Safety wire pliers

[Stefan S]

I’ve decided I’m overdue for some safety wire pliers. There seems to be a huge difference in cost between the Amazon cheapies at 25 bucks and even the gearwrench version which are $130 or so. I’m all for buying the good ones but wanted to see what folks were liking.

What are you using?

 

[Sumboodie]

The ones we used in the USAF cost about $35.

 

[ChefRex]

I have a stainless steel surgical set (unused) at work that is the cats meow and a cheapy set in the garage, zero dollars invested.

 

[toolchaser]

MilBar or Robinsons, the ones Proto are developing are nice, if a little large, don't know if they've hit the market yet, I handled them at an MSC event & actually gave some design critique to the engineer gal

 

[L5wolvesf]

My cheap, but functional, safety wire pliers. I do wish it wasn't black, it blends into the tool drawer.

 

[straightcut]

I purchased a used pair of Milbar pliers that are 8-1/2" total length off of eBay. I like them because they're not so large as most and I'll likely only ever use small gauge SS safety wire.

 

[bob15]

I have had zero issues with the 8-3/8" Proto ones I used at my last job. The pliers tool number is J190. Zoro seems to be the cheapest for them new.

https://www.protoindustrial.com/en/industrial-tools/Proto/Pliers%2c-Snips-%26-Clamps/Pliers/c2628946-cc94-43d4-ac43-b0ac2ddbbdd6_Proto%c2%ae-Safety-Wire-Twister-Pliers/J190_Proto%c2%ae-Safety-Wire-Twister-Pliers---8-3%7c8%22/

 

[Stefan S]

I have had zero issues with the 8-3/8" Proto ones I used at my last job. The pliers tool number is J190. Zoro seems to be the cheapest for them new.

https://www.protoindustrial.com/en/industrial-tools/Proto/Pliers%2c-Snips-%26-Clamps/Pliers/c2628946-cc94-43d4-ac43-b0ac2ddbbdd6_Proto%c2%ae-Safety-Wire-Twister-Pliers/J190_Proto%c2%ae-Safety-Wire-Twister-Pliers---8-3%7c8%22/

These look pretty nice! Price seems reasonable too

 

[mrpizza]

We had Blue Point ones in the USMC for helicopters

 

[kbeefy]

Snap On reversible Waveloc, the smaller set. They were unavailable for a while, not sure if you can still get them.

I think I paid $60 for them about 20 years ago.

I also have the larger (standard) size from aircraft Spruce, but I never use them.

 

[txvwnut]

I’ve got an import set(okay it’s a cheap set) and they were kinda difficult to use until I decided to lube the twist with machine oil and now they operate as good as my dads high quality aviation pliers.

 

[cvairwerks]

Milbar 25W's...Cry once, good for life... 25W's are bidirectional, and have the insert to retain the cut end. No more chasing the end across the hangar floor if you have to one hand a cut.

 

[ridervfr]

I got a pair of Robinson Jet Twisters (coolest name for a tool imho) They are long and have a skate board bearing on the end of the twister. One direction pliers, so if you wana do a reverse twist, you have to do it manually. I bought a pair of Milbar pliers new for about 75 bucks and used them daily for 4 years, they are harder to clamp on the wire (depending on what gauge your using) usually its .032 - I installed a skate board bearing on these and now the twist part falls down (does'nt stay in body of pliers.) they are ok, good pliers are gona have a brass bushing for the twist part that goes into the body of the pliers, both of these do. I use a separate pair of dykes to cut the wire, and another pair of pliers to do the loop at the completion of the job.

Two pair I got are: Robinson Jet Twisters M-84 and the Milbar 31W

I have seen co-workers who have the bi directional pliers whose mechanisms gave up the ghost and basically have ****. Less is more - Give me crank windows in my trucks/cars please LOL

 

[bwringer]

The cheapies are pretty awful. This is one time it's worth buying a name brand.

 

[Stefan S]

I went with the milbar! Hopefully I like them

Thanks for the feedback!

 

[Fly YX]

I had a Armstrong one for a longtime I think it’s the same one I had in the USMC. I got a SK one it’s not made by SK but it works. I warranted the old Armstrong one they sent me a Gear Wrench that one was a pos. It only lasted a few months and I had to warranty it again.

 

[ridervfr]

You'll like the Milbars! they are quality and you can see how the jaws are machined to match each-other making them grip wire like a mo-fo. Is that a race ZX or a street bike? You have a nice track in TX don't yah. Peace Out

 

[Stefan S]

You'll like the Milbars! they are quality and you can see how the jaws are machined to match each-other making them grip wire like a mo-fo. Is that a race ZX or a street bike? You have a nice track in TX don't yah. Peace Out

That’s a track only bike

 

[M-technik-3]

Don't purchase cheap ones if you have a lot of safety wire to do, you will quickly hate yourself for having to buy a tool twice. Bought a set of snap on 22 years ago and while in school, used them daily for 3 years and, off and on now that I am no longer in aviation field. They were were not cheap but we got a student discount so it was worth the money.

 

[GCS]

Snap On reversible Waveloc, the smaller set. They were unavailable for a while, not sure if you can still get them.

I think I paid $60 for them about 20 years ago.

I also have the larger (standard) size from aircraft Spruce, but I never use them.

Don't purchase cheap ones if you have a lot of safety wire to do, you will quickly hate yourself for having to buy a tool twice. Bought a set of snap on 22 years ago and while in school, used them daily for 3 years and, off and on now that I am no longer in aviation field. They were were not cheap but we got a student discount so it was worth the money.

^^^^ This
Get a small set reversible

 

[Ricky Joe]

My cheap, but functional, safety wire pliers. I do wish it wasn't black, it blends into the tool drawer.

Spray paint them.

 

[Stefan S]

Milbar 45w arrived. Jaws are super stiff we’ll see how the break in.

 

[bob15]

Milbar 45w arrived. Jaws are super stiff we’ll see how the break in.

My Proto's were the same, very stiff. They get better the more you use them