Pliers

Pliers are hand tools used to grip, hold, bend, cut or manipulate objects. They usually consist of two metal arms joined by a pivot. The jaws are at one end and the handles at the other. Squeezing the handles makes the jaws move toward each other. This is a simple lever: the pivot acts as the fulcrum, while the handles are longer than the distance from the pivot to the jaws.

A modest force from the hand can therefore produce a stronger gripping force at the jaws. Combination pliers can grip and cut certain wires, long-nose pliers can reach narrow spaces, and cutting pliers have sharpened edges designed mainly for cutting wire. Most pliers are made mainly from steel because they must withstand repeated forces without bending easily.

The jaws may have textured surfaces to improve grip, while some tools have insulated handles for electrical work. Such insulation does not make every electrical task safe: tools specifically rated for this work and appropriate safety procedures are still required. Pliers can also hold small parts during another operation, but they do not replace every specialized tool.

Their usefulness comes from a simple mechanism that provides mechanical advantage. By changing the shape of the jaws, the length of the handles or the cutting edges, manufacturers can adapt the same basic principle to many practical tasks.