lilscorpion
Well-known member
Trying to come up with something clever but the spring loaded ones aren’t easy to store. Any ideas out there?
Whatcha doing for organizing c-clip pliers?
- Thread starter lilscorpion
- Start date
Bmxkelowna
Well-known member
Could always toss an elastic band around the spring loaded ones to keep them closed. Not sure if the spring would get weaker over time but I doubt it would be measurable
Bannik254
Well-known member
IMG_20210910_153827.jpg
drive.google.com
Old pic, elastic bands break after a while and the rubber damages the vinyl grip portion of the plier, have since switched to zip ties.
Bmxkelowna
Well-known member
You'd think the zip tie would dig in more than the elastic band but good to knowIMG_20210910_153827.jpg
Old pic, elastic bands break after a while and the rubber damages the vinyl grip portion of the plier, have since switched to zip ties.
tdkkart
Well-known member
I throw them in the drawer with the rest of my pliers.
Gummi Bear
Well-known member
My snap ring pliers are one of the few tools that have remained in a blow mold case, I also prefer to toss them. However, my plier drawer is full, and until I can get more storage, there they will remain.
For my pliers that are spring loaded and in my drawer, I have also adopted using a zip tie as a retainer. I just slip it off when I grab them to use, and slip it back on when I drop them in their assigned spot.
For my pliers that are spring loaded and in my drawer, I have also adopted using a zip tie as a retainer. I just slip it off when I grab them to use, and slip it back on when I drop them in their assigned spot.
Dumber than lumber
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I got a Plano box and cut out some of the divider walls.
sweet victory
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Pro tip for spring loaded pliers: if you're using the wire rack style organizers, run a small zip tie across the top of the slot. You can slip your spring loaded pliers in the slot, and the zip tie keeps them closed enough to clear the drawer above.
Easy. Use a small piece of rubber hose. Push the spring loaded pliers into the hose. This holds the pliers in the closed position. Now they fit my pliers holder like the non-spring loaded pliers. Use different sized hose for different sized pliers.
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I got a cheap set of the ones from harbor freight of varying sizes and they came with a plastic clamshell, I cut the top off and stowed the bottom in one of the big drawers of my tool box. If they didn't have that I would have gone with the time honored method of throwing them all in the same drawer with the other pliers.
Mine lie flat in a dedicated shallow drawer. I mostly have Knipex with no spring, so it's easy. For pliers with a spring, I typically use an o-ring on the tips to keep them closed if necessary. Sometimes I remove the spring if it's easy to do and I don't think it's worth having. If you buy something like the Lang set that comes in the case, then yeah, it might be worth keeping them in the case as others have said.
OP
lilscorpion
Well-known member
Dang it, I somehow wasn't watching my own thread. Awesome feedback.
I did think about that and also wasn't sure if it would weaken the spring...
maybe a loose zip tie so it could be removed and put back on before it goes back in the drawerIMG_20210910_153827.jpg
Old pic, elastic bands break after a while and the rubber damages the vinyl grip portion of the plier, have since switched to zip ties.
this is what I already do. That drawer is so disorganized.
I'd use mine if I kept it. At some point I needed the room and pitched it.
That's a good idea. I won't have a wire rack but maybe some kind of retainer function similar would work.
Like the rubber hose idea. Or maybe a silicone cap like I use for powder coating.
Bmxkelowna
Well-known member
Well, let's see the after photo!I spent hours arranging these
Haha I kid, pliers **** to organize
OP
lilscorpion
Well-known member
First time I read it, I read "Haha, Kids pliers **** to organize". Now that's funnyWell, let's see the after photo!
OP
lilscorpion
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I don't even see a single pair in the picture...I put mine in here…works fine…
OP
lilscorpion
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Iridium rand
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Yea as others have said zip ties are the way to go, tighten it just enough to keep em closed but still easy to remove, or better yet if there’s a hole/tether point or enough meat on the grips to drill one then bend some thick solid wire into an oval that you can turn up and down to open and close them like I did with this hand riveter
OP
lilscorpion
Well-known member
Yeah. Wish that they had limiters like these. Interesting tho - I actually have a rivet gun like this and the spring seems just fine so that may answer one of the questions earlier in the thread wondering if the spring would be weak end if it stays in a compressed state during storage. Seems like it would not.Yea as others have said zip ties are the way to go, tighten it just enough to keep em closed but still easy to remove, or better yet if there’s a hole/tether point or enough meat on the grips to drill one then bend some thick solid wire into an oval that you can turn up and down to open and close them like I did with this hand riveter
sweet victory
Well-known member
Follow up to my original comment. Got some messages to elaborate. Pics are a thousand words; you can see the zip tie in the middle of the image:
OP
lilscorpion
Well-known member
Ah, that's not what I was visualizing. Glad you posted a pic. Having the zip tie that far back wouldn't impede access tot he pliers at all. Not even kinda. Like the idea a lot.Follow up to my original comment. Got some messages to elaborate. Pics are a thousand words; you can see the zip tie in the middle of the image:
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KnurledNut
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OP
lilscorpion
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Playing with some ideas. Realized that the springs could also be compressed if the jaws are held open. May be less consistent in the rack as the various pliers I have with aprons have different length jaws and handles. May still be an option to consider.
infinite97
Well-known member
Mine are all in the original cases
small rings are an 8 piece knipex set
Medium size is a big proto assortment
Large rings I have a big OTC two pliers set
small rings are an 8 piece knipex set
Medium size is a big proto assortment
Large rings I have a big OTC two pliers set
OP
lilscorpion
Well-known member
Regretting a bit that I pitched 'em now. No question.
infinite97
Well-known member
Yeah, it just seems like the easier option for snap ring pliers. So many small parts, extra tips, etc.