What does a dentist use to pull a tooth?
Not a hacksaw, and not a hammer, but a pair of piers.
Pliers are among humanity’s oldest hand tools. Historians trace their development to around 3.000 BCE in the Near East.
The earliest pliers were made to handle hot metal. Metalworkers needed a way to hold red-hot iron, copper, and bronze while hammering, shaping, or forging. Wooden tongs would burn or weaken under heat, so metal pliers were the logical advancement.
Wooden tongs are great for salad, not so much for blacksmithing.
Over time, pliers diversified into many forms — needle-nose, locking, lineman’s, and so on — each adapted to specialized trades ranging from dental to electrical work.
Today, there are dozens of distinct plier types that fall into the following categories:
8 Categories of Pliers
1. Lineman’s Pliers
These have a flat, serrated front jaw for gripping, a rounded section for looping wire, and a sharp cutting edge near the pivot.
- Common Uses: Gripping, twisting, bending, and cutting wires and cables.
- Fun Fact: The founder of Klein Tools invented the first combination pliers in 1857 for a telegraph lineman who needed a more versatile tool.
Lineman’s pliers were invented for a telegraph lineman who needed a more versatile tool.
2. Long-Nose Pliers
Often called needle-nose pliers, these have long, tapered jaws for precision in tight spaces. The tips are usually serrated for a better grip.
- Common Uses: Bending and shaping wire, holding small components, reaching into confined areas in electrical boxes, and jewelry making.
- Difference: Their slim profile is ideal for detailed work, unlike the bulkier jaws of lineman’s pliers.
Long-nose pliers have a slim profile for detailed work, unlike the bulkier jaws of lineman’s pliers.
3. Slip-Joint Pliers
This is the classic, all-purpose plier found in nearly every basic toolkit. Its adjustable pivot allows the jaws to open wider for larger objects.
- Common Uses: General gripping, turning nuts and bolts, and bending light metal.
- Difference: Less specialized than other types, but their versatility makes them a go-to for simple tasks.
Slip-joint pliers have an adjustable pivot allows the jaws to open wider for larger objects.
4. Diagonal-Cutting Pliers
Also called side cutters or “dikes,” these pliers are designed for one purpose: cutting. The cutting edges are at an angle to the handles to cut wires and nails flush with a surface.
- Common Uses: Cutting wires, zip ties, small screws, and nails.
- Difference: Unlike lineman’s pliers, they are solely for cutting and offer more precision for flush cuts.
Diagonal-cutting pliers are solely for cutting and offer precision for flush cuts.
5. Locking Pliers (Vise-Grips)
Commonly known by the brand name Vise-Grip, these pliers can be locked onto an object, freeing up your hands. An adjustment screw in the handle sets the jaw width, and a lever releases the lock.
- Common Uses: Clamping objects together, holding nuts or bolts for loosening, and serving as a temporary handle.
- Fun Fact: They were invented in Nebraska in 1924 by a Danish immigrant blacksmith named William Petersen.
Vise-Grips can be locked onto an object, freeing up your hands
6. Tongue-and-Groove Pliers
These are the most recognizable plumbing pliers, often called by the brand name Channellocks. The adjustable pivot lets you open the jaws wide to grip pipes and large nuts.
- Common Uses: Tightening and loosening pipes, fittings, and large nuts.
- Difference: Their adjustable design gives them a much wider gripping range than standard slip-joint pliers.
Tongue-and-groove pliers let you open the jaws wide to grip pipes and large nuts.
7. Bent-Nose Pliers
Similar to long-nose pliers, but with the tips bent at an angle (usually 45 or 90 degrees). This bend allows them to access awkward spots and grip objects from a different angle.
- Common Uses: Opening and closing jump rings in jewelry making, placing and retrieving small parts, and working around obstructions.
Bent-nose pliers can access awkward spots and grip objects from a different angle.
8. Specialty Pliers
These include wire strippers, crimping pliers, hose clamp pliers, snap-ring (circlip) pliers, fencing pliers, and crimping pliers.
a. Wire Strippers
Wire strippers are designed to remove insulation from electrical wires without damaging the metal conductor. They feature a series of calibrated holes or an adjustable blade for different wire gauges.
- Common Uses: Stripping plastic insulation from wires before making connections.
- Difference: While other pliers can cut wire, strippers remove insulation more cleanly and safely.
Wire strippers remove insulation from electrical wires without damaging the metal conductor.
b. Crimping Pliers
Crimpers attach connectors or terminals to the end of a wire. Their specially designed jaws squeeze a connector onto the wire, creating a solid electrical connection.
- Common Uses: Attaching terminals, lugs, and splices to wires in automotive and home electrical work.
- Fun Fact: The first patent for a crimping tool was filed in 1940 by a company that needed a better way to connect wiring in aircraft.
Crimping pliers squeeze a connector onto the wire, creating a solid electrical connection.
c. Hose Clamp Pliers
Hose clamp pliers are a necessity for any plumbing or automotive work. They grip and turn hose clamps, which can be hard to reach and maneuver with traditional pliers.
- Common Uses: Loosening or tightening hose clamps in plumbing systems and automotive parts.
- Fun Fact: Hose clamp pliers were invented by an auto mechanic who was tired of struggling with regular pliers while working on cars.
Hose clamp pliers were invented by an auto mechanic who was tired of struggling with regular pliers.
d. Fencing Pliers
Fencing pliers perform multiple specialized functions, including cutting and pulling wire, hammering in staples and nails, and splicing fence wires.
- Common Uses: Cutting and pulling wire, hammering in staples or nails, and splicing fence wires.
Fencing pliers perform multiple functions, including cutting and pulling wire and hammering nails.
e. End-Cutting Pliers
End-cutting pliers, also known as nippers or end nippers, have a flat cutting surface perpendicular to the handles for flush cuts.
- Common Uses: Trimming nails and pins without leaving sharp edges.
End-cutting pliers are designed to handle flush cuts.
FAQs: More About Pliers
Q: What are the three most essential pliers for a homeowner?
For a basic home toolkit, the most useful pliers are slip-joint pliers for general tasks, long-nose pliers for precision work and tight spaces, and lineman’s pliers for their versatile cutting and gripping capabilities.
Q: Can I use regular pliers for electrical work?
You should only use pliers with insulated handles rated for electrical work when working with live circuits. Lineman’s pliers and wire strippers are designed for these tasks. Using uninsulated pliers on live wires can lead to electric shock.
Q: What’s the difference between pliers and a wrench?
Pliers grip objects of various sizes using two handles and a pivot, while wrenches fit a specific nut or bolt head size. Some pliers, like tongue-and-groove pliers, can function like a wrench, but may round off bolt heads if not used carefully.
Q: How do I maintain my pliers?
Wipe them clean after each use to prevent rust. Periodically apply a drop of light oil (like 3-in-1 or WD-40) to the pivot point to ensure smooth operation. Store them in a dry place.
Q: What are locking pliers used for?
Locking pliers (Vise-Grips) are great for clamping materials together for gluing or welding. They can also securely grip stripped or rounded nuts and bolts, providing the leverage needed to turn them.
Q: Why are some plier handles coated in plastic?
The plastic or rubber coatings on plier handles, called grips, provide better comfort and control while using the pliers. They also help prevent slipping or hand fatigue during extended use.
Q: Can I use locking pliers as regular pliers?
Yes, you can use locking pliers as regular pliers by simply sliding back the lock mechanism and releasing the grip on whatever it holds.
Q: What’s the best way to cut wire?
The best tool for cutting wire is a pair of diagonal-cutting pliers (side cutters). They provide a clean, sharp cut. Due to their heavier construction, lineman’s pliers are better for thicker wires or cables.
Q: Can I use pliers as a hammer?
While some pliers, like fencing or lineman’s pliers, have a reinforced section for light tapping, using pliers as a hammer can damage the pivot and jaws, affecting their alignment and performance.