Pliers

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For the Jamaican singer, see Pliers (singer).

A blacksmith using pliers
Slip joint pliers
Cutting wire with diagonal pliers/side cutters

Pliers are a

handles on the other side.[1] This arrangement creates a mechanical advantage, allowing the force of the grip strength to be amplified and focused on an object with precision. The jaws can also be used to manipulate objects too small or unwieldy to be manipulated with the fingers
.

Diagonal pliers, also called side cutters, are a similarly shaped tool used for cutting rather than holding, having a pair of stout blades, similar to

crimp connections
in electrical and electronic applications are often called crimping pliers or crimpers; each type of connection uses its own dedicated tool.

Parallel pliers have jaws that close in parallel to each other, as opposed to the scissor-type action of traditional pliers. They use a box joint system to do this, and it allows them to generate more grip from friction on square and hexagonal fastenings.[2]

There are many kinds of pliers made for various general and specific purposes.

History

Medieval pincers found in Hamburg-Harburg (15th/16th century)

As pliers in the general sense are an ancient and simple

electrical, and electronic components
.

Design

The basic design of pliers has changed little since their origins, with the pair of handles, the pivot (often formed by a rivet), and the head section with the gripping jaws or cutting edges forming the three elements.

The materials used to make pliers consist mainly of

electric shock. The jaws vary widely in size, from delicate needle-nose pliers
to heavy jaws capable of exerting much pressure, and shape, from basic flat jaws to various specialized and often asymmetrical jaw configurations for specific manipulations. The surfaces are typically textured rather than smooth, to minimize slipping.

A plier-like tool designed for cutting wires is often called diagonal pliers. Some pliers for electrical work are fitted with wire-cutter blades either built into the jaws or on the handles just below the pivot.

Where it is necessary to avoid scratching or damaging the workpiece, as for example in

repair, pliers with a layer of softer material such as aluminium, brass, or plastic
over the jaws are used.

Ergonomics

Much research has been undertaken to improve the design of pliers, to make them easier to use in often difficult circumstances (such as restricted spaces). The handles can be bent, for example, so that the load applied by the hand is aligned with the arm, rather than at an angle, thus reducing muscle fatigue. It is especially important for factory workers who use pliers continuously and helps prevent carpal tunnel syndrome.

Types

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Hand Tools:Tongs, pincers, and pliers". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  2. ^ "What are parallel pliers and how do they work?". Maun Industries. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  3. ^ Bellis, Mary. "The History of Hardware Tools". Inventors.About.com. Accessed 16 December 2008.
  4. ^ Warre Cornish, Francis (1898). A Concise Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities. London: Spottiswoode & Co. p. 313.

External links

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