Switched to safety wire pliers after 8 years, now I question my old twist method

I always hand twisted safety wire on engine cowlings, figured my technique was solid, but last month I borrowed a pair of the Cleveland brand pliers and got perfectly even twists in half the time. Now I'm wondering if the old-school way is just stubborn pride or if the pliers actually leave weaker wire under vibration. Any of you guys made the switch and stuck with it, or did you go back?

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elliot_king17d ago

That 8 year mark is exactly where I was when I switched, but the vibration thing is not really the issue. I've done pull tests on both methods and the wire fails at the twist either way, its all about consistency not the tool. The real thing people get wrong is they think pliers are a magic fix, but you still have to set the same tension and angle on the first couple of turns or you get a sloppy mess. I stuck with the pliers because my hands stopped cramping on long runs, not because the wire magically got stronger. The old twist method is fine for quick jobs or tight spots where pliers dont fit, but its just slower and harder on your wrists. So no, I didnt go back, but I also dont think the pliers are superior in strength, just in speed and ease.