Loosening up a tight pair of pliers.

[stchman]

I have a pair of Craftsman wire strippers/pliers:

https://www.lowes.com/pd/CRAFTSMAN-8-in-Electrical-Long-Nose-Pliers-with-Wire-Cutter/1000595299

I have tried to loosen the things up, but they just seem to be really tight. I have tried Liquid Wrench, WD-40, oil, and they have improved a little bit, but not much.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

 

[Astro14]

Flush the WD-40 out of there with a bit more liquid wrench. WD-40 will gum up over time and make this much worse.

I think you’ve done all that you can. Lubricate them and continue to open/close to break in the parts. I think the penetrating oil, like Liquid Wrench, is a better choice, because it will coat all the moving parts internally, and still allow them to wear a bit (which is what break in really is).

 

[stchman]

Flush the WD-40 out of there with a bit more liquid wrench. WD-40 will gum up over time and make this much worse.

I think you’ve done all that you can. Lubricate them and continue to open/close to break in the parts. I think the penetrating oil, like Liquid Wrench, is a better choice, because it will coat all the moving parts internally, and still allow them to wear a bit (which is what break in really is).

I'll keep trying, if not, I'll take them back. I like it when my pliers pretty much fall open.

 

[JHZR2]

Id make some ed's red and soak them at the pivot for a while. Move it every so often...

Beyond that if theyre tight, you need to break them in a bit by using them.

 

[jhellwig]

Throw them out in the dirt and let them rust for a while. Then work them back and forth.

 

[KJSmith]

I use contact cleaner on the pivot of my lineman pliers and work them.

Have never had a use for wire strippers.

 

[zrxkawboy]

if theyre tight, you need to break them in a bit by using them.

^^^ this

 

[Schandyman]

Thats why i buy Klein they always have that nice broken in feel.

Can you wobble the handles back and forth? More than likely its not a lubrication issue its the flush rivet from machining.

 

[RyanY]

I have that same set of Craftsman and they work very well. After your post, I went to the local Lowes and tried a few of them. Some were tight, some were loose, and some were just right. Apparently quality control is less than stellar. That's too bad because these pliers are very functional.