If you peen that rivet just a little they tighten up very fast. Put the pliers on a flat solid surface, like on top of a bench vise, so the rivet is solidly supported, and whack the rivet with a small ball peen hammer, not too hard, dead center as possible. There's probably a better way to do it, like a punch with a rounded tip, I don't know. Don't hit too hard, you can make them so tight they're useless very easy, and I don't know any way to undo that. It's like a haircut, if you don't take enough off it's easy to fix, make it too short, that's hard to fix.
Pliers are too loose. Help.
Hello all. First time posting here and have an annoying problem. When I bought my linesman pliers (Klein HD2000-9NE) they were a little stiff. So I oiled them.
I reckon I may have overdone it. They are extremely loose. Occasionally when I go to make a joint or cut some wire, half the handle will slip out of my hand too quickly. I’m not able to catch it and will have to flip the tool in my hand to get hold of them.
it’s honestly just annoying. I was hoping that they’d stiffen up over time. But it’s now been almost two years and they’re just as loose as ever.
The question: is there a known way of making the pliers stiffer? Aside from slamming them against stables against the rivet. I’m at a bit of a loss and the annoyance is a bit much for a tool I use all day every day for most things.
Thanks in advance.
I reckon I may have overdone it. They are extremely loose. Occasionally when I go to make a joint or cut some wire, half the handle will slip out of my hand too quickly. I’m not able to catch it and will have to flip the tool in my hand to get hold of them.
it’s honestly just annoying. I was hoping that they’d stiffen up over time. But it’s now been almost two years and they’re just as loose as ever.
The question: is there a known way of making the pliers stiffer? Aside from slamming them against stables against the rivet. I’m at a bit of a loss and the annoyance is a bit much for a tool I use all day every day for most things.
Thanks in advance.
1 - 20 of 31 Posts
The best way to pein it tighter would be to have a second person hold it flat on an anvil type surface, then take the smallest ball pein hammer you have, put the ball end on the rivet center, then hit the hammer end with another hammer.If you peen that rivet just a little they tighten up very fast. Put the pliers on a flat solid surface, like on top of a bench vise, so the rivet is solidly supported, and whack the rivet with a small ball peen hammer, not too hard, dead center as possible. There's probably a better way to do it, like a punch with a rounded tip, I don't know. Don't hit too hard, you can make them so tight they're useless very easy, and I don't know any way to undo that. It's like a haircut, if you don't take enough off it's easy to fix, make it too short, that's hard to fix.
DANGER-DANGER!!! Light hits only as it will get real tight real quick!!
Imo, they can't be too loose for me. I want the pliers to open if I hold them sideways with one hand on one handle.
I agree. I hate stiff pliers. Usually around here its "how do I loosen them up"?Imo, they can't be too loose for me. I want the pliers to open if I hold them sideways with one hand on one handle.
I guess it's preference, but I find loose pliers or dikes sooo much easier to work with.
Soak them in salt water overnight twice a week.The question: is there a known way of making the pliers stiffer?
Just kidding don't do this.
In two years you have not figured it out yet... If I had a tool that I did not like working with, it would not take me two years to huck in the garbage. Having said that, I like my pliers loose also, so don't huck them, send them to me please.
Cheers
John
Cheers
John
Center punch the joint on two sides. If it gets too tight just keep working it.
like said never too loose.
like said never too loose.
Just keep using them, they'll stiffen up. At least mine always did. Like others, I liked mine to be a loose as possible.
A loose Dike is a Happy Dike,...I guess it's preference, but I find loose pliers or dikes sooo much easier to work with.
Thanks for the replies y’all. I was hoping not to have to try my hand at beating the rivet. But if that’s the only way, there you go.
I think you will have to beat the seam not the rivet head. Anytime I ruined a pair it was from hitting the wrong side and marring the seam, rivet is big and strong.Thanks for the replies y’all. I was hoping not to have to try my hand at beating the rivet. But if that’s the only way, there you go.
Good luck let us know how it worked.
It sounds like nobody has taught you how to properly use a pair of linemans. Lineman pliers are supposed to be loose, and the control is all from the fingers, not from the tightness of the plier. Your thumb wraps around the back of the plier which establishes the static portion of the plier. The bottom part of the plier is controlled by your fingers. Personally, I use two fingers on each side. Some people may control it with 3 fingers on one side and 1 finger on the other. You position your hand toward the back of the plier for greater leverage and better control. Since all of the control is established from the bottom part of the plier via your fingers, is the reason you want them to be loose- otherwise you’d be using your pliers with two hands.
Ask your mechanic to show you how he holds his pliers when he's making a splice. If he’s missing fingers, that’s a different discussion.
Ask your mechanic to show you how he holds his pliers when he's making a splice. If he’s missing fingers, that’s a different discussion.
I have 50-year-old Kliens loose as a goose and my favorite. Can't think of a time when I thought pliers were to loose.
You be foolish to beat them into submission, trying and tighten them up, if they are that loose you either have a defective pair or need to learn how to use linemen' pliers.Thanks for the replies y’all. I was hoping not to have to try my hand at beating the rivet. But if that’s the only way, there you go.
Work outside in the snow or rain for a couple of hours, then stick you tools in the van for the weekend. On Monday they'll have stiffened up. Just don't remove more rust than you have to.
I don’t have a problem on how to use the tool. Once I have my hands on them, I’m fine. I just don’t like how loose the action is. Every so often they’ll slip before I can get my hands in position. I could look at them and they’ll fly open.
My mentor likes his as tight as you can get. Which is exactly opposite of most people. I have a pair of Klein’s that are insulated that are perfect. Loose enough that they’ll fall open, but not open all the way unassisted. There is some resistance.
I’d use the insulated pair more, but I don’t like the grips as much. And they’re not as strong at cutting as the HD2000’s. And as annoying as it is, I haven’t been able to shell out money for a new pair to start from scratch. But they also squeak when I open and close them. It’s really just trying to weight up the annoyance vs the cutting strength vs the 45 bucks for a new pair to start over with.
My mentor likes his as tight as you can get. Which is exactly opposite of most people. I have a pair of Klein’s that are insulated that are perfect. Loose enough that they’ll fall open, but not open all the way unassisted. There is some resistance.
I’d use the insulated pair more, but I don’t like the grips as much. And they’re not as strong at cutting as the HD2000’s. And as annoying as it is, I haven’t been able to shell out money for a new pair to start from scratch. But they also squeak when I open and close them. It’s really just trying to weight up the annoyance vs the cutting strength vs the 45 bucks for a new pair to start over with.
I’ve never heard of this phenomenon. Perhaps your pliers are possessed by evil spirits?Every so often they’ll slip before I can get my hands in position. I could look at them and they’ll fly open.
Again, it sounds like it’s not the tool, but the operator.
"the 45 bucks for a new pair to start over with."
I'll give you $20 for them, you'll only have $25 in new pair
I'll give you $20 for them, you'll only have $25 in new pair
1 - 20 of 31 Posts
Electrician Talk
A forum community dedicated to professional electricians, contractors, and apprentices for residential and commercial work. Come join the discussion about trade knowledge, tools, certifications, wiring, builds, scales, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Top Contributors this Month
View All
macmikeman
251 Replies
Wardenclyffe
250 Replies
acro
227 Replies
Recommended Communities
