Appreciation post: My $300 set of Knipex pliers wrenches saved a job in Phoenix

We had a seized bleed valve on a 737's hydraulic system, and a regular wrench was just rounding it off. The smooth jaws on the Knipex got a perfect grip without marking the fitting. It was about 110 degrees in the hangar, and that tool kept us from having to order a whole new valve block. Anyone have a go-to tool for stuck fittings in tight spaces?

3 comments

3 Comments

kelly_craig1mo ago

The heat out there is a real factor people forget. Metal gets weird when it's that hot, almost gummy. A regular wrench can just sink in and make things worse. Those smooth jaws probably bit just hard enough without getting stuck themselves. It's like the tool knew when to stop.

jade_johnson1mo ago

Keep a cheap pair of smooth jaw pliers in the truck just for hot metal work.

sanchez.pat27d ago

That smooth jaw action works well, but the metal getting gummy thing isn't quite right. Aluminum doesn't get gummy from heat that high, it just softens enough for a tool to bite in and strip it.