Snap Ring Pliers Recommendation

[jrockford]

Craftsman vs. Channellock. Anyone have an preferences to one vs. the other? Both are US made, close in price and appear to have similar interchangeable tips. It is my understanding that Lang manufactures the Craftsman pair.

https://www.channellock.com/927-retaining-ring-plier.aspx?

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-prof...SellerId=Sears&prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=G2

 

[ecotec]

Interchangeable tip style retaining ring pliers are a nightmare...

 

[gdocktor3]

They're the exact same, different color grips. I like the Craftsman because they're comfort Grip vs channellocks vinyl.

 

[lightning02]

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-prof...ellerId=Sears&prdNo=5&blockNo=5&blockType=G5#

i have this kit if i recall. i bought it like 3 or 4 years ago. USA made. they have done well but i dont use snap ring pliers all that much.

 

[Sam'sAutoParts]

Craftsman show cheaper so I would go with them, OEM must be the same for both. If sears goes out, you can always get replacement tips from Channellock.

 

[HomeTheaterMan]

As said above, they are the same pliers with the exception of the grips. I prefer the Craftsman just because they are usually cheaper and you can often get them really cheap with Shop Your Way surprise points. The ease of warranty (at least for now) is also an advantage to me.

 

[6PTsocket]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000RH3882/?tag=atomicindus08-20 This another way to go. It is a screw device that does both inside and outside snap rings. You adjust the tips align with the holes and go in which ever direction is needed. Unlike pliers, it is self holding so you can deal with moving the ring without having to control the squeeze. Formerly it was KD2012 with a hard red plastic handle. I have had the KD for many years. I agree that replacable tips are a pain and a full set of inside and outside pliers is better but for one tool, I like this one.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[bcradio]

Interchangeable tip style retaining ring pliers are a nightmare...

They work just fine for me

 

[04300sd]

I never much cared for the kind that are stamped out of sheet metal. I found these and they are by far the best I have ever used.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005EXNT38/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Dingleburry]

My recommendation would be get a set dedicated to internal/external snap rings. The onnes with interchangable tips that do internal/external are what ecotech said. A nightmare. The tips are parallel. Where as the "good" (dont know about cheap sets) sets dedicated to internal/external have curved tips so your snap rings dont go flying or keep popping out of the holes.

I guess if you only do a couple here and there. You will be fine.
Had the channelock ones and they drove me insane.

 

[ptgarcia]

The Craftsman and Channellock are the same, both made by Lang. I just went through this a month ago and ended up buying the Lang because they were cheapest: less than $15 shipped on ebay from Cripe Distributing.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lang-Tools-...925304?hash=item4d4ea51c38:g:LNUAAOSw2XFUgMrh

And they worked perfectly for what I needed them for (disassemble/assemble ratchets).

 

[6PTsocket]

I never much cared for the kind that are stamped out of sheet metal. I found these and they are by far the best I have ever used.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005EXNT38/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Anything from Knipex is quality and you have to pay for it.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[ToolNuttt]

I have a S.K. set which has been really good to me. Only time i needed to warranty one was when i accidentally bent the tip.

 

[shockwave]

For snap ring pliers nothing comes close that o have used to the knipex precision line
It's not us made but these are one item knipex is king on

 

[TNBurban]

I bought this set not too long ago.

https://www.amazon.com/Channellock-RT-3-Convertible-Retaining-3-Piece/dp/B002M058TO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1491436396&sr=8-2&keywords=channellock+snap+ring+pliers

Very happey with the versatility and quality.

 

[gnxtc2]

FTW....Lang, same as the Snap On and the others

http://www.langtools.com/sku-3495-12-pc-combination-int-ext-retaining-ring-pliers-set/

Billy T.
[email protected]

 

[jwsia]

I have the knipex set listed above...there hard to beat but you gotta pay for it. I dont care for the replaceable tips pliers

 

[locarakko]

Anyone have any experience with this set from Tekton?

http://tekton.com/Pliers_and_Snips/Snap_Ring_Pliers/4-pc-Snap-Ring-Pliers-Set

 

[IUEC Medic]

I would figure out what size snap rings you'll encounter the most, and spend the money to buy a knipex set of 4 that covers those sizes the best, then, if you have another size that you may occasionally need, get a reversible/interchangeable set that covers it. I personally hate the interchangable/reversible type. When you're using snap ring pliers with any frequency, or when your work efficiency depends on it, knipex is the only way to go. Anybody that's struggled with crappy snap ring pliers, then used knipex, will tell you the same thing. They make a huge difference.

 

[PavelK313]

Knipex

 

[ChevyEFI]

The stamped style are horrible.

The interchangeable posted by OP will get ya by.

When I tired of those, the forged red handle snapons in a few sizes I needed were the upgrade of choice.