What became of the "Wave"?

HS-748 2A · Post by **HS-748 2A** » Tue Jan 19, 2010 3:42 am

I have a bone to pick - What became of the Blue Point "Wave-Jaw" lockwire twister pliers?

I wore out a set but when I went to get them replaced, story was "no more wave jaw".. Old 'tooth' style only.

The toothed ones chew the wire up and cause stress-risers. Then I find, when you go to tie it off in the end, you often break it. (I like my lockwire so you could play an 'A Chord' on it)

The Wave-Jaw pliers had no teeth, they held the wire just fine, and the wave pattern left the wire in perfect form in the event that you needed to add just one or two more twists before you get to the hole.

What's the word? Anybody else been able to get them outside of Snap-On?

Thoughts?

'48

HS-748 2A · Post by **HS-748 2A** » Tue Jan 19, 2010 3:46 am

Maybe I just anwered my own question here. Did a quick search. Looks like SK makes them. (or distributes them anyhow)

Think I'll order me a set and return these latest ones to the Snap-On Man.

http://www.amazon.com/SK-7726-Automatic ... B000FAPW6W

'48

Troubleshot · Post by **Troubleshot** » Tue Jan 19, 2010 5:16 am

Hey 48,

Does SK make the pliers? All my 12pt sockets and rachets are SK....I am really happy with them, especially the 1/4" drive sets, good product in my opinion.

TS

Troubleshot · Post by **Troubleshot** » Tue Jan 19, 2010 5:30 am

Found these Tiger Wave's here: http://www.aircraftspruce.com/pdf/2008I ... t08603.pdf

200hr Wonder · Post by **200hr Wonder** » Tue Jan 19, 2010 8:34 am

Hey HS748 at the bottom of the amazon link you posted has this review:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not what is advertised, January 12, 2009
By E. Wolfe (Portland, OR) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
BEWARE! these pliers do NOT have the tiger wave jaw. Even though Amazons description says that they do. The fact is, Milbar the manufacturer, stopped making them back in mid 2007. That is a real drag because other mechanics in the shop have the ones with the tiger wave jaw and they are the best safety wire pliers ever made. These aren't bad but they do chew up the wire unless they are covered in tape or whatever.

FYI

iflyforpie · Post by **iflyforpie** » Tue Jan 19, 2010 9:22 am

I used to have a nice set of the Blue Point small reverseable ones until some f*ckwad stole them!

They were nice because not only did they have the Tiger Wave, but the rubber grip to catch the wire so it didn't fall in some hell hole and stab your fingers when you tried to get it out.

I couldn't part with another $160 at the time so I bought some China brand ones which have done the job for the few times I still twist wire.

But if SK makes them I will for sure get me a set. All my major tools are SK except screwdrivers and a few pliers. Snap-On quality (I actually like the wrenches and sockets better) at a fraction of the price.

ourkid2000 · Post by **ourkid2000** » Tue Jan 19, 2010 9:25 am

Yep,

Milbar makes these things for all the tool companies.........Blue Point, Proto, Sk, etc. Every one of em is Milbar, so if the prices are different between them then buy the cheaper ones because they are the same.

Mine are the 6" Proto ones and I only bought em about a year ago. I refused to use em until I got good with my hands and my Snap On Duckbills. They do not have the Tiger-Wave throat in em though, only a pattern that looks similar to my Snap On duckbill pliers. They are identical to the Blue Point, SK, etc ones as I've compared them all. Pretty sure Milbar discontinued the tiger-wave design but you may be able to get a set off of Ebay.

HS-748 2A · Post by **HS-748 2A** » Tue Jan 19, 2010 1:11 pm

If Troubleshot's link is still valid, I'll try to get them there. It's a great price too.

200hr Wonder - thanks for pointing that out. I had not noticed.

I actually tried ordering them last night but wouldn't ship to Canada.

Don't you just wonder why they discontinued those things anyhow?

Cheers,

48

bombardierfixer · Post by **bombardierfixer** » Tue Jan 19, 2010 3:49 pm

We have a SK guy in the hanger if I see him I'll ask.

MZUNGO · Post by **MZUNGO** » Tue Jan 19, 2010 5:49 pm

there is an aircraft spruce in canada now http://www.aircraftspruce.com/canada.html
i did a search on the site, no tigerweave

jetdoc · Post by **jetdoc** » Tue Jan 19, 2010 7:22 pm

When I found out that they stopped making the TIger Waves I purchased a back up pair off Ebay...!!

I was told by the snap on guy that the reason Milbar stopped making them was they were only made as a marketing gimmick!! Apparently they never figured out that they are the perfect wire twisters for aviation.

pilotdreams · Post by **pilotdreams** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 10:42 am

Im glad someone asked about this. I ordered a pair 2 years ago expecting the tiger wave but got the toothed jaw. When I asked I was told they didnt make the wave anymore. I just filed down the teeth but yeah, why would they stop making a good product? I would imagine alot of lockwire has stress risers, right near where it enters the hole on a bolt head because of these toothed jaw.

bombardierfixer · Post by **bombardierfixer** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 2:26 pm

The SK guy was able to get a pair, and for 100 bucks! Sweet!

HS-748 2A · Post by **HS-748 2A** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 3:05 pm

bombardierfixer wrote:The SK guy was able to get a pair, and for 100 bucks! Sweet!

Really? You just did this?

ourkid2000 · Post by **ourkid2000** » Thu Feb 18, 2010 10:38 am

Ok my Proto auto-twisters have the diamond shaped pattern on the jaws......

I like these things but the teeth definitely nick the lockwire causing me to break it on numerous occasions which I'm sure you all know is quite frustrating. I am going to try various tapes on the jaws and see how it holds up.

Anyone try a tape that works and holds up well?

Rusty Wrench · Post by **Rusty Wrench** » Thu Feb 18, 2010 8:30 pm

ourkid2000,
Run your scotcbrite wheel over the points of the diamond pattern in the jaws, that'll smooth them out a bit and reduce the nicking.
Tape won't stay on.

palebird · Post by **palebird** » Thu Feb 18, 2010 9:32 pm

Best lockwire pliers are Robinsons from the usa...period..

ourkid2000 · Post by **ourkid2000** » Thu Feb 18, 2010 11:51 pm

Milbar Aero TwisterAero Twister:

Robinson and Milbar are now owned by the same company, and they have relegated Robinson to the economy model and Milbar as the deluxe line. As such, Milbar's Aero Twisters are the exact replacements for the original Robinsons, even down to using the same forging, plus all the same great features of the old Robinson pliers. Made in the U.S.A.

For everyone's info, Milbar's twisters are relabeled: Blue Point, Proto, SK, and pretty well every other brand out there.

Brice · Post by **Brice** » Sat Feb 20, 2010 7:43 am

You guys must have a hamfisted way of lockwiring because I have the diamond patterned jaw reversible twisters, as do most of the guys in the shop I work with and have never encountered any problems with lockwire breaking, or nicking, or "stress points". The only time I've run in to these sorts of problems, they came from over twisting, pulling with excessive force and the like.

ourkid2000 · Post by **ourkid2000** » Sat Feb 20, 2010 9:08 am

Do you use .020" or .025" regularly?

I rarely damage .032" and higher.

HS-748 2A · Post by **HS-748 2A** » Sat Feb 20, 2010 11:05 am

I use .025 when ever I can. Does the nicest job.

ourkid2000 · Post by **ourkid2000** » Sat Feb 20, 2010 11:35 am

I do as well, except I find my twisters are hardest on the slighter wire like .025".

HS-748 2A · Post by **HS-748 2A** » Sat Feb 20, 2010 1:17 pm

ourkid2000 wrote:I do as well, except I find my twisters are hardest on the slighter wire like .025".

I agree. That's why we need the Wave.

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