Odd Proto pliers

[GrantCee]

I found these odd Proto pliers in the bottom of a toolbox. They're marked #248-S. A search of Proto's catalog, and a general Google search, turned up nothing.

Note the smooth jaws and odd ratcheting joint mechanism. What are these, and what are they to be used for?

 

[Bolster]

[EDIT] Found them, see post below.

 

[Monte]

pliers wrench

 

[larry_g]

Is it something that a plumber would use on the chrome nuts in the drain system under the sink?

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Case]

plumbing pliers like larry said.

 

[Bull]

Yeah, whenever I see smooth-jawed pliers like that, I think of chrome and brass nuts for plumbing, or brass nuts for old steam radiator fittings.

 

[Bruce Lancaster]

Good old days of craftsmanship...
Seems like all the plumbers around here are perfectly happy to install and service those nuts with a @#$%$@# pipe wrench!
I even have a Time-Life how to plumb book (one from that series that shows anyone touching a screwdriver properly prepared with Helmet, ear plugs, and goggles!) that shows this atrocity of a pipe wrench about to mangle a fitting ON THE COVER.
I was going to write the editor, but he probably can't read...grumble.

 

[GrantCee]

I've poked my nose in a fair number of Proto catalogs and I've never seen anything like that! Cooool!

You certain it's not a shop modified tool?

Don't think so - chrome appears to cover the jaws.

I've tried using it on sink fittings, works very poorly (clearance issues.) Besides - Proto making plumbing tools?

The only thing I've been able to dream up is a tool for adjusting the preload on large bearings - they usually have flats, and the distance from flat to flat varies with the bearing size necessitating a wide adjustment range. They're also a low-torque application, and having tried this on a drain pipe I can tell you it's no good for high torque.

How's my logic??

 

[Danglerb]

The handles seem fairly wide apart for the jaws to be parallel, and the last couple of inches of the handles have a slight dip. I wonder if they were for some type of crimping?

 

[HandyManny]

Yeah, whenever I see smooth-jawed pliers like that, I think of chrome and brass nuts for plumbing, or brass nuts for old steam radiator fittings.

Yeah that's what they are supposed to be used for. Unfortunately I see a lot of so-called professional plumbers who think regular jaw water-pump pliers or a pipewrench should be used in chrome or brass nuts and fittings. For the stuff hidden under the sink cabinet or behind a wall, it doesn't matter. But for the exposed plumbing it just makes a fiished job look like ****. A pro should know better. I've installed and repaired sinks and toilets in my own home and in the homes of friends and family many times over the years and I always use smooth jaw pliers along with a Ridgid hex wrench, or adjustable wrench. Teeth jaw tongue and groove pliers work great for removal of old fittings and valves though, or to install stuff that's not exposed to view.

 

[Tool Pants]

I have a pair I bought long ago. As others have said they are for plumbing.

 

[Lump]

I have a pair of Proto pliers of similar shape with smooth jaws too. As stated earlier, the chrome finish has not been damaged by milling away teeth. I think it came this way.

 

[Danglerb]

The fine jaw adjustment via the tiny teeth is interesting too. Maybe ask on one of the plumbing forums?

 

[Bolster]

Ta Daa, I just wasn't looking in more recent catalogs, which is why I didn't recognize it earlier. Here it is from a 1962 catalog, part of their standard plier lineup.

248 Smooth Jaw Plier "for protecting soft metal and decorative finish nuts from damage or with milled pipe jaws."

 

[Lump]

Bolster gets the grand prize...again!

 

[GrantCee]

Cool! Thanks for finding it!

(Now I'm torn between trading it for something I really want, or keeping it on the off chance I'll use it someday!)

 

[Bull]

I wonder if the old Proto boards I just bought have a space for this particular type of pliers....