[Closed] Recommend me some pliers: circlip/retaining ring & long nose

Facom

For all things pliers I've always gone for knipex. My circlip pliers however are snap on as they were on a deal at the time

Avoid anything that claims to be universal, or with interchangable tips, the vast majority of them are utter crap.

The "Laser" branded ones from Halfords are pretty good.

Whatever you do :
1) dont buy universal ones. If you do - expect the worst of the worst and you may actually end up ok.
2) At the other end: don't browse the Knipex range. A very expensive rabbit hole 🙂 Pliers for things you didnt even know you needed!

However for long nose: these are a bit of a bargain:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00OBICYYM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Those ones are bent which is great for some things: you will probably want straight too.
##EDIT: STW has converted my link into a kindle link for some reason. Search for this on amazon: should be £12.59 in some deal -
KNIPEX Snipe Nose Side Cutting Pliers (160 mm) 25 21 160

And for circlips: I am very impressed with Clarke Pro (Machine Mart): internal, external etc.
https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/pro64-internal-circlip-pliers/

I think they do a set too.

Teng, Knipex, Facom, you’ll not go far wrong.

Snap-on if a tool tart. 😳

What I would suggest...

For your regular usage pliers (long-nosed, combination, side cutters, etc) go Knipex or similar as advised above.
For infrequently used pliers (internal + external, straight + 90), go for a full set of Lazer or similar.
That way you will have the right pliers for the job without spending several hundred pounds in one go!
I'd certainly add a small Knipex "Plier wrench" to the collection too.

Clarkes from MachineMart, no need to go too spendy on circlip tools that go untouched for months, Clarke make good dependable stuff at a good price, I also picked up a 4 piece set of mini snap rings pliers from MachineMart for little fiddlier clips, only about £8.
As said above avoid anything with interchangeable heads, they'll just end up in the bin.

BIG thanks to all for your advice and suggestions - I now know what I'm looking for! Appreciate it.

Re: installing/removing circlips/e clips on RC cars - anyone got any suggestions for pliers with really small tips? RC clips are typically in the 2mm - 5mm range whereas most pliers have a recommended range of 10mm upwards...

What you got?
What would you recommend?

TIA

for long nose I recently picked up some compound dewalts from screwfix. Very good fine-control, accurate and powerful. All good. As said, Knipex is lovely but a rabbit hole.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/dewalt-long-nose-pliers-7-190mm/5042c

Hudy make a small set of circlip pliers.

I like nice tools but for circlips, I have a different rule, which is I bought a cheap small set and a cheap big set. They'll be Amtech or Katsu or some other random nonbrand. NOT interchangables, they are barely better than using your teeth. Thing about circlip pliars is you don't use them often at all and there's a fair amount of variation in them when you do, so, buying top end tools for them is bloody expensive. Especially since you really want to get the tool up front rather than order it for the job.

So, cheapies. Every so often, you run into That One Bastard, like a rockshox pike with the old foot fitted, where some arsehole's put the circlip in upside down, and what's worse it was probably you. And then cheap ones really come into their own because 20 seconds with a grinder and hammer and you can tweak the tips to be the perfect shape and depth and make an awkward job easy, and then if you want get a new one for £3. I would not do that with knipex or with my teng fetish stuff.

Good tip for those Snipes, btw there's some listing or search shenanigans on Amazon with them so they don't come up properly in "search by price", noticed that more and more.