Here are two important rules for using pliers:
1. Do not make pliers work beyond their
capacity. The long-nosed kind is especially delicate.
It is easy to spring or break them, or nick their edges.
After that, they are practically useless.
2. Do not use pliers to turn nuts. In just a few
seconds, a pair of pliers can damage a nut. Pliers
must not be substituted for wrenches.
SLIP-JOINT PLIERS
Slip-joint pliers (fig. 1-52) are pliers with straight,
serrated (grooved) jaws, and pivot where the jaws are
fastened together to move to either of two positions to
grasp small- or large-sized objects better.
Slip-joint combination pliers are pliers similar to
the slip-joint pliers just described but with the
additional feature of a side cutter at the junction of the
jaws. This cutter consists of a pair of square-cut
notches, one on each jaw, which act like a pair of
shears when an object is placed between them and the
jaws closed.
Figure 1-51.-Pliers.
WRENCH PLIERS
Wrench pliers (visegrips) (fig. 1-53), can be used
for holding objects regardless of their shape. A screw
adjustment in one of the handles makes them suitable
for several different sizes. The jaws of wrench pliers
may have standard serrations such as the pliers just
described, or they may have a clamp-type jaw. The
clamp-type jaws are generally wide and smooth and
are used primarily when working with sheet metal.
Wrench pliers have an advantage over other types
of pliers in that you can clamp them on an object and
they will stay. This will leave your hands free for
other work.
A craftsman uses this tool a number of ways. It
may be used as a clamp, speed wrench, portable vise,
and for many other uses where a locking, plier-type
jaw may be used.
These pliers can be adjusted to
various jaw openings by turning the knurled, adjusting
screw at the end of the handle (fig. 1-53). Wrench
pliers can be clamped and locked in position by
pulling the lever toward the handle.
CAUTION
Wrench pliers should be used with care,
since the teeth in the jaws tend to damage the
object on which they are clamped. They
should not be used on nuts, bolts, tube
fittings, or other objects that must be reused.
Figure 1-52.-Slip-joint pliers.
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