So much for SO precision pliers - there is a difference.

[Davefr]

So much for new SO precision pliers

The spring broke on my beloved SO E703BCG precision needle nose pliers. I called SO to try and order a spring but the pliers were discontinued along with the replacement spring. They graciously offered to send me a new replacement set of pliers. (P92055A)

These things are garbage. The jaw tips don't meet squarely and one half has so little meat at the tip the least amount of pressure will likely bend it. The serration grooves are way too deep IMHO. That will further weaken that thin jaw.

**** happen, but these shouldn't have even made it out the door. Who is this Spanish OEM for SO?

I'll toss them in the junk drawer and see if Mcmaster has a spring for my old E703's.

The bottom two images are from a quality Swanstrom set of pliers.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

I would send that sad replacement back to Snap-on

 

[rlitman]

Those are beyond help.

 

[jd_1138]

Wow, did they lay off their QC inspectors?

 

[measuredtwice]

...
These things are garbage. The jaw tips don't meet squarely and one half has so little meat at the tip the least amount of pressure will likely bend it. The serration grooves are way too deep IMHO. That will further weaken that thin jaw.

I am disappoint.

...Who is this Spanish OEM for SO?

Don't know...but ...some of the Lindstrom pliers are also made in Spain.

 

[Snaparxon]

Embarrassing, likely made at 4:30 pm, the night before a 3 day weekend.

 

[Rabid Badger]

Those looks like the Channellocks I returned last year.

 

[M6erfan]

Dang

 

[tonyciambrone]

Those looks like the Channellocks I returned last year.

Someone had to say it

 

[Mr_B]

I have 4 dollar chinese pliers ground better than that .
hope that a one off lol .

 

[chrisnazzy]

Re: So much for new SO precision pliers

I'd be disappointed too! Just send them back though. They'll make it right and you know it. Also if it was me I'd look through a current catalog and see if there was a different part number I'd rather have. The replacements they sent you seem to be entirely different.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

 

[Skin]

I've read mostly negative things about their precision pliers when they stopped using the Lindstrom plant and went to Spain. For $40-$60 a pop and outsourcing the labor to a cheap(er) country they seem to not care as poor QC out of Spain has been going on for many years now.

 

[Tallpilot]

Looks like Bahco:
https://www.bahco.com/en/p/needle-nose-pliers/60-c2-71-9a-3b-63-51-c5-a2-44-f5-c3-54-7c-1d-3e/

 

[Tallpilot]

Here’s some Tekton

 

[CR888]

Ya, definitely Bahco. I have some older NOS Sanvik-Bahco pliers that are pretty decent. Sadly, I too have some China-cheap pliers that are ground really well. I thought the SO gerneal purpose or auto 3pc set were USA made?

 

[jimmyin3D]

Ya, definitely Bahco. I have some older NOS Sanvik-Bahco pliers that are pretty decent. Sadly, I too have some China-cheap pliers that are ground really well. I thought the SO gerneal purpose or auto 3pc set were USA made?

The 3pc general set is made in USA. The ones shown by OP are different pliers not in that set. His are part of the “precision” line but they don’t look like it to anyone here.

But as someone pointed out already Snap on CS is excellent and I’m sure they’ll switch them out quick.

 

[Wamsutta]

Re: So much for new SO precision pliers

I'll toss them in the junk drawer and see if Mcmaster has a spring for my old E703's.

You give up too easy. Snap-on needs to know that their vender is making mistakes. Send them in a bubble mailer on your dime with a note.

Snap-on RPC ARS
2801 80th ST Dock 8
Kenosha, WI 53143

 

[PugetDude]

Wow, those pliers look like they must have fallen off the truck. Chase it down and get the driver to replace them.

 

[jimmyin3D]

Re: So much for new SO precision pliers

You give up too easy. Snap-on needs to know that their vender is making mistakes. Send them in a bubble mailer on your dime with a note.

Snap-on RPC ARS
2801 80th ST Dock 8
Kenosha, WI 53143

Naw better to call or email them. They are very quick. My friend mailed some warranty items without letting them know and they sent it straight back last year. I don’t think they take in mail without previous confirmation anymore.

 

[rlitman]

I have 4 dollar chinese pliers ground better than that .
hope that a one off lol .

Ditto. I think it's because the kids who make them have small hands, and can get really close to their work.

 

[Fulcrum]

Re: So much for new SO precision pliers

The spring broke on my beloved SO E703BCG precision needle nose pliers. I called SO to try and order a spring but the pliers were discontinued along with the replacement spring. They graciously offered to send me a new replacement set of pliers. (P92055A)

These things are garbage. The jaw tips don't meet squarely and one half has so little meat at the tip the least amount of pressure will likely bend it. The serration grooves are way too deep IMHO. That will further weaken that thin jaw.

I would wager that they did not require you to send in the original pliers. I've noticed for discontinued items, or older items, if they don't ask you to send in the original product then they send you something from the "seconds" bin. They're basically sending you something free out of goodwill, and don't even really know if you own it, even have a pair of pliers in your possession at all, or were the original purchaser.

It's not common knowledge, but it's what they do for people they think buy items on eBay, that don't have a purchase history through the Snap-on website, or an account with Snap-on.

I saw a post later on in the thread that said you're going to try to find a spring, which leads me to believe I'm correct.

Love to compare the gripping power of the Snap-on to the Tekton posted above, or your Swanstrom. Bet there's a difference there, and it won't be what the rabble on this site think.

 

[measuredtwice]

Re: So much for new SO precision pliers

Love to compare the gripping power of the Snap-on to the Tekton posted above, or your Swanstrom. Bet there's a difference there, and it won't be what the rabble on this site think.

I bet the SOG S44 (made in USA) that I bought over 10 years ago for $15 has more gripping power than any of them.

The handles aren't as ergonomic as a real precision pliers but the SOG is better machined and works better than any real precision pliers that I've tried. Wish they made it with normal handles.

 

[mikebaker1129]

Any pictures of the broken spring?

 

[Mr_B]

Ditto. I think it's because the kids who make them have small hands, and can get really close to their work.

The snapon bahco ones are cnc ground lol .
to think a chinese child is potentially more accurate lol .

I have some toptul taiwan pliers and they all been fine in shaping, material grade/treatment and general design .

These bahco pliers are pretty good design/materials but they pretty sloppy on important fit & finish .

Bahco pretty sloppy across the range from what I seen and quite surprising since parent company is snapon inc, I don't see full commitment to deliver the best tool !

 

[Fulcrum]

Re: So much for new SO precision pliers

I bet the SOG S44 (made in USA) that I bought over 10 years ago for $15 has more gripping power than any of them.

The handles aren't as ergonomic as a real precision pliers but the SOG is better machined and works better than any real precision pliers that I've tried. Wish they made it with normal handles.

I seriously doubt any multi tool can compare to a real pair of needle nose pliers. I use a pair of 95ACF and 912AEP for precision work (computer motherboards, etc.) and never had any issues or real desire/need for the "electronic pliers" line.

You can rip a finger nail clean off your hand before it lets go with either of those two pairs of pliers.

 

[Tallpilot]

Re: So much for new SO precision pliers

I would wager that they did not require you to send in the original pliers. I've noticed for discontinued items, or older items, if they don't ask you to send in the original product then they send you something from the "seconds" bin. They're basically sending you something free out of goodwill, and don't even really know if you own it, even have a pair of pliers in your possession at all, or were the original purchaser.

It's not common knowledge, but it's what they do for people they think buy items on eBay, that don't have a purchase history through the Snap-on website, or an account with Snap-on.

That's very interesting if true but it makes sense economically. I buy my stuff from the website since I don't have a dealer which means I have a nice purchase history in their database. It's a shame people with dealers who probably own more Snap-on than I do have trouble proving they are the original purchasers.

 

[McFarmer]

Yeah, I doubt any company has a stash of crappy examples of their product to send out to the public.

Could be wrong, I’ve been married long enough to know that.

 

[Davefr]

I sent this email to Snap On w/detailed images.

Snap On Customer Care,
Thank you for your quick response in replacing my E703BCG pliers (broken spring) with replacement plier P92055A.

This is to let you know the replacement pliers are terrible quality not commensurate with the quality standards I've come to expect from Snap On. I see these pliers come from Spain and I feel Snap On Corp. would want to know how bad these are. I would not accept them as the $1.99 Harbor Freight plier let alone Snap On.

1. The jaws are very badly formed. They do not come squarely together when closed. Please see the overlap in the image.
2. The jaws are not even symmetric. One jaw measures .0230" thick yet the other one is nearly double at .0435". This will result on the thinner jaw bending, deflecting, breaking off under pressure.
3. The serration pattern is way too aggressive for small precision pliers like these but this might be a design flaw vs manufacturing defect. The depth of the serration makes the thin jaw even weaker.

I feel someone at Snap On's Quality Assurance should see what's coming from your Spain plier OEM. I'll be happy to send the pliers to Snap On at my expense for your quality review. Just provide me a name and address. I'm confident I can find a generic spring to repair my old beloved Snap On E703 pliers.

Please review all images:

 

[Mr_B]

^
seem nice honest to the point letter.
Lot of the usa made clever design snapon pliers were/are great performers in use due to clamp grip and jaw rigidity .
The spain stuff is bit more hit and miss and had a few bad examples on my dealers truck .
expect they likely send out another replacement but if not will be easy fix your old set .
warranty is worthless when quality or actual tool you may receive not equal to what you paying for up front .
I have minimal interest in warranty, my interest is the tool design i going like for my use and decent enough manufacture & durability .
Only snapon pliers I warranty replaced was pistol grip long nose and tip broke on them which to be fair was my fault rather than snapon .
snapon warranty going become harder and already is a bit as they can't cover generations of tool cover forever and still be viable warranty margin practice .

 

[Davefr]

SO responded back almost instantly. They'll send out another set of pliers and will forward my email and images to the appropriate Product Manager.

Klein sells individual replacement springs for their pliers. I'm going to order one and see if it fit's my old SO E703.

 

[Mr_B]

you'll get a coil spring for those pliers pretty easy from and hardware shop with spring selection box or scavenging junk/dollar store pair pliers .
I don't think snapon be inventory stocking defect tools for warranty replacents.
It well known the spanish factories of sna europe do slip on qc quite a bit ...

you can see how that set was alignment offset when being cnc ground and common issue on lot of pliers to some extent .

 

[M6erfan]

hell, even my 196ACF's aren't perfectly ground.

 

[measuredtwice]

Re: So much for new SO precision pliers

I seriously doubt any multi tool can compare to a real pair of needle nose pliers. I use a pair of 95ACF and 912AEP for precision work (computer motherboards, etc.) and never had any issues or real desire/need for the "electronic pliers" line.

You can rip a finger nail clean off your hand before it lets go with either of those two pairs of pliers.

Ripping finger nails off has never been useful for me. When I posted I knew it would be contrary "what the rabble on this site think" (in your words). The S44 pliers are force multiplying.

 

[Mr_B]

Toptul do really nice force multiplying needle nose .

 

[measuredtwice]

Toptul do really nice force multiplying needle nose .

I'll check them out. Thank you.

 

[Fulcrum]

Re: So much for new SO precision pliers

Ripping finger nails off has never been useful for me. When I posted I knew it would be contrary "what the rabble on this site think" (in your words). The S44 pliers are force multiplying.

If I put a penny in my vise, and unmount it from my table, I could lift up the entire vise with my force multiplying Snap-on pliers.

 

[mikebaker1129]

Davefr I have a extra Spring from Klein. PM me your address and I will get it to you in the mail.

 

[measuredtwice]

Re: So much for new SO precision pliers

If I put a penny in my vise, and unmount it from my table, I could lift up the entire vise with my force multiplying Snap-on pliers.

I'm willing to bet you haven't used both. I have. You could do the same with the SOG S44 while exerting less force since they are force multiplying. The SOG handles aren't at all ergonomic though.

 

[M6erfan]

Davefr I have a extra Spring from Klein. PM me your address and I will get it to you in the mail.

Nice!

 

[anndel]

I have an old pair of long nose pliers 196ACP from the 1980s and it's way better than the set I bought last year. Sadly, I don't care for the wider tip. I always grab the 196 or the Knipex which is very similar.