Quest for Good Snap Ring Pliers

[carbureted iron]

I'm at my wits end with crappy snap ring pliers. The $15 Kobalt toy is utterly useless. The $20 Irwin don't offer enough spread to be useful. The $40 Channellock widget is too fidgety to work properly. The $50 Kilpnex are too expensive for the frustration they cause. I'm loosing my mind with these things.

You there, reading this... do you own a brand of snap ring plier that actually work reliably? If so, please share.

 

[rct]

My experience is only with 2 versions, 1990s Craftsman USA with interchangeable tips (useless pain) and a Harbor Freight set bought about 2016ish for a tractor project with big snap rings (craftsman too small). Have used the reversable harbor freight set for several projects like the tractor, axles, gearboxes and they have worked. I'm sure there are better sets, but ditch the removable tip style and get an appropriately sized fixed tip snap ring plier(s) to use.

 

[Steve_P]

Icon made in USA snap ring pliers

I was in harbor freight and saw that this kit and a convertible tip version were both made in USA. Are these any good. Currently have a set of craftsmans with the tips. Kind of a pain but only use them every so often.

www.garagejournal.com

 

[ricleh]

Snapon SRPCR112 is the best I have used. I also have a Knipex set that is very good.

 

[Rusted Nut]

A couple of years or so ago @ 4 in the afternoon I broke my old pair of snap ring pliers. Only place around was Harbor Freight. Bought a set of ICON snap ring pliers (std not convertible), on sale for about $60. They’ve been fine. Pulled some good size 1 3/4” snap rings off, no issues.

 

[carbureted iron]

The three problems I have with this tool are:
- tips don't hold the ring securely
- tips bend under load
- pliers don't open wide enough.

This particular tool goes into my "rarely used, but invaluable when needed" bin (or, as the wifey calls it: the "why do you need all these tools" bin), and one plier with swappable tips works well in that schema. The solution may just be to get myself an ample set of fixed-tip pliers with good leverage.

 

[man-a-fre]

I'm at my wits end with crappy snap ring pliers. The $15 Kobalt toy is utterly useless. The $20 Irwin don't offer enough spread to be useful. The $40 Channellock widget is too fidgety to work properly. The $50 Kilpnex are too expensive for the frustration they cause. I'm loosing my mind with these things.

You there, reading this... do you own a brand of snap ring plier that actually work reliably? If so, please share.

I love my hi tech brand model #1234 and model 65 heavy duty snap ring pliers with removeable tips. I would highly recommend. They used to be kd tools before hi tech now they may be wright that makes them. Anyways napa has them , and Snap on sells them under bluepoint (prc36 part no and prc46 for heavy duty bigger pair with bigger tips, oreillys has them,and then Ebay has plenty also.

 

[M.Brane]

Knipex.

 

[Boogerman]

SRPCR112

I agree on the Snap-on set. The Proto set is pretty much identical, and equally as good. Lang makes a set that looks suspiciously like both although I haven't looked carefully to compare.

I've had (have) both the Proto and Snap-on, and like them very well. A huge step up from the cheapie ones, and the interchangeable tip ones.

 

[bigfunwmu]

Knipex with the hardened wire tips.

Wiha used to make some with with piano wire tips that were better than most, and I prefer them to the forged Snap-ons. But the Knipex are better than both.

I HATE the Lang interchangeable sets, they work good once and then never again. Flimsy trash

 

[Dave455]

In all honesty, buy once / cry once and get the Knipex. The right tool shouldn’t cause frustration!

I have the version with the piano wire tips in the small sizes.


But in the larger sizes I have the regular style. In some respects I like these more.


Hazet are lovely. Not sure they make them in house, but they are German made and superb quality.


Facom - French made, and I think maybe a bit better finished than the Knipex. Colour coded rivets for internal / external. Good value.

 

[KnurledNut]

Tsunoda (Japan) has some with piano wire inserted tips like Knipex, but they take it a step further and texture them for better grip.

 

[Etchase]

I don’t have any complaints with Wilde snap ring pliers, or really any of the others if used appropriately. Epstein has them as well as non-combination Lang which are very good as well. The combination pliers are for small snap rings. If your pliers don’t open enough they are the wrong size. The pins should fit tightly as well. Proto was frequently made by Wilde over the years. Good stuff.

 

[pelletman]

Are you using the right size for the snap rings? Sometimes it helps to hit the snap ring with a punch to free it up. I have tons of snap ring plier for different uses. These aren't one size fits all.

 

[MattV]

I don’t have any complaints with Wilde snap ring pliers, or really any of the others if used appropriately. Epstein has them as well as non-combination Lang which are very good as well. The combination pliers are for small snap rings. If your pliers don’t open enough they are the wrong size. The pins should fit tightly as well. Proto was frequently made by Wilde over the years. Good stuff.

I was eyeballing the Lang set, any idea what their warranty is like?

 

[scooby074]

SRPCR107 set from snappy

 

[SwissMetric]

I use some good Knipex. They last very long if not abused.
Examples here:

https://www.knipex.de/produkte/sicherungsringzangen?f%5B0%5D=category%3A6871&page=0

(I'm unrelated to Knipex.)

I'd avoid interchangeable tips excepted for special large diameter tools (up to 1000 mm (ca. 40") or more) as well as cheap version made of formed sheet metal.

The tips must be machined very carefully, slightly wrong angles can render the tool useless. The tips must form sort of a V or, respectively, inverted V to force the circlip toward the base of the tip, it reduces the ejection risk. Barely noticeable tip machining faults can make a huge difference.
Tips can also damaged due to misuse.

Bad pliers are more likely to lead to airborne clips.

BTW IIRC the Stahlwille are made by Knipex, so rather get the less expensive original ones.

 

[KnurledNut]

BTW IIRC the Stahlwille are made by Knipex, so rather get the less expensive original ones.

I thought Stahlwille was VBW.

 

[whateg01]

I've had various brands over the years. Currently using icon and Quinn and I've had no complaints with them so far.

Icon for bigger stuff.


Quinn for small.

 

[SwissMetric]

I was possibly wrong, sorry. I will try to find some Stahlwille to compare.

I know Stahlwille sells some Bessey/Erdi tools. For many pliers I'm not sure. I can check in which country a Stahlwille tool is made but not who manufactures it.

 

[paulsomlo]

Don't bother with interchangeable tips or convertible pliers, nothing but frustration. Knipex, Gedore, Wiha, Facom - at the very least, the Icon set of fixed tips.

This same topic came up a few days ago - you might take a look here: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/icon-made-in-usa-snap-ring-pliers.542338/post-11021197

 

[SwissMetric]

For this one interchangeable tips are nice:

https://www.knipex-tools.com/products/snap-ring-pliers/circlip-tool/circlip-tool-internal-and-external-circlips/4610100

(imagine breaking a tip and to have to replace the whole tool!).

Does someone know who is the original manufacturer? Is it really Knipex?

 

[NUTTSGT]

I bought a cheap pair of something decades ago for a job I don't remember... when I needed a new pair, I bought the Channellocks. Unfortunately, they weren't big enough.

Enough is enough, I bought 2 different pairs of Knipex off Amazon. I forget which one was the one that worked but I should be fine for next time.

 

[jeffmoss26]

Lang are very good. HJE has all of them I believe

 

[areyouanywhere]

The knipex are worth it if you use regularly. They are a big step up from the common ones most brands offer.

 

[dnschmidt]

Pliers = Knipex. Keep it simple.

 

[swsman]

I've had various brands over the years. Currently using icon and Quinn and I've had no complaints with them so far.

Icon for bigger stuff.


Quinn for small.

I have that same Icon set, they were purchased for when I get into rebuilding the front end of my F250.


Other set I have are OTC convertible type (top right corner of attached image), they work fine for smaller jobs, but will likely upgrade to Knipex at some point and be done with it.

 

[turnthewrench 2.0]

I thought Stahlwille was VBW

They are

 

[ecotec]

I have Snap-on, MAC, K-D, Matco, Channellock and Lang. I like Snap-on the most.

 

[KnurledNut]

They are

Yes. I own them. Good stuff.

 

[Blind1]

Icon made in USA snap ring pliers

I was in harbor freight and saw that this kit and a convertible tip version were both made in USA. Are these any good. Currently have a set of craftsmans with the tips. Kind of a pain but only use them every so often.

www.garagejournal.com

I bought the icon precision set. They worked immediately better than any of the convertible types I was struggling with.

 

[lardy1]

Lang was selling a concise set for around a hundred bucks a few years ago. They aren't the forged type which seems to be the trend but they do work quite well for me. I've never had any issue with them.

 

[turnthewrench 2.0]

Yes. I own them. Good stuff.
View attachment 2263473

I bought a few 7 years ago, when Amazon was getting rid of their inventory. Paid between $10 and $12 for each, except the large one at $16.

 

[txvwnut]

Are you using the right size for the snap rings? Sometimes it helps to hit the snap ring with a punch to free it up. I have tons of snap ring plier for different uses. These aren't one size fits all.

This statement is exactly correct. When it comes to snap ring pliers the tip needs to match the hole in the ring as close as possible to get them to function correctly with the snap ring. Too small of a tip the ring either twists and won't expand or contract enough to be removed or it just slips off the pliers all together and the pliers get the blame. I've got several sets of snap ring pliers of all different brands and tip sizes and they all function the same when used with the correct sized snap ring. I also have a couple of sets of replaceable tip snap ring pliers and they are pretty much useless for anything.

 

[Steve_P]

The knipex are worth it if you use regularly. They are a big step up from the common ones most brands offer.

I'm a DIYer. I don't use retaining ring pliers that often. I'm totally sure the Lang would be fine for me. I could afford the Knipex when I bought them and have never regretted it. I forgot the $$$ spent and they're just a pleasure to use once in a while. Real grips. Not sheet steel. No flipping jaws around.

If $ is tight, then Lang. Otherwise Knipex with the piano wire tips. Start with the basic Knipex set and add if you need.

 

[pelletman]

This statement is exactly correct. When it comes to snap ring pliers the tip needs to match the hole in the ring as close as possible to get them to function correctly with the snap ring. Too small of a tip the ring either twists and won't expand or contract enough to be removed or it just slips off the pliers all together and the pliers get the blame. I've got several sets of snap ring pliers of all different brands and tip sizes and they all function the same when used with the correct sized snap ring. I also have a couple of sets of replaceable tip snap ring pliers and they are pretty much useless for anything.

Yes, you detailed it more but I totally agree

 

[AEAdam]

This statement is exactly correct. When it comes to snap ring pliers the tip needs to match the hole in the ring as close as possible to get them to function correctly with the snap ring. Too small of a tip the ring either twists and won't expand or contract enough to be removed or it just slips off the pliers all together and the pliers get the blame. I've got several sets of snap ring pliers of all different brands and tip sizes and they all function the same when used with the correct sized snap ring. I also have a couple of sets of replaceable tip snap ring pliers and they are pretty much useless for anything.

Because snap rings in the best of conditions are tricky, and in most cases kinda ****, I bought the KNIPEX master set (or whatever it’s called) and haven’t looked back. You can easily struggle to remove a snap ring for a considerable amount of time, only to mangle it and not have a replacement because there are like 10,000 different sizes.

When I was 20, I messed about with picks and screwdrivers and bent nails to remove snap ring pliers. Now I literally don’t have enough time left to spend more than a minute on a snap ring.

The KNIPEX pliers are great. I have a drawer full of them now and have needed all of them.

 

[SwissMetric]

I fully agree. Get a good set of Knipex once, the tips last very long if not abused.

Next step is getting used to handle Smalley Spirolox rings. Don't like them. (I use two screwdrivers, for the Stahlwille QR N (80) plastic covers, PB VSM size 00 works well.)

 

[Eric Brown]

Maybe I'm lucky, but I could always get retaining ring pliers to work Like others have said correct size matters. It also help to make sure the ring is not rusted into the groove or that there is any load on it. A lot of people don't know there is a proper orientation to them. One side has sharp edges the other rounded, like washers. Put the sharp edge on the outgoing direction. Here are my four that I used on machinery. Also used a larger shop supplied pair when needed.

 

[dawgn86]

Tekton just came out with some snap ring plier options