What is the difference between internal and external circlip pliers?

Internal pliers work on rings inside a bore and open their tips as you squeeze; external pliers work on rings on a shaft and close their tips. They are not interchangeable.

Straight or bent tips?

Straight where the ring is reached from directly above; bent (90°) where the ring is seen from the side or something sits in front of it.

The circlip keeps flying off the tips -- why?

Usually the tip pins are undersized for the holes in the ring. Match the pliers to the ring diameter range in the product name, and wear eye protection while the ring is tensioned.

Do I need all four patterns?

If you work on bearings and shaft assemblies regularly, yes -- and the four-piece set here covers them together.

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Circlip Pliers

Circlip pliers fit and remove internal and external retaining rings with fine pins at the tips. Internal pliers open the ring as you squeeze, external pliers close it -- the wrong type damages both ring and groove. Straight and bent-tip patterns for internal and external rings are listed here with their lengths.

Internal or external: four patterns

Circlip pliers divide on two axes. Internal pliers are for rings inside a bore and open their tips as you squeeze; external pliers are for rings on a shaft and close their tips as you squeeze. The wrong type cannot lift the ring out of its groove, and forcing it damages both ring and groove.

The second axis is tip shape: straight tips where the ring is reached from directly above, bent (90°) tips where it is seen from the side with something in front of it. All four combinations are listed separately here, along with a four-piece set that covers them.

Tip size and safety

The tip pins have to match the holes in the ring: too thin and the pin moves in the hole and the ring flies, too thick and it will not enter. The size in the product name is the range of ring diameters the pliers work on.

Circlips are spring steel and release suddenly when tensioned, so eye protection belongs with this group. The pliers here are chrome vanadium with PVC insulated handles.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between internal and external circlip pliers?
Internal pliers work on rings inside a bore and open their tips as you squeeze; external pliers work on rings on a shaft and close their tips. They are not interchangeable.
Straight or bent tips?
Straight where the ring is reached from directly above; bent (90°) where the ring is seen from the side or something sits in front of it.
The circlip keeps flying off the tips -- why?
Usually the tip pins are undersized for the holes in the ring. Match the pliers to the ring diameter range in the product name, and wear eye protection while the ring is tensioned.
Do I need all four patterns?
If you work on bearings and shaft assemblies regularly, yes -- and the four-piece set here covers them together.