Types Of Pliers And Their Uses – Expert advice from Bob Vila, the most trusted name in home improvement, home improvement, home improvement and DIY. Tried, true, trusted home advice
25 Types of Pliers and How to Use Them From different types of pliers and needle nose pliers to specialty pliers better for specific jobs, learn about 25 types of pliers and the jobs they’re designed for.
Types Of Pliers And Their Uses
Pliers are one of the essential tools that every handyman and professional should have in their tool arsenal. Used for gripping, positioning, tightening, loosening and cutting, pliers help with a variety of tasks around the house and garage, whether it’s repairing a bike, making crafts, fixing a kitchen chair or wiring. However, not all pliers are right for every job, which is why most tool users have several different types in their toolbox.
Types Of Pliers And How To Use Them
Read on to learn about 25 types of pliers, including common types like pliers, line guard, lock, and needle nose, and specialty tools like welding pliers, oil filter pliers, and fence pliers. By learning more about the differences between them, you will be able to decide which pliers best suit your needs.
Typical pliers have several parts that are fairly universal for all types of pliers. Here are the common parts of typical pliers.
From locking pliers to needle nose pliers, there are some types of pliers that are more useful than others for DIYers – and are used more often. These common pliers have a variety of uses for a variety of tasks and deserve a place in your tool kit.
Pliers aren’t exactly a high-precision tool, but depending on the size of the pliers, they can be used to securely grip materials from a single sheet of paper up to half an inch thick or more. The reason this tool is so versatile is the slide. Like most pliers, pliers are operated by opening and closing the handles, which causes the jaws to open and close. These pliers also have the advantage of an adjustable pivot point that allows the two jaw halves to be interchanged. Most release pliers have two or three ways to find the pivot point.
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In the mouth, the pincer jaws are flat and pointed, but are curved at the back of the jaw near the pincer. Once called a torch handle because it was originally used to remove nozzles from gas lamps, this curved area holds rounded objects such as pipes or rods. Many release pliers also have wire cutters in the neck of the pliers behind the curved teeth.
Sliding joint pliers are available in sizes from a few inches to 10 inches in length and are manufactured with curved noses and narrow noses.
This pair of 6.5-inch high-carbon steel pliers includes a wire cutter for soft wire, serrated jaws, and two-position adjustment.
Water pump pliers are not the only field of plumbers as they have a number of other applications. These tools are sold in designs known as arc joint pliers, channel locking pliers (proper names) and colloquially known as “pumps”. These tools are intended for gripping pipes. The jaws are bent the length of the handles, making it easy to get between bells and into awkward places, and the handles are long in proportion to the length of the tool, giving maximum leverage.
Most Used Types Of Plier
The jaws of the water pump pliers have a curved shape that can be adjusted to grip objects of different sizes. The pivot point on arc-joint models is offset, while others have a series of grooves that allow the jaws to be positioned parallel in different holes. Variants with a channel design provide a more positive perception of a pipeline or other object. Water pump pliers come in a variety of sizes, from 4 to 16 inches long, and models in the middle of that range are usually useful.
Sometimes called electrician’s pliers or engineer’s pliers (the non-insulated handle version), errand pliers are a descendant of bell pliers from the 19th century, where they were used to hang bells for cutting and twisting wires used to connect non-electric house bells.
The jaws have shallow serrations for a firm grip, especially on flat materials such as sheet metal, which accounts for their popularity among tinsmiths. The electrician relies on jaws to twist the wires together into a cone-shaped knot, which is then protected by a plastic insulator called a wire nut. Immediately behind the jaws are the side cutters, intended for cutting wire. Using them to cut your nails dulls them quickly.
Although pliers are sold in a variety of sizes ranging from 5 to 10 inches in length, the 8-inch size will meet most needs. Even though they are called electrician’s pliers, never use these or any other tools on live wires. Always remove the fuse, turn off the switch and disconnect the cable before doing any electrical work.
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Our recommendation: Stanley 8-inch Linesman Pliers at Ace Hardware for $9.59. These Linesman 8-inch alloy steel pliers offer double-dipped slip resistance and a chrome-nickel steel blade.
These adjustable pliers are designed to be used as a hand vise or clamp that clamps tightly to the workpiece. Specially named pliers wrench, pliers and lever wrench, have double action.
The opening of their jaws is adjusted by turning a screwdriver on the handle, and when the jaws contact the object to be grasped, the increased pressure locks it into a screw-like grip. A lever on the other handle is activated to release the handle of the tool. The compound lever of the tool means that the jaws can exert enormous force.
Lock bars are manufactured in many different configurations and sizes. Most have ribbed, straight jaws and come in lengths from 4 to 12 inches, but curved jaws, long noses, flat jaws, smooth jaws, and C-clamps are also available. Multi-purpose locking pliers can be used in place of pipe wrenches, adjustable wrenches or clamps.
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Suitable for: As a hand screw or clamp instead of pipe wrenches, adjustable wrenches or clamps
Our recommendation: WorkPro Lock Bar Set Forged and heat-treated steel lock bar $18.99 at Amazon Features straight and curved jaws with anti-slip treatment.
These are essentially miniature electrician’s pliers with long pointed jaws. Needle-nose pliers, smaller than wire pliers, are particularly suitable for working with wire in confined spaces such as electrical boxes, although they are also useful for bending and holding metal fasteners. Their jaws taper to a point and their noses have chains on their grasping surface. There is a side cutter in the neck of the tool near the rotor.
This tool is sometimes called a radio pry bar and is also ideal for working with small nuts, washers, or other objects that may need to be placed precisely within reach of your fingers. Needle-nose pliers have a tip bent at an angle of 45 or 90 degrees to the line of the handle.
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When using needle nose pliers, keep in mind that they are not designed for heavy duty work. They are delicate tools and their jaws can break, bend or break with abuse.
Best for: Fine work when working with wires in small spaces in electrical cabinets or with small parts such as washing machines
Our Recommendation: Artisan Long Pliers $12.98 at Amazon These 8-inch long steel needle nose pliers have a stainless chrome finish.
Diagonal pliers, diagonal cutters or cutting pliers all refer to the type of pliers designed for cutting. In general, these pliers have pointed jaws that taper to the point with a chamfered cutting edge between them. Although the edge is usually not very sharp, it will cut through a surprising amount of material with enough pressure.
Set Of Three Different Types Pliers And Sidecutters Stock Illustration
Miter pliers are useful for cutting a variety of materials. They can cut electrical wires, steel braided cables, nylon packing tapes, cable ties and much more. However, due to the chamfered edges, they are not useful for gripping or turning anything.
Our recommendation: Eagan Diagonal Pliers for $11.76 on Amazon. Eagan’s clippers are compact enough to fit into tight spaces, but still have enough power to cut hard.
Raptor Pliers is the name specific to a brand of unique pliers from Knipex. These pliers are actually a combination of water pump pliers and an adjustable wrench. They have curved jaws but a smooth profile and their handles lock and unlock, allowing the user to adjust the size of the jaw. These smooth jaws are also hexagonal, allowing them to securely grip nuts and bolts.
Useful for holding all hex fasteners, including car modifications, furniture assembly and basic home repairs. They are a general tool with a very unique and useful design.
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Our Recommendation: Knipex Raptor Pliers $37 at Amazon Knipex Raptor Pliers feature hex jaws, locking features, and ergonomic handles.
Curved pliers are similar to needle nose pliers in every way except one: needle nose pliers have straight jaws.