The UK's bestPliers Sets2022 Review

How to Choose The Best Pliers Set

Construction material

There are a few key factors to consider when looking at construction material and how that material is treated and finished.

When looking at materials the best options are carbon or chrome vanadium steel. This is because these are very hard and durable metals which will mean the sharp edges of your pliers will stay sharp and the jaws will remain grippy for longer. A bonus is if the steel has been tempered or hardened to ensure they are as strong as possible. The cutting edge and jaws themselves are often induction hardened to help ensure maximum strength and durability is achieved.

Finally, a lacquer finish, just like the the finish on the Draper Expert 69288 3-Piece plier set is a big positive. This enables the metal to resist corrosion and last a long time.

VDE insulation

VDE insulation is a very important consideration if you are an electrician.

To ensure that pliers are safe to use when working with electricity, standards are set for testing pliers, screwdrivers and other hand tools and this standard is know as VDE.

Therefore if you buy a VDE rated insulated pair of pliers you can be sure that you are safe when working with electricity.

However even when using VDE insulated tools you must still follow the safety precautions required when working with electricity to ensure you stay safe.

Handles

The handles of your pliers provide grip as well as comfort.

If you don’t have a comfortable handle it is hard to apply enough force through the pliers. Good handles like those of the Workpro 5-Piece Plier Set are often rubberized or have a coating to ensure they are grippy. Softer plastic or rubber handles also provide a very comfortable feel to use for extended periods of time and allow you to apply maximum force.

Length of pliers

Plier length varies according to plier style.

Standard combination pliers range in size from 150 – 200 mm. Long-nose pliers and groove joint pliers go up to 250 mm.

Sets of pliers will of course include a range of tools and their length will vary – a good example is a set of mini pliers.

No. of pieces

Pliers often come in sets that include one or more pairs of standard combination pliers and sometimes specific pliers for specific jobs.

Your choice of pliers set clearly depends on the tasks you need to perform. For typical home use the Silverline 427610 Pliers set is an affordable choice and includes 3 pairs of pliers. There are many types of pliers. The more common 3 pair pliers sets include combination pliers, diagonal or side cutters and long nose pliers. These cover most household tasks.

Dual pivot

Dual pivot pliers like the Stanley FMHT0-72415 pliers have a special design that allows them to pivot from two different points. This creates a longer pair of pliers that can be squeezed through gaps and then fully opened, whereas with other pliers the handle would get stuck. This is a very useful pair to consider when working in confined spaces.

They also allow you to create more force than a conventional pair of pliers thanks to their additional leverage.

Usage

Some types of pliers are designed with specific use cases in mind whereas others are more multifunctional.

There are three main uses cases for a pair of pliers.

Gripping

A pair of pliers is used for gripping or holding. For example you can hold a bolt steady while you use another tool to turn a nut. The main types of pliers for these tasks are groove joint, slip joint and locking pliers.

Cutting

Cutting pliers or wire cutters are designed to cut items such as wire, bolts, nails and various other materials. Side cutting pliers help you trim sides or ends and the diagonal cutters can help you make angled cuts.

Bending/Straightening

The cross braces of the pliers provide torque and power to bend objects such as nails and wires. All pliers can be used for bending but you may want some specific pliers such as long nosed or needle nosed pliers to grip small objects or to use in hard to reach places.

Multi function pliers

Multifunctional pliers are useful to have around for various tasks. They have jaws that are designed to both hold and cut things. They often won’t work in specific scenarios where you will want specialist pliers but for household tasks, they work well. Designs include the linesman and long and bent nose pliers.