Round Nose Pliers.

[WidowMaker]

I am looking for a high quality rond nose plier that i can bend stainless steel wire from .010 to .020 sizes. I will be using it to make all the various bends that would be commonly found on a beetle spin clip on type wire form.

I have a pair of the higher priced german steel round nose pliers (w. red orange grips) that i had purchased from Barlows several years ago but i warped the noses trying to bend larger size wire diameters. So i am aware that too large of a wire diameter will overload and warp the pliers.

Any suggestions?

[gone2long]

Knipex makes a very good pair of round nose pliers they're all I use got salt water plug building. Try Crawford tools.

Edited April 3, 2015 by Gon2long

[First Strike Lures]

I'm trying a pair made by Otto Frei (red handled ones) that I like so far. Pay attention to the length and diameter nose measurements. I like longer better.

[WidowMaker]

Im looking into some of the Xuron Brand # 488 Round Nose Pliers - Not sure if they will bend heavier wires but im only bending .012 thru .018. size wire at this moment.

I have a set of Xuron Split Ring Pliers that ive used for several years now and i like them a lot.

[WidowMaker]

Ive been using the Xuron Round Nose Pliers and Im beginning to like them a lot.

I also have a pair of red handled (made in Germany) which I had purchased from Barlows several years ago.

The red handled pliers have shorter and smaller diameter rubber dipped type handle grips and the Xurons have a longer handles with a molded slip on type grip which is more comfortable and not as awkward to the hand. 

The nose section of the Xurons is of a much shorter and thicker taper which takes some getting used to where the nose section of the German pliers are longer and more of a thinner taper design.

The red gripped German pliers will form a perfectly round open end bend - like on a beetle spin clip.

The Xurons have a slightly oval shape nose shape and will bend a slightly oval shape open bend.

Both types of pliers are good for what im using them for.

But however the Xurons have what looks to be a black (maybe acid etched?) surface which I had to use some fine grit sand paper to shine up so I could mark my wire location with a Sharpie. One thing that helps is to use a Exacto Knife to trim the tip of the Sharpie in both sides into a chisel point so the mark will be thinner in width and will produce a more accurate wire bend location.

 

But the German ones are slightly bent and I will soon be replacing them with some near identical ones.

 

I also now have a pair of the Xuron flush cutting nippers which seem to work well with wire diameters from .012 up to .018 and I haven't cut anything larger than that yet. Im sure they would cut .020 up to .026 maybe but I don't want to gap the cutting edge or warp the hinge section. One good thing about these is they cut flush. The old cutters I was using would "pinch" the wire off the coil leaving a 45 degree end on the wire. Which if you bend a lot of wire and have callused finger tips like I do by the time the wire pokes through the callus its traveling with some force behind it. And it goes deep and feels like to the bone. Good thing it don't hurt until later but ten or more good pokes in the same spot always hurts like heck a few hours later...lol.

Edited April 22, 2015 by WidowMaker

[RSNeely]

I have a pair of small, craftsman round nose plyers that i use for tying skirts on. Check them out.

[WidowMaker]

I will take a look at the Craftsman Pliers.

[RSNeely]

Im not at home right now but I will take a photo and post later tonight. I bought them in a kit with 3 or 4 other types.