It’s been awhile since I used them but these are safety wire pliers. They’re used to twist a strand of wire as to secure a bolt, or many bolts from unscrewing themselves on a lot of things but as far as this post goes it refers to airplanes. F-15s in particular… with the exception of my Ducati 996 which loved to unscrew its oil drain plug.

Now not to pat myself on the back too much but my safety wire work was pretty darn good. Similar to an elementary school student mastering the pencil sharpener. I always did it by hand but everyone thought I used these. I’d keep going but seriously, to see a row of castellated bolts all tidied up with wire, well it really is a thing of beauty.

At my separation party from the Air Force, I was handed these as a gag gift. The very ones I never used from my tool box.

I smiled when I rescued them from the flood water.

It’s the simple things for me.