What Is a Plier?
A plier is a tool used to grasp and bend or cut wire. It can also grip and bend thin steel plates.
The gripping part at the tip is called the gripping section, which is made of metal and has a jagged edge to hold the gripped object firmly. The gripping section has a blade at the base of the gripping part, so it can cut electric wires, wire rods, and other objects.
There are several types of plier. Each type of plier has a different primary purpose, so it is necessary to select the plier best suited for the job at hand.
How to Use Pliers
Pliers are used by grasping the handle.
Place your thumb on one end of the handle and grip it with your index and middle fingers on the other end.
To open the pliers, use your pinky or ring finger to open smoothly. Because it uses the principle of leverage, you can grip the object with several times more force than you can grip it with your bare hands. The gripping force becomes stronger as the part to be gripped goes to the tip of the handle.
If it is a thin iron plate, it can be bent. If you want to hold a thick steel plate, we recommend using similarly thick pliers since regular pliers cannot grip the handle tightly enough to get a firm grip.
When cutting electric wires and barbed wire, use the blade attached to the base of the gripper. It is not a cutting tool and cannot cut very thick objects. It is recommended to wear protective goggles to avoid flying debris when cutting.
How to Choose Pliers
The purpose of using pliers varies depending on the type of pliers, so we will introduce the tasks that each plier type is good at:
- Pliers
Pliers are generally defined as having a wide gripping area. The main purpose of pliers are to grip large objects such as steel plates. - Radio pliers
Radio pliers are pliers with tapered end. They are suitable for gripping thin objects and precision bending work. They are not suitable for gripping large objects because the tip bends when strong force is applied. There are also types with a bent tip. Radio pliers also have blades, so it can cut wire. - Crimping pliers
Crimping pliers are specialized for crimping wire terminals. With the terminal lightly pinched and fixed, pass the wire between the terminals, then hold the pliers and crimp the terminal. These pliers are specialized for crimping and are not suitable for gripping or cutting other objects.
As mentioned above, be sure to know what you are good at and choose the right tool for the job to work safely.