 p., illus., 23.2 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

THANK YOU for posting that link, RTM! IDK why I never thought of looking for one, but that download is going to save me a lot of impatient waiting for LesserDóttir2 to get back to me about potential jewelers tools.
In addition to the fascinating specialized pliers (check out the side-cutting pliers, which I will no longer call diagonals) it’s got Bernard and 3-ring U-TI-CA logo cuts, hollow wood-handled multitool, Champion and North Bros screwdrivers, a “common” vise that looks Phoenix and an amateur vise that looks a little Bonney (just the swivel back jaw mount), alongside the Prentisses and Parkers.

 

[d42jeep]

My Klein collection is probably an example of too many pliers

-Don

 

[nadogail]

If you have room in your tool box and are not tripping over them, you will find it is impossible to own too many tools.

 

[d42jeep]

Plenty of room in the Klein box.
The trip hazard is too many toolboxes.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Pexto pliers
Kraeuter pliers
Lectrolite/Tru-fit pliers
Bernard etc. pliers
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Bell System and related pliers.
Three marked Klein on the opposite side.
-Don

 

[MisterEd]

Gray USA

 

[MisterEd]

Not so distant relatives?

 

[engineer2]

I ended up getting the Gearwrench storage racks. So far so good.

 

[Mintgrun]

I find baking pans useful for shop organization and bread pans work well for pliers (and stuff). Alternating the pliers allows for fairly dense storage.


I was feeling like I may have too many when they were taking up valuable bench space, but I added a board at the back, which allowed me to stack them up out of the way.






I like having the needle nose pliers out where I can see them.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I added a board at the back, which allowed me to stack them up out of the way.

"Out of sight, out of... excessive quantity judgementalism!"

I like having the needle nose pliers out where I can see them.

There's an interesting pair of what I will call "spoonbills" in there. (Let's see if you know which pliers I am referring to without me having to circle them.) I'm curious who made them.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I find baking pans useful for shop organization and bread pans work well for pliers (and stuff).

I like dual-/re-use ideas like this. (The problem for me then usually becomes salvaging enough of the things I am repurposing.) As a bonus, the interplay between the various textures of the pans and the grips on the pliers is aesthetically pleasing. There are a lot of cool patterns going on in a few square inches!

 

[Mintgrun]

There's an interesting pair of what I will call "spoonbills" in there. (Let's see if you know which pliers I am referring to without me having to circle them.) I'm curious who made them.

I'm guessing you mean this pair that I shared in post #21 of the Klein thread.

"Out of sight, out of... excessive quantity judgementalism!"

Well put. Thank you for not using the H-word.

I recently pulled out all of my hip-top carry boxes to snap a group photo and get a count of them. Seeing 21 boxes spread out on three tables had me wondering if I might have a problem. I've found places to tuck them out of the way, but there's room for improvement... if I only had more room!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I'm guessing you mean this pair...

Eeeyup. Very cool. I don't have any duckbills that are that rounded, either on the backside of the jaws as it tapers, or on the nose. Hence my reference to spoonbills. They're very unusual.

 

[Mintgrun]

I like dual-/re-use ideas like this. (The problem for me then usually becomes salvaging enough of the things I am repurposing.) As a bonus, the interplay between the various textures of the pans and the grips is aesthetically pleasing. There are a lot of cool patterns going on in a few square inches!

Many of my pans came out of the St. Vincent DePaul scrap metal bin, but unfortunately, the store has moved to a new location and no longer has an accessible bin. They'd toss the pans that were too dirty to cook in, but they're fine for old tools and such. Baking sheets are really useful too. Especially, for storing things like screwdrivers. I also use them to contain small project parts/pieces/tools and it makes it easier to move them out of the way and set them aside.

Some of those pans came from the kitchen department inside the store; where they're still cheap enough to be worth grabbing. (items in the bins were $.25 each) I especially like the starburst style. The folded-up pans are nice because they fit together tightly. I use them to organize inside of drawers too. (There's one of the tabbed-style pans in the group shot that shows how I like to bend the tabs down, to make them more compact). The larger pans on the bottom row are ganged up in groups of four.

I used to enjoy combing the scrap metal bin at the Habitat store too, but for sumb dumb reason, they put up a sign saying it is off-limits now. It's such a waste to scrap the tools/things they deem unworthy of selling.

 

[MisterEd]

K-D No. 605 Valve Keeper Inserter

 

[Outlawmws]

Here is an odd p[air of dykes I picked up last weekend branded "Lakeside" adn my only Lakeside pliers. I was surprised as my inventory has other Lakeside tools but only one per category: BP Hammer (10 oz), adjustable (crescent style, 12"), DBE wrench, (1/2 - 9/16). A vise lake side - two words, so a different co.) (homeowners, on the welding bench).

Without a physical search I can't recall if any others have the same script (maybe the BP hammer).

Does anyone recognize the grip pattern? I'd guess these were made buy one of the bigger Pliers companies, the Pentagonal pin head is also an indicator (round on the far side) Inside the grips are marked "Made in USA" inset panel, raised letters

 

[four.cycle]

^ not a clue, but that is Montgomery Ward "Lakeside", not Lakeside Forge "Lakeside".

 

[Outlawmws]

Thx FC I think someone mentioned MW for either my hammer or the wrench - possibly both, so noted in my Inventory now so I won't forget. the Hammer (I found it hanging on the side of my inside Bench Main box) had the Lakeside underlined, and on closer inspection so does the Dykes. -I wonder if these are similar era to Long C Craftsma?

 

[Outlawmws]

Yes it is, and earlier than the Long C Craftsman based in the 1931 catalogs pages you have posted FC. trying to track down when they stoped using Lakeside on tools now...

 

[d42jeep]

Here are my Lakeside pliers. My handle pattern is different.
An ad posted by BK.

I don’t remember seeing any safety wire pliers on this thread although I could have missed them. I found these at an estate sale today. Does anyone recognize the brand?
-Don

 

[Cc_windsurfer]

Too many is two more sets than you currently own.

 

[Outlawmws]

Don, Most aviatin safety wire pliers are Robinson in my experiance but I also have a pair of Milbar, adn have seen unbranded,

 

[Farmer J.]

Time to post up some of my pliers. Starting with Elliott Lucas, here's the back of the packaging of the NOS ones I recently bought and posted upthread:

Some big ones my Father bought me around 1969, they're well worn.

 

[Farmer J.]

T Williams, Tilton Road, Birmingham slip joints. I also have some of these with the 'Ford' script on them.

 

[Farmer J.]

Some German made favourites, both made from Chrom-Vanadium. Heyco water pump pliers came in the tool kit of a Claas combine harvester in the 1960's, incredibly strong and great leverage they have seen a lot of use. I have never found out who in West Germany actually made the pipe grips but they're really good. Similar ones are still made today by Knipex and Bahco.

 

[Farmer J.]

Some other 'old English' ones. The left hand side ones are by Steadfast Sheffield.

 

[Farmer J.]

The 'International Black Handle Brigade'. All smallish the ones i grab for more delicate work. German STAHL end nippers, American Wiss snips, 'Germany' pliers, Elliot Lucas circlip pliers with broken tips so became 'wire bending pliers', and NOS Trident side cutters.

 

[Farmer J.]

Here's my Snap On's, not as old as some of the ones posted above but they've seen the most use in the workshop, and no slack in the pivots yet.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Does anyone recognize the brand?

Here is my wartime (1944 patent) Robinson Jet Twister for comparison, Don. I see several notable differences between it and your example, including the shape of the torpedo nose on the screw tube, the number of perforations in the attachment arm on the screw tube, and the shape of the twist knob and its knurling. My understanding is that Milbar took over operations for Robinson. That would lead me to conclude they would be indistinguishable in construction, made from the same dies, parts, and techniques. But perhaps they made modifications. I don't know, and I don't have a Milbar or any others to compare.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Time to post up some of my pliers.

Nice!

The 'International Black Handle Brigade'.

Snerk.

 

[d42jeep]

Here is my wartime (1944 patent) Robinson Jet Twister for comparison, Don. I see several notable differences between it and your example, including the shape of the torpedo nose on the screw tube, the number of perforations in the attachment arm on the screw tube, and the shape of the twist knob and its knurling. My understanding is that Milbar took over operations for Robinson. That would lead me to conclude they would be indistinguishable in construction, made from the same dies, parts, and techniques. But perhaps they made modifications. I don't know, and I don't have a Milbar or any others to compare.

Thanks, Lugz. Good information.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

@Private Lugnutz -
that's a new one for me. Patent 2394807 was issued Feb 12 1946 to Ralph C. Robinson. no assignee.
who actually manufactured that unit?
is the "Milbar" you refer to the "Milbar" that was formerly "Imperial" and then subsequently "Stride"? (pp 59-73)

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Sorry. Patent applied for in 1944. I'm pretty sure he started his own company with his last name as the business name, but I am not sure. And I don't know anything about Milbar other than that name is still in use on wire twisters.

 

[four.cycle]

okay... no harm, no foul... just trying to figure out HOW to enter him in the list... he's under his name now with "see alsos" to the other two names. looks like "Stride" got acquired by "DiversiTech"

from Stride website: "Bright Solutions, Milbar, and Lakeland Products are its brand lines."

StrideTool is the parent company of "Imperial" (established 1905), as well as Milbar (established 1956)

DiversiTech acquired "StrideTool" in 2019.

"DiversiTech" still markets their safety wire twisting pliers as "Imperial"

presumably they're still being made in Glenwillow, Ohio.

 

[Farmer J.]

"DiversiTech" still markets their safety wire twisting pliers as "Imperial"

presumably they're still being made in Glenwillow, Ohio.

Yes, according to their website. Glenwillow, Ohio.

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