
In other cases, you might need angled pliers or pliers with straight tips. In that instance, you will likely need long nose pliers to get the job done. If you know ahead of time that you’re dealing with rings that may be hidden deep within one of these areas, then you need to choose pliers that will have an easier time reaching them. This is most common when you are working with a hydraulic system or a transmission system.

Just as important as the size of the rings, though, is the ring location.įor example, rings are sometimes located deep within certain areas. Ring PositionĮarlier, we talked about the importance of ring sizes when it comes to the pliers you choose. As usual, you must determine whether these different bells and whistles are worth paying a higher amount. But sometimes the widest ranges and best performance come with a premium price tag. Long story short? The wider the range of the pliers, the more tasks they can handle. Determine the size of the rings you will be working with and choose pliers that can handle all of the ring sizes in question. How do you pick the right size of pliers for your needs? Once again, it all comes down to working backward. Factors like jaw spread ultimately affect how versatile your pliers really are. When choosing pliers, check out what the smallest and largest circlip diameter is that it can handle. As you might imagine, the size of the snap rings determines the size of the pliers in question. You are buying pliers to work with snap rings. When it comes to pliers, though, size very much does matter! Handymen love to joke about whether “size matters” or not. But if you only have one type of use in mind, we recommend going with the plier that is best suited to your needs. You might need different kinds of pliers for different kinds of tasks. With these pliers, you can easily work with snap rings that are fitted around shafts. That means that you open the jaws by closing the handles. Furthermore, these pliers are optimal for use on circlips that are located inside bores.Įxternal pliers work the opposite way. That means that you close the handles to close the jaws. Internal pliers are more user-friendly for the average handyman because they operate much like any other plier. Conversely, external snap rings are designed for external circlips. Internal snap rings are designed for (what else?) operating your internal snap rings. There are two kinds of circlips: internal and external. And that means taking a closer look at the circlips. For example, you need to determine what you want pliers for before you decide on the best pair of pliers. Circlips: Internal vs ExternalĬhoosing the right tool often involves working your way backward.

After you complete this guide, you’ll be ready to order your pliers and get started on your next project. That’s why we put together our comprehensive buyer’s guide to snap ring pliers. However, it would be understandable if you still had some questions. With any luck, our reviews have helped you figure out what you are looking for. Have you decided on the best snap ring pliers yet? Making the right decision can be pretty difficult. Buyer’s Guide – Purchasing the Best Snap Ring Pliers Set
