KNIPEX Tools - Pliers Wrench, Chrome (8603250), 10-Inch

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The primary purpose of a wrench is to apply torque onto a fastener to loosen or tighten it. Pliers are used for gripping and holding objects, cutting, bending, twisting wires, etc. Difference in Design For instance, a ½” box wrench is designed to fit precisely over the head of a bolt or a nut that is also designated as ½”, which refers to the size across the flats of the bolt head or nut, not the diameter of the bolt’s threaded part. Regular pliers can do more harm than good. For example, the serrated jaws of regular pliers can mar the surface of delicate surfaces. Other times, the jaws can slip and round off nuts and bolt heads.

A common question people ask is if regular pliers can replace a wrench. And the simple answer is “No”. Most pliers would fit various shapes and sizes. They can grip, squeeze, and rotate diverse types and sizes of objects. The object can be anything that fits between its jaws securely. However, wiring is the most common type of object for pliers to take hold. Using Pliers instead of a Wrench Good wrench pliers must have a slim profile design for fitting tight spaces. This is very important, especially because most spanners have wide jaws that hardly fit small spaces. 2. Parallel jaws If you need to hold an object in place, twist wires together, or turn items that are not fasteners, use pliers. A pliers wrench must have multiple adjustment positions for a wide range of gripping positions. The adjustment mechanism allows you to open the jaws to grip different sizes of objects. It should be easy to adjust and the jaws should stay fixed for repetitive work. Best Pliers WrenchesWhile you can use pliers to tighten or loosen a bolt, the issue with pliers is that their serrated jaws can damage the fastener. Since the pliers’ jaws are not parallel and their profile does not match the fastener shape perfectly, they tend to slip. But what about a plier wrench? Can it replace an adjustable wrench? The simple answer is Yes! IMO, pliers wrenches are far more effective and versatile than an adjustable wrenches. Pliers wrench vs Adjustable wrench Also, general-purpose pliers don’t always provide a firm grip on fasteners like boxed wrenches do. But wrench pliers are excellent. They do a better job than adjustable wrenches with their parallel jaws that provide a firm grip on fasteners.

Unlike adjustable wrenches or spanners, pliers wrenches provide even compression on objects to avoid surface damage. They are also easy to operate with one hand and easy to adjust. Design wise, the most visible difference between pliers and wrenches is the pivot joint found on pliers. The pivot joint in pliers acts as a fulcrum point, allowing you to adjust the distance between the jaws for a wider range of motion and to grip objects of various sizes. Wrenches usually have no pivot point. You use pliers to grip and twist objects. This normally means objects that are not fasteners but may have different shapes, such as wiring. Size and Shape

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While there are a few cases in which either pliers or wrenches will work, most of the time, you will need to select either one or the other based on the specific task at hand. The signature feature of pliers wrenches is the parallel smooth jaws. The jaws must remain parallel even when you adjust them to ensure even pressure on an object in whatever position. Otherwise, if the jaws do not remain parallel, they can pinch and damage a surface especially the sensitive surfaces. 3. Self-ratcheting action Unfortunately, wrench pliers are just as limited as adjustable wrenches in that you can only use them effectively on flat surfaces. In other words, you cannot use a pliers wrench to grasp curved surfaces such as pipes or severely rounded nuts. Can Pliers Wrench Replace Adjustable Wrench?