Been using generic pliers and tools I’ve had for years, most from
Pakistan, starting to really show wear and boy do my hands know it.
Looking at several lines of tools Swanstroms, Lindstroms, Rio Grande,
etc. ad nauseum and just getting more and more confused. Are the
higher prices for the Swans and Linds worth it? I’m a woman with
fairly large hands (tools need some padding-hands get sore) looking
for hand tools, cutters, pliers, formers etc that make the work a bit
easier without wearing my poor hands out-what are your suggestions?
Thanks so much for the advice.
Yes, yes, yes - the good pliers are worth every penny and then some!
If you can, find someone who has them that you can at least hold to
see what feels best in your hands. Failing that, if you can afford
to, order one of the same plier from each manufacturer and see what
you like best. If you don’t use them you should be able to send the
one you don’t like back. The other set some folks really like are
Wubbers…
Been using generic pliers and tools I've had for years, most from
Pakistan, starting to really show wear and boy do my hands know
it. Looking at several lines of tools Swanstroms, Lindstroms, Rio
Grande, etc. ad nauseum and just getting more and more confused.
Are the higher prices for the Swans and Linds worth it?
They are if you need what they offer. Forming pliers must be of the
best quality. If you work with small parts, pliers must be ergonomic
and handle parts without marring, but at the same time secure. For
less demanding tasks, I would not use the cheapest ones, but prime
quality is not required either. Sorry for nebulous answer, but you
are the only one who can possibly know. Buy only what you need, at
the very best quality you can afford.
What kind of work do you do? Whether or not the higher priced
Swanstrom or Lindstrom pliers are worth it depends entirely upon how
much you’ll use them and what you want to use them for. I would also
recommend going to a bead show and looking there. That way you can
handle them before you buy them. My favorite pliers (I do a fair bit
of chain maille so they get a workout.) are some I bought at a
Beadfest show for only $16 per pair. They’re fairly well made, with
a box joint and nice foam covered handles. They fit my hands
perfectly and are lovely to use. I too was looking at the higher
priced pliers in the catalogs but decided to hold off until after I
went to the bead show.
I just splurged on a set of the ergonomic Linstrom pliers with the
bio-spring. My old cheapies were worn out & I went with those
because my doctor informed me that I’ve got some severe carpal tunnel
issues that I really ought to pay attention to. I absolutely love
them! Much more comfortable to work with & my hands don’t get tired.
The cheapest price I found for the set was at Fire Mountain Gems-
I have some Lindstom pliers and cutters that I have had for over 40
years and am still using them every day - a little drop of oil on
the joints is all that they have needed plus a light rub with a fine
stone to remove any wear marks.
When I bought them they cost over half a weeks wages each but I
think that the investment was well worth it (maybe not at the time
but my boss made me- a wise man) I do not use them near heat and do
not over strain them.
Robin Key
Clavis Jewellery
Scotland (where the first snow is forcast)
Hi Cindy - I also have large hands - I don’t care for my Lindstrom RX
(stupid plastic “BioSpring” flies out EVERy time I use it, and I like
having an automatic return rather than using my other finger), like
my Sandstroms and LOVE my Wubbers. They are cushier, fit my hands
better (even the “Baby Wubbers”) and even cost less! Cutters I go
mid-range with, as I find I replace them every few years no matter
how much I spent on them - I’ve had best luck with Xuron.