Safety Wire Pliers: 6" or 9", and why?
 

I need to get safety wire pliers for the knock-offs. Will the 6 inchers do a good job, or should I get the larger 9" ones?

- Ron

The 6" ones will do fine but there pretty small.
I would also recommend .041 wire as it's a bit stronger.
http://performanceunlimited.com/cobr...etypliers.html

I'm sure either size would do fine on the twisting. The longer one will give you more leverage to cut, but I carry a pair of DIKES since their pointed nose gets in tighter places. BTW, I got my pliers at good old Harbor Freight and they work just fine and didn't cost me $50.
If you are needing a lead mallet, get at least a 6#er. There are good instruction videos on both using safety wire pliers and installing knock off wheels that are worth seeing. Search CC and they'll come up.
The easiest way I remember which way tightens the spinners is the rotation is towards the back of the car, regardless of which side you're working on.
See you Saturday morning, if you manage to haul yer butt outta da bed.

Having worn out more than one set over the years: Most aircraft mechanics have gone to the smaller ones, however, the larger ones are easier to use. The added flex of the longer handles makes them easier to lock, but the smaller pliers are better for tight areas and easier to carry around. All else being equal, and for the job of wiring up knockoffs, I'd go with the full sized pliers. If wanting to keep the tool box light, the smaller one are fine too.

How's that for a definitive answer?:JEKYLHYDE

Spoken like a politician.

I was outta bed at 5:20 this morning. I don't think I'll have any trouble on Saturday. :) I'm looking forward to seeing all the cars and people.

Been an aircraft mech for 30 years, crop dusters, Learjets, WW2, home builds, and most majors....using the same ol pliers. Can't go wrong either way. Longer pliers handle the larger wire because the long handle "flex" more without damaging the wire at the grip point but still grip solid onto .032.
Small pliers are good making you bleed!! Because whatever you have to safety that small usually means you can't see the part that's hidden behind an engineerings nightmare of a design and you have to jam your hand into a nasty area with a bunch of sharp edges, hold a mirror on a stick in your mouth to see what you're trying to safety and hope your flash light banded on your head stays put! Not that I'm bitter, just saying!

There seems to be a good pair of blue point pliers on eBay right now for .99...no bids.

Tips for proper twist here:

Safety Wire | AMT Community

And remember! Please leave a 1/2" long pigtail and bend it (loop it) back over on top of itself so the finished product is half the length of the cut pigtail. The reason? The cut tip of the wire is razor sharp, bending the tail over produces a wonderfully smooth end. ( less bleeding again ).

Honestly, 6" or 9" will work for .032". Stay with 8.5 or 9's if doin .041". Stay with 6" for .025" wire or less.

Have fun and thanks for memories of years past!
Cheers.

Kids.:D

I have the short ones and they work fine but agree that the longer ones are a bit easier to use - more flex in the handle when you are locking it and also keeps your hands a bit farther away which is not really a big deal on the wheels but is in other places. I have also found the .032 wire to be plenty strong.

I've ordered the 9" ones. Thanks everyone!

I think you will like the 9" ones. That is what I have always used and I use the .041 wire as it is a little stronger. I also agree with the 6 pound lead hammer as that is just about the right weight I think. I tried a 4 pound one once and it just didn't seem quite heavy enough and I have been happy with the 6 pound one for years now.

Ron

I am not sure I would worry about the length as much as where they are manufactured. A company I visit manufactures these pliers. They have the cheap line made in China with garbage forgings that don't exactly work correctly, or the USA made version that are totally machined from bar stock. The pitch on the Chinese versions aren't exactly correct, so you get bind-up when you are pulling the spinner back every 1.5 revolutions. With the USA version, there is no bind and pulling the spinner is smooth.

Granted you probably won't use them for a living like Stearman, but considering the wire is holding the spinner in place, maybe it is a bit more important than saving $30?

Hi Joyridin, My fleep-o-cheepo Harbour Freight pliers have done the job for me, just fine. Mo binding, no letting go. Let me use the money I saved for something else, like maybe copious amounts of gasoline?

No doubt, if I were a pro, and used tools to make my living, I would then feel compelled to buy much higher quality tools than the "off shore" crapola some of the stufff HF sells.

I really wasn't comparing the HF versions to the supposed good versions. I buy stuff from HF for home projects all the time. You know what you are getting before you buy it.

I am talking about some of the name brand items. Snap-On's version is made in the USA. Some of the other versions that are close in price are made in China. If you are going this route, spend the extra bucks and find the Made in USA version.