Last updated on June 28, 2022 3:42 am
Can you imagine DIY without pliers?
Aaron Barnett of BangingToolbox suggests: Pliers can help anyone turn into a crab, while pliers are undoubtedly one of the most convenient gripping tools to date.
Originally meant to help out electricians with their trade, pliers were referred to as the “Linesman” back when Klein Tools introduced a new way to tightly grip and cut wires in 1857.
Though pliers are still widely used by electricians, construction workers, and DIYers the tool has gained favor in all areas of home improvement, and new types of pliers have been invented to suit any type of gripping job you may think of.
Uses of pliers
While pliers may look like a pair of tin snips or scissors, their uses are not limited to cutting.
- Griping. Pliers have specially shaped jaws that allow the teeth to grip objects to add stability, hold things in place, or simply grab items from hard-to-reach or potentially hazardous spaces.
- Positioning. Relative to their ability to grip and hold objects, pliers are also used to align and position smaller things like screws, gears, and even wires.
- Tighten & loosen. Pliers can be used to tighten nuts, bolts, screws, and even bike chains, as well as loosen stuck-up gear and handles.
- Cutting. There are some pliers with jaws that are able to cut the wire and even nails and act as multi-purpose tools for electricians.
Who uses pliers?
There are different types of pliers and their uses differ from one’s job to another.
- Plumbers. Plumbers usually work with pipes that often involve a lot of assembly and smaller components. Typically having to work in small and cramped spaces makes it hard to hold certain things in place. To counter this, plumbers have tongue-and-groove pliers for easier gripping and positioning.
- Electrician. Pliers are essential tools for electricians since sparkies often have to deal with jobs that involve electricity and wires. Wire cutters and strippers are among their favorites as tools that can cut wires and easily remove wire insulation.
- Mechanics. Mechanics mostly deal with engines and machinery, both of which can have numerous small parts. Since technicians of all types commonly work with complex assemblies, by using long noses or angled or “Bent” pliers to work on components in difficult positions.
Anatomy of pliers
Before we get to the plier types, here’s a breakdown of the standard parts of a plier.
- Pipe grip. This is the circular, serrated cut-out in the jaws for holding round stock-like pipes and thicker cables with a lower risk of crushing what under the tension of the grip.
- Jaw. The ‘core’ component of any plier. And are mainly responsible for gripping.
- Cutter. These are usually built into the jaws for cutting wires and their insulation.
- Pivot point. Basically, the hinge [1] allows the handles and jaws to open and close.
- Handle. These are the grips and can be either plastic, or rubberized, and should be insulated depending on the size and intended use of the pliers.
Common types of pliers
So what are the types of pliers? This article will show you all types of pliers and we’ll start with commonly used ones first.
1. Hose clamp pliers
Relatively common pliers come in a variety of designs and are mainly used for compressing hoses and spring clamps, by making the joint tighter.
These pliers usually have a peg-shaped tooth on each jaw which makes pinching clamps a cinch.
2. Long nose pliers
One of the most identifiable and common pliers.
Longnose pliers are best known for gripping and cutting smaller materials.
Their ability to do detailed work comes in handy when making jewelry, doing electrical and mechanical work, and even plumbing.
3. Flat nose pliers
Flat nose pliers are best known for gripping and twisting metal and wires.
These beasts are preferred when engaging in electrical and mechanical work and holding something fiddly still. Found to have long, flat, tapered jaws.
These are great when working at awkward angles and in tight spots.
4. Bent nose pliers
These special pliers have jaws angled at either 45 or 90 degrees at the midpoint.
They have long tips and offer better and unobstructed reach for when multiple pliers are needed.
The unique jaws also make it easier to get into tougher-angled spots.
5. Round-nose pliers
There are two types of pliers used for jewelry making.
The first one is a round-nose plier. These pliers have rounded jaws that are slightly tapered and form a triangle when they come together.
Bail-making pliers, are mostly used for jewelry making, but can also handle light electrical work and other projects that involve creating loops.
6. Chain-nose pliers
Chain nose pliers are essentially long nose pliers but with short, triangular tips.
The shape of the jaws makes these pliers ideal for wire shaping and jewelry making, such as working on bead tips and jump rings.
The jaw design also allows you to bend and crimp.
7. Slip-joint pliers
These pliers are very similar to adjustable wrenches. The jaws of slip joint pliers have a fulcrum that allows you to adjust and lock the jaws at a preferred width.
They’re considered multi-purpose and can be used as a wrench alternative, but mainly shine in plumbing applications.
8. Snap-ring pliers
Also called ‘Circlip pliers’, these have short, rounded jaws for closing snap rings.
Snap rings are basically open-ended loops that fit into dowel grooves or other snap rings.
Snap ring pliers see regular use for maintaining the gears of bikes and similar vehicles.
9. Crimping pliers
These pliers are used to “Crimp” metallic pieces. Crimping is joining together two metal pieces by either deforming one or both ends to be able to hold the other.
Crimping pliers function similarly to a nutcracker and often have a fulcrum at the far end of the jaw along with several crimper sections that look like rectangular teeth.
10. Tongue and groove pliers
Pliers with a toothed groove along with the upper handle as well as an adjustable lower jaw.
These flexible pliers are favored by plumbers for a number of tasks as the angled jaws make the design great for turning nuts and bolts.
11. Diagonal pliers
Also known as flush cut pliers, the jaws have angled edges which makes for cutting thicker wires.
The jaws look like a beak and are durable enough to cut even nails, making these tools useful for both electrical and carpentry work.
12. Linesman pliers
The original plier’s design. Linesman pliers are where the concept of combination pliers came from.
Their shorter, harder gripping jaws and larger cutting sections make the best type of electrical pliers work as effectively to bend and cut various gauged wires.
The best tools are found to have insulated handles.
13. Combination pliers
Multi-purpose pliers that combine the functions of flat and rounded gripping and cutting.
Plier jaws on these have 3 sections: the frontal serrated flat grip, the middle pipe grip, and the section closest to the fulcrum as the cutting bit.
Use these in a variety of applications from carpentry to electrical work.
Special types of pliers
Here are the names of different types of pliers and cutters with special use.
1. Bail-making pliers
These special types of pliers are mainly used in jewelry making for creating loop-shaped components such as clasps and earring wires.
The jaws consist of two asymmetrical dowels which look like small rods.
2. Battery pliers
These pliers are distinctively used in automotive and related applications.
The thick, short angled jaws are ideal for when you need to work on car battery bolts and jumper cables.
3. Brake spring pliers
These plier types of spring back are for regular use in auto repair and maintenance. As their name suggests, these pliers are specifically designed to handle springs found in drum brakes.
It has a rounded jaw for removing springs and a curved-tipped jaw is for placing the hook back on.
4. Canvas pliers
These are a special set of wide-jawed pliers that are perfect for craftsmen and artisans. Canvas pliers allow a single person to do what would normally require two people.
The jaws are padded to avoid causing damage to whatever is being gripped.
5. Eyelet pliers
Specialty punch and plier types are used mainly in tailoring and other applications in clothes manufacturing.
Eyelets are used to add laces and drawstrings to clothes. Eyelet jaws usually have crimping rings, but also have variants that sport interchangeable dies for hole punching.
6. Fencing pliers
These pliers are mainly used for either driving or removing staples. They have unique jaw designs that resemble a hammer in appearance. You can cut wires of varying gauges with the notched fulcrum and strike light nails with the weighted flat jaw.
7. Grommet pliers
These pliers look very similar to eyelet pliers and function nearly the same, except that instead of clothing, grommet pliers punch holes through tarps and affix grommets.
Consider these as heavy-duty eyelets and as better options for manufacturing sturdier goods such as tents and sails.
8. Hose grip pliers
Pliers are specifically designed to work with smaller hoses, such as vacuum cords, heater hoses, and fuel lines.
They look like enlarged forceps and their grabber jaws allow you to easily grip hose material without fear of damaging the surface. Use these when wanting to remove or place hoses in tight spaces.
9. Locking pliers
These locking plier types have jaws and a design that makes the tool look like crab claws.
They’re specifically vise grips [2] used to clamp down bolts and nuts and are great for repairs, restoration projects, carpentry, and general construction.
10. Nail puller pliers
Tong-looking pliers are mainly used to remove nails and are used mostly by carpenters and steel tiers for connection reinforcing steel for concrete foundations and beams.
This nail-pulling plier type has tapered claw tips to dig under nail heads and provide more leverage for easier removal.
A great tool to have if you need to pull out a copious amount of nails when recycling or salvaging pieces. I use my pair of nail pullers all the time for renovation work.
11. Oil filter pliers
These niche pliers have odd-looking c-shaped toothed jaws with one being slightly longer than the other.
These pliers are mainly used in the automotive industry to remove oil filter casings.
12. Piston ring pliers
This pair of mechanical pliers have an innovative design that allows access to easily work on engine pistons.
Their jaws have simple curved tips and are larger with several supporting braces for easier piston removal and replacement as well as reduced risk of warping.
13. Push pin pliers
Another type of specialty plier is found to be mainly used in the automotive industry for dealing with components that have push-pin type anchors.
The wedge-shaped jaw tips allow the grips to get under the pin cap of plastic anchors and pop them out with a simple squeeze.
These can be safely used anywhere with push-pin anchors.
14. Running pliers
Another rare kind of artisan plier used for creating stained glass crafts.
Their wide-tipped jaw design allows the jaws to grab the thickness of glass to make clean breaks along scored lines.
They often have centerlines for better alignment.
15. Sheet metal pliers
The wide, flat jaws of these types of vise grip pliers almost make the tool look like presses.
Sheet metal pliers are mainly used for bending and shaping sheet metal or when you want to form seams.
If you commonly work with sheet metal, then it’d be best to have one of these around.
16. Split ring pliers
This is one of the nose plier types that are basically stubby versions of needle nose or chain nose pliers and have a lower jaw with a hooked tip for splitting coiled rings apart.
You commonly use these for making keyrings and fishing tackles.
17. Soft jaw pliers
These are special versions of other pliers fitted with padded jaws to prevent scratches on chrome and other soft metals and exposed surfaces.
Mainly used for various plumbing tasks and on scuba diving equipment.
18. Spark plug pliers
These pliers are marked by distinctively narrow jaws that can either be insulated tongs or cylindrical holders.
Almost exclusively used on spark plugs and plug wires.
19. Welding pliers
These specialty pliers are highly versatile and combine the jaw designs of combination and needle-nose pliers.
And used heavily in tasks that involve welding. These pliers can remove spatter, grip, cut, and even strike.
20. Wire twisting pliers
The unusual pliers look like diagonal pliers with a pen stuck in between the handles.
This middle component is actually a locking mechanism with a threaded knob and is used to rapidly twist wire.
Twisting pliers can be used for jewelry making or electrical work, such as when you need to coil long wires.
Tips to maintain pliers
- Always rinse and fully clean your pliers after every use, especially if you came in contact with chemicals and other corrosive catalysts such as saltwater.
- Properly store your pliers in a dry and cool space to prevent moisture buildup and rust formation. Consider occasionally treating hand tools with anti-rust solutions as silicone spray that doesn’t accumulate grease and grime.
- Ensure that you regularly inspect and maintain pliers that have cutting edges to reduce dulling and maintain performance.
You need pliers in your tool box.
Pliers, like screwdrivers and hammers, are fundamental tools. In fact, no home would be complete without one.
The range of extensions to a worker’s grip makes for a simple and highly effective tool range that can take on a variety of tasks ranging from local repairs, like making copper art, to industrial projects.
Pliers are surprisingly flexible tools and with the many types available you can get more done.
More information:
- All about pliers, https://www.bobvila.com/articles/1131-pliers/
- How to use locking pliers, https://www.hunker.com/12324335/how-to-use-locking-pliers
