Hog Ring Pliers Versus Hog Ring Guns

If you’re using hog rings, you need the right tool to close them. Hog ring tools have purpose-made jaws that hold and deform C- or D-shaped rings to their final closed form. Whether you’re installing chain link fencing or assembling furniture, the right hog ring tool will let you do the job safely and efficiently.

There are two types of hog ring tools you could purchase: pliers and guns.

Hog Ring Pliers

Hog ring pliers are like any other pliers: they are hand tools with jaws that close when the handles are squeezed together. What distinguishes hog ring pliers from other pliers is the grooves in the jaws that hold the unformed ring securely as the handles are closed.

Some hog ring pliers are fitted with magazine feeders. These feeders help improve productivity because they slide a new ring into place between the jaws as soon as the previously formed ring is released.

Benefits

• Simple to use
• No external energy source needed, so you can take them anywhere
• Lightweight
• Quiet operation

Disadvantages

• Attaching/installing more than a few rings quickly becomes tiring

Best Applications

• Small projects that need only a few hog rings, like household crafts, small fencing installations, or fitting upholstery
• Projects where compressed air for a hog ring gun is unavailable, like repairing fencing on a farm
• Closing sacks or bags

Hog Ring Guns

Hog ring guns perform the same operation as hog ring pliers, but the primary difference is that in a gun, the jaws are closed by a pneumatic cylinder. To operate the gun, the user squeezes a trigger that initiates rapid closing and release, followed by insertion of the next ring from a magazine.

Hog ring guns are larger and heavier than pliers, need a source of compressed air, and are more industrial than pliers, so they are often preferred for high-quantity installations.

Benefits

• High productivity
• Low operator fatigue
• Consistent ring closing
• Can be jig-mounted

Disadvantages

• Require compressed air at 95 to 100 psi, so they are best used in factories or where an air compressor is available
• Heavy (most weigh 3 pounds or more)
• Produce some noise

Best Applications

• Furniture assembly
• Commercial scale upholstery
• Automotive seat assembly
• Large fencing projects where an air compressor is available
• Industrial packaging, particularly for closing sacks and bags

Other Selection Considerations

Whether choosing between pliers or a gun, the tool you pick must be compatible with the type, size, and gauge of the rings you want to use. If you’re new to working with hog rings, read our guide on selecting fasteners. If you decide to purchase pliers, we recommend finding a pair with long, cushioned handles because the cushioning helps minimize fatigue.

Find Your Solution

If you need high-quality, American-made fasteners and tools, look no further than King Steel Fasteners. Since our founding in 1995, we’ve been committed to manufacturing and selling reliable hog rings, clinch clips, and other fasteners made from American steel and specialty tools like pliers and guns.

Visit our online store to learn more about our available products or contact our specialists today to find out which of our tools is best suited for your project.