Sick of my crappy Safety Wire Pliers... Just ordered new ones

[OreoGaborio]

Got sick & tired of my "fisher price" safety wire pliers. Had em maybe three seasons & the wire cutters are dull so I've been having to use a set of dikes every time I wanna snip anything and the twisting action & spring return is kinda choppy. End result is okay but I just don't like wiring my bike cuz they suck.

Enter a google search...

Milbar safety wire pliers have a great rep on various mechanic messageboards.
But for 97 bucks shipped these things better come with a

http://www.crawfordtool.com/Milbar_26W.html

[brewmaster]

Those are nice, not cheap but nice.

[OreoGaborio]

Yeahhhhh.... Really didn't wanna spend a ton but I've been browsin the net for a couplea weeks now... found a few good deals but not quite exactly what I wanted. Then I started thinking about how much I HATE using the ones I've got & just couldn't take it anymore.

Actually found em for like 2-3 bucks cheaper on ebay but whatever...

[drinkingmymilk]

$97 because you don't like to grab two tools while you're safety wiring?

I'm a cheap prick, I'll stick with my $9 HF specials and standard snips like these. 1/6th of the cost and it's a second tool that comes in handy.

[Chippertheripper]

My dad always told me: you're only as good as your tools.

But ,fuck, dude...$97 for safety wire pliers?! I hope they do what you say they do.

[Rada]

Good call Pete. Sounds like the same set that I use. You are going to love working with them. They are a good investment for a racer.

[Gecko]

After going through at least 2 or 3 cheap pairs over the past ten years, I did the same. I picked up the 6" Milbar 25W a few years ago. Love them, no regrets. For me it was money well spent.

[OreoGaborio]

$97 because you don't like to grab two tools while you're safety wiring?

I'm a cheap prick, I'll stick with my $9 HF specials and standard snips like these. 1/6th of the cost and it's a second tool that comes in handy.

I have three sets of cheap ones... all junk. I can keep buying junk every 3-5 seasons until I retire from racing or I can buy one set that I can give to my unborn MotoGP champion son or daughter and they can give them to their Galaxy Hoverbike Champion squidhuman or whatever the alien/human half breeds wanna call themselves.

[Tricky Mike]

Yeah, if you can stomach the initial cost sting you'll never regret buying good tools. I have a set of Milbars myself.

[scottfromboston]

We have a couple of pairs of milbars at work. Really, really nice. We would quickly rip through cheap pairs, but the milbars hold up nicely. The rubber insert that holds onto trimmings after cutting is a nice feature.

[Degsy]

Wirelessly posted

Snap on FTW. I paid $120 but they are probably mIlbars.

[timmyho414]

there is nothing like good tools.

I normally use 3 sets of pliers to do my bike. dikes, safety wires(cheap 10 dollar Chinese ones), needle nose. It sucks. I may have to look into a set of these. let us know how you like them.

question, why would I want/need to twist in the opposite direction? left hand threads?
how dis you pick with size?

[Rada]

question, why would I want/need to twist in the opposite direction? left hand threads?
how dis you pick with size?

Sometimes the wrap loop to the back side of the fastener want so flip out of locations. These are the times when opposite hand twisting is nice. I'm getting a switchable set just for this reason. Probably pass on my others to my kid.

While you are spoiling yourselves with good tools. Take a look at Wiha pliers. They cost like hell but boy are they a pleasure to use.

[BrianC]

Safety wire pliers, 97 dollars... amount of times you'll say, "I'm so glad I bought these"... priceless.

[DucDave]

Same ones I have. I'm not nearly as good at using them as the tool is good in the right hands.

[Trouble]

I still use lineman pliers. Maybe not as fancy but I like the methodical approach. It goes with the task.

[darkduc7]

blue point. i use them every day as an aircraft mech, best there is.

[Rada]

I found this outfit that has some very good prices for Milbar tools. The 9WS that I have is way cheaper than I paid for mine.
http://www.crawfordtool.com/Safety-wire-pliers.html

My next ones will be the 11WS

[carsick]

I found this useful from the above site-

"Safety Wire Installation Highlights
Double Twist Method: (Aerospace Standard AS567)
1. The safety wire is installed so that, if the fastener has any tendency to loosen, it will cause the safety wire to tighten.
2. The maximum span of safety wire (between tension points) shall be 6" (152 mm).
3. The maximum length of safety wire to be used in a single application is 24" (609 mm).
4. The number of twists per inch (1 twist = 1/2 complete turn) depends upon wire diameter:
0.020" to 0.025" dia., 8-14 twists;
0.032" to 0.041" dia., 6-11 twists;
0.051" to 0.060" dia., 4-9 twists.
5. The wire which is looped around the outside of the fastener must always be routed UNDER the wire protruding from the hole (so that the loop will stay down and not cause slack). This often requires the direction of the wrap and twist of strands to REVERSE from run to run, or run to pigtail.
6. Pigtail should be no more than 3/4" long and have a minimum of four (4) twists. Ends should be cut and bent toward fastener to prevent snags."

[Rada]

I found this video when I was starting out and found it to be very helpful.

[OreoGaborio]

Wirelessly posted

Snap on FTW. I paid $120 but they are probably mIlbars.

I believe snapon sells Blue Point..... also THE BALLS. Those were the two brand names that kept popping up on aircraft mechanic message boards in my searches for bitchin pliers.

[The Snowman]

Thank you for reminding me. I can't stand the crappy pair I have.

[Uncle Snake]

My dad always told me: you're only as good as your tools.

But ,fuck, dude...$97 for safety wire pliers?! I hope they do what you say they do.

For $97. I hope he gets the reach-a-round........

I'll probably pick up a pair of the decent ones before I get out to the garage this spring.

[Degsy]

Wirelessly posted

Wirelessly posted

Snap on FTW. I paid $120 but they are probably mIlbars.

I believe snapon sells Blue Point..... also THE BALLS. Those were the two brand names that kept popping up on aircraft mechanic message boards in my searches for bitchin pliers.

Correct. Mine are blue-points.

[The Snowman]

I found this outfit that has some very good prices for Milbar tools. The 9WS that I have is way cheaper than I paid for mine.
http://www.crawfordtool.com/Safety-wire-pliers.html

My next ones will be the 11WS

BTW, thanks for the tip Adam. I grabbed a pair of the 11WS. Time to throw out my pair of MSR pliers, which don't return at all. Not very good when you need to twist wire quickly.