Wire Clip Pliers

There is a way to make this work with 1/2" mesh. Read on... (Skip to the last paragraph if you don't want to read the story.)I use 1/2" hardware cloth in gardening applications, both as critter fencing and as a barrier at the bottom of my planting beds for the digging critters. For 15 years, I have been joining hardware cloth in the most tedious manner imaginable--"sewing" it with wire. Well, I recently had a big project to do in a short amount of time--a 100' x 5' garden terrace. I was ready to explode after only getting a few feet along with wire ties in an afternoon.Then a lightbulb went on in my head as I remembered that the last time I bought hardware cloth, Amazon recommended this tool plus the "ACC1 Wire Cage Clips" from the same manufacturer. I researched it and saw all the negative reviews about it not working with 1/2" hardware cloth. Next,I looked into all of the other types of fencing tools, including hog rings. I kept coming back to this because everything else seemed to be designed for large, chain-link fencing.I was desperate, so decided to bite the bullet. It was late on a Friday night. I placed my order for this tool plus the clips, with a two-day delivery option. Amazon said it would be delivered Sunday, but I have a mail service that is closed on Sunday. I figured I'd get it Monday. I had hoped to make progress over the weekend. Much to my delight, everything arrived the very next day!!Now here's the important part: first, this is NOT flimsy like some reviews say. The various joints are loose, allowing the tool to adjust to the rings so they curl into a perfect little cylinder every time. Second, this tool does not need to be very strong for its purpose, which is to curl these little J-shaped metal clip blanks into cylindrical loops. It accomplishes the feat with very little effort. Third, although the wider side of the tool does not fit through 1/2" mesh, it is very easy to complete the cylinder with needle-nosed pliers. After a few frustrated trial-and-error attempts, I came up with this surefire method. First, I curl a clip blank with the tool until the loop is almost closed, leaving about a 1/16" opening. Then, I hook the opening around the two wires of the hardware cloth I am joining. I hold the flat, still-open end of the blank with the thumb and forefinger of one hand while getting a good grip across the open end of the blank with my needle-nosed pliers, then close the loop and complete the cylinder.

We got these to assemble a rabbit hutch, they work great. For the price, we thought it was a good deal, they work great to get those little wire clips cinched and they shipped fast, and were well packaged.

They get the job done but do not have the most comfortable grip. If the grips were thicker I'd like them better. It was my first time building cases, and after two cages, I got one blister on my finger, which isn't too bad, but my hands were sore. Also, my hands are normal sized female hands, I found it easier to squish the J Clips a little before bringing them to the wire so I could close the clips with one hand and not slip. Someone with smaller hands might find this helpful or harder to do, while someone with larger hands may not find this step necessary.

I love this tool!!! I am just finishing a 10 foot by 20 foot covered chicken run built by connecting fencing using this tool and j clips draped over a car port frame. I built it with 2 inch by 4 inch welded wire, which connected easily with more of the same and also 1/2 inch hardware cloth. I would recommend working mostly with welded wire because it's stiffer so you can space out the connections more. My hand would get tired after a while and sometimes I'd miss the second wire and waste a clip, but the bag you buy has so many j clips it's no big deal. I feel so empowered. The tool and j clips to build my run was a great success!

It works great for connecting wire. Just keep in mind that if you’re using any kind of wire or hardware cloth that’s 1/2 inch or under the tool won’t fit through the opening. I was trying to baby proof fencer wire for bunnies and that was difficult. But it works how it’s supposed to.

I used these pliers and the associated wire clips to affix chicken wire to my chain link chicken pen. It worked perfectly. I've put nearly 500 clips on my 10'x10' kennel, and I have total confidence the chicken wire is permanently affixed to the chain link. It should outlive me anyway. The only way a raccoon is getting into my chicken pen now is if he has a blow torch.

Well , I bought this because I thought it would fit in the 1x1cm SS wire mesh I'm using to make a large birds cage and I also hopped it would be tight .It didn't fit because it isn't shaped wall for the task , so I cut the corner of the single head with a grinder and then it would fit easily.It doesn't create a tight clip on your mesh but rather a loose ring , it will serve well for people who are making small cages from large pieces of mesh where you would use it to join corners.It will not bend like Ive read in the comments unless you are using it on a large wire mesh and I still don't see how it would bend.The sketch in the picture under the rabbit with the tight clamping of the wire is totally unrealistic.Again , what you get is a loose ring around the wires you want to connect.

They were not designed for 1/2" but a lot of people seem curious about using these on 1/2" hardware cloth. You will need to modify these for that application, otherwise it is really hard work, they're just too big. I ground away the jaws on both sides - remember the clips are only aluminum so the jaws are way deeper than they need to be.I was using safety wire, hog rings, plastic wire ties on my 1/2" hardware cloth "cage" protecting my tomatoes from rats - all were a pain in the neckbut these modified pliers and j-clips work great.