Correct tool for hose clamp

shiraz99

What is the correct tool to use with those sprung wire hose clamps? I've always struggled opening these with standard pliers as they tend to slip off easily I'm sure there must be a proper pliers or clamp for the purpose. It's the type of hose clamps you see inside washing machines, etc  l

FrugaiMacDugal

You need to replace the above with a jubilee clip.

Section62

shiraz99 said:

What is the correct tool to use with those sprung wire hose clamps? I've always struggled opening these with standard pliers as they tend to slip off easily I'm sure there must be a proper pliers or clamp for the purpose. It's the type of hose clamps you see inside washing machines, etc  l

I would use adjustable pliers like these-

https://www.toolstation.com/minotaur-water-pump-pliers/p83250

The pivot can be set to a position which means the jaws are still more or less parallel at the required working width, which helps reduce the forces that make standard pliers slip off.

Martin_the_Unjust

FrugaiMacDugal said:

You need to replace the above with a jubilee clip.

This ^ is the correct answer but if you insist on using clips google for ‘hose clip pliers’

Section62

FrugaiMacDugal said:

You need to replace the above with a jubilee clip.

....or just use the right tool for the job.

Spring clips are fine for what they are used for, and help guard against causing damage by overtightening of jubilee clips.

shiraz99

Martin_the_Unjust said:

FrugaiMacDugal said:

You need to replace the above with a jubilee clip.

This ^ is the correct answer but if you insist on using clips google for ‘hose clip pliers’

I don't insist on using these clips, the appliance manufacturers insist on using them 😀 and they work perfectly well, just a pain to remove them.

shiraz99

Section62 said:

shiraz99 said:

What is the correct tool to use with those sprung wire hose clamps? I've always struggled opening these with standard pliers as they tend to slip off easily I'm sure there must be a proper pliers or clamp for the purpose. It's the type of hose clamps you see inside washing machines, etc  l

I would use adjustable pliers like these-

https://www.toolstation.com/minotaur-water-pump-pliers/p83250

The pivot can be set to a position which means the jaws are still more or less parallel at the required working width, which helps reduce the forces that make standard pliers slip off.

Never thought about using these, I've got one in the tool box, although I'd imagine they might be of a pain in a tight space.

Eldi_Dos

If they are in a awkward position you could try a cable tie to pull the parts together and if you get enough purchase hose should then come off.

ThisIsWeird

shiraz99 said:

Never thought about using these, I've got one in the tool box, although I'd imagine they might be of a pain in a tight space.

Yes, awkward - you'd need to get the jaws on sideways.

Same with normal pliers, mole-wrenches, etc - use the depth of the jaws to fully catch the spring clip, so that means use it side-on.

Or, yes, use a jubilee clip - but slip it over the spring clip ends, and tighten it up to slacken the clip

Section62

ThisIsWeird said:

shiraz99 said:

Never thought about using these, I've got one in the tool box, although I'd imagine they might be of a pain in a tight space.

Yes, awkward - you'd need to get the jaws on sideways.

Same with normal pliers, mole-wrenches, etc - use the depth of the jaws to fully catch the spring clip, so that means use it side-on.

If space permits it is easier and safer to use the water pump pliers so the axis of the pivot of the pliers is parallel to the axis of whatever the clip is clamping.  Like this (albeit a different type of clip and specialist pliers) -

The reason being you want to keep the clamping force in alignment (same plane) with the spring force - using the pliers 'sideways' is Ok if space doesn't permit, but being out of alignment/plane means a higher risk of slippage and the clip pinging off.

ThisIsWeird

Section62 said:

If space permits it is easier and safer to use the water pump pliers so the axis of the pivot of the pliers is parallel to the axis of whatever the clip is clamping.  Like this (albeit a different type of clip and specialist pliers) -

The reason being you want to keep the clamping force in alignment (same plane) with the spring force - using the pliers 'sideways' is Ok if space doesn't permit, but being out of alignment/plane means a higher risk of slippage and the clip pinging off.

I couldn't disagree more.

Trying to get the narrow-width jaw ends of your snub-nosed or water-pump pliers to grip both that rounded end and the split-wobbly other end is what's awkward, as Shiraz has discovered. As have I, over many years.

On t'other hand, the deeper open jaws from a side-on approach lends itself to the task in a number of improved and morelikelytowork ways; (a), the jaws are more deep than they are wide, so the spring ends are fully caught, with room to spare, (b) the jaws have a recess in their middle, which again lends itself to capturing the springs and holding them against sideways slippage, and (c) the jaw serrations are aligned in the preferred direction in order to help grip the slippery tangs.