safety wire pliers

[blue dog]

At the point where i need to purchase some safety wire pliers. I was looking at some armstrong, proto and sk and and was wandering what you guys that have them have good luck with. This just seems to be an item i never see used and they are spendy new.
Thanks for any input

 

[ZRX61]

I just use the cheap import 6in & 9in versions, none of the aircraft I've worked on have fell out of the sky yet

 

[Robert Haas]

If you will only buy one set you should invest in a reversing type.

I own several different sizes and types and the ones I grab 99% of the time are my 9" tiger wave reversing units from Milbar.

Milbar is the industry leader and are the "go to" company for most Aircraft Mechanics I know.

Unfortunately they discontinued the tiger wave design however their standard jaw units are quite good.

 

[mikemolzahn]

S-K, Proto, Snap-on, and several other main tool brands are actually Milbar's. Yes the Tiger wave's are the prized version, and if you watch e-bay close you can still get them in the 6" version pretty reasonable. The cheap versions such as you see at Harbor Freight and online tend to slip a lot from what I have seen from aircraft mechanics who do all their professional tool shopping at harbor freight who use them.

I have 1 pr of Klein, Snap-on and I have 1 pr of S-K. 2 of them are 6" and 1 pr are the 9".

Join in and Be Heard,
Mike

 

[blue dog]

Good info, thanks mike.

 

[RickP330]

I just bought a set from mcmaster car, kind of pricey, bot I will report on how they work tomorrow

 

[williaty]

I've got a set of Milbars and absolutely love them. They're easier to make consistently grip the wire, the pull works with a smoother action, and they have that "well made tool" feeling to them.

Milbar 9WS are the ones.

 

[Gokart]

I have a klein, but it just a rebadged milbar. Go with a milbar, you wont regret it.

 

[bmxr4life87]

had a set of milbar rebadged MAC i loved em reversible with the rubber jaw inserts to prevent FOD. I lubed the hinge so they would "fall" open made wire twisting a one handed job!

 

[mrshaun]

bluepoint just changed their pliers a little. rwtp6 just sold the first pair this week so we will see how they hold up. Our older ones had a few problems.
get reversible. you neverknow what you will run into

 

[rsanter]

I have several sets of good used older USA made ones
I dont need them all, I could part wit a set if your interested

bob

 

[blue dog]

I have several sets of good used older USA made ones
I dont need them all, I could part wit a set if your interested

bob

Send me a pm, what you got?

 

[Demian]

+10 on the milbars, just used them 2 nights ago while changing an HPTCC on a CFM56. I would suggest the shorter versions as they will fit into tight places better and still twist up to .041 without a problem.

 

[peterbilr98]

hf works good but i just once in a while on 40s and 50s jeep trans and transfer cases

 

[mkdive]

I picked this Milabr 9" up at the swap meet about 3-4 weeks ago. I paid $10....very happy with them.

 

[Chris Adams]

Anyone buying a set of those should remember they are for wire twisting ONLY.

Back in the day I got a very good set, courtesy of the USAF... Had a shop by a base and someone swapped them to me, can't recall who... LOL.

Anyway, they worked fantastic until on a bad day laying under my Firebird I used them as pliers. The end snapped instantly.
They are not made to torque with.
Never replaced them as they were too expensive for my needs.

Finally picked up an import set a couple years ago and still have never used them.

 

[kartracer23]

From what I've seen @ the track, there are two brands: The Milbar (branded or rebadged) & the cheapies from HF (or similar store). There doesn't seem to be a lot of middle ground on these.

I've got the cheapies from HF becasue although we have to wire or clip everything to pass safety tech, I tend to use the speed clips anywhere things have to be adjusted, removed, etc. on a regular basis. Besides, I always think 'I can get one more...SNAP...twist.'

 

[blue dog]

I picked this Milabr 9" up at the swap meet about 3-4 weeks ago. I paid $10....very happy with them.

I believe that you deserve a you **** for that find.

 

[Warrenator]

I got mine at A&P school 15 years ago, never noticed what brand they were, I went out and looked and they have no manufacturer marks at all on them, must be some generic cheapie. I will say I've used them a lot and they still cut and twist perfectly. They look like a Milbar clone.

 

[DARKSCOPE001]

All I can tell you is dont get the ones from horrific freight. Everyone at my school bought some (including me) I might have used them once or twice on long straight runs of wire with no obsticles to clear (this never happens) Most of the time I just used my hands. But some of the guys bought the tool truck ones (rebadged milibars) Worked fantasticly. Mixed reviews on the tigerwave jaws and the fod reducing inserts (little plasticy rubber inserts on the cutter that supposidly catch cut off tag ends)

I personaly like the feel of the reversing milabars for the money. They can be found everywhere and are a good deal for the price. Been meanin to get myself a set.

Good luck
Sean Scott

 

[Warrenator]

Oh, meant to mention, you can make your own "FOD reducing Inserts" with silicone caulk, just clean the tool, close the tool, squirt some caulk into the cavity by the wire cutters, let it cure, and slit it in the middle with a razor before you open the tool. Now little bits of wire won't go flying. Replace as needed.

 

[carbon]

A little OT, but has anyone compared safety wire pliers with the Clamptite tool? I just repair stuff like a splitting hammer handle with wire and regular pliers, and it's tough to get any real tightness.

 

[Robert Haas]

A little OT, but has anyone compared safety wire pliers with the Clamptite tool? I just repair stuff like a splitting hammer handle with wire and regular pliers, and it's tough to get any real tightness.

Safety wire is not a "tightening" element. the Tensile strength of even .41 wire is pretty light.

As far as how these are used, in aviation applications many fasteners are in "gang" conditions and require reverse on every other pull so the reversing element pays for itself instantly. Learning how to properly safety wire fasteners is a great addition to any techs portfolio. It also makes the confidence in specific type of repairs near 100%

 

[carbon]

Thanks Robert, I didn't know that!