Quality pliers for electronics repair? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: artvandalai
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2025, 10:11:31 pm
content: Im looking for my first good pair of buy it for life pliers for electronics repair. What plier models are you all using or recommend for electronics repair and building?

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2025, 10:24:07 pm
content: Any high end brand will be fine, sidecutters heavily discussed here already which will mention those brands:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/super-expensive-pliers/https://www.eevblog.com/forum/beginners/strippers-flush-cutters-pliers-tweezer-recommendations/https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/quality-cutters/https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/recommendations-for-lab-tools-(knives-side-cutters-tweezers-etc-)/Tried some discounted CK 3767d sensoplus recently, rubber grip, not bad.If you like plain PVC handles, the set is $130:https://www.arrow.com/en/products/t3703/ck-toolsbut I don't like that style.

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2025, 10:34:36 pm
content: There is a large variety of tools called "pliers." For the common slip-joint version, Crescent used to be a good name. But is now probably degraded. I can't remember a time when I used such pliers in electronics. Last year, I bought something a bit different that is appropriate for twisting 12 AWG wire for household wiring and use it when doing that. For electronics, I have a variety of "tweezers" and "hemostat" type devices. I also use a nice 2" machinist vise at least as frequently -- usually for holding a board I am working on.

author: themadhippy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2025, 10:40:39 pm
content: QuoteDont get lindstorm if ya only want them to last 1 lifetime, my current pair of 197's inherited from my dad are about as old as me and will no doubt still be chomping 10mmT+E long after ive shuffled off

author: artvandalai
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2025, 10:57:39 pm
content: Are yours made in Spain?. I keep reading Lindstrom arent good anymore since they started being made in Spain.

author: themadhippy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2025, 11:08:18 pm
content: QuoteNo sweden, when these were made franco would have still been top dog in spain and abba was still to be invented

author: Arts
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 03, 2025, 01:33:35 am
content: I like Swanstrom. But, unless you are of stout heart and fat wallet, the sticker shock can be fatalhttps://swanstromtools.com/cutters-pliers/

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 03, 2025, 01:36:24 am
content: you will thank yourself in 10 years if you don't have hand issues from doing lots of fine work with bad tools

author: artvandalai
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 03, 2025, 01:45:55 am
content: Buying quality tools gets me motivated to use and appreciate them.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 03, 2025, 02:08:28 am
content: lol one thing that is really bad are those DIP puller pliers. Once you crack a rom on something worth a few grand then you won't mind the priceBut with my luck, I always end up with something I can't handlethe dip extractor tool (plastic thing) can be such a detriment sometimes. And the alternative is $200

author: TomWinTejas
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 03, 2025, 04:07:07 am
content: I love these 5" Vampliers... not something I need every day, but when I do need them they are invaluable. They're great for getting a grip around small stripped screws, standoffs, etc.https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LMMU2HGFor flush cutters I've learned the hard way not to cheap out. I purchased a handful off AliExpress thinking they'd be somewhat disposable, and while they are they can also be very dangerous. I tried to trim some wire and they snapped and the end flew awfully close to my eye... could have been bad. Now I've got a pair of Haako and Knipex and they've been much more resilient. But I'm still wary of using them on anything remotely hard, I use a small pair of diagonal cutters which should be stronger.

author: Haenk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 03, 2025, 05:21:00 am
content: Quote from: TomWinTejas on June 03, 2025, 04:07:07 amThese have been available for years from (also japanese company) ENGINEER; a more robust model is available from KNIPEX (TwinGrip, which is also adjustable in width).And I agree, these are really useful at times.

author: aeberbach
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 03, 2025, 06:45:51 am
content: These have been my favourites for ten years or so:https://www.knipex.com/products/electronics-pliers/precision-electronics-gripping-pliers-with-bolted-joint/precision-electronics-gripping-pliers-bolted-joint/3412130

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 03, 2025, 10:56:04 am
content: I'm afraid i'm going to repeat my advice from your cutters thread - look at the selection of orthodontic pliers on ebay. There is abewilderingfascinating variety of decent pliers (some of which you wouldn't want to meet on a dark night!), quite a few with TC jaw inserts, which are designed for hard stainless and will literally last for ever on normal wire. Way cheaper than the equivalent 'electronics' stuff.Same advice regarding heatshrink on handles.

author: artvandalai
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 03, 2025, 08:07:12 pm
content: Bought these Sweden made Lindstrom snipe nose serrated pliers.

author: shabaz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 03, 2025, 08:46:13 pm
content: I have those. Uncomfortable hard plastic handles and the metal oxidises easily in some climates if you don't keep them oiled. In contrast my Knipex pair remains shiny and new looking, and has more comfortable handles. And was cheaper.

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 04, 2025, 01:19:52 am
content: Quote from: artvandalai on June 02, 2025, 10:11:31 pmPliers are more difficult to evaluate, so I would recommend pliers from a company that makes good diagonal cutters. Maybe check the recent diagonal cutter thread.

author: floobydust
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 04, 2025, 04:31:02 am
content: I misplaced myKlein Toolselectronic pliers I bought in the early 1980's. Got them on sale for $5 because they have pink handles and everyone was afraid to have gay pliers in their toolkit, so they were not selling at all. True story. Homophobia was a big deal back then, I didn't care either way and bought them still have them - they ended up lost, in my jeans pocket in the laundry.I consideredWiha Toolspliers as a replacement.In-store the jaws quality was varying a bit too much for me to buy them cheaper on-line. Not fine German machining, inconsistent between the four on the rack.The handle is a bit gaudy but 1 year warranty.

author: watchmaker
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 04, 2025, 12:23:38 pm
content: After my startup, I only bought Lindstrom box joint pliers for my shop and have yet to wear one out, including piano wire cutters. Since I have not bought any on 20 years, I guess some have been going strong for over 30 years. Now some are migrating to electronics.Look in watch repair on ebay.

author: Arts
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 07, 2025, 03:34:17 pm
content: While I was at the local Accessotronik store yesterday, I took a look at their offerings for pliers and cutters. They have a wide assortment of the Weller/Xcelite brand of tools. I remember these (at one time) being a very high-quality product from Erem. No longer; they were all made in china, and you could easily see that they were very poorly machined. Another "bottom line" profit win for the Apex Tool Group...