PLIERS
Pliers are designed to hold, turn and cut objects. Pliers vary in length from 4" to 20". Some pliers are available with factory applied, plastic-coated handles, providing an attractive appearance and comfortable grip. However, these pliers should not be relied on for electrical work.
A. Pliers fall into two broad categories : solid-joint and slip-joint, either of which may have cutters.
Slip-joint pliers are of two designs : multiple hole and tongue and groove. The slip or adjustable joint enables the tool to adjust to the size of the object being held.
Solid-joint pliers have a joint fixed with a solid pin or rivet and are not adjustable.
Cutting pliers can be side, end or diagonal types. Side cutters have a cutting blade on one side only and are available in long-, curved- and short-nose types. End cutters have cutting blades on the end and are used to make sharp, clean cuts close to the surface on wires, bolts and rivets. Diagonal cutters have two cutting blades set diagonally to the joint and/or handles. Some cutting pliers are made with a spring in the handle to open them automatically after each cut, providing ease and comfort for the user.
B. Other pliers commonly found in home improvement stores include:
Regular slip-joint pliers ; General utility pliers with two jaw-opening adjustments. Some have a shear-type wire cutter.
Thin jaw slip-joint pliers ; Like slip-joint, but made with a slim nose to reach into tight places.
Multiple slip-joint or box-joint pliers ; General utility tool with up to eight adjustments, allowing for jaw openings up to 4-1/2", either multiple hole or tongue and groove. Straight and curved jaws are available. Most common is 10" water
pump pliers.
Crimper stripper pliers ; Multi-purpose electrician's pliers to crimp solderless connectors, strip most common gauge wire, cut and hold or bend wire. They also have sheaving holes that cut common sizes of screws without deforming threads.
Needle-nose pliers ; Also called longnose pliers, they have a pointed nose for reaching places with restricted clearance. May have side cutters. A standard item for most electrical and electronics work.
Thin-nose pliers ; Also called bent-nose pliers, since the nose is bent at about an 80-degree angle for reaching around
objects. Duck bill pliers — have long, tapered, flat noses for work in restricted areas. Used by jewelers, telephone workers and weavers.
Wire strippers ; Feature adjustable stops to cut insulation without damaging wire.
Midget pliers ; Include straight, chain, round, end-cutting, diagonal-cutting and flat-nose pliers in extra-small sizes.
End-cutting nippers ; Feature powerful leverage for sharp, clean cuts close to the surface on wires, bolts and rivets.
Lineman's or electrician's pliers ; Heavyduty, side-cutting pliers designed for all regular wire-cutting needs. Have gripping jaws in addition to cutting edges. High-leverage lineman's pliers have rivet placed closer to the cutting edges to provide more leverage.
Fence pliers ; Pull and cut staples in fencing. Feature two wire cutters and heavy head for hammering.
Locking pliers ; Adjustable, vise-type locking pliers can be locked on to a workpiece, leaving both hands free. They are
versatile tools that can be used as pliers, a pipe wrench, an adjustable wrench, wire cutters, a ratchet or a clamp. Locking pliers are available in various sizes and shapes: curved jaw with wire cutter, straight jaw, long nose with wire cutter and bent nose with wire cutter. The locking principle also applies to locking clamps, which come in 4", 6", 11", 18" and 24" sizes. Some locking pliers use a mechanism that allows one-handed release; others require two hands to disengage. In addition, many locking pliers provide a wire-cutting function, some from a full range, others from a restricted range of jaw settings.