thatsnowinnebago
thatsnowinnebago GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
11/9/18 9:46 p.m.

Hi all. I keep reading about those cable-type hose clamp pliers and I think it's time that I acquire some. What's a good brand? Links would be rad.

wae
wae SuperDork
11/9/18 9:55 p.m.

I dropped the $40 for the one that AutoZone sells and it is life changing.

Life.

Changing.

Brett_Murphy
Brett_Murphy GRM+ Memberand UltimaDork
11/9/18 10:45 p.m.

I picked one up.in a bargain bin somewhere. It was $15 many years ago. It still works great.

I'm not sure this is the kind of tool you need to spend big money on unless you're pulling off a whole lot of hose clamps. They're pretty simple- like get one at Harbor Freight and put a bit of oil on the cable to ensure it doesn't bind simple.

thatsnowinnebago
thatsnowinnebago GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
11/9/18 11:51 p.m.

That's great news all around. Sounds like I'll be happy with whatever.

Ranger50
Ranger50 UltimaDork
11/10/18 2:08 a.m.
Ian F
Ian F MegaDork
11/10/18 5:47 a.m.

The pair I have came in a set similar to this (my set doesn't include the screwdriver and hose-puller pick).  The other pliers look odd until you're working with some odd clamp and then they'll make sense.

And yes - definitely a life changer if you work on modern cars.

Appleseed
Appleseed MegaDork
11/10/18 11:21 a.m.

After you've stabbed, smashed and ripped skin off your body fighting those clamps, $40 is cheap. 

Cousin_Eddie
Cousin_Eddie HalfDork
11/10/18 11:59 a.m.

I fear no hose clamp.

OTC brand for both my hose clamp pliers and my cable type hose clamp tool. 

(Yes, I take pictures of all my tools when I unbox them. Weird.)

underpowered
underpowered GRM+ Memberand New Reader
11/10/18 6:06 p.m.

My favorite hose clamp pliers! 

44Dwarf
44Dwarf UberDork
11/12/18 11:30 a.m.

I got the Lisle cable type from Rock Auto when i was getting some other stuff.   Love'm so far.

Toyman01
Toyman01 GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
11/12/18 11:32 a.m.

I bought a set off Amazon for about $20. They seem to work fine. 

 

freetors
freetors Reader
11/12/18 12:00 p.m.

Honestly I just use a variety of the pliers I have laying around. I haven't found one yet that's defeated me. I just don't think they're a a big enough hassle to drop money on.

dculberson
dculberson UltimaDork
11/12/18 12:13 p.m.

In reply to freetors :

That's what I thought, until I worked on a mid-engined car with those clamps way up in there. The cable pliers were a lifesaver for that.

wae
wae SuperDork
11/12/18 12:40 p.m.

In reply to freetors :

I was pulling a hose clamp off the power steering box on something - either the Merc or the Chevy, don't remember - and I was trying every pliers I own.  Finally, I decided to drive to AutoZone and buy the cable-operated tool.  It took me fewer minutes to drive to AZ, buy the tool, drive back to the workshop, and remove the clamp than I spent screwing around with pliers.

Life changing.

Harvey
Harvey GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
11/12/18 4:42 p.m.

I picked this set up. I haven't had a chance to use them, but I expect it to be life changing. I'd imagine these don't necessarily qualify as "good" though in terms of quality, but the price is right.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MZYMNZ6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Cousin_Eddie
Cousin_Eddie HalfDork
11/12/18 5:54 p.m.

"Life Changing" is perhaps a bit too strong of a description, but I wouldn't want to work on any car built within the last three decades without a good selection of hose clamp tools. Just the money saved in not damaging the clamps alone will pay for the tools if you do much underhood work. 

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