Lockwire pliers

[TheBigMAC]

Hey, you guys know what size lockwire pliers are standard for an AME, also is there anywhere around YYZ to pick them up?

[PanEuropean]

The pliers in the photo below are 'Bluepoint' brand and can be purchased from any SnapOn dealer.

[DBA]

I got my pliers from my Mac Tools dealer. However, you do not need to buy them from a Snap-On/Mac Tools distributor.
http://www.nextag.com/wire-twisting-pliers/stores-html

[dashx]

http://www.dlactionautomotive.ca/

DL Action always has good deals. Just talk to the owner (now what is his name........) He is usually at the front counter and can almost always discount the prices....

He carries Gray tools as well.....

Of course you could be really cheap and go to Princess auto on Dixie.

Leavens is just east of DL action on the north side of Derry....

And Aviall (but they will be more expensive)....

and then there is Ian Harris (Snap on dealer at YYZ). 647 519 4166 You can see him driving airside visiting the hangars.

As far as standard size goes you will have to decide what the largest (and smallest) lockwire you will be working with and then buy the appropriate sized pliers......

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/tools.as ... apon-store

And if you find yourself working in tight quarters you'll end up buying the smaller ones....

[openendwrench]

Not to sound old but after 25 yrs + in the industry I own a number of different tools (home made for special applications) which will twist wire etc.....
Side cutters, duck bills or by hand works the best for me.
Often I've seen some of the junior engineers get a little to excited about the twisting action and go little overboard.
Get the big ones to begin with, at leat then you can twist .040 and 14 ga household stuff to start.

[Hedley]

When I was younger, I used to use the lockwire pliers all the time, but as I've gotten older, I've realized you can generally do it just as well, by hand. Cut it and twist the pigtail.

[TheBigMAC]

Really appreciate everything guys! Thanks.

Still in school so were not aloud to use them as of yet but thought they would be a good tool to have.

[PanEuropean]

...you do not need to buy them from a Snap-On/Mac Tools distributor.

That is true, but the nice thing about Snappy and Mac is that they show up at work with their trucks on a regular basis, and it is sooooo easy to find what you need in those trucks - or, have it delivered to you when the truck comes around next week.

[dashx]

Here is another good place to buy tools:

http://www.yardstore.com/?gclid=CKqduND ... KgodWXxJ4g

Online.....

And if you're not allowed to use twisters check these oldtimers out:

http://www.yardstore.com/browse.cfm/4,4336.html

[coldandwet]

The Yardstore is an awesome store,..great prices and super fast delivery....

[TheBigMAC]

Here is another good place to buy tools:

And if you're not allowed to use twisters check these oldtimers out:

http://www.yardstore.com/browse.cfm/4,4336.html

Haha, I'll give those a shot. Thanks a lot everyone

[AirFrame]

I was told that the RCAF mechanics aren't permitted to use "automatic" twisting pliers like this because of the danger of over-twisting. Haven't had that confirmed by anyone but thought it was interesting.

I've got one pair at home and one in the hangar, and i'm just careful not to over-twist.

[DarylSims]

Acklands sells Proto lockwire pliers they have a lifetime warranty, and they are made by safety twist $67.00 cdn. The snap on ones are made by the same company but snap on charges more ($127.00).

hope that helps

[Hedley]

RCAF mechanics aren't permitted to use ... because of the danger of over-twisting

A superb urban legend, but I have trouble believing it. That would be like saying the military aren't allowed to use wrenches because of the dangers of over-tightening a nut!

[iflyforpie]

RCAF mechanics aren't permitted to use ... because of the danger of over-twisting

A superb urban legend, but I have trouble believing it. That would be like saying the military aren't allowed to use wrenches because of the dangers of over-tightening a nut!

I would believe it.

The most frustrating work I've ever done was working on Canadian C-130s under retarded CAF rules. If it wasn't for civi, these birds would probably never fly.




Oh, and I loved all of my old instructors back at school who said 'I never use lockwire pliers, I can lockwire faster with duckbills than with twist pliers'.

Yeah, come right on over when you want to have a race gramps...



I had one winner of an instructor who was inspecting the lockwire a friend of mine did, and he rubs his hand THREE TIMES against the pigtail until he drew blood.. 'See... see what happened? That isn't a proper pigtail'.

Have fun detoxing after getting out.




Okay, I'm done now.

[zeus]

I have a set of the Bluepoint pliers pictured above and sold by Snap-on.

Pros:

1. Compact 9-inch length fits in tight places.

2. This unit has right-hand or left-hand twist at the flick of a lever.

3. The cutter has a wire-grab that prevents snipped ends from flying across the hangar.

Cons:

1. Action of the wrist mechanism is very notchy, especially in left-twist mode. Knob retracts slow and sometimes not all the way. I returned the first pair only to find that the new pair was no different so it's not an isolated defect.

2. The business end of the pliers have a serrated grip that leaves nicks in the wire. Filing the serrations a bit helps alleviate this (at the expense of grip) but the best solution would be to return to the apparently-no-longer-available smooth wave-style grip.

3. Snap-on's price leaves me dissappointed that these pliers are not plated in 24-carat gold.

Since the reverse mechanism is next-to-useless my next set of pliers will be a larger set of the el-cheapo House Of Tools right-hand-only type.

[HS-748 2A]

I'm still lamenting the loss of the "wave"..

I see PanEuro's got a virgin set in his picture. He should PM me and sell them...

'48

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