Today I’m doing a fast overview on a pair of Danco Premio 7.5″ Titanium Pliers. Earlier this 12 months again after I took a visit all the way down to Daytona to strive for some snook within the surf, I misplaced my trusty pair of pliers within the tough surf. They weren’t something fancy however had been a good pair of metal pliers that had lasted me just a few years. So I’ve been wanting round to discover a good pair of pliers to switch them. I wished one thing lighter and nicer, cry as soon as purchase as soon as form of factor. I didn’t need one other set of metal pliers due to weight and corrosion. Aluminum pliers, that are in style for freshwater fishing, don’t maintain up offshore as a result of they torque and flex an excessive amount of. So I requested round, to see what my buddy who runs constitution use.
I saved getting the reply of to go together with a pair of titanium Van Staal Pliers, however yeah a worth beginning at $330 is kinda laborious to swallow for fishing. So I seemed round for different titanium pliers and located two extra choices. The first is the Visser pliers which got here out earlier this 12 months and look very good however value much more than the Van Staals. The different choice is the Danco Premios. The Danco Premio Pliers are available in a big number of sizes ranging from 5.5″ pliers as much as 7.5″ pliers that I purchased. I have to additionally make clear that there are two sorts of Danco Premio Pliers, there may be the usual Premios and the Premio USA pliers. The USA line of pliers additionally reaches the identical worth level as the opposite two producers, however the usual Premio Pliers are an excellent chunk cheaper. The 7.5″ pliers have an MSRP of $199.99 and may be discovered for cheaper on-line on Amazon. I paid about $180ish after taxes in comparison with the $380 for 7″ Van Staals earlier than taxes. So proper off the bat that’s a large plus for the Danco Premios.
First have a look at the pliers proper out of the field, they appear good. Great lock up on the enamel of the jaws. No misaligned enamel, no gaps alongside the size of the jaws, they appear good. Just taking some copy paper and pinching them within the jaws present that they’re very well machined. The lock-up is tight sufficient that the paper will intrude with the enamel meshing. The cutters are the identical as properly, no gaps or something alongside the size. On cheaper pliers, this may be a difficulty the place the cutters are simply junky. Either they don’t line up properly or are simply unfastened. The Premio has neither or these issues by the appears to be like of them.
For the equipment for the pliers, they arrive with a well-made leather-based sheath and lanyard. Honestly, these are simply as vital because the pliers, my earlier pair got here with a junky sheath and low-cost lanyard which made me ditch them fairly fast, which in flip let the ocean declare them. The sheath is a pleasant full-grain leather-based with good stitching and has a beltloop and ring constructed into it. There’s a drain gap on the backside nice work tough days offshore. The lanyard is a chunk of elastic bungee wire as a substitute of a budget coiled plastic cords you usually see. The benefit of the bungee being they will’t be twisted and tangled just like the coiled cords. I do want to notice that the lanyard is fairly completely connected to the pliers with a giant stainless ring.
Unfortunately, the pliers have some side-to-side play within the hinge although. When any sideways power is placed on the pliers the jaws splay out about 1/16″. Also when the jaws are torqued like that they develop into gritty. I’m assuming it should be the end texture rubbing on one thing within the hinge. The final situation I’ve with the machining is whenever you look intently you’ll be able to see the guidelines of the jaws aren’t the identical size. One of the jaws stands proud about 1/16″ previous the opposite. I do know it feels like a nitpick however once more these are $200 pliers.
The cutters at the very least work properly, making straightforward work of fluorocarbon and monofilament strains. The cutters additionally work decently on heavy hole core braided line. You wanted to make use of some power however they might nonetheless clip by the braid cleanly as soon as you probably did.
Overall, I’m a bit upset for the Danco Premios 7.5″ Titanium pliers. At first look, they appear nice, glossy, and trendy coming with good equipment and a lifetime guarantee. But as soon as getting my arms on them I feel I gained’t be holding onto them or recommending them to others. The play within the jaws kills it for me, I don’t mess with aluminum pliers for a similar cause. The play makes twisting and popping hooks out of massive fish troublesome and can solely worsen over time. Even costing half the worth of the opposite accessible choices it’s nonetheless quite a bit for a pair of pliers.
I want these extra budget-friendly pliers had been “just as good” however I say for those who actually need that holy grail set of titanium pliers look elsewhere. If these points aren’t a giant deal for you although go for it, the smaller fashions of Danco Premio pliers are even cheaper on-line. I’d say stick to six″ and smaller pliers for many anglers until you’re fishing offshore for pelagics or for sharks. The pliers are extremely gentle for his or her measurement and nonetheless operate as they need to so don’t be turned off Danco pliers simply know there’s a cause they value much less.
