Split ring pliers?

Flashlight Modding and DIY Parts
1

I can’t get several of my aaa penlights apart (to remove driver in head) because my split ring pliers have too wide a shaft to fit. Any suggestions? Amazon preferred but not a deal breaker…

2

I have been using a good set of stainless tweezers. Useful for all sorts of tiny things.

something like this……….
https://www.amazon.com/PIXNOR-Anti-Static-Non-Magnetic-Electronics-Jewelry-Making/dp/B072XKVSQ5/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1511030723&sr=8-3&keywords=pixnor+tweezer+set

3

you could look at harbor: https://www.harborfreight.com/5-piece-retaining-ring-pliers-set-610.html

4

I bought the Harbor Freight $1.99 5-3/4 in. Needle Nose Pliers and filed down the ends. The are very strong, have a wide range, and work great.

5

I have see channel lock brand at home depot or maybe lowes, but they may also be too wide for a penlight, I have had success using a leatherman wave pliers, but on a wider barrel light.

6

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Precision-Beading-Pliers-Tool-Kit-Set-Jewelery-Design-Bent-Nose-Cutting-Needle/162575785598

Bought the 359A pliers recently as both the switch and the led retaining rings in some Sofirn and ThorFire flashlights had quite small dimples. Tip ends diameter is just under 1mm. Very decent quality.

Cheers

7

I’ve been using one of these camera tools. Very good and getting some stubborn retaining rings.

8

https://www.amazon.com/TEKTON-Internal-External-4-Piece-3576/dp/B000NPR2P8

Got a set, quite nice, excellent customer service.

Originally, I bought and tried one of those watch-back 3-pin wrenches. Garbage. Lousy quality, didn’t even fit in the tube deeply enough to reach the holes in, well, any light I had. Don’t waste your time.

9

Thanks! I ordered the 359a. Will update once received and let peeps know if it worked for said application I listed in first post.

10

For others, fishing shops sell split ring pliers …

11

I have two different types of changeable tip pliers that aren’t working for the need stated in the original post.

12

Get the Tekton. Seriously.

13

Ordered it too (today).

14

Kewl. The nice thing about them is the complete set of 4.

Straight and curved, squeeze-to-open and squeeze-to-close. So every possible contingency is covered for drivers, switches, pills, etc. Curved gives you good torque, but straight is good in case there’s limited access (eg, deep-set pills).

15

These are the ones I use most, Knipex

16

Tekton did NOT work and flared out end of flashlight head (beginning of the threads). So money wasted and gotta buy another penlight since it is now jacked up.

17

?!? What did you do? Or maybe put another way, how hard did you wedge the pliers down the tube?

All ring-pullers are going to be flared like that. Only the skinniest needlenose pliers would have a thin-enough taper to fit down a long’n’narrow tube, and those you’d probably have to first grind down the tips to small pins. And I’ve had NNPs bend and flex at the joint trying to torque open a really tight ring.

I mean, c’mon, you can’t really blame the tool, can ya? I’ve used my set on a dozen different brands/types of lights, never had a problem.

18

No I blame myself for doing it severely sleep deprived.

19

Been there, done that, amazed I still got all 10 fingers.

20

I’m gonna file them down to make them fit though…just not until sleep can be acquired. :laughing: