Surely you already know that when you have good pliers, you can face any type of work: from cutting and stripping a cable to joining two pieces of some material to bend them, up to fixing a tap. It is a very simple, but really useful tool. There is a great variety on the market, each suitable for different needs.
A plier is a manual tool that can help you in any matter. It is widely used by plumbers and electricians, being one of the most versatile tools available to professionals.
Right below we had listed out the best grippers.
Buyer Guide to Choose the Best Cutting Pliers
Nowadays there are many types of pliers on the market, so you will find models suitable for different types of jobs and needs. To help you choose the best gripper for you, we have developed this buying guide in which we explain everything you need to know about this work tool.
What Are Cutting Pliers?
The gripper is hand tools with a wide variety of uses, such as joining metal pieces to be cut or welded. These are ancient tools, descendants of the traditional blacksmith’s pincers.
They are really common and never lack in the toolbox, given the variety of professional and amateur jobs they allow you to do. In particular, they are used by electricians to cut, strip, and correctly position cables without the risk of electric shock or burns.
What Are the Best Materials for A Cutting Pliers?
Generally, the pliers are made of metal alloys. The most common, in most modern models, is that of galvanized steel or covered with chrome-vanadium. This feature avoids corrosion and gives the instrument greater resistance to deal with different types of work.
On the other hand, the handles of the pliers are often covered with plastic or rubber. This coating improves the ergonomics of the tool, adapting it to the hand and therefore making it more comfortable to use. In addition, it functions as an insulator from electricity when working with power cables.
What Are a Pliers Made Of?
The pliers are simple basic tools, consisting of three pieces: the head, a handle, and a locking system. The upper part is the one that makes the difference between one gripper and the other.
For example, there are universal pliers and others exclusively for cutting, wire cutters. The difference between the two lies precisely in the shape of the head.
We also have the locking system, which can vary from model to model. The hinged pliers, for example, offer a closure that allows you to take advantage of various fixed opening positions. Some cutting pliers, on the other hand, have automatic systems, with springs that facilitate the operation.
What Safety Measures Should Be Taken When Using Pliers?
Now that you know what they are, what they are for, and how many types of pliers exist, the time has come for advice on safety measures. The pliers are manual tools and many times they are used on cables and electrical wires, so it is important to have some basic safety rules in mind:
- If the jaws of the gripper are not positioned correctly and remain loose, do not use it. In these cases, it is always better to throw it away and buy a new clamp.
- Never use cutting pliers with a scratched blade.
- If you use universal pliers, check that the streaks are in good condition and if they are damaged for use, buy a new pair.
- If these are not specific pliers for this type of work, do not try to tighten or loosen bolts, otherwise, you will deform the head and you will not be able to remove it.
- Do not use pliers to hammer.
- When you need to cut a cable, perform the cut perpendicular to the axis, make slight turns around it, and fix the ends to prevent some fragments from splashing violently.
- When using pliers for work with the risk of electric shock, make sure that the handles are covered with insulating material.
- When you strip a cable, make sure the power is cut off. Cutting a cable with electricity can cause sparks and scratch the tool blade.
- Do not extend the tool handles too far to obtain a greater range. If you need it, buy a pair of larger pliers.
Purchase Criteria
Now that you know everything there is to know about pliers, the time has come to focus on the most important purchase criteria. If you are not a professional, it will not be easy to choose the best model on the market, therefore we have done the research and created a complete guide with the purchase criteria that you must consider:
- Materials
- Weight
- Size
- Accessories
Materials
The quality of the materials will determine the tool’s life. The cheaper pliers are produced with low-quality metal alloys and, consequently, are not very efficient. For example, a pair of low-quality hinged pliers will break or you won’t be able to adjust them to the opening diameters you need.
Our advice is to look for tools in hardened steel or reinforced steel alloys. Of course, always choose a type of tool that has undergone an anti-corrosion treatment, generally in chrome-vanadium. As for the handle, it must always be insulating and ergonomic, covered in rubber or plastic.
Weight
Weight is another decisive factor in the purchase. Depending on the work you have to do, the weight of this tool will be fundamental. Generally, hinged or parrot-nose pliers are much larger and heavier. This is due to the fact that more pressure must be applied, and this factor helps a lot.
On the contrary, if you need pliers for electrical work or DIY, we recommend you choose a light tool, which you can carry hanging on your belt and which does not bother you. For precision work, for example in electronics, there are many types of compact, small, and light tools.
Size
On the market, you will find pliers of all sizes, from the largest for industrial and professional use to small tools for precision work. The latter is mainly used in electronics, in the repair of computers and also for the construction of watches, since these tools allow access to narrow and difficult to reach spaces.
In general, the size of the calipers is generic and they all have more or less the same size. But size is a deciding factor, especially if you need a pair of pliers to take anywhere. In this case, you will need to make sure that they fit into your toolbox or that they can hang on your belt without problems.
Accessories
Some models of pliers have accessories such as interchangeable heads, handles of different thicknesses or materials. Other options offer complete assortments of pliers of different sizes and shapes, with which you will have many more possibilities to carry out a large number of jobs.
If you only have one type of work in mind, for example, if you are an electrician, we recommend choosing pliers without accessories, but of high quality. Instead, if you want to do DIY, look for an option with accessories and, even if it is a little more expensive, in the end, you will realize that it was worth it.
Conclusion
Grippers are very versatile tools. There is one type for all kinds of jobs. This tool should never be missing in your toolbox because it can help you in more than one situation, be it to cut a cable, a wire or to nail a nail into the wall without making a mess.
After reading all the information we have provided you in this article, we are sure that you will choose well. Now that you know that there are different types of pliers, one for each job and that we have provided you with the most important purchase criteria, you just need to decide and choose the pliers that best suit your needs.
