timo888 

I have some teensy circlip pliars where the little pincer tips are about 4mm apart on-center, but even they are too big and clumsy to remove the tiny circlip from the pins that hold the steering tube in its folding base on my folding bike. They're about 1mm too large—and the pins don't bend when squeezed together, they snap off, as I learned

Does anyone make a precision circlip plier whose pincers are about 2.5-3mm apart on-center?

fietsbob

Watch makers tools?

timo888 

Interesting suggestion! I will follow it up. There used to be a website called tinyparts.com or something like that, but I cannot seem to find it.

dedhed

Inside or outside circlip? Large paper clip?

Check auto parts stores for "mini" snap ring pliers and Hobby shops that cater to R/C cars

CliffordK

I tend to improvise with that kind of thing. Knives. Sewing needles. Tweezers. Etc. Perhaps do your work in a tub, so when the part goes flying, you have a chance to recover it.

Fortunately, if this is so tiny, it shouldn't be that strong.

Andrew R Stewart 

I have used two spokes ground down to fit a clip (either E or C) and then used a pair of needle nose to squeeze the spokes together. Almost need three hands... Andy

wschruba

Andy, if you grind both ends of a spoke, then bend it in half, it would reduce the need for several hands.

Of course, it only works for internal snaprings...

Andrew R Stewart 

I find that external clips (I believe these are "C" and internal are "E") are easier to pry up and off then internals are to pry in and out. Andy

CliffordK

Hmmm...
Several different styles. Not sure about the letter designations.

EXTERNAL



INTERNAL



C/E? EXTERNAL


The last one is easiest to simply pry up. The other two might benefit from some type of pliers.

You may be able to find some really small needle nose pliers that would work, although the better circlip pliers will have something to actually catch and hold the clips.

wschruba

The last is, in fact, an ’e' clip. They have a special tool that pushes them off/installs them without worry of it shooting off or being damaged beyond use.

timo888 

After some searching I found Knipex model 46 31 A02 for circlips with diameters of 3mm to 10mm. Made in Germany. The pliers are hand-sized but you may need a magnifying glass to see what the pincer tips are doing. They do the job.

Gresp15C

Find a set with replaceable tips, then you can make custom tips if needed.