Tweezers, whats good? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Someone
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 17, 2015, 07:24:42 am
content: I'd run down on good tweezers so added a few stocked Aven products onto a digikey order, to be added into a mix of Dumont and Okay branded tweezers.Aven 18032EZ,The best dressed of the units measured 0.83mm and 0.76mm across their tip faces, and 0.53mm and 0.37mm high respectively. None of the pairs showed any symmetry and didn't even have the tips dressed square or flush at the end, and the sides were tapered. Roughly what you would expect for $6.Aven 18032TT,Same OO pattern as above and similarly woeful tip alignment and dimensions as the low cost product, not worth the premium over the lower range.Aven 18037MS,Swiss made and completely different finish and quality to the other Aven products, much more in line with what is expected. 0.25x0.2mm tips that are symmetric, square, and within microns of each other.For comparison Dumont dimension their OO pattern at 0.45x0.25mm, and the Okay branded OO pattern is 0.35x0.35mm, both swiss made and top quality. So unless you want to spend an hour grinding, honing, and polishing your precision tools to get them to the level you expect it seems best to stick to the swiss.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 17, 2015, 07:52:02 am
content: I've been quite happy with my cheapies from Jaycar, Cat TH-1754.@ NZ$5.90 they had to be worth a try.

author: Whales
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 17, 2015, 12:00:34 pm
content: My current batch of fine tweezers are from a friend of an eye-surgery/optometry related individual. Apparently they dispose of the tweezers rather than cleaning them between patients (this practice probably varies geographically).

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 17, 2015, 03:19:58 pm
content: Mine are mostly Lindstrom, which are rebrandedIdeal-Tek(they do a lot of ODM contracting). I also suspect they manufacture the Swiss made Aven tweezers as well, based on comparing photos on their site to some of mine. FWIW, they're the nicest tweezers I've laid hands on, and that includes Erem and Dumont (have an overall better fit & finish, but just, as it's down to small details at this level IME).The rest are Excelta (Swiss made are Erem, and some are Italian made <look likeViola>).VOMMis also extremely well made (German), and are the ODM forWiha(digikey also happens to carry them). Up there with top quality Swiss brands IMHO, and you can find sales on Wiha if you're patient (i.e.KCToolCo).Notable step up from Pakistani, and Chinese brands in particular IME, and worth the money IMHO (deals can be had if you're patient).Also, PM sent.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 17, 2015, 03:52:02 pm
content: Quote from: nanofrog on May 17, 2015, 03:19:58 pmLast year I evaluated a few tweezers for SMD work and the Exceltas was better than the Erems in my opinion. The kind I found to be most useful are the 'strong' type such as the 00-SA-ET and the AA-SA-ET. They have lateral stability and the components never 'fly' in the air.Before that I used cheapie from Adafruit and not that cheap from Wiha but switching to these two 'strong' Exceltas was like day and night. I am doing down to 0402 size.

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 17, 2015, 05:47:21 pm
content: Quote from: zapta on May 17, 2015, 03:52:02 pmWere you comparing like vs. like though (i.e. anErem 00SAwith theExcelta 00-SA-ET(ergonomic grip covered version of an 00-SA)?I ask, as I can see differences in the photos, but I don't know if the stock photo isn't exact, or there's that much of a difference between them (Erem doesn't look right for a 00 to me; resembles more of a 3 IMHO).FWIW, my Exceltas are older (stamped "Precista, by Excelta" on the Italian made <P/N's aren-SAPI>, and Swiss are stamped "Excelta, made in Switzerland" <P/N's aren-SA>). Currently under the 2 and 3 star lines respectively. I find that the Italian made aren't as precisely ground as the Swiss (i.e. points aren't as symmetrical, thinner so bend easier, and grind marks are rougher; i.e. tolerances @ .003" instead of .001" for Swiss), but are still far better than Pakistani and Chinese. As per value, I'd say not so much when their MSRP per pair is what you can find Swiss made if you're patient for new (used in excellent shape or NOS on eBay; YMMV of course).It's been long enough that Excelta has likely found another ODM for the Swiss models I expect. It may have even been a mix years ago, such as specialty versions from one supplier, and more common from someone else, depending on what they could get them for price wise. Dumont would be my top guess currently, as they're the only manufacturer to offer tweezers in a cobalt alloy AFAIK (Dumostarscroll down a bit;street pricing).

author: artag
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 17, 2015, 07:59:27 pm
content: I have some marked VENUS by Regine. They're also Swiss, and I particularly like the 7A which has a very fine curved tip. I originally got them from Axminster Power Tools but they don't seem to do them any more. RS components do, however.http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/tweezers/2386227/Quite expensive, I'm afraid. But I use them only for placing SMT parts and they've lasted me at least 10 years so far. The tips still meet perfectly.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 19, 2015, 01:25:17 am
content: I have an Erem 7-SA which is excellent for SMD work. It is expensive (around $25 IIRC) but the tips stay straight even after years of use so well worth the money.

author: Robomeds
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 20, 2015, 04:48:12 am
content: Quote from: Whales on May 17, 2015, 12:00:34 pmI have a pair of tweezers that were used for vessel surgery. I agree the medical stuff is really good. These tweezers have a 0.8mm hole in the grasping area for grabbing a blood vessel. Very nice for holding small, round objects. Of course at $200 these would normally be out of my price range.

author: Smith
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 20, 2015, 03:48:52 pm
content: I have used a lot of brands, but now I'm only using the lots of variants of the Ideal-Tek tweezers. Never had any problems with them, I really like the quality.

author: nukie
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2015, 04:51:46 am
content: I have lots if Swiss made tweezers but I couldn't bring myself using them to heat up parts on a flame this will damage the tempered metal. So I begin looking for cheapies. The Indian Pakistan made are very poor with the exception of some from Cousins.UK They are made of soft metal easily bent tips. I found Chinese Weitus brand best. Sandblasted surface, the grabbing end meets exactly. The metal is tempered and very stiff.For SMD electronics work I use Titanium tweezers, they have soft spring rate and are very light. They only require light touch and have excellent feedback. Really pleasant for long hours work.