View source for Pliers

{{For|the Jamaican singer|Pliers (singer)}}
[[Image:Tool-pliers.jpg|thumb|Flat-nose pliers]]
{{Refimprove|date=April 2009}}

'''Pliers''' are a [[hand tool]] used to hold objects firmly, for [[bending]], or [[compression (physical)|physical compression]]. Generally, pliers consist of a pair of [[metal]] [[lever#Classes|first-class levers]] joined at a [[wikt:fulcrum|fulcrum]] positioned closer to one end of the levers, creating short ''jaws'' on one side of the fulcrum, and longer ''[[handle (grip)|handles]]'' on the other side. This arrangement creates a [[mechanical advantage]], allowing the [[force]] of the [[grip strength|hand's grip]] to be amplified and focused on an object with precision. The jaws can also be used to manipulate objects too small or unwieldy to be manipulated with the [[finger]]s.

There are many kinds of pliers made for various general and specific purposes.

==History==
As pliers in the general sense are an ancient and simple [[invention]], no single point in history, or  inventor, can be credited. Early metal working processes from several millennia [[BCE]] would have required plier-like devices to handle hot materials in the process of [[smithing]] or [[Casting (metalworking)|casting]]. Development from [[wooden]] to [[bronze]] pliers would have probably happened sometime prior to [[3000 BCE]].<ref>Bellis, Mary. 'The History of Hardware Tools'. [http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blpliers.htm] Accessed 16 December 2008.</ref> Among the oldest illustrations of pliers are those showing the [[Greek god]] [[Hephaestus]] in his [[forge]]. Today, pliers intended principally to be used for safely handling hot objects are usually called [[tongs]]. The number of different designs of pliers grew with the invention of the different objects which they were used to handle: [[horseshoe]]s, [[fasteners]], [[wire]], [[pipe (material)|pipe]]s, [[electrical]] and [[electronic component]]s.

==Design==
The basic design of pliers has changed little since their origins, with the pair of ''handles'', the ''pivot'' (often formed by a [[rivet]]), and the ''head'' section with the gripping jaws or cutting edges forming the three elements. In distinction to a pair of [[scissors]] or [[shears]], the plier's jaws always meet each other at one pivot angle.

The materials used to make pliers consist mainly of [[steel]] [[alloy]]s with additives such as [[vanadium]] or [[chromium]], to improve strength and prevent [[corrosion]]. Often pliers have [[insulator (electrical)|insulated]] grips to ensure better handling and prevent [[electrical conductivity]]. In some lines of fine work (such as [[jewellery]] or [[musical instrument]] [[repair]]), some specialized pliers feature a layer of comparatively [[soft metal]] (such as [[brass]]) over the two plates of the head of the pliers to reduce pressure placed on some fine tools or materials. Making entire pliers out of softer metals would be impractical, reducing the force required to [[yield strength|bend]] or [[ultimate strength|break]] them.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:Pliers slip 01CJC.png|[[Slip joint pliers]]
Image:Side cutters.jpg|[[Diagonal pliers]] or side cutters
Image:Linesman's pliers.JPG|[[Lineman's pliers]] or combination pliers
Image:Needle nose pliers.jpg|[[Needle-nose pliers]]
File:Pincers.jpg|[[Pincer (tool)|Pincer]]s
Image:Pliers crimp 01CJC.png|Electrical wire stripping and terminal crimping pliers
Image:Crimper HDF200.jpg|Crimptool for N, R-SMA, TNC connectors for RG174, RG58 and HDF/LMR200
Image:Crimping-pliers-pro-RJ-0a.jpg|Heavy duty crimping pliers with interchangeable [[Registered jacks|RJ]] heads
Image:Hand crimp tool MH-17 opening.jpg|Hand crimp tool
Image:Hand crimp tool DX-1008 opening.jpg|Hand crimp tool for insulated terminals and non-insulated terminals; also has a wire cutter and stripper and screw cutters
Image:Multiple pliers.jpg|[[Tongue-and-groove pliers]]
Image:Locking pliers.jpg|[[Locking pliers]]
</gallery>

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
{{Commons category|Pliers}}
{{Wiktionary}}

{{Types of tools}}
{{Metalworking navbox|toolopen}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2010}}

[[Category:Pliers]]
[[Category:Electronics work tools]]
[[Category:Metalworking hand tools]]

[[ar:زردية]]
[[be:Шчыпцы]]
[[be-x-old:Абцугі]]
[[bs:Kliješta]]
[[bg:Клещи]]
[[ca:Alicates]]
[[cs:Kleště]]
[[da:Tang (værktøj)]]
[[de:Zange]]
[[et:Tangid]]
[[es:Alicate]]
[[eo:Pinĉilo]]
[[eu:Aliketa]]
[[fa:انبردست]]
[[fr:Pince]]
[[hr:Kliješta]]
[[it:Pinza]]
[[he:פלייר]]
[[pam:Plais]]
[[kk:Қысқыш]]
[[hu:Kombinált fogó]]
[[nl:Tang (gereedschap)]]
[[ja:ペンチ]]oiu
[[no:Tang (redskap)]]
[[pl:Obcęgi]]
[[pt:Alicate]]
[[qu:Sik'ina]]
[[ru:Щипцы]]
[[sk:Kliešte (nástroj)]]
[[sr:Klešta]]
[[sh:Kliješta]]
[[fi:Pihdit]]
[[sv:Tång (handverktyg)]]
[[tl:Bokay-pato]]
[[th:คีม]]
[[tr:Kargaburun]]
[[bat-smg:Apciūgā]]
[[zh:鉗]]
[[Category:2Fix]]