Pliers are one of the most commonly used tools for technical workers or even general public. Pliers has a function to hold, cut, rotate or bend an object.
This tool is generally found in the automotive, electrical, repair or household fields to repair household appliances. Pliers are also one type of building tool.
Pliers have a shape like scissors, where the jaw is usually made of metal (iron or steel) and the handle is covered with rubber or other material designed in such a way as to not be slippery when used. The size of the pliers is relatively small and the size of a hand grip depends on the specifications.
This tool is very common when compared to other engineering tools. There are many types of pliers with their specific functions and ways of working for specific purposes. It would be better to understand the types of pliers and their uses so that you can choose pliers according to what you need.
In general, the shape of pliers is almost the same, it has 2 handles and 2 jaws. But there are also pliers with a shape that is not similar to basic pliers because it is adjusted to its function and efficiency. The following are the types of pliers and their functions and pictures.
1. Combination Pliers (Linesman)
They are called combination pliers because they have many functions in one tool (multifunctional). This type of pliers can be used to hold, cut, twist, or bend. The tip of the pliers is used to hold the cable / wire to make a curve.
The center of the serrated jaw serves to rotate round objects such as nuts or bolts. And the base is used to cut the cable. These combination pliers are the most popular use compared to other types due to its multifunctional purpose.
2. Taper / Cone Pliers
These pliers are similar to combination pliers, but it has a sharp and long jaw shape. The sharp and long shape makes it look like a milk shark fish or cucut fish. This is why Indonesians call this pliers as cucut pliers.
These pliers also have the same function as combination pliers, which are to hold, cut, rotate or bend objects. However, the advantage of this type of pliers is that they are able to reach a narrow work area.
3.Cutting Pliers (Diagonal)
Cutting pliers have a special function to cut objects properly. This is because these pliers have thick and sharp jaws so they can cut certain wires, cables or fibers.
In general, these pliers work like scissors, except that the cutting object is different and specific. This tool is generally found in electrical activities. These pliers have several sizes where the larger the size, the greater the cutting strength.
4. Locking Pliers
In particular, these pliers have a function to hold objects and then rotate them, usually used to open and tighten nuts or bolts.
The width of the mouth of these pliers can be adjusted by turning the adjustment on the back. In addition, you can release the clamp lock by pulling the lever between the two handles.
5. Slip Joint Pliers
For those of you who own a motorcycle or car you may have received this type of pliers as a bonus in purchasing a vehicle.
This pliers function is to grip and rotate nuts or bolts in motorized vehicles. It is similar to combination pliers, but these pliers are simpler and is not equipped with cutting capabilities.
6.Snap Ring Pliers (SPI)
This type of pliers has a special function to clamp the circlip or snap ring in a machine so it is often found in the workshop.
These pliers have 2 types of shapes, the one with curved ends and the one with straight ends. These pliers are often called circlip pliers.
In particular, crimping pliers function to connect the telephone cable or Wi-Fi cable to the connector, besides these pliers can be used to peel or cut telephone or Wi-Fi cables.
Please note that these pliers are only intended for weak electricity such as telephone cables and Wi-Fi, not for high electricity.
8. Rivet Pliers
These rivet pliers are generally used in the furniture sector such as making cabinets, shelves, and so on, especially those made of zinc or stainless steel. This is because these pliers serve to attach or fire a rivet nail on the part of the furniture that you want to join.
9. Parrot Pliers
These pliers are called parrot pliers because of the jaw shape that resemble the beak of a parrot. Pliers of this type are widely used in construction to cut wire or to pull out nails firmly. In addition, these pliers can also be used to cut cables and other small objects.
10. Bird’s Beak Pliers
Bird beak pliers have a jaw similar to a bird’s beak, they have a longer lever and strong grip.
This type of pliers is commonly found in the piping field to hold pipes and connect pipes to one another. Because of this function these pliers are sometimes referred to as pipe pliers.
11. Cable-Cutting Pliers (Wire Stripper)
These pliers are specially used for neatly cutting and peeling cables. This tool is equipped with 7 serrated parts of the jaw that function like scissors.
The way to use it is to insert the cable into one of the serrated sections according to the size of the cable. After that the pliers are pressed and rotated slowly so that the cutting circle is more even.
12. Hydraulic Pliers
Hydraulic pliers have a function to connect the cable to the cable shoe using pump power so that the cable shoe can be attached with a cable. By using a pump power, this type of pliers is easier, cheaper and more environmentally friendly.
These pliers are used in electricity or electronics and are generally applied to large electric cables or large cables.
13. Manual Hydraulic Pliers
These pliers are almost the same as hydraulic pliers, it’s just that this type of pliers uses manual force to press the cable to cable shoe.
These pliers are quite difficult to use because you need to use hand power so that if the power is not enough, the pressing results will be less good. These manual pliers are used for low to medium pressure power cables.
14. Round Pliers
As the name implies, these round pliers are used to bend an object to form a circle. In general, they are used almost the same as pliers in general, such as clamping, holding, and bending objects.
Usually these pliers are used to make accessories, such as bending key chain wire, attaching beads, attaching key chain wire and so on.
15. Krone Pliers
These pliers are visually quite different from the other types of pliers. Krone pliers is used to install or connect a telephone cable to the LSA telephone terminal. This type of pliers is arguably a must-have tool for any telephone technician.
Those were the types of pliers with their specific functions. Most of them have a same shape but with different function. By knowing the types of pliers, you will no longer be confused about choosing pliers when you are going to fix something.