Ball Link Plier Brand?

[Greywolf74]

Im looking for a high quality pair of ball link pliers. I normally buy Team EDS tools but Ive never seen their ball link pliers in stock. Would someone suggest some other high quality pliers plz?

[Steve Joblin]

What size are you looking for? Unlike hex drivers that can round out if they are made of inferior materials, Ball Link Pliers aren't involved with heavy forces, so quality isn't really an issue.. I haven't heard of anyone ever complaining of issues because they weren't using a "high quality" set of ball link pliers.

[Greywolf74]

I'll be working with a 450 sized heli...my first one. I bought a pair of exi ball link pliers and used them to snap a link into place on one of my ground kits and they bent. I mean I know I was usign them in a way nto intended but I didnt feel that I subjected them to any unreasonable amount of force. IDK, maybe I did and I just didnt realize it...at any rate thats why i was thinking maybe I needed a pair of "quality" pliers.

[NCcraig]

I have been using a couple pairs of Align ball link pliers since I got into the hobby 3 1/2 years ago and never had an issue with them.

[Steve Joblin]

A pair like this is all you need... http://www.rcmodelpart.com/rc-helico...0-600_p94.html

[Greywolf74]

Those look exactly like the ones I bent but thanks...I think I'll try the Align.

[Steve Joblin]

You sure those are the ones you have? There are two versions... one has a black annodized head; the other is plain metal. Also, one has a spring, the other doesn't. The black anodized ones are much thinner (I think).

[LVeillon]

Actually this type discussion does go on in regards to bad ball-link pliers. There are so many cheap ones out there that will cause you lots of pain and cost you some extra unwanted damages.

The ones that I have had for many years now is a brand that hasn't been produced in 10+ years, but I do see that KDE has some really nice looking pliers out now.

The KDE's are about $50, but I bet they last a long time like my trusty "Green Handles".

[sierracharlie]

Tower Hobbies sells one by Thunder Tiger, specifically designed for the 450 size Mini Titan. I use them on my Blade 450 and they are great.

[ahahn]

Here's the best.

http://www.ronlund.com/rcheli-prod/T...JRP960242.html

That's where I bought mine. You only need to buy these once.

[LVeillon]

That's the famous Green Handles that I have had for 20 years!

[Maxists The Baddist]

That's the famous Green Handles that I have had for 20 years!

I like mine too! I tried the curve tip ones and didn't like them because they were hard to use in certain positions. Recently I haven't seen the green handle priced below
$30 but I've seen them alot higher.

[kriswithak]

I'm not sure what is being improved by spending the extra 53 bucks. Here are my LHS, $7.00 no name."https://onedrive.live.com/embed?cid=...P5Gv8yfm42tWXs

[TheDHndrsn]

Originally Posted by ahahn

Here's the best.

http://www.ronlund.com/rcheli-prod/T...JRP960242.html

That's where I bought mine. You only need to buy these once.

+1

Werd!

[tafkap]

Amazon.com

[boykster]

I bent / broke 2-3 pairs of cheapo ones before I ordered an Align set and they are solid.

[04fxdwgi]

New to this helo hobby. Started a couple of months ago with a T-Rex 450 Pro I got in a trade for a quad, then traded the 450 for a T-Rex 550e DFC.

I bought a cheaper set of angled ball link pliers, just like the yellow handled ones shown above (not knowing any better), right out of the gate so I wouldn't booger up any ball links during setup, since I am new to it and had to remove / install ball links a bunch of times learning the setup process..

I did find that the quality is somewhat lacking in the fit / finish department, so I grabbed my Dremmel and went about smoothing / polishing all the edges and faces of any burs and rough spots and improved the operational smoothness of them 1000%.

Much easier to use now. Just had to be careful to not remove too much material and keep everything square.

Haven't broken / bent them yet, but time will tell.

Perhaps, if I stay with this hobby, a really good set will be future purchase, but right now, am still trying to decide if the Helo hobby is right for me. Sure is expensive and I haven't even crashed yet !!!!!!

[fliermike]

I recommend the ones from FBL Rotors:
http://www.fblrotors.com/FBL-Ball-Li...ks-_p_458.html

Unfortunatley, they are currently out of stock. FYI, Ralph is one of the best guys you will ever deal with in the hobby!

[jarhart]

Those look exactly like the ones I just ordered from HeliDirect: http://www.helidirect.com/kde-univer...ks-p-37128.hdx

[yhchoong]

I use the nylon ones, but they are made to only remove links without the risk of ever marring up the surface of the ball-ends.

That said, I never had a problem snapping links onto the balls using just my fingers. It's the removal process that's usually very difficult to do without distorting the plastic of the links.

I do have both the green-handled JR ones and a $5 nylon pair, but have never required the use of the JR ones. The nylon ones are also cheap enough that when they start wearing out, just replace with a new pair. My original one is still going strong after a couple of years!