Tronex Pliers & Cutters buying advice and recommendations.

Tronex Pliers and cutters

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Tips and Advice on choosing the right ones.

Tronex Pliers.

Whatever your style of jewelry making, every jeweler needs pliers. But with so many to choose from it can be quite bewildering.

Dave Wilson is a silversmith of over 20 years, and a well-know Youtube presenter. A self confessed plier addict, he has worked closely with Tronex to test many of their pliers and cutters. He was even made a Tronex Ambassador for the brand. Here, Dave will guide you through &#;some&#; of the Tronex range, explaining the popular models and offering some personal recommendations for the jeweler.
 
So, what makes a good set of pliers?
 
When I began in Jewelry making many years ago, every book and teacher said that I must avoid lap joints &#; This is where the two halves overlap (lap) and are attached with a hammered rivet, rather like a pair of basic scissors. The problem with these lap joints is that they can eventually wear loose, creating movement at the tips of the pliers. Lap joints where always considered inferior pliers. The advice was to buy &#;box joint&#; pliers. In box joints the joint is much more robust, with one handle threading through a &#;box&#; on the other. Because of this construction, a box joint is usually stronger and less inclined to work loose. Many of the better-quality pliers you will see have this box joint feature. However, if they do ever wear loose, there is no way to tighten or adjust them. You will always see different quality from different manufacturers. There are good and bad versions of both styles. But, for many years box joints were considered to be superior.

Above. Lap Joint (Left) and box joints (right)
 
However, in recent years this has all changed. Tronex has developed a new kind of joint. Whilst it may look like a lap joint, there the similarity ends. This is a whole new concept. The Tronex system uses multiple precision-engineered parts from specially chosen materials, to combine the mechanical properties of strength, smooth operation, and resilience. Instead of a central rivet, Tronex use a specially hardened steel sleeve. This greatly increases the size of the pivot and helps to spread the load placed upon it. Inside the sleeve, is a hardened steel bolt, which further increases strength and offers the ability to adjust the pliers should you need to (I have never had to do this).  Between the joint, is a Delrin washer. Delrin is a tough polymer, which has a very high resistance to compression but also has very low surface friction. It provides the smooth action of the pliers. The Delrin also eliminates metal on metal contact and therefore reduces wear. The Tronex joint really is the latest in design and engineering to create a smooth precise joint, which is tough and long lasting.

The Tronex joint  showing the different components.

 
Although Tronex were pioneers in developing this new system, it has been copied the world over, and variations of this new joint design can now be seen in most popular brands.
 
Handles.
The handles are probably the most important yet overlooked part of any tool. Pliers are an extension of your own hands; a positive and comfortable grip is essential. The handles need to provide secure grip, even with dirty hands. They must be comfortable to use all day long without causing fatigue or blisters. They should also offer a good level of feedback, especially when performing delicate tasks. Once again, Tronex has combined different materials, each with specific properties, to create the optimum grip.

The distinctive two part cushioned grip

Firstly, the handles themselves are steel and form an integral part of the pliers. Like a quality knife, they are full tang with the steel extending all the way to the ends of the handle. No weak spots or joins. The steel handles are coated in not one but two layers of handle material. The first is a tough red plastic-type material, which provides the resilience and grip to the steel. With many pliers, this is sufficient. But with Tronex, you also get a second layer of the Blue ESD foam rubber. This blue outer layer has a spongy, slightly porous texture. And this has several important properties. The texture provides incredible grip. Even with soiled hands, sweat and grease. The grip is always sure and solid. The slightly compressible nature of this layer also provides cushioning. This means the pliers can be used repeatedly, without fatigue or blisters.
 
What is ESD? This stands for electrostatic dissipation. They will help to dissipate static electricity. This is an essential factor when working with static sensitive equipment such as electronics and computers. Hence why Tronex pliers and cutters have become the choice for electronics engineers and tech manufacturers the world over.

ESD handles.
 

Note that Tronex make two lengths of handle the series 5 which are shorter curved handles, and the series 7 which are longer ergonomic handles. Note the 5 or 7 prefixes on the tool number. E.g. a 750 are long-handled pliers and 550 are the short handle, both have the same jaws and ESD grips... People with smaller hands may prefer the series 5 handles. People with large hands, or those working constantly may prefer the series 7 ergonomic versions. I have very large hands, but I prefer the smaller series 5 handles. I feel they give more precision and feedback. Largely this comes down to a matter of personal taste and most of the range is available in both options.
 

Springs

.
Most of the Tronex pliers and cutters have springs.  One big advantage is that having return springs (which open the jaws), is that you can hold the pliers properly, with all four fingers around the handle. This gives better grip, and increased comfort. It also allows you to give more pressure when needed. Pliers without springs are typically used by hooking one or more fingers under the handle to open it (like a hairdresser may hold scissors). Which is not the ideal way to hold pliers. The Tronex return springs offer just enough spring to open the jaws, without creating extra work. They are also designed such that the jaws can be fully opened, and the springs will disengage allowing maximum opening.

Integrated Springs

 

Recommendations.

With such a vast range, Tronex offer pliers for every situation. I have been fortunate to own and test most of them. Obviously, your own needs will vary depending on the style of Jewelry and the materials you work with. But let me share a few suggestions for the jeweler.
 

My Daily pliers.

For making chain mail designs, small chains, and general Jewelry work, I prefer to use a combination of straight chain nose 513 and a pair of bent chain nose 552 As mentioned, I prefer the shorter series 5 handles. But both are also available in the series 7 longer handles too. 713 and 752. I also have a second pair of bent nose but these are 551 almost identical just a little finer. Whilst I have many Tronex chain nose pliers in various lengths,, I prefer the short nose ones, as for me my fine chain mail is very tough on my pliers, but  the shorter jaws have taken the punishment for years, without any issues.

Above. Chain nose and bent nose used in combination for chain mail.

 

Round nose pliers.

Tapered round jaws. Essential for working with earrings, wire working, jump rings and basically anything small and circular. Tronex make several options with long, medium, and short jaws with series 7 or 5 handles. They also make extra-long nosed versions. These are great for fine intricate detail, but the extra length comes as the cost of strength. If you bend and twist tough wire, then this action can be very punishing to pliers. So, my personal preference is the shorter jaw round nose pliers, 532 or 732 The shorter stubby jaws are tougher.

Tronex 532 Round nose pliers, note the shorter jaws.
 

Flat jaw.

Wedge shaped with smooth flat contact surface. For many people, the workhorse of the bench are straight jaw pliers. Again, Tronex offer many versions some finer and more delicate, some tougher.  But once again I would suggest that for daily use, look towards the heavier and shorter jaws. Such as the 545 / 745. These offer good solid jaws for bending and gripping. Note that unless states otherwise, most of the Tronex pliers shave smooth jaws.

 

Tronex 745 Flat Jaw Pliers
 

Specialty pliers.

Tronex make a vast array or pliers for every possible task. But here are a few which may be worth considering adding to your bench&#;

For wire workers, Tronex recently made an option with stepped jaws allowing you to hold and bend wire 542 / 742. These where produced at the request of a customer who was a prolific wire worker, and suggested the design. The step also provided more power and grip right at the tips.

Tronex 542. Note step in the jaws, 

 
Half Round / Half flat.
One of my personal favorites is the half round and flat pliers. 546 / 746 One jaw is half a circle, the other is a wide flat jaw. These are great for bending larger wire hoops, earrings, and for bending small to medium rings. The round jaw on the inside and the flat jaw outside allows you to exert pressure without indenting the outside of the ring. You may prefer the longer handles for a little more leverage.

Tronex Ring bending pliers, note the different shaped jaws.
 

Needle nose pliers.

There are several pliers available with very long needle noses. Such as 521 / 721 Some of these are rather delicate for bending and twisting metal. And the leverage is such that they do not produce as much force at the tips compared to the short nose pliers. However, they can be of great use as precision tweezers, in particular note the 522 / 722 which have serrated jaws. Perfect for holding small items, tying knots in cord and for working with micro chains. When working under my microscope welding small chains, these pliers become invaluable, finer than chain nose, but much stronger than tweezers.

Tronex 522 needle nose pliers. note the serrated tips for added grip.
 

Cutters

Cutters are where Tronex really made their global reputation. The range available is staggering. Not only do they vary in size, but the shape of the head, the profile, the shape of the tip and even the sharpness. Many have been created for very specific jobs, especially in the electronics industry. But for the jeweler they offer some of the most precise cutters you can get. For most jewelers&#;, a couple of pairs will cover most your daily cutting needs.
 
As with the pliers the preceding number refers to the handle length 5 for the shorter handlers and 7 for the longer handles. Additionally, with the cutters the last number refers to the flushness of the cut. You may ask, why doesn&#;t everyone just buy the cleanest cut possible? You can, but the sharpness of the cutting edge is a tradeoff between creating the perfect flush cut and having tough cutters that will last. So Tronex offer three levels depending on your requirements. Note that in all cases, flush cutters only cut flush on the outside.

Microscope image of two pieces of 1mm gold wire. The top is cut with a standard pair of DIY style wire cutters. note the pinching at the end. The lower one has been cut with a pair of Tronex Razor Flush cutters, note the almost perfect edge with no pinching or wastage.

 

1. Flush cut gives a superb cut, but the minute bevel on the edge of the cutting surfaces creates a tiny bevel on the end of the cut wire. They are still much finer than any standard DIY wire cutters you may have used. The Flush cut makes them much more robust and able to stay sharper for longer. So, for daily use these are great.
   
   
2. Semi -Flush. These cutters have finer edges and will give a much neater end to your wire, requiring little of no cleanup. Great for working with precious metals where you don&#;t want too much filing. However, these finer edges aren&#;t quite as tough as the regular flush cutters, hence they are recommended for finer wire and softer materials. But for silver and gold they are offer the best combination of cut and longevity
   
   
3. Razor cut When you want the best, then the Tronex Razor cut is the choice. These cutters will give an almost perfect straight end to your wire, requiring almost no cleanup. Perfect when you need ultimate accuracy. The neat cut is also important when working with valuable materials where you don&#;t want any wastage. The tradeoff here is that the very finely honed edges are only suitable for lighter gauge wire and softer materials. It&#;s great to have a pair when you need them. 

Suggestions...

Heavy duty.
this pair is quite large and are great for general wire cutting. Despite their larger size the oval tips curve to a fine point, so they can cut in surprisingly tight areas. I use these daily for almost everything. Note this pair only come in one size handle, which is slightly different to the series 7.

Tronex , larger sized cutters offer great versatility at the bench.
 

Daily use
Prior to owning the above, one of my first ever cutters where the Tronex These are small, rounded head cutters great for everyday Jewelry work. They have been sat on bench for years and are used daily, for the smaller jobs. Again, these are 2 flush cuts. A great clean cut, but also tough and have lasted for years.

Tronex medium size oval head cutters. great for everyday use.
note the image here is the razor flush version. 
 

 
Extra fine
The oval head profiles above offer great strength as there is a lot of metal right at the tip. So, for daily use the large and small oval head cutters above will be ideal. And there are many oval head cutter sin between in different cuts and handles. However, there may be times when you need something more, perhaps something extra fine or with a very precise cut. Tronex also make tapered heads, distinguished by their angular profile, tapering to a sharp point. Additionally, they also make relieved heads, which are even more tapered and pointed at the tip. These will allow you to get into tight areas. Great for small chains and beading work. Obviously, these finer cutters aren&#;t quite as robust as the oval heads, and only suitable for light use on softer materials. but for very fine work look at small tapered relieved heads with No 3 razor flush edges. The most popular is the and models.

Tronex , note the relieved head,
set back from the front and such narrower at the tip.
 

Obviously, you will have your own requirements, but below are the ones that have earnt a place on my bench for many years. Hopefully this list will help to narrow your selection. All these pliers and cutters are my own personal tools which I use daily and have done for many years.
 
My Daily use tools...

• 513 Chain nose pliers. Short stubby and tough. My left-hand pliers
• 552 & 551 Bent nose pliers. Two pairs of these, but usually use one pair along with the above for making chain mail. These are my right hand.
• heavy duty large oval head cutters. Daily workhorse for cutting wire, making jump rings etc. tough and robust, but a great accurate cut.
• small oval head flush cutters. Great medium sizes cutters, lasted years.

specialist use (but also kept on my bench)

• razor flush cutters, particularly when I&#;m working with gold wire. As mentioned, no cleanup and no wastage.
• 522 needle nose pliers. Use instead of tweezers for small accurate holding and placing.
• 746 round / flat pliers. Best suited to smaller tasks, and a great accompaniment to my Pepetools ring bender.

specialist use (but also kept on my bench)

Finally, the Tronex range offer great value,. But for even better value check out the sets available at Pepetols.com. These sets offer a simple one stop selection of pliers and cutters either in series 5 handles or the longer ergonomic series 7 handles. There are also sets especially selected by jewellers. So all the hard work is done for you. These sets also offer extra great value and make ideal gifts. click the image to check them out !

The Tronex Kits offer great value and make excellent gifts.
Click above to see more.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of plier and cutter manufacturer. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

 

The Tronex range are designed and made right in the USA. They offer great quality (Guaranteed). At a fraction of the cost compared to some premium brands. The Tronex brand has become known the world over and theres a reason for that. Check out the handpicked selection at Pepetools.com If you&#;ve got more suggestions or requests? Simply get in touch.

 

Written and illustrated
by Dave Wilson
www.celticdreams.co.uk

 

 
Reference - Tronex Model Numbers

Cutters

: 

First Number = Handle Length
5 = standard handles
7 = long, ergonomic handles (1 &#;longer)

Second Number = Head Shape/Size
3=mini oval
1=medium oval
5=large oval
4=mini taper
2=medium taper
7=large taper
0=specialty cutters 
 
Third Number = The Profile of the Cutter
This applies for oval and taper head cutters. Relief cutters have a "lower profile" and can get into tight spots better than standard cutters. Standard cutters have more material in the head so are stronger and can cut heavier material.
1= standard profile
2= relief profile (thinner jaws front to back)
  
Fourth/Last number = Edge Finish
1= Semi-flush
2= Flush
3 = Razor Flush®
  
For Pliers:
First Number = Handle Length as above.
5 = standard handles
7 = long, ergonomic handles
 
Second and Third Numbers = Model Number
Each model has a unique two digit code.

The above reference kindly supplied by Tronex Tools.

 
 
 

 
 
 
 

This is the Plier collection I gathered in under 3 mins... Around my chair in the house - and I dug out some oldies that have never been completely retired from the shop.  They live in a bucket waiting for a use.

Hello - My Name is Shelley and I'm a plier junkie. I have to be after being a chainmailler for 15 years. I have tried MOST tools on the market, and even expanded my jewellery making abilities into silversmithing - which brings on a WHOLE level of new tools.

I see the topic of pliers come up ALL THE TIME on the various chainmail forums. We all have our own preferences, and likes and dislikes, and I am sure my recommendations will differ from yours -- but I wanted to do this post as I've been thinking about it for a long time. PLEASE NOTE - THIS IS MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND OPINION.  My opinion is based on MY hands and comfort of the tools, it's based on my frugalness... what I think is a reasonable amount to spend on a quality tool, and my personal experience with Customer Service when dealing with defective products.  I am not asking you to take my word on every product listed here - this is MY experience, and I hope it helps you if you are plier shopping! 

HISTORY

So my very first pliers I owned were the red handle TRL pliers. I had a wide nose set, and a chain nose set. About 3 weeks into my new hobby I went to the TRL gathering at their farm, and had my pliers swiped. I left them sitting and someone else "borrowed" them, and they were gone. No big deal right? Grab another pair right? This was the FIRST time I remember thinking NOT ALL TOOLS ARE CREATED EQUAL!! The new pliers felt funny, they weren't the ones I was used to... and I was not so impressed to be breaking in new pliers.
Then... My spring BROKE. Nothing worse than getting used to your pliers to have damn spring break and really make your day suck. I like springs in my pliers, as fighting to get them to open isn't my favorite activity. After a few springs broke, we headed off to Lee Valley tools and with some crazy glue, we glued some rare earth Magnets to the inside of the handles... so they repell each other, causing the handles to spring apart. Less push than the real springs give, but enough that you don't have to physically open the pliers each time.

When we started our website back in ... We sold the Black handled pliers shown in the photo above. We bought them from "Crappy" Tire - Canadian Tire specials for a whole $2.49 per pair. We would go to every Canadian Tire we passed and pick through the bin for the wide nose and chain nose varieties. Then we would take them home and use the belt sander to file off the rough spots. We finally got frustrated at the lack of stock that we reached out to our beading wholesalers and brought in pliers that didn't require that kind of attention.

Because I started out with cheap tools, and was using them as a hobby, it didn't dawn on me to pay big money for fancy tools. Back in the luxury tools that maillers talked about were names like Lindstroms, or Snap-ON, but the price tag attached kept my interest level low. Then I had a job working on a factory line for Military Cables. We put the connectors and plugs on to cables and the tool boxes were full of high end tools... Lindstrom pliers and cutters, I think this was my first glimpse at Xuron too! I used some fine long chain nose Lindstrom pliers and thought I had it made. I borrowed them from work and took them home for Chainmail one evening But really didn't like them.  The rings slipped and slid on me, and the ends duckbilled really fast. That first experience with expensive pliers made me cautious about spending my money on high priced tools.

SUPER CHEAP ($5) VS SUPER EXPENSIVE...($50+)

Generally a cheap plier will have a rough jaw surface, and relatively simple handles and springs. If the surface jaw is rough, you can buff with a belt sander, nail file, or dip in Tool Magic, plasti-dip or tape.

The Expensive pliers generally have a nice smooth jaw, good smooth action on the opening and closing, and have nice comfy handles.  Some are cushy, some are a rubbery.  Most offer a spring that should hold up and last for a good period of use.  

I know that some people would rather spend money on supplies than tools, which is understandable. If you like your cheap pliers - all the power to you!! 

We offer a cheap $5 plier option on our website.  I don't do this because I love these pliers.  We do it because we know some people don't want to spend a lot of money when they are starting out, and its a budget decision.

Econo Chain Nose

Econo Wide Nose

BRAND NAME -- Yay or Nay?!?!?

I will be the first one to admit I am a brand name girl.  I buy brands I recognize in the grocery store, I have a horrible addiction to brand name purses and shoes.  So why not pliers?? 

XURONS - My True Love... 

I can't even remember how or why I tried these pliers.  There are little more pricey that cheap pliers, but no where near the expensive pliers prices - We well them HERE on our website for $19.95 -Xuron Short Nose

Xuron pliers are made from strong high carbon steel and have handles that are longer and more comfortable than economy pliers. The action on Xuron pliers is very smooth and comfortable to weave with for long periods of time. We also find that these pliers are excellent for beginners, as they make it easier to manipulate jump rings because you have a much better grip. These are a very wise investment. We prefer Xuron to any of the other more expensive specialty pliers out there!

I have been using these pliers for at least a decade and probably more -- Likely 13 or so years.  I have NEVER returned a pair for warranty ... although I have destroyed a dozen pair through the years.  Once I cleaned the Handles with too much WD-40.. Causing the glue to let go so the handles pulled off and the springs went sproing...I have damaged the jaw surface, but generally on Titanium rings - which is stronger than steel, and beyond the capability of the tool, so that's my fault, not the tool's fault.  I haven't dealt much with Xuron Directly.  Abby at Xuron has sent me some samples when looking at their other tools, which I appreciate.  I buy these from a couple of different wholesale sources depending on what else I need to order and the shipping costs... but we have purchased and sold PAIR OF THESE PLIERS IN 10 years!  

**UPDATE -- I met the fabulous Ashley Bunting from Xuron at Bead and Button - She sent me off with a sample of a new cutter than I can't believe I have lived without.  I also have TONS of testimonials from Customers who HAVE contacted Xuron customer service and they have ALL been treated well and quickly.  

Downside -- Yes!  There is a downside to my babies.  They have such a narrow head, which is awesome for 18 gauge and thinner rings.  This is a problem for 16 gauge and thicker rings as they leave tool marks on big rings.  This requires you to own a wider pair of pliers for big rings.  But that doesn't discount the value of these tools for the right rings. 

Customer Service - As far as I am concerned Xuron feels the same way about Customer service as I do.  They stand BEHIND their product 100% and if you have an issue they make it right.  I personally have never used this service, because the tools I have damaged are due to extensive wear and tear as I use these HOURS a day.  But anyone that has had a tool issue has had their tool replaced with very little hassle and feels good about it.  The main issue I see people having is with the spring.  Sometimes they pop out of place, or rub a little funny.  But unlike other companies, Xuron takes care of you.  This a very big part of why Xuron is an excellent Brand.  They are awesome, and they back their product!

What about Wide Nose Pliers??  We need a good set to compliment our Xurons right??

When we first opened our Store Front and Studio in Saskatoon I needed better suppliers for tools.  We brought in Many different Wubbers pliers.  I was super excited as they were a brand name that people were talking about.  They were also doing some fun mandrel pliers in squares and triangles, and had some awesome things for metal smithing.

I really wanted to LOVE my Wubbers.  A lot of Chainmaillers were talking about them, and many people said they really loved them.  This was the most expensive plier I had tried at the time -- I think we were selling them for $27.95CAD.  These are my Wide Nose wubbers pliers.  They have a very long handle, which is great for people with bigger hands.  My hands, aren't so big, so I found these took some getting used to.  They are the wide nose, so perfect for working with 16 gauge and larger rings.  

What disappointed me in these pliers were basically two things.  First was the springs.  Notice the pair on the right hand side?  The right side spring is broken.  I was lucky to find a pair in my studio (on the left) for this photo that actually has both springs in tact. All the springs in our studio pliers broke. We did the rare earth magnet trick, but the handles are so heavy, they didn't spring open like the cheap little pliers did.  

Secondly what I found disappointing with these pliers is the jaw surface.  They were EASILY marked up just working with jump rings. Once the surface of the plier jaw is dented and gouged, those marks easily transfer to the softer metals you use them on.  I'm not sure why some pliers mark more easily than others - obviously they are using a metal that isn't as strong.  This is where my Price vs quality debate kicks in... it's one thing for $5 pliers to mark up... but $28 pliers should be make from better quality metal.  

Customer Service - I never attempted to return my Wubbers, I was told at the time that you can return them to the company if they fail, and for $15 you will receive a new pair.  That's a discount to replace.  The thing that bothers me about they say their "Quality is Incomparable".. But in my experience the quality was lacking and most of the tools I had failed.  We probably had 20 sets of broken pliers when we closed the studio.  I will be the first to admit when I do something to a tool that I shouldn't - I've ruined MANY a pair of cutters on chain or wire that I shouldn't have snipped... but that was my misuse.  I don't feel using pliers to open jump rings is misuse.  I also don't think the springs should all break off and the surfaces are easily marked up.

UPDATE -- I had the pleasure of meeting Patti Bullard at the Bead & Button Show in .  She is the designer behind Wubbers.  We also tried her new PROLINE of Wubbers -- And I really like them! The plier handles are NOT very padded but they are super comfortable.  I will be buying some of these to see how the springs compare to their older product lines.  But at first sight these impressed me!

. 

Knipex Electronic Wide nose Pliers - 35 12 115

My next major purchase was with Knipex. I had looked at these and hemmed and hawed over them due to price. At about $60 CAD each, this was by far going be my most expensive pliers yet. I was nervous about spending $100 on pliers, but thought It was time to try. Or I was mad at my husband for buying something stupid so I did too..

These Babies are worth every penny you spend on them.  Germany made - High Quality that they SHOULD be bragging about.  The handles are a little hard, not very cushy, but they are comfortable in my opinion.  The handles fit my hands perfectly... they feel solid and sturdy and they get the job done.  I have been using mine for at least 5 years... no damage, no broken springs, no marked jaws or edges.  These are work horses.  I use up to 12 Gauge wire, and have never had an issue.  They are a must own.  Knipex 4.5-Inch Electronics Pliers with Flat Tips

I don't really have anything negative to say about these, other than they are expensive.  But they are worth it because the Quality is so good. They are a must have!

So I guess I got cocky about expensive pliers and thought I needed to try Tronex. They contacted us and sent some samples, and I bought a set of wide nosed 745 Tronex from TRL as they had some custom ones brought in. The only thing that was AWESOME was Jon used his fancy new fiber laser and engraved my NAME into my new pliers. Here they are.

These pliers have big long handles, which were almost uncomfortably big for my hands.   I did notice some marking on the jaws of the pliers in the first few days of using them.  I used these pliers solely on Aluminum as we were doing a big rush project at the time.

This is the first pair of pliers I had BREAK on me.  The whole END of one jaw snapped clear off... ON BRIGHT ALUMINUM JUMP RINGS!!  As you can tell.. I am yelling.  I was very upset and disappointed that I had never had a tool fail like that.  If I was the ONLY person this has happened to, I would think I am just being a cry baby.  But through the joys of facebook I know of at LEAST 5 other people who have had their Tronex pliers break in the same manner.  Not a spring break, but the whole end of the plier.  I have not heard if anyone had luck getting any customer service out of Tronex Directly.  Because I didn't buy from Tronex directly, I didn't think to contact them.  But because of this experience I had, and have seen others have... I wouldn't recommend these pliers.  For the same money I would hands down recommend Knipex instead.

UPDATE FROM TRONEX - June -- They are working on a new design that is heavier duty for chainmailers.  At this point I have counted around 17 people posting in the different forums that they have had their Tronex pliers break as well. So I do look forward to testing the new design to see if they work better for our purposes.

NEW TOOL MUST HAVES 

We have Two Newer tools on our website that are a must own.  First - Xuron's new Chisel Nose pliers.

These are everything that's wonderful about the short nose style, but they are a little wider, and the chisel tip is super fine for tiny Micro maille uses!  I love these and am happy to have them in my collection!  Be careful though.  If you you slip, they are sharp suckers!  I did bleed my first time using them.  They also have goofy around the house uses such as pulling out slivers, and occasional eyebrow tweasing! hahaha.

The next new addition are the Snub Chain Nose Pliers These are new to us this month.  I have been testing them for several weeks and like them!  They are a reasonable price, they are comfortable to work with, and they give you good leverage with the jumprings.  I have no idea how they hold up over time, or what Beadalon's customer service is like, but I haven't had an issue or seen anyone complain either!  Please click on the link above for more details and price!

I was asked about the handles - It's a little strange - I've never seen a plier with one side of the handle more padded than the other - I would have personally added EXTRA padding to both sides.  That being said - they are still comfortable for the time I have been using them, and the difference in padding is slight.  You don't really notice it being too different. I was trying to decide if I liked the extra padding on my thumb side or fingers side... and I didn't find a preference.

As far as a lower price decent quality tool - We found these Swan Brand pliers from one of our beading wholesalers, and have been selling them for around 8 years.  They are a $10 CAD tool so the price reasonable, and the quality is also reasonable.  I can't say I recall having spring break issues.  I know i have never had the end break off like Tronex did.  I recommend these WIDE NOSE for the Japanese Ball kit that uses 12 gauge rings.. Tough suckers to bend. And also great for 18-16 gauge rings that you want the wider tip for.  They are good price for the quality they are and the use they have.

The Chain Nose are a harder sell for me honestly.  The ends are so long, that they slip more and are more awkward for small rings.  You are better off paying double and using the Xurons... and if that isn't in your budget - the new Snub Nose ones are $5 more and way nice tool to work with.  We've always carried this one, sort of as an in between tool. WAY better than the $5 chain nose, but really I'd encourage you to go with Xuron's instead... they are just worth it!!

UPDATE FROM AUGUST

We brought in ANOTHER new Xuron Wide nose plier 483 a few months ago - They are the same at the Chisel nose - without the sharp point! Another must own!!!

MY NEW RAINBOW BABIES!!!  June !!!

So I saw these pretty pliers and new I had to have them... even if it was just to decorate my bench.  Because they are AWESOMELY colourful and pretty.  They have no padding on the handles, so I was a little skeptical, but they are actually quite comfortable!  I have been using mine for about a month - no colour wear... no spring breaks... Just comfort and prettiness!!

BUY SOME RAINBOW CHAIN NOSE HERE

BUY SOME RAINBOW WIDE NOSE HERE

Another AMAZING tool find is the NEW Xuron Shear... These babies are amazing for cutting Solder and Bezel wire.  Like AMAZING cuts.  I love them and think every bench needs them!!

BUY SHEAR HERE

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit china hand tools wholesaler.