Suggestions for safety wire pliers?

[Ductard]

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

Milbar 25W Safety Wire Pliers

I followed Pete's suggestion and got them off of Crawford tool. A couple of bucks more than the best Amazon price but coming from Atlanta vs. California they'll get here a little faster.

Not sure what great service Pete got that he was referring to but I'm hoping there's no need for further interaction with them once the pliers show up.

I got a set of used bluepoints for ~$28 off of ebay (blue point is the private label brand for snap-on).

I'd sell them to somebody here for ~$25 (despite the custom "partial return spring"* modification I sunk about $0.25 and 5 minutes of time into) - I like you Bubba, so I'd give you first dibs if you're interested.

Only reason I bought new ones was to take advantage of momentarily misplacing them to upgrade to reversible and auto-return milbars. They grip great and cut great.
The catch is give me this weekend to try to locate them but I can bring them to NYST the following weekend or the Classic the weekend after.



*They are not auto-return type pliers. I just put a spring inside the handle. Nothing was drilled / cut / damaged. The spring just doesn't have quite enough "umph" to snap it back for a full return.

[OreoGaborio]

Not sure what great service Pete got that he was referring to but I'm hoping there's no need for further interaction with them once the pliers show up.

The 26W's I got had a minor issue with the reversing knob being a little fiddly, so I emailed them & got a super quick response letting me know that sometimes they need a little break-in, but they'd be more than happy to swap them out for no charge.

I fiddled with them for a little bit & sure enough they smoothed right out. Flawless ever since.

[Gecko]

Doubt it. 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. Totally unnecessary in my opinion but I think it was once required by the FAA? Doesn't make any difference at all unless you're wiring 3 or more bolts together with the same wire.

Agreed ... but I wouldn't say its a "cool kid" thing (esp. since I've never been cool). As Pete says, it holds the wires better and doesn't leave little teeth nicks in the wire. When wiring together a sequence of bolts, I've had wiring break where those little teeth nicks are . . . like the two pinch bolts and axle. My thinking . . . if your going to spend the $$$ for a good set anyway, why not spend the few extra $$$ to get what you want. But ymmv.

Pete . . . I don't think these have the cushion throat.

Only reason I bought new ones was to . . . upgrade to reversible and auto-return milbars.

The reversible feature is something I've come to appreciate immensely . . . and the auto-return feature, well, that's just absolutely necessary for any safety wire pliers

[OreoGaborio]

Pete . . . I don't think these have the cushion throat.

Ah okay. Well ya lucked out!

Gonna try making your own cushion throat with some RTV? Almost did that on a pair of cheap-o pliers before I got my good ones.

PS. You're cool in my book

[Garandman]

FWIW I found a lot of value in watching a bunch of videos on how to do it on Youtube. I found drilling the holes to be trickier than getting usable wire in place. There are some fixtures to help - I don't have them.

I'm starting to safety wire more stuff on my tractor, stuff like a PTO bush cutter vibates like crazy and the nuts are hard to get to.

[Ductard]

Pete . . . I don't think these have the cushion throat.

This spec sheet suggests that they do, but then again, some of the online sellers' listings say the 26W is the "tiger wave." Keep us posted.

http://www.stridetool.com/wp-content...1/7W-flyer.pdf

The reversible feature is something I've come to appreciate immensely . .

Yeah....I decided to upgrade when I realized that I think this is why I sometimes have problems with the half-loop around the bolt head wanting to "jump" over the bolt head when it comes time to twist. Am I right?

and the auto-return feature, well, that's just absolutely necessary for any safety wire pliers

I got pretty good with mine that didn't have it actually. Pull, hit with palm of hand, pull.
I agree that it's a really nice feature, but I wouldn't call it absolutely necessary.

[Gecko]

Pete . . . I don't think these have the cushion throat.

This spec sheet suggests that they do, but then again, some of the online sellers' listings say the 26W is the "tiger wave." Keep us posted.

http://www.stridetool.com/wp-content...1/7W-flyer.pdf

It seems I stand corrected ... an unexpected added bonus! WooWoo!!! ... now there's going to be man-wrestling in Center garages! Pete ... let's get ready to ruuuuuumble!

The reversible feature is something I've come to appreciate immensely . . . .

Yeah....I decided to upgrade when I realized that I think this is why I sometimes have problems with the half-loop around the bolt head wanting to "jump" over the bolt head when it comes time to twist. Am I right?

Correct ... and there are some other things too ... use your google-fu and youtube-fu as I did and enlightenment shall be yours. Some of the sh*t those aviation pro's do is crazy.

and the auto-return feature, well, that's just absolutely necessary for any safety wire pliers

I got pretty good with mine that didn't have it actually. Pull, hit with palm of hand, pull. I agree that it's a really nice feature, but I wouldn't call it absolutely necessary.

To each his own ... I've done it in the past when borrowing a pair ... hey, beggars can't be choosers. For me, I wouldn't buy a pair without the auto-return feature.
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Oh, and I'm confident that putting all the quotes back together properly doesn't suggest I have any ocd issues ... honestly.

[OreoGaborio]

It seems I stand corrected ... an unexpected added bonus! WooWoo!!! ... now there's going to be man-wrestling in Center garages! Pete ... let's get ready to ruuuuuumble!

Oh, and I'm confident that putting all the quotes back together properly doesn't suggest I have any ocd issues ... honestly.

I fixed his post for you, too.... not that it was bothering you or anything.

[carsick]

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

Quote- "with improved, smooth opera"
Sounds good to me!

[cdovego]

No bs - I'm shocked you guys have gotten 60 posts on safety wire pliers.

[nhbubba]

We were only at 59 until you jumped in.

[cdovego]

62

[Ductard]

No bs - I'm shocked you guys have gotten 60 posts on safety wire pliers.

...after 564 posts on chainsaws, nothing phases me.

I have no idea what those guys are talking about. Its always popping up in my feed and I think checking the # of posts just now is the first time I've clicked on it.

...don't tell me tho....its more fun not to know.

(6 months later, needs a chainsaw, becomes a regular poster in chainsaw thread.)

[csmutty]

...after 564 posts on chainsaws, nothing phases me.

I have no idea what those guys are talking about. Its always popping up in my feed and I think checking the # of posts just now is the first time I've clicked on it.

...don't tell me tho....its more fun not to know.

(6 months later, needs a chainsaw, becomes a regular poster in chainsaw thread.)

City slicker...

[nhbubba]

'tard. Wait 'till you need a lawnmower.. er, I mean tractor.

[OreoGaborio]

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

SO JEALOUS!

Guys, John showed me these things last race weekend & they look sweet... if you wanna spend 118 bucks on a pair of safety wire pliers, do eeeeeeeeeeeet.