Dictionary Definition:
Pliers - A variously shaped hand tool having a pair of pivoted jaws, used for holding, bending, or cutting.
Choosing Pliers
- Use adjustable pliers to tighten or loosen nuts and bolts, pinch snap-rings, and other jobs that require a good grip. The slip-joint style adjusts to two positions for large or small objects. Groove-joint pliers are sometimes called tongue-and-groove or Channellocks. They adjust to many possible sizes. The jaw is at an almost-90-degree angle and the handles are long to allow better leverage.
- Bend and twist wires, grip small objects, and work in confined spaces with gripping pliers. Some come with a wire cutter near the pivot point. Lineman's pliers are great for pulling and twisting wires; long-nose and their smaller cousin needle-nose pliers are ideal for working in confined spaces, jewelry making, and electrical work.
- Cut and strip wire with diagonal cutters or wire stripper/cutting pliers.
- Chip, trim and shape tile with tile nippers.
- Cut out sheet metal with tin snips.
- Choose locking-type pliers, sometimes called Mole Grips or Vise-Grips, for pipe work. There is a long-nose version that is useful for those hard-to-reach places. This type of plier provides excellent holding power with adjustable degrees of tension.
Tip:
Never use pliers to turn a nut or bolt - you can easily strip the hardware and make it difficult to turn using a wrench, which is the correct tool for that job.
Tip:
Don't stick a piece of pipe on the handle of your pliers to improve leverage. Use larger pliers instead.
How to use Pliers.
- Choose the right tool for the job. Using your pliers as a hammer may not only damage the tool but could cause you injury.
- Maintain your tools. Oil your pliers and wire cutters with a drop of oil on the hinge. Be sure that the jaws are clean and the teeth are sharp. Worn or greasy jaws are more likely to slip.
- Never stick your fingers between the grips and always keep your wrist straight when using pliers.
- Protect your tools from extreme heat, which can expand the metal and cause dangerous structural problems.
Warning:
The cushioned grips on pliers are not designed to protect you from an electrical shock. Take appropriate precautions when working with live electrical parts, always use insulated tools with VDE® specification.
