Pliers

Pliers are hand tools to strongly grip, squeeze or cut a workpiece with one hand.

For the wide-jawed tool used to extract nails, please visit "pincers". For the special adjustable pliers that stay shut with no need to hold them, see "grip pliers".

Combination Pliers

ToolInfoBox Combination Pliers
Synonyms:	DE: Kombizange
Type:	hand tool
Material:	metal, nails, zip ties, wires

A very common type of pliers are combination pliers which can be used to cut, grip and squeeze. We have a few of this kind.

Combination pliers are, for example, well suited to tighten and trim zip ties if they are used in easily accessible places or to bend thin sheet metal.

Needle-Nose Pliers

ToolInfoBox Needle-Nose Pliers
Synonyms:	DE: Spitzzangen
Type:	hand tool
Material:	metals; nails, zip ties, staples, wires
Similar (More or Less):	tweezers

Needle-nose pliers are similar to combination pliers but are typically used for more delicate gripping and bending tasks. For example, they are quite useful for removing staples from soft wood. Where these pliers are still too big, you may want to use tweezers.

They come in a bent and straight variety.

Tongue-and-Groove Pliers

ToolInfoBox Tongue-and-Groove Pliers
Synonyms:	water pump pliers, adjustable pliers, "Channellock pliers"; DE: Wasserpumpenzange
Type:	hand tool
Material:	hex head screws, nuts, pipes
Similar (More or Less):	(adjustable) wrenches

Tongue-and-groove pliers can be useful to grip nuts and bolts or pretty much any other material as they are widely adjustable. However, an actual wrench is a better choice if the size you require is available.

They also yield pretty high gripping force due to their long handles which may be useful in some squeezing or crimping applications.

Diagonal Pliers

ToolInfoBox Diagonal Pliers
Synonyms:	diagonal cutters, side cutters, "nippers"; DE: Seitenschneider
Type:	hand tool
Material:	metal wires, zip ties
Similar (More or Less):	bolt cutter, flush cutters

Diagonal cutting pliers are used to snip wires, e.g. in electrical work. Although a cutter is included in combination pliers and many needle-nose pliers as well, these can be sharpened much more easily and enable the user to reach wires in tight corners as the cutting edge continues over the entire length of the tool head.

Flush cutters can reach even tighter spaces and are used for delicate electronics work.

Crimping Pliers

ToolInfoBox Crimping Pliers
Synonyms:	DE: Krimpzange
Type:	hand tool
Material:	Dupont crimps, metal wires
Location:	electronics room
Access Requirements:	upon reading

Crimping pliers are used to squeeze connectors around the ends of wires/cables.

Many types exist for optimum fit to the varius types of crimps or ferrules, the orange pliers in the picture are made for Dupont crimps.