From RustyShackleford: While we're talking about it though, I've always heard the stainless clamps are tougher to remove than crimp rings. I've never used the clamps, but the crimp rings are pretty easy with the right tool.
Special pliers are made to not only crimp, but very easily remove the two-ear Oetiker style clamps.
An example is Knipex 1099 i220. Oetiker makes several versions, too.
They are heavily used by the soda pop fountain installers & beer system installers. It takes little force and less than a second to remove a stainless clamp, even hard stainless grade #304 Oetiker ones. They work on step clamps & stepless. The action is, instead of trying to cut through the clamp, they open it by either causing the tail tabs to release (in step-clamps) or stretching the ear, thus opening the clamp's grip, in stepless.
In the photos attached, the jaw with the arrow pointing to it goes vertically on the ear of the clamp. Position it as though you wanted to shorten height of the clamp's ear. Put safety glasses on & give a moderate force squeeze. The clamp will pop right open when the tail tabs release.
The one-jaw version of these pliers work, but the two-jaw is easier to use in tight places & the vertical jaw gives more leverage. (I keep a worn out pair handy because they're really good nail pullers, too.)
Hope This Helps make your jobs easier.
Paul
