Safety Wire Pliers....

[DARK AGE 53]

You would think at age 70 I would have known about these pliers along time, fact is I didn't until seeing a video about them on YouTube. In the past I would either twist the wire by hand or use a regular set of pliers to twist the safety wire, if you've never seen these pliers I posted a video on my channel

.....let me know what you think.

 

[KM223]

Was a must have tool when I worked in aviation and now with race cars. Must have for long runs of twist!

 

[cvairwerks]

The IA that I worked for had this philosophy: When you can do safety wire correctly with a pair of duckbills and cutters, they you can move down to safety wire pliers.

We've gone to safety cable for the most part at work now. Faster, less hassle and few people can screw it up.

 

[Jim C.]

I bought a pair of those pliers about ten years ago. I saw them being used, and I thought they were really slick. After I bought them, I fooled with them, got the hang of using them, and never used them again on an actual application. I still have them and I still think they're slick.

Jim C.

 

[hbabler]

I still have my pair of nice ones even though I am out of the airplane business. They are "snap on" branded millbars with the wave jaw design. In mechanic school they wouldn't let us touch them until the duckbill version was perfect.

 

[1Garageman]

I have never ever seen those before! Only trick I ever used was putting the wires in a drill chuck and turn it on to twist the wires.

 

[L5wolvesf]

I started racing in the late 70s and got a pair soon after. I wish I was a bit faster with them but I wouldn't go without.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I still want to know how you guys drill those little holes !

 

[L5wolvesf]

I still want to know how you guys drill those little holes !

Carefully . . . and

you can get pre-drilled and there are jigs available.

 

[Tone-NY]

Those were standard in our tool boxes in the USAF.

 

[BIG BACCHUS]

Currently going to school to be an A&P. Glad to see that being proficient in using duckbills before using safety wire pliers is the norm. I had a NICE Proto pair that I gave to a friend because he graduated before me and he said he didn't have any and I said, "buddy, you're gonna need these."
I graduate in December I need to get a new pair.

 

[metaldad]

thanks for the video clip

 

[ttpete]

I still have my pair of nice ones even though I am out of the airplane business. They are "snap on" branded milbars with the wave jaw design. In mechanic school, they wouldn't let us touch them until the duckbill version was perfect.

I have the short version with a gearshift so it can twist either direction. Has the wave jaws and a polymer insert in the cutter to hold the cut off wire from falling on the floor. Helps prevent flat tires.

 

[ttpete]

I still want to know how you guys drill those little holes!

I use 1/16" cobalt drills with a tiny air drill. There are jigs available, but sometimes it's easier to freehand, especially when drilling through the corners of a nut or bolt head. I have a jig for drilling through bolt heads from side to side. The tough ones are high tensile Allen capscrews. They have a hard skin and will sometimes break a drill when breaking through the skin.

 

[DARK AGE 53]

Thanks for all the reply's, also, thanks to those who checked out my video.

 

[Mikeske]

Those were standard in our tool boxes in the USAF.

Yep even back in the early 1970's when I first went in the Air Force they were standard issue in the tool boxes and when I started at Boeing they were used and issued out of the tool rooms even today they are still being used.

 

[pepi]

I still want to know how you guys drill those little holes !

HERE V

https://www.northwestfastener.com/drilled-bolts

choice #2 V

https://www.pegasusautoracing.com/productdetails.asp?RecID=5738

 

[SteveCh]

Once you get good at using one, then you need to learn to cut the correct length of safety wire so you don't have a bunch of waste to cut off...or you cut it too short to begin with and have to cut another piece and start over. I am currently working on my Beech Baron's annual, not an airframe mechanic, just have a plane, and as usual, the shop guys who are pro's are getting a good bunch of laughs at me. But I do get the maintenance done. These safety wire pliers are fantastic. At home, I have zero use for them, but indispensable at the hangar.

 

[atthebeach]

I still want to know how you guys drill those little holes !

I used to work in a shop where we used YAG lasers to drill safety wire holes in aerospace materials with poor machinability.

 

[Gearshredder]

I use em at work all the time. I like the reversible type, so when doing 2 bolts, you can go clockwise on the first, left bolt and counter to prevent the wire from popping over the hardware. Looks better mainly lol. I've used it for my motorcycle as well for oil filter, drain plug, calipers and others. I hate loctite.

 

[MattVette89]

Nice video. Clear, to the point, and no fluff. Thanks for posting.

 

[Tallpilot]

Links to good sets of pliers please?

 

[Alfisti]

The best place to get your pliers would be from an aircraft supply shop, I buy mine froma local aircraft parts house here in Australia. In the US buy from either;

www.yardstore.com

www.aircraft-tool.com

The preferred brand would be Milbar, you can also get the correct wire from these outlets as well.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I use 1/16" cobalt drills with a tiny air drill.

Drill Hog 1/16" Cobalt Drill Bits M42 Drill Bit 12 Pack Lifetime Warranty $18.99

 

[cvairwerks]

Check around on prices for the various versions. Milbar has about 16 different versions out there. I ended up buying my 25W's from skygeek, as i needed the ones with the urethane inserts and they were the best price. Same thing with lock wire. I buy it in 5 pound spools rather than the 1 pound cans. I keep .032" and .041" in spools, and .020" and .020" witness wire in 1 pound cans here in the shop.

 

[Snapped-off]

All too familiar with lockwiring as a mechanic aboard submarines.

The pliers are a must have in my opinion when dealing with it often.

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

I also started with a short time in the military - AFSC 45455 (If I remember the number right - that was 30 years ago) A/C Fuel Systems. I think we had a full day class on safety wire alone. Always had Uncle Sam's issued stuff to use till I got out, but I've had a pair of SW pliers in my box ever since and actually do use them once in a while.

 

[stonesg]

Learned how to used them to secure things like the valve inspection caps on my British bikes.

Came in handy after I had the lug nuts loosen on my BMW motorcycle.... they are now safety wired.... don't have to worry about THAT happening again.

 

[OutsideMachinist]

Good ones are expensive but worth it. Milbar is good. The cheap ones **** you may as well do it by hand. If you will be using them a lot you should get a short pair, that are reversible. Those are great.

 

[ttpete]

Good ones are expensive but worth it. Milbar is good. The cheap ones **** you may as well do it by hand. If you will be using them a lot you should get a short pair, that are reversible. Those are great.

I have a pair of Robinsons I picked up at a flea market. They are nice and slim and polished all over.

 

[KM223]

I have 2 sets of the Snap On WTS6 and they are fantastic. Expensive yes but work great!

 

[BoostedOne]

If you have deeper pockets

https://www.dmctools.com/Products/safe-t-cable.html

 

[cvairwerks]

We use Safe-T-Cable for most everything on the aircraft program I'm on. Faster, and fewer people can screw it up. A little more expensive than lock wire, but the time saved overcomes the cost.