The handles
Plier handles are available in different shapes and finishes. Their design helps to achieve the optimal interplay of hand and handle.
The shape of the handles
Straight handles are used when the hand has to be positioned at different points of the handle during a work step. This is often the case with carpenters' pincers and concreters' nippers.
Convex handles ensure a precise position of the hand, which is useful when applying side cutters.
Curved handles support the hand at the front and the back. This is an advantage whenever high forces have to be applied.
Examples of handle variants in a pair of pliers
The all-metal design without plastic sleeves, which is common for carpenters' pincers, makes it possible to slide the hand on the pliers handle during the transition from gripping to twisting and clamping and finally to cutting in a single operation.
Thin plastic covers, which are manufactured using the immersion process, make the pliers non-slip and comfortable to hold. They protect the hands from contact with the bare steel in cold or warm temperatures.
Pliers with multi-component sleeves are gentler on the hands. This ergonomic design doubles the contact area between the handles and the hand. This significantly reduces the risk of blistering or pressure points. They are particularly recommended for frequent use and when great manual force is used.
VDE sleeves and ESD sleeves
In addition to the handle coatings, which are intended to improve grip comfort, there are also handle covers that have an (electro) technical function.
VDE covers for pliers
Insulated sleeves for working on electrical systems - often referred to as VDE*-sleeves - must not conduct electrical current if components that are under voltage are gripped with the pliers heads. Since these pliers conform to the norms DIN EN / IEC 60900, they are subject to significantly stricter standards and safety standards.
* Association of electrical engineering, electronics and information technology
ESD covers for pliers
This if different for dissipative sleeves, often referred to as ESD*-sleeves. These are intended to allow the slow and controlled compensation of any differences in electrical potential that may exist between the operator and sensitive electronic components.
* electrostatic discharge
The combination of the different designs allows a large number of variants, which are also available in different sizes and lengths. The user will always find exactly the right one in the more than 1000 pliers from KNIPEX.