Snap ring (circlip) plier recommendations please

[Brunel]

Hi, I am sick of not having the right snap-ring (circlip) pliers and want to buy a set. Any recommendations? I am in the UK.

I was thinking of one of the Knipex sets of 8 (how much difference between the two types is there?).

Any alternatives? Or should I go for an interchangeable tip set?

Thanks!

 

[terrific]

The two sets that always get recommended are Lang 3595 or Imperial IR-6CK.

 

[dnschmidt]

Knipex. Pay once cry once.

 

[Steve_P]

I have the Knipex with the piano wire tips; they're really nice, but pricey. I appreciate the quality every time I use them.

If you don't want to go for that, then the Lang 3495 set is a bargain.

 

[oldschoolcraft]

I have the knipex "precision tips"

I just inventoried them, here's the ones I have:

48 21 j21
48 21 j31
48 21 j01
49 21 a21
49 11 a1
49 11 a0
49 11 a3
49 21 a11
48 11 j0
48 11 j1
49 21 a31
49 11 a2
48 11 j2
49 21 a01
48 21 j11
48 11 j3

 

[paulsomlo]

Knipex with the forged tips - they afford a little better access than the "precision" tips. And no, don't waste your time on interchangeable tips. You might also look at the Gedore set, a bit less money.

 

[Brunel]

The two sets that always get recommended are Lang 3595 or Imperial IR-6CK.

Thanks, I wasn't aware of those. Imperial appears to be an Australian American company with no distribution in the UK, but the Lang set is available over here at a reasonable price. EDIT: COO fixed but they're still unavailable this side of the pond.

 

[Brunel]

Knipex. Pay once cry once.

I've already done plenty of crying as I have about 24 pairs of Knipex pliers and cutters. But I have no regrets as the quality is first rate. I actually think their pricing is very reasonable. Some of my Knipex tools have taken a pounding on industrial electrics, and they're holding up really well.

 

[FigN⋅m]

One of the very few Snap On tools I acquired is the 90* version of the linked Imperial type of pliers.
The cam lock thing that converts them is a joy to use and I would gladly source the other versions.
I can't speak for the metallurgy of other mfrs., (they're probably all made in the same factory)
but they're definitely a recommended style to shoot for.

 

[timgunn1962]

I've had good results with the BGS circlip pliers in a general industrial maintenance role. I bought them a couple or three years back to get coverage of a good range of sizes at reasonable cost, fully expecting to need to replace the couple of pairs I use the most with better ones (Knipex or, my preference, Facom). That's not happened yet as the BGS are holding up well.

 

[Brunel]

I have the knipex "precision tips"

I just inventoried them, here's the ones I have:

(snip)

I make that 16 !!

There's only 20 in the range - 5 (sizes) x 2 (straight / bent) x 2 (int / ext)

I think you need to get the last four to complete your set

 

[Wamsutta]

I like the Imperial brand with the built in tips.

 

[Brunel]

I like the Imperial brand with the built in tips.

They don't appear to be available in the UK

 

[Wamsutta]

They don't appear to be available in the UK

They make pliers for a lot of other brands too. If you ever run across some Milbar pliers, those are made by Imperial and the quality is A+ .

 

[Steve_P]

Knipex with the forged tips - they afford a little better access than the "precision" tips. And no, don't waste your time on interchangeable tips. You might also look at the Gedore set, a bit less money.

Do you have any data to back this up? I have the Knipex piano wire tips and the portion next to the tip is only a few thousandths of an inch larger than the one-piece Imperial/stride that I have - as shown above. Yes, bigger is bigger, but even .010" is well within manufacturing tolerances alone.

 

[Trapps]

I've had this set about 3 months now and love them, albeit limited use so far. Available on your side of 'the pond.'

https://www.amazon.co.uk/00-20-04-SB-Precision/dp/B005EXNT38/?tag=atomicindustr-21

 

[Brunel]

I've had this set about 3 months now and love them, albeit limited use so far. Available on your side of 'the pond.'

https://www.amazon.co.uk/00-20-04-SB-Precision/dp/B005EXNT38/?tag=atomicindustr-21

Yes, that's one I am considering... or do I get the Lang which does 4 sizes??

 

[WWheeler]

I got my Knipex 8pc set (# 20 00 04 V01 ) from Amazon.de. The shipping took a week or two but was well worth it for the savings over buying the same set from Amazon.com here in the states. Not sure if it would be the same to you in the UK. Might be worth checking out.

 

[paulsomlo]

Do you have any data to back this up? I have the Knipex piano wire tips and the portion next to the tip is only a few thousandths of an inch larger than the one-piece Imperial/stride that I have - as shown above. Yes, bigger is bigger, but even .010" is well within manufacturing tolerances alone.

Personally? No - I'm going off two posts that I've seen on GJ in the past.

 

[paulsomlo]

I got my Knipex 8pc set (# 20 00 04 V01 ) from Amazon.de. The shipping took a week or two but was well worth it for the savings over buying the same set from Amazon.com here in the states. Not sure if it would be the same to you in the UK. Might be worth checking out.

Same here - savings was roughly $100.

 

[oldschoolcraft]

I make that 16 !!

There's only 20 in the range - 5 (sizes) x 2 (straight / bent) x 2 (int / ext)

I think you need to get the last four to complete your set

Funny you say that because the entire reason I inventoried them the other day was to see which ones I was missing.

 

[oldschoolcraft]

Knipex with the forged tips - they afford a little better access than the "precision" tips.

I went with the precision tips when I bought mine a few years ago. I dont remember why, I tend to always buy the most expensive and best tool because then I can never regret it later. I came across a video recently on YouTube where someone was interviewing a Knipex employee in a Knipex company store about different pliers and briefly the snap ring pliers came up and the Knipex dude said the precision ones were better. I got the impress forged were cheaper. They stamp the metal down of the entire tip into the shape. Whereas precision, they drill a hole in the pliers and then install the tips. Since the tips are made separately, there's more precision to them.

 

[bigfunwmu]

The Knipex precision ones are worth every penny.

 

[lardy1]

I've been happy with Lang but have never used the forged type. They have always sounded great to me but the Langs have never failed and I'm not a pro wrench or regular user of them.

 

[KnurledNut]

I find having a variety of sizes and angles tips more important than brand. I have a hodgepodge of quality brands and sometimes one handle style is more ergonomic, or the design allows better access, or the tips engage better than another brand.

If I had to be pinned down to one brand/set, I would likely choose between Snap-on, VBW (w/ bare metal textured handles) or Knipex. Facom/MAC/USAG with the precision tips have always intrigued me but never have used them. The closest design I have to them is a pair of turkish-brand Retta’s.

 

[Steve_P]

Personally? No - I'm going off two posts that I've seen on GJ in the past.

Yeah, I've read those same posts and challenged them with that same fact. And no data was provided to prove it. So.... I personally don't repeat stuff that others say. YMMV

 

[AEAdam]

I am not a fan of KNIPEX generally, but I love their snap ring pliers. The forged models are SO much easier to use than the sheet metal ones I used to have. +1000, don’t buy interchangeable tip models. I bought the 6 pc “master set” and just added 2 smaller tipped models.

 

[PBCampbell]

I've had the Knipex "precision" tips since they came out I think. I started with the 8-piece set and added the "0 and 3" sizes. I think the biggest benefit for these would be the "wear" resistance for heavy use. I will say they were a big step up from the Lang/Imperial pieces that I had at the time and were very well used, maybe a bit worn out, plus ones that were missing or just abused to the point of useless. I had my hands on a lot of retaining rings back then and the Knipex were not terribly expensive. I'd say less than $200 for the 16 pieces. A DIY/home shop person would be well served by the Lang/Imperial set and also there are a lot of other options now for forged retaining ring pliers which did not exist back then.

 

[mfa81]

get the knipex precision tips, they are a bit cheaper if you order from amazon.de

 

[paulsomlo]

Yeah, I've read those same posts and challenged them with that same fact. And no data was provided to prove it. So.... I personally don't repeat stuff that others say. YMMV

Here's one of those posts: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum...ions-for-snap-ring-pliers.415789/post-7744918

I can see from looking at pictures, that the insert type tips could be problematic when the ears on the circlip are very close to the shaft/bore.

 

[Blind1]

I bought the ICON set. They worked infinitely better than the reversible pair I had.

 

[paulsomlo]

I'm not a big Harbor Freight fan, but I just got an email that the 8 piece Icon snap ring pliers set is $29.99, Tuesday May 21 only, apparently a one day deal.

 

[pizza]

The two sets that always get recommended are Lang 3595 or Imperial IR-6CK knipex precision and gedore

ftfy

Best Snap Ring Pliers: Knipex Precision vs Gedore

i've never owned snap ring pliers before, but as soon as the weather warms up a bit more, i'll need some for work i'm doing on my motorcycle. after much reading, it seemed to me that knipex precision circlip pliers are among (if not) the best. however, i couldn't find the set i wanted at a...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[shakenfake]

@paulsomlo Wow of course right when I don't need them anymore! I needed a pair of externals like 2 weeks ago.

I did go with Knipex forged tips and they are excellent. My Channel Locks and Proto have been resigned to the back of the drawer.

 

[WhataTool]

I'm not a big Harbor Freight fan, but I just got an email that the 8 piece Icon snap ring pliers set is $29.99, Tuesday May 21 only, apparently a one day deal.

Back of the box shows off that they are drop forged carbon steel, not even Cr-V. Big pass

 

[bobg03]

I bought the ICON set. They worked infinitely better than the reversible pair I had.

I'm not a big Harbor Freight fan, but I just got an email that the 8 piece Icon snap ring pliers set is $29.99, Tuesday May 21 only, apparently a one day deal.

Same here, for my limited use the interchangable ones are fine, but if I wanted a dedicated set and wasn't making a living with them that Icon deal is great. I have a set of Icon box wrenches and one of their pliers models. Decent tools for the non professional.

 

[swsman]

Picked up the Icon set just earlier.

For $30 and my limited use I think they will do just fine.
I did open the case and checked them out for defects prior to paying at the register.

For years I got by using stamped interchangeable tip ones from OEM tools.

 

[darkzero]

Back of the box shows off that they are drop forged carbon steel, not even Cr-V. Big pass

That explains the poor reviews on HF's site & elsewhere. I was looking to buy them because of the great deal but decided not to after hearing the tips break off & have size/fitment issues.

 

[disston]

I have more than a dozen pairs of circlip pliers. Was doing transmissions for awhile and aquired all of these. Many other things in our lives need a special sort of plier. Well some of them are beat up and I have modified them. Sometimes the one that works is the most beat up one.

I have a set of 4 pliers made by Blue Point and sold on the Snap On trucks. Think I have only had to use one of these pliers. Not sure anymore, don't do much of this work anymore.

 

[engineer2]

HF just had a sale on their Icon 8 piece set. $75 down to $30, one day only. I stopped at the local store and they said there were 15 people waiting out front at opening time to buy the 9 sets they had. I ordered a set online.