How many pliers do I need?

[vavet]

I’ve been 3d printing pieces for the infinite pliers rack. They snap together as long as you want and then an end piece goes on when you have enough slots, it’s cleaned up my pliers drawer, but it’s also made me realize how many pliers I have, especially good ol slip joint pliers.

There are some decent craftsman in there, maybe 30 years old from when I first start building my own tool set but a few of them are cheap Chinese tools. I hate the idea of throwing away tools, but I also hate keeping something I will never use.
I don’t think I’ve ever used a pair of slip joints to modify into something else.

To the scrap metal bin?

 

[tomtomgt356]

How many pliers do I need?

All of them!

This is the Garage Journal. Did you expect a different answer?

My solution to this was to spread them out to different tool kits. Throw one in each car. Have one in the kitchen junk drawer, etc. That's what I tend to do with duplicates because how many of the same thing do you really need in one place (clamps excluded)?

 

[coljar]

More is not enough.

 

[Renegade1LI]

It's a trick question, right?

 

[nh_yota]

Like tape measures, you can never have too many.

 

[ridervfr]

I like slip-joint pliers for folding over lock tabs against the flat of the bolt. Its tidy and you can control it well. Nice pliers, love my long reach hose pliers super duper useful and you don't mangle up the poor hoses.

 

[woody 73]

Op you have a good start although not very many pliers at least it is a good start.

I just picked up one this week that I have never heard of the company that made them, still very interesting!

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=473088

 

[bonneyman]

This is a conspiracy theory, right?

Even if I were going to get rid of pliers - or any tools - the scrap bin would be the last place. Try and find a high school shop or technical school in your area and donate those tools. The young people showing an interest in fixing stuff need all the support they can get.

 

[RoundedNut]

Rough guess, around 50 spread over many places and looking to add more. Only 1 slip joint handed down, however, as I don't like them.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

You have way more than I have that’s for sure. I need more. In my opinion you can’t have too many tools so I wouldn’t get rid of them. You never know when you might misplace one or something. I know when I was in school that was one thing that always seemed to bend was pliers because they wouldn’t buy us any good ones lol they just bought the $1 and some change a pair ones from Harbor Freight or whatever price they were lol. Not knocking HF just saying that is not one of their better tools.


Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[ChefRex]

Do you have another drawer full? Cause that's not too much, not that I have all that many slip jaws.

 

[rlitman]

...I don’t think I’ve ever used a pair of slip joints to modify into something else.

To the scrap metal bin?

Sounds like you need to start modifying slip joints. I don't scrap tools made from good steel. They get tossed in a junk drawer and get ground and welded on when the time comes up.

As for actually using slip joint pliers, I'm not a fan. I find slip joints to be a jack of all trades yet master of none. Better than having nothing else in your pocket, but in a shop setting, I don't see the point. But as a doner for custom pliers, or just a handle for something, they're great to have.

 

[vavet]

The grey blow mold case has snap ring pliers in it - each pair is a different size or a different angle. They have a cam at the pivot to change them for internal or external snap rings. I had another set of snap ring pliers with different tips that you can change. They were always a PITA - they're in the scrap bin. I haven't used some of these in over 10 years - since I left the auto mechanicin' business and there are some decent units in the set. I was really just thinking of getting rid of some of the no-name slip joint pliers.
I'm amazed on how well the pliers rack works to clean up the drawer. I wish I'd have taken a before picture. The snap fit isn't perfect, some of them fit together more tightly than others. I'll probably find a super glue that works well on PLA since I plan to leave these together long term.

 

[Dzmax77]

I’ve been 3d printing pieces for the infinite pliers rack. They snap together as long as you want and then an end piece goes on when you have enough slots, it’s cleaned up my pliers drawer, but it’s also made me realize how many pliers I have, especially good ol slip joint pliers.

There are some decent craftsman in there, maybe 30 years old from when I first start building my own tool set but a few of them are cheap Chinese tools. I hate the idea of throwing away tools, but I also hate keeping something I will never use.
I don’t think I’ve ever used a pair of slip joints to modify into something else.

To the scrap metal bin?

Engineer’s/Vampliers are a must have. I also didn’t see any micro cutting pliers in your drawer. I have the Klein and Hakko’s (Italian) shown on these Amazon pics.

 

[vavet]

Engineer’s/Vampliers are a must have. I also didn’t see any micro cutting pliers in your drawer. I have the Klein and Hakko’s (Italian) shown on these Amazon pics.

I have one pair like you pictured that are kept next to the 3D printer. I several small pliers in the back right of the picture. I haven't printed enough of the racks to hold those yet. They're about 50/50 Craftsman and HF, but you're right, they're very handy.

 

[Dzmax77]

I have one pair like you pictured that are kept next to the 3D printer. I several small pliers in the back right of the picture. I haven't printed enough of the racks to hold those yet. They're about 50/50 Craftsman and HF, but you're right, they're very handy.

Do you have any Engineers or Vampliers? Engineers are a slightly cheaper version but its the same.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07L9LL4QS/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[macgee]

Did something happen over the weekend? Sorry if something traumatic happened to even make you think that, it would be terrible having to wonder if you have enough. The answer is: Of course you don't, there's so many excellent designs, styles and special purposed pilers out there that can make your shop even that more functional!

For instance, one could never have enough Swiss made Erem pliers and that's just one eco of pliers to have; they're beautiful how could you not? Japan also have a lot of really nice pliers. Then there's Snap-On's, plus its always recommended to stock up on different types of blue handled Channellock pliers, check out all their jeweler type pliers and they make great linemans.

Don't be avg. or even think of limiting yourself; your bigger than that! Think big!

 

[Dzmax77]

Here are the Engineer and Tsunoda’s I have. When working on small electronics, I recommend these brands.

 

[jeffmoss26]

enough to make the drawer tough to close

 

[guitarbutt]

Question: "How many pliers do I need?"
Answer: "Yes."

 

[M6erfan]

137.

 

[tarmy]

More...always more...

These are the ones that I keep handy...I got a lot more...then there is the other shop...that has more...

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Agreed, slip joints ****. I tossed all my crummy stuff in an old hand carry toolbox to use for custom tools if need be. Some I'll just give away to lube techs. All vice grips eventually become welding leads or go in the scrap pile. I have a dozen pair on my cart, plus 6-7 vice grips, maybe 75 pairs in my box. I'm not one for keeping doubles, it's mostly specialty stuff that adds to the count. I mean, it's not remotely hard to have 20 pair of snap ring pliers. Now add in the specialty pliers, locking pliers, 12+ of long reach variety, it just adds up.

As long as you use them and they have a purpose, no reason to limit pliers selection. Now, if you're buying for fun or just not using all but a half dozen pair, that's probably a different story. Pliers are also a consumable and will need replaced at some point. So having a few duplicate of mission critical pliers isn't unreasonable either.

But, if you have 20 pair of chinese no-name slip joints.......

 

[cheechi]

I have one pair like you pictured that are kept next to the 3D printer. I several small pliers in the back right of the picture. I haven't printed enough of the racks to hold those yet. They're about 50/50 Craftsman and HF, but you're right, they're very handy.

small pliers like that i usually hang over something horizontal. you could probably 3d print up an A frame (or a V if you prefer them handles up) to store the little ones but i feel they are not great to store in a drawer even with the pliers rack you are making.

 

[Ton ton]

You definitely need some European/ Japanese pliers to keep the collection balanced.

 

[Ralf11]

you have too many tools when the sheer number interferes with your ability to find what you want without a lengthy search

 

[Forgottonia]

Ten pairs of pliers, various types. But since you'll lose one pair every six months you'll end up buying twenty pairs over the next decade.

 

[m6z]

I've started giving away my cheaper tools when I replace them with something nicer. There's always someone that could use them.

 

[Meursault74]

When it comes to pliers, as well as bar clamps. There is a mathematical expression that determines how many you should have.
The number you should have is n+1. Where n is the current number you have. As you see you'll always should have one more no matter how many you have.

I second the spreading them around advice. I put a few of my other pliers in a kitchen drawer as well as multi-screwdriver. Saves me a trip to the garage if I need to do a quick repair/adjustment.

 

[four.cycle]

Q: How many pliers do I need?
A: all of them.

Have you got any pliers made by Herbrand? They made some really nice pliers.
How about German orthodontic pliers? In stainless steel? Great for precision work.
Vampliers? You gotta have Vampliers. (Okay, some early gas pliers might work, but not many of them have teeth as sharp as the Vampliers.)
Long, extended reach hose gripping pliers? You need all four sizes.
And of course, needle nose with both 45° and 90° bent tips, in both miniature and long-reach lengths.
I'd stop short of suggesting horseshoe calk pliers, but you might at some point decide to buy a horse.

 

[danski0224]

Just one more.

 

[theoldwizard1]

enough to make the drawer tough to close

I have continued to add pliers/cutters/strippers and crimper to my rather complete tool set over the past 5-10 years. So much so, I have TWO drawers.

Not widely used, but everyone should have a couple of extended reach needle nose pliers. If you work on cars/small engines, the extended reach hose pliers are also useful. I bought mine at HF. Yes, they are not chromed and have tarnished, but a drop of Fluid Film keeps them moving.

 

[cajunrebel`]

You need at minimum 3 more pairs. Small flush cutters, 7" pliers wrench, and 10" or 12" pliers wrench. You will never find all the possible uses for knipex pliers wrenches.

 

[isb cornbinder]

I like pliers and I seem to have attracted more than a few pair. My son suggests that I have well over 100 pair. I now look for the unusual and what I think might be rare.

 

[plinker]

I dont think you can have too many pliers in general, same with vise grips. I use about ten different ones regularly, not sure how many are in the box off hand, not counting electrical & snap ring either. Life is too short to deal with cheap crappy slip joints, Snap-on 47ACF are where it's at. Diamond made some nice ones too.

I have continued to add pliers/cutters/strippers and crimper to my rather complete tool set over the past 5-10 years. So much so, I have TWO drawers.

Not widely used, but everyone should have a couple of extended reach needle nose pliers. If you work on cars/small engines, the extended reach hose pliers are also useful. I bought mine at HF. Yes, they are not chromed and have tarnished, but a drop of Fluid Film keeps them moving.

The double joint long reach pliers are where it's at for the most part IMO, Cripe has a Napa branded set at a good price.

 

[kbeefy]

I have at least 5 pliers drawers. 50-100 pliers of some sort (including vise grips... at least 25 of them). 4 or 5 slip joints.
Most of the slip joints I found on the road. I use them even less than my leatherman. There are very few that I use, but when I do I really appreciate them.

 

[Dzmax77]

I’ve purchased many more pliers since I started this thread. 5 different Tsunoda’s, SK’s, Proto, Engineer, Armstrong (NOS), Channellocks, Knipex. Im well over 20 now.

I was looking at the Williams pliers; are these made by Snap On? They look different so Im thinking no.

 

[Dzmax77]

Thoughts in the Tsunoda snap ring pliers? Which 2 of the 4 would get used the most - are most important to have? The internal external straight?

 

[may0naise]

Do you have any Engineers or Vampliers? Engineers are a slightly cheaper version but its the same.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07L9LL4QS/?tag=atomicindus08-20

if you like the vampliers you might like these new knipex pliers as they have similar jaws. but with the adjustability they may be more useful.

Knipex TwinGrip is Not Your Dad’s Slip-Joint Pliers

toolguyd.com

 

[goldtang]

One day no matter how many types of pliers you have there will Job that requires an new set