Snap Ring Pliers?

[AaronD]

So I have not ever owned a set of these and picked the small set of them up from HF the other day... Worked fine on a 240sx shifter when doing a clutch swap, but then decided to bend all to hell the moment I dismantled a turbo to clean it up..

I was wondering what you guys would recommend for a good, versatile set of these things?

 

[nissan_crawler]

knipex

Check aktoolsonline.com for them, best price I've seen.

 

[Merkava_4]

Here's a couple of links to check out:

http://www.aeincorporated.com/Hi-Tech/?page=store&category=12

http://www.aeincorporated.com/Hi-Tech/?page=store&category=13

 

[nissan_crawler]

I highly, highly, highly, recommend that you get the individual snap ring pliers, and not the ones with interchangeable tips. If you MUST get the ones with the interchangeable tips, be SURE the pliers are keyed with a hex to stop the tips from spinning completely (they still move some).

 

[dxdexter]

I highly, highly, highly, recommend that you get the individual snap ring pliers, and not the ones with interchangeable tips. If you MUST get the ones with the interchangeable tips, be SURE the pliers are keyed with a hex to stop the tips from spinning completely (they still move some).

I had the ones with the interchangeable tips and they were ****. The tips would bend out of their holders. You could not keep them from moving.

I now have , and have had for many years, a set of Proto convertible #385 fixed tip, which do both internal and external rings. They work great and are also available with both 45 and 90 degree tips.

 

[eschoendorff]

I highly, highly, highly, recommend that you get the individual snap ring pliers, and not the ones with interchangeable tips. If you MUST get the ones with the interchangeable tips, be SURE the pliers are keyed with a hex to stop the tips from spinning completely (they still move some).

I have the hex version and they work very well. Actually, I have a set of dedicated internal and external snap ring pliers from Craftsman and they work extremely wel; for the $15 I paid for them.... I actually like the replacable tips... never gave me a lick of trouble and I can thrown new ones on if the current tips get buggered up.

 

[JB740i]

Sportsmansguide had a set in their recent catalog, which wouldn't be all that exciting by itself. But they also had a Ratcheting Gearwrench metric/sae nut driver set for 30 bucks too. That seemed like a good deal.

 

[MAD]

I prefer the fixed tip style. The newer style convertible snap ring pliers with the interchangeable tips and the hex set screws are much better than the old style ones but I too have had the tips move in use with the angled tips. They are pretty nice though considering the amount of coverage you get out of one pair. The ones I have are the Craftsman pros but I have seen them sold under many brand names. They are made by Stride tool.

Stride tool is the OEM supplier of all kinds of retaining ring pliers for many top tool brands including almost all of the Craftsman branded ones (some are A&E). Stride also used to sell their specialty pliers under their own Milbar brand but has recently switched most of their plier line to their Imperial brand. I have some single purpose Milbar snap ring pliers that were US govt. issue that work great. Stride/imperial/Milbar also make wire strippers under contract for a lot of tool companies including some that you expect to make their own.


http://www.stridetool.com/tools/tools.html

first two Stride, second two A&E I am pretty certain.

 

[Kevin54]

I highly, highly, highly, recommend that you get the individual snap ring pliers, and not the ones with interchangeable tips. If you MUST get the ones with the interchangeable tips, be SURE the pliers are keyed with a hex to stop the tips from spinning completely (they still move some).
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I'm with Nissan on this also. I had a set at work and they were the most troublesome tool I owned. I now have individual snap ring pliers.

 

[Stuey]

I use a pair from Channellock. Their older styled ones really stunk; at first few uses, the internal/extrernal mechanism jammed, but after I sent it back, they sent me one of the newer styles.

For casual usage, it's pretty good. $20 for an all-in-one is good if you only use the tool a handful of times a year.

 

[Uncle Buck]

I do not use them enough to justify the added cost so the interchangeables tip jobs do me just fine, though I do have a few fixed tip sets I bought used cheap through the years.

 

[jay50]

I have both sizes of the Cman pro interchangeable sets and they work great. The other day, had to remove the snap ring holding the high pressure cutoff switch in the rear of HT6 AC compressor. Had a fixed set of cheap ones that would not close the jaws enough to removed the snap ring. Got out the Cman with the narrow jaws and it did the job.

Unless you do ****** rebuilding and need a fixed set; save your money and get the Cman pros with the interchangeable tips.

 

[superfish]

A few years ago I bought a set from NAPA With replacable tips (My Motorcycle forks were on the bench and I needed them NOW). They did very well on very difficult snap rings in the forks. Pricy though -- $70 it think.

Best thing about them is that they lock after you have grabbed the ring.

bob
"Live while you're alive"

1983 V65 Magna
1984 700cc Magna
1982 V45 Sabre (project)

 

[george4]

I have both sizes of the Cman pro interchangeable sets and they work great. The other day, had to remove the snap ring holding the high pressure cutoff switch in the rear of HT6 AC compressor. Had a fixed set of cheap ones that would not close the jaws enough to removed the snap ring. Got out the Cman with the narrow jaws and it did the job.

Unless you do ****** rebuilding and need a fixed set; save your money and get the Cman pros with the interchangeable tips.

+1 on that and they work internal and external. I can see the benifit of fixed if you used the same size a lot.

 

[nissan_crawler]

I have the hex version and they work very well. Actually, I have a set of dedicated internal and external snap ring pliers from Craftsman and they work extremely wel; for the $15 I paid for them.... I actually like the replacable tips... never gave me a lick of trouble and I can thrown new ones on if the current tips get buggered up.

I have both sizes of the Cman pro interchangeable sets and they work great. The other day, had to remove the snap ring holding the high pressure cutoff switch in the rear of HT6 AC compressor. Had a fixed set of cheap ones that would not close the jaws enough to removed the snap ring. Got out the Cman with the narrow jaws and it did the job.

Unless you do ****** rebuilding and need a fixed set; save your money and get the Cman pros with the interchangeable tips.

I have the Craftsman Pro's at work, and although they're so-so, I'm looking to replace them, and I only use them 1-2 times a month. I don't care how tight you get that set screw, the 90* tips will twist.

 

[wilbilt]

I have some with interchangeable tips. I am happy to say I have not lost the little box of tips in over 20 years.

I'm not quite sure where the pliers are, though...

 

[eschoendorff]

I have some with interchangeable tips. I am happy to say I have not lost the little box of tips in over 20 years.

I'm not quite sure where the pliers are, though...

Now that's funny

 

[jim m]

I have some with interchangeable tips. I am happy to say I have not lost the little box of tips in over 20 years.

I'm not quite sure where the pliers are, though...

now that is funny!!!
A couple of years ago I was helping my brother work on his mini van and used my kds with the little case of tips he helped me clean up and was on his way.
About 3 months later he bought a1/4 craftsman rachet that needed a rebuild kit so I pull out the kds but cant find the tips so I had to buy a new pair
He sees what they are ands tells me that I already have those tips he had thought they were teny tiny allen wrenchs and put them in the junk drawer of grandpas machenest box


Jim

 

[JayL]

Will these pliers be reasonably good enough for non professional use?

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...t_shr?_encoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance

 

[Moose-LandTran]

knipex

What he said.

I have a few pair of Knipex precision snap-ring (circlip) pliers and they're better than anything else out there. i love 'em.

 

[JayL]

Moose , what are the most used snap ring pliers for automotive use? Do I really need all those 8 pieces?

tks

How about these?

http://chadstoolbox.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=61

 

[Vinko]

So I have not ever owned a set of these and picked the small set of them up from HF the other day... Worked fine on a 240sx shifter when doing a clutch swap, but then decided to bend all to hell the moment I dismantled a turbo to clean it up..

I was wondering what you guys would recommend for a good, versatile set of these things?

I've bought almost every brand of these things.

Snap's are good. Bought Mac and Proto which we busted but it might've been tool abuse. The old Sears brand are going strong. They're from the 70's.


Also a lot of cheapie imports that broke too.

 

[MAD]

Sears has this set on clearance for $65.00

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00950465000P?vName=Tools&cName=Mechanics+Tools&sName=Automotive+Specialty+Tools

Snap-on and Matco sell the exact same set under their own name for a lot more.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=&item_ID=7016&group_ID=13158&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Moose , what are the most used snap ring pliers for automotive use? Do I really need all those 8 pieces?

tks

How about these?

http://chadstoolbox.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=61

That set should do fine, i've got two or three pairs i've never used, including the smallest sizes, but the intermediate ones like that set has are the ones you'd use.

 

[64merc]

I've got an old Proto and an old Blue-Point that were my grandfathers and they are still in great shape. I know he used the **** out of them rebuilding hydraulic equipment and such.

I bought a newer C-man and it has held up great, but I just use it mainly on ratchets.

 

[JayL]

Sears has this set on clearance for $65.00

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00950465000P?vName=Tools&cName=Mechanics+Tools&sName=Automotive+Specialty+Tools

Snap-on and Matco sell the exact same set under their own name for a lot more.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=&item_ID=7016&group_ID=13158&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

Are these pliers exactly the same set from the same manufacturer? tks

 

[MAD]

Are these pliers exactly the same set from the same manufacturer? tks

They are made by Stride tool.
http://www.stridetool.com/tools/retaining_pliers/retainpliers_02.html

They are the same except the Craftsman contract allows them to add floor sweepings when the make them for Sears.















Just kidding. I don't own either set but I will go out on a limb and say they are the same.

 

[garfunkle24]

They are made by Stride tool.
http://www.stridetool.com/tools/retaining_pliers/retainpliers_02.html

They are the same except the Craftsman contract allows them to add floor sweepings when the make them for Sears.

I have a 12pc set of the quarter-turn ones from Mac and I like them a lot: http://www.mactools.com/Mac/Mac+Products/Catalog/Hand+Tools/Pliers/Snap+Ring/PK4Q

These are also made by Stride and are sold under the SK brand too.

 

[bushhawg73]

I have these older Snap on and Blue Point pliers and they have served me well. The ones that are all black are a must for snap rings that have a pointed tip and no hole. I have found these type of snap rings inside gearboxes and transmissions, no other type of snap rings plier will work.



And these lock as you open or close them to help with really strong larger snap rings. They have interchangable tips but have 2 screws that hold the tips in place so they do not move. Pricey YES, but they work great.



I plan on passing the Blue Point Snap ring pliers on to my boys tool box and adding these asap. I am still looking for a good used set.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=&item_ID=15546&group_ID=771&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

 

[ricleh]

The SRPC112 set from Snapon is the only one I have ever seen that has pliers with forged tips.

Other Snapon and Blue Point retaining ring pliers do not have forged tips.


Rick

 

[Vinko]

On my Sears brand pliers, they're simply labeled "Sears" with USA. Maybe a city and state. I forget. But not "Craftsman". Did sears have several lines, way back when?

Found some old shovels and sledges we had with forged "Craftsman" heads. Don't think those are around anymore.

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

On my Sears brand pliers, they're simply labeled "Sears" with USA. Maybe a city and state. I forget. But not "Craftsman". Did sears have several lines, way back when?

Found some old shovels and sledges we had with forged "Craftsman" heads. Don't think those are around anymore.

The old "Sears" brand was used on things without the lifetime warranty, like Companion tools now. In the early to mid eighties, they started relabeling tools (knives particularly) and trying to swap the broken Craftsman ones for Sears ones. I held onto a broken knife for 10 more years because of that, and now they have gone to only the ones with the replaceable blade.

 

[krusty the clown]

The SRPC112 set from Snapon is the only one I have ever seen that has pliers with forged tips.

Other Snapon and Blue Point retaining ring pliers do not have forged tips.


Rick

thats the set i have.......not cheap but NICE! besides a real tool addict doesn't mind spending money on nice things

 

[ricleh]

You and I think alike Krusty.

Rick

 

[Vinko]

^^^ That set does look nice. I'd love to get it. We have about three different size rings we use at the end of two pieces of stainless steel. But we don't need that set. I guess what we have will do, but I sure as hell like nice stuff like that.

 

[speed bump]

I like my Channelocks with interchangeable tips. They are hex shaped so they don't twist and have a better mechanism than the stride tool design.

 

[MAD]

I like my Channelocks with interchangeable tips. They are hex shaped so they don't twist and have a better mechanism than the stride tool design.

The Channellock retaining ring pliers are from A&E /Hi-Tech Hand Tools. I own a pair of this style. They hold the tips much better than the old Lisle pliers I have but the angled tips still sometimes rotate even when you really crank down the set screw.

 

[JayL]

Somehow I've narrowed down my choices to these.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00947221000P

or

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00947220000P

I really don't want to spend much for these pliers so I can take only one set. My question is which one should I get , the straight or the angled ones?

tks

 

[eschoendorff]

I really don't want to spend much for these pliers so I can take only one set. My question is which one should I get , the straight or the angled ones?

tks

You will eventually need both straight and angled (I do use the straight more than the angled). This is why I went with interchangeable tips... cost effective and works well for me. I would recommend these unless you beat the everliving **** out of your snap ring pliers on a daily basis...