Pliers

January 2005

Unless you've got fingers as tough as mole grips, then pliers are an essential addition to your toolbox. They're perfect for countless jobs, from trimming wires to chopping through tie wraps that secure wheel trims, or simply for holding a nut or bolt.

You can also retrieve fuses, pull cables taut and even grip stubborn components, such as wiper arms. We sampled tools from 14 manufacturers, taking them into the workshop to find out which are the best for working on the car.

Although all pliers appear similar, some fit in your hand perfectly, while others don't. The latter can become uncomfortable or even painful when used over long periods, or if a job requires you to grip them hard.

Much of this is down to handle shape, but the covering is important, too. While shiny plastic grips may look smart, they're practically useless if your hands are covered in oil. And let's be honest, how many car jobs don't leave you with greasy palms?

Combination pliers traditionally have three types of jaw - straight at the tip, usually followed by a rounded grip, then a cutting blade. Now, though, some more recent arrivals also come with a ridged jaw on the handle side of the pivot. This is very useful because, although it doesn't open very wide, the teeth make the jaw capable of greater leverage than any other on the tool.

Whatever the shape, the jaws need to be free moving, but without any play. If they're too loose, it can be difficult to grip small items, while excessive play can also compromise the effectiveness of the cutting blade. Sprung handles are a welcome innovation and will help you to open pliers with one hand.

Each tool was used on a variety of gripping jobs with dry and oily hands. We looked closely at the all-important jaws, making sure there wasn't excessive play at the tips, and adding marks if they could be opened and shut with a single hand.

Pliers with sprung jaws earned extra points, while we also liked tools that included a rounded jaw and one behind the pivot. Finally, we checked each product's cutting blade on various sizes of wire.

Verdict

The podium places were filled by the Facom, Bahco and Britool pliers. But it was Facom that came out on top because it represents the greatest value for money out of the trio.

The innovative jaws on the Bahco, which can be set as sprung or unsprung, were enough to see this product pip Britool to the Recommended award.

Top 3

1. Facom 187.18TE
2. Bahco 2628 G-160
3. Britool PG 101

• Email a friend
• Print this page