Suggestions for safety wire pliers?

[OreoGaborio]

Cuz I don't like anything less than 8" in my hands.

(Sorry Jim)


Srsly tho, I don't think it makes much difference. The only thing I can think of is:
9" pliers require less pulls if you've got a lot of space between bolts.
6" pliers allow you to work in smaller work areas.
I never really had any tight work areas.

[loudbeard]

I never really had any tight work areas.

[JettaJayGLS]

I have both the 9 inch and 6 inch harbor freight pliers. After having borrowed a good set from time to time, I know first hand the harbor freight pliers suck. As does the thick ass safety wire they sell. If I have to do it over again (especially with a motard where I was changing oil constantly and the only way to safety wire the drain bolts were to each other) I would spend the dollars for a reputable brand.

[Ductard]

I have both the 9 inch and 6 inch harbor freight pliers. After having borrowed a good set from time to time, I know first hand the harbor freight pliers suck. As does the thick ass safety wire they sell. If I have to do it over again (especially with a motard where I was changing oil constantly and the only way to safety wire the drain bolts were to each other) I would spend the dollars for a reputable brand.

I just got a set of the Milbar 25W's from crawford tool. I also bought some of the Malin 0.025 Stainless steel wire.

I have some 0.032 wire and some blue-point pliers kicking around somewhere...got the ?blue-points? used off of ebay and they worked great (they cut the wire unlike some of the cheaper versions) but they aren't reversible and when I dig them up I can keep one set in my garage and another in my trailer.

I got the 0.025 wire only because I already have the 0.032 wire...looks like the 0.032 (per amazon.com and street & comp) is the more popular size, but won't the 0.025 work in *most* applications?

I mean maybe I should opt for the 0.032 in places where I'm securing a large nut/bolt (i.e. axle / axle nut)....

[jasnmar]

.025 is the minimum LRRS legal size, but yes, it will work.

[GMAN226]

Get the ~$60 Milbar unit.

[nhbubba]

It's funny this thread should get tickled. I should pony up.
When doing track days it didn't matter and the HF set were good 'nuf. Now that I have to wire the whole damned bike and rewire it every time I swap wheels, I feel differently.

Last race I struggled "fixing" my shitty wire pliers for every other wire I had to twist as the stupid tab kept deforming. Shit.

Milbar eh?

[csmutty]

Milbar. My buddy snagged a set for crazy cheap at a pawn shop. Maybe check a local one near an airport lol?

[jasnmar]

It's funny this thread should get tickled. I should pony up.
When doing track days it didn't matter and the HF set were good 'nuf. Now that I have to wire the whole damned bike and rewire it every time I swap wheels, I feel differently.

Last race I struggled "fixing" my shitty wire pliers for every other wire I had to twist as the stupid tab kept deforming. Shit.

Milbar eh?

You are welcome to mine (when I can find them).

Actually these are something I can usually locate. I'm relatively sure mine are ancient milli bar's.

[nhbubba]

(when I can find them)

I wasn't going to say it.

[keeena]

Another vote for Milbar 25W; what i've used for a few years now.

[Ductard]

Another vote for Milbar 25W; what i've used for a few years now.

25W seemed to be the consensus...except for Pete, who got the bigger version (26W).....Maybe he's compensating for something?

[OreoGaborio]

I want these... Milbar brought the Tigerwave back.

Milbar - MLB-7W - Safety Wire Twister - Chief Aircraft Inc.

[Gecko]

I want these... Milbar brought the Tigerwave back.

Milbar - MLB-7W - Safety Wire Twister - Chief Aircraft Inc.

I searched for these everywhere years ago. Ended up with a pair of MLB25W's and never looked back. I think the time has come to right a wrong.

[Petorius]

Having only ever used my cheapo pliers, I would love to understand what all the fuss is about with the expensive ones. They seem like pretty basic, uncomplicated things. My only complaint about the cheapos, and its not a big one, is that I must hold the pliers on the wire with one hand, then lock the clip in place with the other. Would be nice if this could be easily one-handed.

[JettaJayGLS]

Over time my harbor freight pliers have lost strength in locking ability. Meaning I set the wire, lock the pliers, pull, and the pliers slip, and spin the wire further down than I would like.

[nhbubba]

The clasp that holds the cheap HF ones closed deforms. This means they will no longer stay closed on their own. I can 'fix' my pair and have done so 10+ times. But each time the metal clasp deforms a little more and becomes weaker. Now I feel as if I am 'fixing' them more than I am using them.
Also, the cutters don't cut. And the face of the pliers don't always hold the wire very well. Sometimes they require a lot of force to close. Sometimes the handle doesn't quite line up with the clasp and is 539204x harder to close than should be.

Basically, they suck. I got what I paid for.

[Petorius]

Sounds like I either got lucky or just havent used them enough for the problems to arise.

[OreoGaborio]

Yeah, all the cheap ones I've had rusted if you looked at em wrong, got dull the first time you used em (I use .025 wire), weren't smooth to open or close, pull knob was notchy & didn't return easily, etc.

As far as specialty tools go, safety wire pliers are the ones I use the most by far. More often than my torque wrench, even.

Next time we're both at the track & you need a pair of safety wire pliers, come find me. I'll let you take em for a test run. They're pretty nice.

[Gecko]

Sounds like I either got lucky or just havent used them enough for the problems to arise.

While I haven't been racing as long as many others ... after 12 years, I want everything that I reach in and pull out of my tool cart to work ... every time, all the time. It's one less thing I have to think or worry about.

If my MLB-7W's are here in time for the Classic (thanks Pete ), swing by and I'll let you take my pair of MLB25W's for a test drive over the weekend. But don't blame me if you end up not being able to live without a pair afterwards.

[OreoGaborio]

If my MLB-7W's are here in time for the Classic (thanks Pete )

Jelly!

I'll have to check em out. If they have the cushion throat imma have to wrestle ya for em.

[Ductard]

Jelly!

I'll have to check em out. If they have the cushion throat imma have to wrestle ya for em.

Are they that much better?

They just have a "wave" in the jaws to hold the wire better? I haven't really had an issue with the wire slipping in my blue-points.....

Wondering if I should try to cancel my 25w's.......

[OreoGaborio]

Are they that much better?

They just have a "wave" in the jaws to hold the wire better? I haven't really had an issue with the wire slipping in my blue-points.....

Wondering if I should try to cancel my 25w's.......

They're not THAT much better.... The wave is so it holds them firmly without little micro nicks in the wire that the normal knurling can cause. It's a "cool kid"/super anal safety thing. A little unnecessary in my opinion but I think it was once required by the FAA?

[nhbubba]

Where are you all buying these tools for (the most) reasonable money?

[OreoGaborio]

crawfordtool.com had the best prices delivered to my door that I could find at the time.
chiefaircraft.com is another site you can pricecheck.