Buying a set of circlip pliers vs. buying individual circlip pliers

Shop for Circlip Pliers

Individual circlip pliers

Fixed head and tip circlip pliers

Many circlip pliers come with a fixed head and tips; there will be a limited range of circlips sizes these can be used with. They come in either internal or external configuration, so they are also limited in the type of circlip they can be used with. However, these pliers will usually be the strongest, due to all the parts being forged together.

Adjustable circlip pliers

Some circlip pliers can be switched from external to internal, which means they can be used with both types of circlip. However, these will still be limited in the range of sizes of circlip they can be used with.

Circlip pliers with interchangeable parts

There are also many circlip pliers available which have interchangeable heads or tips. This feature will give the tool more variety in the types and sizes of circlip they can be used with. However, due to the parts being separate rather than forged together, these tools may not be as strong as fixed circlip pliers.

• You can choose a pair of pliers to suit your exact need
• Less expensive than buying a set
• Fixed head pliers are the strongest, but pliers with interchangeable parts give you a range of uses

• Individual pliers will be limited in their uses
• You may need to buy more pairs in the future
• Pliers with interchangeable parts may not be particularly strong; fixed head pliers are limited to the type and size of circlip they can be used with

Sets of circlip pliers

Sets of individual circlip pliers

These sets usually consist of four or more pairs of pliers, and contain internal and external types. They may contain pliers of different sizes, or with differently angled tips, or both. If you need to work with lots of different circlips, you may need a set like this.

Sets of circlip pliers with interchangeable parts

These sets usually contain two pairs of pliers – one internal and one external – but will have different sized, and sometimes angled, tips. These sets also expand the range of circlips they can be used with, but the detachable parts will usually mean these pliers are not as strong as pliers with their parts forged together.

These sets also expand the range of circlips they can be used with, but the detachable parts will usually mean they are not as strong as pliers with their parts forged together.

• You will be able to use the set with a wide variety of different circlips
• If you buy the right set you may not need to buy any more circlip pliers in the future

• A set will be more expensive than buying individual pliers
• You might end up with some pliers you don’t have a use for