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Suggestions for safety wire pliers?

  1. #1
    Lifer Ductard's Avatar
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    Suggestions for safety wire pliers?

    I've checked amazon.com, and it looks like you can spend anywhere from $10 to $150 on a set of safety wire pliers.

    Does anybody have a suggestion for a set of pliers that aren't that expensive but wouldn't fall apart in 1 use?

    I'm not a racer, so I won't be using them all the time under high-pressure situations. I just do some track days - I've borrowed some safety wires for some track-side fairing repairs, etc and to keep a go-pro from potentially going missing, but now I have a more important reason to get familiarized with safety wire. The motard I just bought is all safety wired up, so I figure I should have the tools to put the wire back on if I need to work on something.

    Some follow-up questions -

    What size pliers - or do I need more than one size?
    What size wire do most people use (I have a spool of 0.032", I'm hoping that will work but I can buy more if this isn't a good size)?
    From the intro to roadracing book they give you at Penguin, I know to be 100% in-spec you're supposed to make some twists to the left, some to the right. Is this important, or can you get by just twisting one way? If it's important - Is it better to get reversible pliers? Could be wrong, but looks like it might be cheaper to get 2 different pliers that twist different ways?

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  2. #2
    Lifer
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    Re: Suggestions for safety wire pliers?

    Harbor freight sells a couple different pairs. I have the 9" pair. They work well.
    I see no need for more than one pair.
    I use whatever HF sells for "mechanics wire" for safety wire. It also works, so far.

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  3. #3
    Lifer Chippertheripper's Avatar
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    Re: Suggestions for safety wire pliers?

    Quote Originally Posted by nhbubba View Post
    Harbor freight sells a couple different pairs. I have the 9" pair. They work well.
    I see no need for more than one pair.
    I use whatever HF sells for "mechanics wire" for safety wire. It also works, so far.
    I have the same Chinese pliers, except from ms racing. Keep them lubed, they work great. I prefer the then( er) safety wire from msr too, not the real tiny stuff Ocks uses on his master link, but thinner for sure than the hf stuff.

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  4. #4
    Lifer Ductard's Avatar
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    Re: Suggestions for safety wire pliers?

    Thanks for the replies.

    Sounds like I'll be good with the wire I've got - I actually ordered a set about a month ago 6" and 9" pair both for $14.49. Got the package and the 6" pliers were missing - the box was inside the envelope like they had slipped out in the fulfillment process and nobody noticed. Had to sent the whole thing back b/c Amazon wouldn't just send the 6" pliers.


    They didn't feel like something that would become a family heirloom but I just wanted to check here first to make sure cheap pliers wouldn't get me into trouble (i.e. do something to make the wire weaker).

    Prolly just order the same thing again b/c one set of pliers is ~ $10 so why not get an extra pair in case the first one breaks?

    http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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  5. #5
    Lifer
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    Re: Suggestions for safety wire pliers?

    Mine grip the wire too tight and knurl it. The wire often breaks at the knurl when trying to twist off the end and I have to redo the whole thing. Kind of a pain in the ass, but for the price, I deal.

    I'm sure real tools don't do this.

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  6. #6
    Don't run with the pack. whynot's Avatar
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    Re: Suggestions for safety wire pliers?

    I've had the Robinson twisters for about 40 years. So far, so good. For wire sizes, I use .020, .025, and .032.

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  7. #7
    Lifer Chippertheripper's Avatar
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    Re: Suggestions for safety wire pliers?

    Quote Originally Posted by nhbubba View Post
    Mine grip the wire too tight and knurl it. The wire often breaks at the knurl when trying to twist off the end and I have to redo the whole thing. Kind of a pain in the ass, but for the price, I deal.

    I'm sure real tools don't do this.
    Pull off some extra wire, and so where you cut it is a few twists back from where you stop turning. Then regrip, and curl up the twisted end.

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    Rookie Rada's Avatar
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    Re: Suggestions for safety wire pliers?

    I'm of the buy good pliers camp because I have seen people struggle with the elcheapos.

    I have a set of Milbar and they are wonderful to use. They are not cheap but......
    http://www.crawfordtool.com/Milbar_25W.html

    Suggestions for safety wire pliers?-m25w_200-gif

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  9. #9
    Lifer jasnmar's Avatar
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    Re: Suggestions for safety wire pliers?

    I went cheap for these. But in a different way. I kept hearing about how a good pair would last forever. I decided to test the theory. I found a couple of "vintage" wire pliers on Fleabay for $30. Bought them. Only markings on them is a capital "M".

    So far they've worked well. They aren't reversible. They aren't auto returning. I suck enough at drilling that it doesn't really matter.

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  10. #10
    Lifer
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    Re: Suggestions for safety wire pliers?

    Quote Originally Posted by Rada View Post
    I'm of the buy good pliers camp because I maintain a fleet of eleventy billion track and race motorcycles, practically live at the track, and routinely help complete noobs prep for track days.
    Fixed.

    Edit:

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    Last edited by nhbubba; 10-27-13 at 06:51 PM.

  11. #11
    Lifer Ductard's Avatar
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    Re: Suggestions for safety wire pliers?

    Ok, so sounds like there is some value to getting decent wire twisters.

    I just cancelled the amazon order for "el cheapos" and put in a fleabay bid on some blue points. Might feel different if I had a track day looming but this is one of those things I've got all winter to snag on ebay on the cheap :-)

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  12. #12
    thrilled brady's Avatar
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    Re: Suggestions for safety wire pliers?

    here's a recent thread about the better ones, with some pros and cons http://www.nestreetriders.com/forum/threads/77200-Sick-of-my-crappy-Safety-Wire-Pliers-Just-ordered-new-ones

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  13. #13
    TRACK RAT!!!!! Pigman's Avatar
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    Re: Suggestions for safety wire pliers?

    MSR ones with the free spool of wire............WORTH $$$$ All day long

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  14. #14
    Soul Rider Paul_E_D's Avatar
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    Re: Suggestions for safety wire pliers?

    I just bought mine from my local MC shop. 35 bucks or so. They work perfectly every time and I can't see spending more than that on them. I have 6 and 9 in ones. Always use the 9" They don't feel as cheap as the HF/chinese ones, but are no where near the bling of the expensive ones. unknown brand.

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  15. #15
    Unsafe At Any Speeds Jim's Avatar
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    Re: Suggestions for safety wire pliers?

    i use 0.032" as well. 9" pliers
    some people like the thinner stuff, but 32 is my preference

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    Lifer Ductard's Avatar
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    Re: Suggestions for safety wire pliers?

    Just won these babies off of ebay for ~29 bucks. They're made by blue point and go for ~$127 new. Don't know too much about them, but the knob and handles don't look as flimsy like the cheaper ones I bought off of amazon.

    That carpet in the background must be at least 30 years old....so if that guy can keep it from falling apart he must know how to take care of stuff.

    Suggestions for safety wire pliers?-kgrhqf-qmfjml-8i5lbsz0zk79zw-60_12-jpg

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  17. #17
    Your Father csmutty's Avatar
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    Re: Suggestions for safety wire pliers?

    Nice! Those should be good!

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  18. #18
    Bikeless in Blackstone The Snowman's Avatar
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    Re: Suggestions for safety wire pliers?

    I have a pair of less expensive Motion Pro pliers and they've never failed me. Last winter, I jumped on the bandwagon and grabbed a pair is Milbar pliers for $75. It doesn't matter how I lock them, every other piece of wire that I twist, the pliers unlock and spring open when you don't go slowly wit the pliers. It's annoying. So, guess which pair I use most often?

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  19. #19
    Your Father csmutty's Avatar
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    Re: Suggestions for safety wire pliers?

    I love my Milbar set. I haven't used any of them yet...but I still love them all the same.

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  20. #20
    Day late, dollar short carsick's Avatar
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    Re: Suggestions for safety wire pliers?

    Quote Originally Posted by JB View Post
    They're made by blue point and go for ~$127 new.
    Blue point is frequently the brand applied to stuff Snap-On doesn't make and buys elsewhere. Snap-On buys those from Milbar.

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    Super Moderator OreoGaborio's Avatar
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    Re: Suggestions for safety wire pliers?

    Love my 9" Milbar 26W's..... but they're pricey. Bought em cuz I was tired of my generic's getting dull & rusty. I seem to take better care of stuff when it costs me more if I don't.

    Got em from http://www.crawfordtool.com/ and was really happy with their prices, shipping & service.

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    Last edited by OreoGaborio; 10-28-13 at 05:26 PM.
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  22. #22
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    Re: Suggestions for safety wire pliers?

    I have the Milbar 1W393 http://www.crawfordtool.com/Milbar_1W393.html and they are great. I do like the one Pete got though, not sure if I need to change the direction of the twist, but I like the fact that I could if I wanted to. And my Milbar is the only one I ever bought, was warned of the cheapies before hand.

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    Last edited by PinHead; 10-28-13 at 06:13 PM.
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  23. #23
    Lifer Garandman's Avatar
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    Re: Suggestions for safety wire pliers?

    Quote Originally Posted by jasnmar View Post
    //. I suck enough at drilling that it doesn't really matter.
    I salute you: I'm in the same club. I've seen a lot of aircraft engines so mine look lame by comparison.

    Took a TIG welding course and I suck at that too.

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  24. #24
    Unsafe At Any Speeds Jim's Avatar
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    Re: Suggestions for safety wire pliers?

    Quote Originally Posted by Garandman View Post
    I salute you: I'm in the same club. I've seen a lot of aircraft engines so mine look lame by comparison.
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  25. #25
    Lifer Ductard's Avatar
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    Re: Suggestions for safety wire pliers?

    Quote Originally Posted by OreoGaborio View Post
    Love my 9" Milbar 26W's..... but they're pricey. Bought em cuz I was tired of my generic's getting dull & rusty. I seem to take better care of stuff when it costs me more if I don't.

    Got em from Tool Kits, Tool Cases, Knipex, Wiha, Bondhus, Hand Tools.....Crawford Tool On Line Wholesale Catalog & Store and was really happy with their prices, shipping & service.
    Resurrecting this thread for a question - why 9" vs. 6" pliers?

    Those are quite pricey....I had mentally prepared myself for ~$80 (the 6" are ~$85) but those 9" pliers are around $105.

    Setting aside my being a cheapskate, I would guess the advantage of having a slightly smaller set of pliers for cramped spaces would be more important than the advantages of larger pliers (I'm assuming more torque?)

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