Zipdee pliers worth having?

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Zipdee pliers worth having?

February 18, 2019, 09:26:39 am

My wife and I changed out the flex-key's on the bedroom window awnings. Wasn't difficult except for un-crimping the crimps. I tried different screwdrivers, pliers, vise grips, and neither worked well. In fact it only caused the channel to break. The crimps looked like they used a screwdriver blade and hammer.
I still have the 2 front awnings to do and wondering if the Zipdee pliers will make it easier?
Anybody bought them and have opinions on how they work?

Re: Zipdee pliers worth having?

Reply #1 – February 18, 2019, 09:50:37 am

If the crimp breaks while straightening then maybe use the screwdriver and hammer to put in a sister crimp next to it?

Re: Zipdee pliers worth having?

Reply #2 – February 18, 2019, 10:01:46 am

Checked on their webb site and on Ebay,no pliers,what exactly are they?

Re: Zipdee pliers worth having?

Reply #3 – February 18, 2019, 10:09:24 am

I did a Google search and got confused. Never heard of them in all my Zip Dee years! Neat if someone finds a pic.

Re: Zipdee pliers worth having?

Reply #4 – February 18, 2019, 10:40:47 am

Here's some pix Mike;

LIVING THE DREAM - Plan B: FLEX KEY REPLACEMENT . . .

Re: Zipdee pliers worth having?

Reply #5 – February 18, 2019, 10:46:25 am

Quote from: folivier – February 18, 2019, 09:26:39 am

My wife and I changed out the flex-key's on the bedroom window awnings. Wasn't difficult except for un-crimping the crimps. I tried different screwdrivers, pliers, vise grips, and neither worked well. In fact it only caused the channel to break. The crimps looked like they used a screwdriver blade and hammer.
I still have the 2 front awnings to do and wondering if the Zipdee pliers will make it easier?
Anybody bought them and have opinions on how they work?

I have a pair of them, all they are is a cheap pair of vice grips with one lip ground down sharp to fit in the channel. I'll see if I can dig mine out and post a picture, easy to make your own. Yes they do work well.

Re: Zipdee pliers worth having?

Reply #6 – February 18, 2019, 12:15:25 pm

Thanks Bruce, a picture will help.

Re: Zipdee pliers worth having?

Reply #7 – February 18, 2019, 01:44:10 pm

Here ye be, had to dig them out. Cheep pair of medium vice grips fromHarbor Freight. These are from Zip Dee. They don't charge much for them.

Re: Zipdee pliers worth having?

Reply #8 – February 18, 2019, 02:00:01 pm

Thanks Bruce! So only ground on 1 side?
I'll pull out the Dewalt grinder and make a pair. I must have 6 pair of vise grips, won't hurt to sacrifice a pair.

Re: Zipdee pliers worth having?

Reply #9 – February 18, 2019, 02:20:02 pm

You hook the ground side into the groove and clamp them down and GENTLY open the groove.

Re: Zipdee pliers worth having?

Reply #10 – February 18, 2019, 02:21:30 pm

Ditto,I even have a couple of USA made,the one that won't bend.

Re: Zipdee pliers worth having?

Reply #11 – February 18, 2019, 04:23:15 pm

Bruce. A picture showing the cross section of ground part would be nice, so, take a pic with camera pointing at the end (as if you where pointing the camera at your finger tip.
JohnH

Re: Zipdee pliers worth having?

Reply #12 – February 18, 2019, 09:17:59 pm

A few more pictures

Re: Zipdee pliers worth having?

Reply #13 – March 18, 2019, 12:34:25 pm

Thanks Bruce, I modified a pair of Visegrips and just used them to replace the driver side long front flex-key. Worked great! wish I had made them to do the other 2 rear ones.

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Zipdee pliers worth having?

February 18, 2019, 09:26:39 am

Re: Zipdee pliers worth having?

Reply #1 – February 18, 2019, 09:50:37 am

Re: Zipdee pliers worth having?

Reply #2 – February 18, 2019, 10:01:46 am

Re: Zipdee pliers worth having?

Reply #3 – February 18, 2019, 10:09:24 am

Re: Zipdee pliers worth having?

Reply #4 – February 18, 2019, 10:40:47 am

Re: Zipdee pliers worth having?

Reply #5 – February 18, 2019, 10:46:25 am

Re: Zipdee pliers worth having?

Reply #6 – February 18, 2019, 12:15:25 pm

Re: Zipdee pliers worth having?

Reply #7 – February 18, 2019, 01:44:10 pm

Re: Zipdee pliers worth having?

Reply #8 – February 18, 2019, 02:00:01 pm

Re: Zipdee pliers worth having?

Reply #9 – February 18, 2019, 02:20:02 pm

Re: Zipdee pliers worth having?

Reply #10 – February 18, 2019, 02:21:30 pm

Re: Zipdee pliers worth having?

Reply #11 – February 18, 2019, 04:23:15 pm

Re: Zipdee pliers worth having?

Reply #12 – February 18, 2019, 09:17:59 pm

Re: Zipdee pliers worth having?

Reply #13 – March 18, 2019, 12:34:25 pm

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