The jaws
The jaws can be designed for gripping, cutting or for both purposes. The shape of the jaw depends on the intended use.
Gripping pliers
We distinguish between flat, flat-round and round pliers. There are also special shapes for exceptional applications, such as Long Reach Needle Nose Pliers, Electronics Mounting Pliers or Mechanics' Pliers. The available space for working and the application - gripping, holding or bending - determine the selection.
Flat nose pliers
Snipe nose pliers
Round nose pliers
Gripping surfaces
The gripping surfaces of the jaws can be smooth, serrated or cross-serrated, depending on the material to be processed and the purpose of the pliers.
smooth
serrated
cross-serrated
Cutting pliers
Cutting pliers can be distinguished according to the position of the cutting edges and their shape. Depending on how the material to be cut can best be reached, the cutting edge sits perpendicularly, diagonally or parallelly to the handles.
Cutting edge in a perpendicular position
End cutters are used wherever there is access to the wire or the like is only possible or reasonable from the front. This can also be the case if, for example, a wire has to be cut flush to a surface. (With side cutters, the fingers that enclose the handles would be in the way here.)
Examples are end cutters, carpenters' pincers, concreters' nippers or bolt end cutting nippers.
Cutting edges in an oblique position
Oblique cutters are used wherever there is neither frontal nor lateral access to the material to be cut.
Compared to front, side and centre cutters, oblique cutters are probably the least often used.
Cutting edge in a parallel position - side cutters
Side cutters are the most common cutting pliers and are offered in many different lengths and for a wide variety of materials.
Examples are side cutters, combination pliers, radio pliers, stork beak pliers and electricians' pliers.
Cutting edge in a parallel position - centre cutter
Centre cutters offer high cutting edge stability with a favourable wedge angle, i.e. a relatively low penetration force of the cutting edge into the wire, which reduces the required manual effort.
Shapes of the cutting edge
Different cutting edge shapes make it easy to cut through different materials.
Bite cut with outer bevel
The most common form is the bite cut with an outer bevel. Here, the shape of the cutting edges, bevelled on both sides, ensures that the load on the blade is low.
Bite cut without outer bevel
Cutting with a bite cut without an outer bevel is only suitable for soft materials such as copper or plastics. But on the other hand they allow flush cuts.
Knife or anvil cut
The knife or anvil cut is - provided it is manufactured precisely - suitable for fiber bundles such as ropes and cords. When cutting wires, it leads to a considerable increase in the required manual force.
Shear cut
The shear cut is used for cable and wire rope shears, universal shears and sheet metal shears. It causes the lowest cutting forces.