Tweezers. What's the nomenclature of the styles? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: FrankE
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 23, 2016, 03:56:17 am
content: I'm trying to get my head around the nomenclature of the types of tweezer.SA means stainless acid-resist, yeah?Which digit signifies whether the tip is straight, relieved (biconcave)?Which digit signifies whether the working angle is straight, angled, curved?Which digit signifies whether the tip is smooth, transverse-serrated, longitudinally-serrated or cross-serrated?Also the other digits?I can see there's a coding pattern sort of agreed between manufacturers but damned if I can get my head round it.Blooming confused here comparing one brand to the other. Bahco (Lindstrom), Erem, Venus (ostensibly cheap Regine)

author: azer
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 24, 2016, 03:18:17 pm
content: It seems to be a standardized style, here are some overviewshttps://www.emsdiasum.com/microscopy/products/tweezers/ultra_fine.aspxhttps://www.dumonttweezers.com/Tweezer/TweezerType/1http://www.aveninc.com/precision-tweezers#.VvQCjU1wXAwIt seems to fit with the lindstrom and erem catalogswww.lindstromtools.com/pdf_down.phphttp://www.apexhandtools.com/erem/PDF/Erem%20Gloabl%20Catalog%202008.pdfSA is stainless steel acid resist, TA is titanium acid resist, S is steel, C is carbon, ET is the "easytouch" ergonomic esd rubber

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 24, 2016, 03:24:50 pm
content: Here's the basic rundown on the letters at the end (material).S = Stainless (it's magnetic & vulnerable to acids). Not really suited for electronic use.SA = Stainless, Anti (for anti-magnetic & anti-acid). Most common material used in tweezers meant for electronics. Also the most cost effective vs. NC & TA.NC = Nickel-Chromium (also non-magnetic & acid resistant). It's also both heavier and stronger than SA, and can take more heat.TA = Titanium, Anti (for anti-magnetic & anti-acid). Lightest material, and has a soft spring response. Can take even more heat than NC.I've tweezers from all of these materials, and SA is by far the most common (you'll run into some that's SA is all that's offered, such as specialty SMD shapes). BTW, Dumont has an alloy chart you might want to take a look at (see link below).As per the numbers, there's really no generic code other thanSwiss Patternnumbers that represent a specific shape (angles, etc.. if they exist). Letters after the numbers mean it's a variant of the number that precedes it (i.e. 5C is just a 5 with bent tips). Even more confusing, is not all manufacturers follow the Swiss Pattern numerical system (some Swiss, definitely the German stuff). Best to download a few catalogs to see what the pattern numbers represent.As per quality, Swiss is best as a general rule (not sure about Sipel, as they're far cheaper than any other Swiss make; not sure if it's just fit and finish, or if there's differences in tolerances as well). Germany is right there as well. Next step down is Italian, followed by Pakistan, and finally China. To get an idea as to the differences, it's both tolerances as well as fit and finish. For example, Swiss will have a tolerance of 0.001", while Italian has a tolerance of 0.003". Swiss fit and finish is typically superb (I suspect this is where Sipel reduces their costs). Doesn't seem like much, but I find it does matter in tip alignment (less likely to fling SMD parts across the room as the tips line up perfectly & the contact surfaces are flat, assuming undamaged by the user since some are rather delicate).BTW, Regine is a proper Swiss brand, and have no affiliation with VETUS. VETUS is purely Chinese (not bad for Chinese, but they're no where near the quality you'd get with genuine Regine, which is definitely a top tier brand).Swiss brands would include:Ideal-Tek* (ODM for multiple companies, includingLindstromandTDI)DumontRegineEremPeer-VigorRubisSipel(they can be found atAll-SpecVOMMis the only German manufacturer I'm aware of. These are also very well made, and comparable to Swiss (including price). Easiest way to find these is throughWiha, as VOMM does a lot of ODM work (so do a lot of other brands), and I suspect for other German brands as well, such as Knipex. Wiha and other German tool brands use their own numbering system, so you'd definitely need to look at their catalogs.Italian would beViola(effectively impossible to get other than rebranded). Excelta may still rebrand these (where the few I have came from).* For disclosure, most of mine are Ideal-Tek. Some with their own label, but most branded as Lindstrom. Almost all of them are SA, but I've a few pairs of S I inherited (were used for jewelry & watch making), and a pair each of TA and NC (found on eBay at prices I couldn't turn down). Most of mine came from eBay in fact, so I didn't pay retail for any of them.

author: FrankE
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 29, 2016, 11:27:09 pm
content: I have mostly surgical and dissection tweezers which aren't coded and I'm far too poor to buy cheap stuff.I hate using crap tools so I wasn't even looking at ebay cheapos like vetus.The only electronics-focussed tweezer I have is an Erem 00DSA. I don;t use them much as prefer a longer tweezer.I tabulated all the offerings from the manufacturers into a spreadsheet to crack the code. I didn't save it and rebooted my machine.00 Strong tips1 Fine tips general use2 Medium points3 Straight, precision4 Relieved very fine5 Relieved super fine6 Small bend7 Bent

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2016, 05:22:58 pm
content: Quote from: FrankE on March 29, 2016, 11:27:09 pmFWIW, I like quality, but I refuse to pay full retail for personal use. As so much is rebranded, I try to find the actual ODM, as you can usually get the same exact tool for a lot less.I also don't have issues buying used, so long as they're in proper operational shape (no slop, no nicks, ..., and at the right price of course).As per a spreadsheet, it's not necessary IMHO. Just download the Ideal-Tek catalogs (see .pdf links below), as it has photos for each pattern number. That way you can easily pick what you want/need.And if you happen to be buying from a company that doesn't use the Swiss Pattern numbers for each profile, then you simply compare photos (speeds up finding what you want).If you can be patient, you may luck up and find them on eBay for much more reasonable prices (used, NOS, and close-outs = how I managed to score what I have).BTW, if you need/want new cutters & pliers that are top quality but won't cost an arm + leg + first born, check outSchmitzin Germany (where I got my pliers; link is to their direct store as they don't have distributors). All in, they ran me ~28USD each to my door (half or less than anywhere else).To give you an idea of just how good the quality is, they ODM all of the electronics cutters & pliers for Bernstein and CK Tools for example (some items for others too, such as NWS's yellow & black ESD compliant versions).I'm also partial to Erem's cutters (I've the Ergo grips, and they slip a little in my hands, so best to stick with foam grips IMHO). Even more so to Tronex's Ergonomic versions however (longer handles & foam cushion grips). They ODM'ed Excelta's 5 star line, so this may be a way to find them at reasonable prices (uses an Allen/hex screw in the joint). Currently, they produce their Lazer-Line products (same cutter heads, but the grips are curved, have a matte sand-blast surface finish, and the joint screw is some specialty shape). Either are excellent however, so if you find them at the right price, go for it.High Precision Tweezers CatalogSMD Tweezers Catalog

author: dadler
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 30, 2016, 10:28:31 pm
content: I have several sets of Wiha tweezers (SMD/ESD etc), and I like them, but the quality control is hit and miss.Out of 5 sets ordered, 2 had to go back because they came with uneven/misaligned/inconsistent width tips.I have a cheap set of VETUS tweezers, and the tips are actually more consistent and better aligned than the Wihas.I just ordered a few sets of NOS Lindstroms on eBay, we'll see how I like them.