Pliers - Home And Garden - HowStuffWorks

Home » What Are Pliers Used For » Pliers - Home And Garden - HowStuffWorks

Maybe your like

  • Science
  • Tech
  • Home & Garden
  • Auto
  • Culture
  • Health
  • Money
  • Animals
  • Lifestyle
  • Entertainment
  • Quizzes
Submit Search Sign up for our Newsletter! Mobile Newsletter banner close HowStuffWorks Newsletter Mobile Newsletter chat close Mobile Newsletter chat dots Mobile Newsletter chat dots Mobile Newsletter chat dots Mobile Newsletter chat avatar Mobile Newsletter chat subscribe

Advertisement

HowStuffWorks Home & Garden Home Improvement Tools & Materials Pliers By: Fix-It Club
  • Share Content on Facebook
  • Share Content on LinkedIn
  • Share Content on Flipboard
  • Share Content on Reddit
  • Share Content via Email
Slip-joint pliers allow you to grip objects of varying sizes. See more pictures of hand tools.

One of the handiest tools in any home toolbox is pliers. Actually there are many types of pliers for a variety of jobs.

Advertisement

Contents
  1. What Is a Pliers?
  2. How to Safely Use a Pliers
  3. How to Maintain a Pliers
  4. Tools Related to the Pliers
  5. Not what you're looking for? Try these

What Is a Pliers?

The primary purpose of the tool known as pliers is to grip objects firmly. The objects can then be turned, bent, or otherwise manipulated. Pliers have parallel handles, a pivot where the handles join, and parallel jaws that grasp the object. Special-use pliers may have additional components and purposes, such as cutting pliers. Types of pliers include engineer's pliers for gripping metal, flat-nosed pliers for grasping smaller objects, electrician's pliers for gripping electrical wires, and round-nosed pliers for bending wire into loops. The most common are slip-joint and plumber's pliers, both with slip-joint adjustments to change the width of the jaw grip. In addition, locking pliers, sometimes known by the Vice-Grip brand name, are popular for firmly holding objects.

Hand Tools Image Gallery

Advertisement

How to Safely Use a Pliers

To safely use pliers, first determine which type of pliers is required for the job. Then, make adjustments needed to the slip joint, if any. Locking pliers may require adjustment before use. Close the jaw around the object by pressing the handles closer together. Rotate the tool as needed to bend or turn the object. For safety, make sure that fingers and skin are not pinched by the handles, pivot, or jaw.

Advertisement

How to Maintain a Pliers

Quality pliers are maintenance-free and can last a decade or more if not abused. Locking and other special-purpose pliers may require additional maintenance to adjusters, springs, or the release lever.

Advertisement

Tools Related to the Pliers

Other useful gripping tools include clamps.

Advertisement

Not what you're looking for? Try these:

  • Home Repair Tools: Whether you prefer to use the Yellow Pages for anything that needs fixing around the house or consider yourself a regular do-it-yourselfer, there are a handful of tools that everyone should have in their tool box. Learn all about them in this article.
  • Hand Tools: Learn about some of the most common tools you'll want to have around the house, most of which are used by hand, in this helpful article.
  • Clamp: A clamp provides a firm grip and is useful when gluing wood, paper, plastic, and other materials. Find out more about clamps, only at HowStuffWorks.

Advertisement

Cite This!

Please copy/paste the following text to properly cite this HowStuffWorks.com article:

Copy Fix-It Club "Pliers" 15 March 2007.HowStuffWorks.com. <https://home.howstuffworks.com/pliers.htm> 1 March 2026 Close Citation More Awesome Stuff

Advertisement

Advertisement

Loading...

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Tag » What Are Pliers Used For