Pliers Tested

April 2010

Pliers are toolbox essentials – you’ll need a pair to tackle most DIY car jobs. A three-piece set of combination, long-nose and side or diagonal cutters covers most things the home mechanic needs.

They won’t break the bank, either, as sets can be picked up for little over a fiver. We grabbed 12 off the shelves to find out which to go for.

Comfort and performance were at the heart of this test, so we cut speaker cables, tie wraps, wire clothes hangers and paper at several points along the combination and side-cutter blades. We then used the former to turn a bolt tightly clamped in a vice before trying to grip paper with both pliers.

All tools were checked for size, comfort and marking after the tests. Price was then taken into account excluding delivery.

Verdict

Backing up its victory in the adjustable wrench test (Issue 1,087), AmPro wins here, too. The substantial tools are great performers. Sealey and Draper were hard to split for the runner-up spot, but the latter has the edge due to its marginally better performance. There’s some consolation for Sealey, as its Siegen brand is our pick of the budget tools.

Top 3

1. AmPro T28392
2. Draper Expert 69289
3. Sealey AK8521

• Email a friend
• Print this page