These are my 5/16" tubing insertion plyers. They have a pair of vice grips with a split, threaded rod adapter to grip the tubing and a pair of fingers to hold the fitting. I’ve modified them to make them line up a bit better for the way I use them. I’m thinking about taking off the plate with the fingers and making the slot smaller to better fit the fittings I use. This tool is an absolute must have if you’re going to build a vacuum tube system.

I bought these at CDL (catalog)but it doesn’t look like they sell this model any more. The closest one I see in the catalog is pn 6623157 which has an added knife for some reason.

  • glimse
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    19 hours ago

    I love specialized tools. I love specialized tools modified to become more specialized even more

    • Maple EngineerOPM
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      17 hours ago

      As built that one drove me crazy. The slot was not alligned with the center of the straight coupler. I cut it off and welded it in the correct position. I would really like the slot to be narrower so that it catches the small couplers like the flat hooks better andI would like them a few millimeters longer and with a bit more of a bend in it. It’s an easy fix but it’s one of those things that I just never seem to get around to.

      It works really well as it is but it would be that much better with a bit of modification.