Adjustable Pliers - How do you use them

[mobiledynamics]

Lately, I'm been on this no marring kick. Either the right wrench or adjustable wrench.

Just ordered a set of Cobra adjustable pliers just because.
Even for the nut on a sink drain, I use a adjustable wrench...

I do use the adjustable pliers alot to hold pipe fittings/pipe when I'm soldering....

Curious to see if anyone else avoids adjustable pliers.

I do have 2 channellocks that are my beaters and I have them in my bin I use for DEMO.....

 

[Outlawmws]

You can get smooth jaw channel locks. No. 415 in 10" I believe.

 

[osborn.ozzy]

as hammers

 

[jjjrmx5]

Slip joint pliers for holding steel parts or armour plate when grinding on the belt or disc bench grinder.

Arc joints for pulling brads and finishing nails out of wood trim.

If used on a bolt or nut, I go to Cobras or Plier wrench, (then adjustable/Crescent)wrench when a socket or combo will not do, then vice grips.

Anything rough gripped usually means it's time to replace teh fastener, pipe joint or fitting as they are good at buggering things up easily.

Slip-joints and arc-joints are good at pulling cotter pins and general non-nut/bolt duty tho.

Most of the time they just sit quitely in the box going unused anymore.

 

[4x4gearhead]

I use them on round things, like pipe,tube,round hydraulic couplers, and occasionally I use them to bend a piece of steel when its in a spot too tight for one of my big adjustable wrenches. I use the poop out of mine, and If I recall I remember someone posting some that had nylon-like pads on the jaws as not to mar things. I think it was Monte. that posted maybe Bart?

 

[mobiledynamics]

Ah. Thread bump. I'm going to need to add a set of nylon slip joints for a UBER expensive bathroom project I have coming up...

 

[jjjrmx5]

I use the poop out of mine, and If I recall I remember someone posting some that had nylon-like pads on the jaws as not to mar things. I think it was Monte. that posted maybe Bart?

Knipex make the jaw "condoms" that try and keep thigs anti-mar, but it's all dependant upon grip and mat'l gripped.

Again. Right tool for the right job. But duct tape, jaw condoms or ptfe tape in a pinch.
LOLOLOLOL

 

[MrMark]

Cobra's - mostly for gripping pipes in plumbing work. Or, to grip a stud or other round item. I would not use them on a nut of any kind unless I was replacing the nut. I also use them for squeezing things together like flat band hose clamps when it makes sense to use them there.

Sounds like you need the plier wrench. Very useful in plumbing work.

 

[shoturtle]

knipex wrench plier smooth jaw and it has allot of holding force.

 

[Arne73]

Utica 529's have rubber inserts and are made for non marring applications ('cannon' plugs IIRC). They are rather light duty tho.

 

[countryroad82]

Although I have a few pairs of slip joint pliers, I rarely use them unless I am doing something that deals with plumbing. My use for Channellocks are mainly for rough- straightening panels before I start finessing the metal (think straightening out a mangeled wheel lip). Other than that they are for air lines or something else plumbing related for me.

 

[plinker]

I use a set of 10" Channellock pliers for my go-to's for just about anything except using them on nut/bolts.

I have also use heat shrink tube on the jaws to prevent marring on what ever it was I was working on at the time. Worked well too.

 

[billp603]

Although I have a few pairs of slip joint pliers, I rarely use them unless I am doing something that deals with plumbing. .

I have two pair of slip joint pliers in my box that I have never found a use for in 20+ years, one pair (fuller) came from my grandfather's house and the other was in a set of 4 different shape cman. I use my linesman, needle nose and channellocks all the time but have just never found a need for the slip joint, even during plumbing work.

 

[unslow1]

Try these. Craftsman plier covers.


http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00945446000P?prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=G2

 

[Alchymist]

For opening a can of PVC primer or cement! Electrical use - installing conduit fittings in boxes - the ferrule type fittings on EMT.

 

[mtkst19]

i use vice grips liek these for no mar-ing. work damn good too. grabs on the flats of bolt heads and wont mar round stock liek tie rods.

 

[mypov]

used a large set of "vise grip" slip lock pliers on a plastic gas tank (fuel pump) retaining ring. Couldn't hammer it out, would've cracked the plastic tangs. This worked really slick - I have a range of them, but don't often use them either. Sometimes handy for adjusting toe in - have used them for that once or twice.

Have them as back up for the head scratching job where no other tool will work.

 

[gonefirefighting]

I use small strips of leather if need no trace left behind.

 

[mobiledynamics]

I eneded up doing a Knipex Firesale....

Ordered their Cobra pliers, smooth jaw Cobra style pliers + a couple of a diagnol pliers to boot.

Next up would be linesman, but I'm still inclined to stick with my old red d2000 Kleins