13 replies to this topic

[Zippity]

Micro-Mark are having a Summer Sale and are offering these metal forming pliers (set of 4) for $40.99 - normally $164

 

I don't know if they are any good or not, but I am sure that someone must know what they are like.

 

 

Here is the link.

[Samiam]

Unless they are built like a 8" lineman's pliers I can't see them being of much use for our applications.

[havlicek]

What Sam said.  Notice the examples shown are in "yellow metal", either brass or copper.  There are some similar tools made that will handle way-more-difficult piano wire.

[DE38]

I bought that set and you can bend .062 with the one at the top,easily handles the smaller dia, wire also, they are good quality and well made.

[Bill from NH]

8-10 years ago when these first came up on here, Dennis Samson, was one individual who said he had a set & found them usefull for some of his  chassis building. Last I looked, Dennis had built almost as many chassis as Tony P. On a personal note, I bought a set during one of their sales a few years back, but hardly ever take them out of the vinyl sheath. If you're bending thin stock & small rods, they would be very useful, but for .062-,078 piano wire, a pair of 8"-10" lineman's pliers would be more useful.

[DE38]

Yea, It wont work with .078 but I have been using it for .062 with no problem what so ever.

[Bill from NH]

Charlie, that particular pair of pliers is very similar to what dentists use to pull teeth. I don't doubt it'll bend .062 piano wire, but the longer handles & jaws of lineman's pliers provide increased leverage making bends more efficiently with less wear & tear on one's hands, wrists, & arms. I bought a pair of German parallel jaw pliers  from Brookstone about the same time, but they've never gotten much use either. Use whatever tools you're comfortable using.& have fun building.

[DE38]

Yea Ive been havin some fun building, just really started about 2mos ago, I got an F1,a stockcar and 2 coupe CanAm chassis, I was actually really suprised at the quality of the pliers, I use the other ones to bend wire holders , .025 oer .037. I have a Backtrac wire jig and hardly ever use it once I bought this set.

[NSwanberg]

I bought a set. Turns out they are not much use to me as my chassis design and build strategy is one bend per wire. I do think they are of a good quality and agree they handle up to .062" piano wire.

[Tim Neja]

Like all tools--you need to find how you can best use them.  I use 3 out of the 4 for working on my chassis.  Very helpful In many ways-- remember--you don't always build with .078 wire-- there are lot's of wire sizes they are great for! 

[Ecurie Martini]

I have a set - OK for smaller diameters and soft wire or simple radius bends on tougher stuff.  Pricing is typical Micro Mark BS. hike the price to the sky and then announce a "sale"  I bought mine a while back for about $30 catalog price.

 

EM

[John Streisguth]

They work fine up to 062.  I doubt you'll need to bend 078 and larger much, but just get a bigger set of pliers for that.  That said, they are mostly beneficial bending intricate pieces from smaller wire.  No tool does everything well.

[Bill from NH]

In the mid-70's we ran monorail wing cars using .078 piano wire. Back then,  If someone told me back then it would be used for inline scale cars 30 years in the future, I'd have laughed at them, but it happened, One never knows when an item will return. Maybe it'll be in some obscure 1/32 cars next time. Speaking of 1/32 scratchbuilding, those people use more brass square tubing when chassis building than our friend Pablo does.. 

[Ecurie Martini]

1/32 (scale) scratchbuilder here - My preferred chassis wire is spring tempered stainless steel.  It is a bit tricky to solder (Sta Brite flux works well) but it is much stronger and lighter than brass.  I try to keep the chassis as light as possible and add weight in the form of a rattle pan or side pans to achieve specific tuning objectives.

 

EM