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Question from an Industrial Design Student developing tools

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bastrouw

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Nov 29, 2013
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Dear Forum readers,

My name is Bas Trouw, 23 and student Industrial Design in Enschede, the Netherlands. I am currently doing a project for a large German Tool Manufacturer. For this project, I have to develop a new set of pliers/handtools.

For inspiration and idea's I would like to ask you to tell me all of your:

- irritations regarding existing tools. These could be caused by limitations of the tools for example
- Problems in and around the house that could use a tool to solve the problem.
- Own idea's for a new type of tool (you must be thinking sometimes: "they should make a tool for this")

I hope you guys can help me. All the help is appreciated!!!

thank you!
 
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sberry

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Hahahahahahahaha. Everything is a poor substitute for a Channelock 440 and a pair of high leverage number 9 Kliens. Its still a problem with knockoff tools in adjustable pliers, some genius comes along and changes the geometry just as pinch and it aint the same. Same with the Vise Grip 6 and 10R. Even most of Vise Grips other jaw designs are useless compared to the original that some tradesman /engineer fiddled and figured to perfection decades before the puter and power windows were a *********.
 
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cg81

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Make some locking pliers that aren't made in china, I will buy them
 
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Monte

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cg81 said:
Make some locking pliers that aren't made in china, I will buy them
Click to expand...

available:
Facom (France)
Grip-On (Spain)
Rennsteig/Knipex/Hazet/Stahlwille/Bollmann... (Germany)
Scangrip (Denmark)
Dolex (France)
3 Peaks (Japan)
Top (Japan)
 
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Vvmvbb

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CT
Welcome. I love ID guys.
No one has really made a good slip joint pliers in my opinion. The Knipex Copras might be the best there, but they are still more irritating than they should be. Maybe improve the RoboGrip style of mechanism or something...I always thought that was promising, though badly implemented.
Good luck!
 
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Boyd

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Forney, TX
Come up with a line of tools that includes (for a small fee, of course) custom laser etching as an option.
 
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Aberdale

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Ohio
I, too have an industrial design background, so I view your post with interest.

First off, the term "pliers" covers a lot of different types of tools. There are many different functional tools all called pliers, including needle nose, slip joint, locking, as well as a myriad of specialty pliers for hoses, clamps, snap rings, etc..

I suspect there are several aspects of all current pliers that can be improved.

Firstly is ergonomics and biometrics. This includes grip comfort, ease of adjustability, handle shapes that conform to 5% female hands up to 95% male hands, etc.

Secondly, is mechanic leverage. This includes the location of single or multiple pivot points, linear vs. exponential leverage rates, jaw geometry to capture the workpiece, jaw serration design, etc.

Third is appearance. And believe it or not, from a salability standpoint, this is as important as the function to many, since most tool purchases are made without actually using the tool. Instead, the purchase decision is often based on whether the tool looks like it will do the job, and will look good in my toolbox.

My suggestion is to narrow down your plier selection to a specific plier type. Then, research how different suppliers have designed their brand of pliers to look and work.
Then identify areas for improvement based on actual use.

For me, some of my pet peeves are based on the adjustment of both slip joint pliers and locking pliers. It seems I am constantly adjusting and readjusting before I can get a good grip. If someone could simplify jaw adjustment it would make most of our lives much easier.

Good luck with your project!

'dale
 
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CWP1616L

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Most nose pliers on the market have handles that are too short; that's why I like the MAC P92S nose pliers so much; the handles are actually long enough to get my hands on.
 
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retrobuilder

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Alpharetta GA
Welcome to GJ, I work with alot of I.d, folks plus help folks select tools.

A few hints-

Pliers- design out the hand pinch action that occurs when the pliers slip off a bolts head.
Users- Tools often are designed or offered for small hand users- not only women but men or youth.

Find a vintage Stanley tools book and see an evolution for hand tools..

Design ergonomics for more than one hand position like say on a ratchet handle. Ergonomics plus proper use of human factors makes a huge difference.

OBSERVE, OBSERVE, ASK USERS QUESTIONS, USE THE TOOLS and model solutions then ask users again about use and function.

Use plastics appropriately for application, ABS and polypropylene are not the perfect plastics for tools.

Consider how the tool is picked up and placed down..

USE, Question, and deligently study the small stuff- it matters.
 
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machine_punk

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I want a pair of locking pliers which don't pinch my leather welding gloves when I lock them. You get the perfect position, then have to unlock them to release your glove.

Kev
 
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Steinmetz

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"...Own idea's for a new type of tool (you must be thinking sometimes: "they should make a tool for this")..."

Public disclosures like this might be extremely unwise.
 
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nicksnothereman

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In the Mojave
bastrouw said:
Dear Forum readers,

My name is Bas Trouw, 23 and student Industrial Design in Enschede, the Netherlands. I am currently doing a project for a large German Tool Manufacturer. For this project, I have to develop a new set of pliers/handtools.

For inspiration and idea's I would like to ask you to tell me all of your:

- irritations regarding existing tools. These could be caused by limitations of the tools for example
- Problems in and around the house that could use a tool to solve the problem.
- Own idea's for a new type of tool (you must be thinking sometimes: "they should make a tool for this")

I hope you guys can help me. All the help is appreciated!!!

thank you!
Click to expand...

PASS.

The whole point of 'design' is to understand your customers and what they're doing. Large companies have in house market research. Anything you poach from users on here would be essentially worthless because we are (generally) not your customers.

You want to impress your bosses? Do it YOURSELF. If you know nothing about tools you shouldn't be working in industry until you LEARN. I used to work for sylvania, believe me I know all about idiots working in the industry that should probably be working a cash register instead of marketing/business development.:lol:

(see my previous disclaimers about how I'm a d-bag)
 
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Zeke

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Long Beach CA, the sewer by the sea.
Parallel jaw long needle nose would be my choice of a new tool. The ones out now are all designed for heavy grip. Not all plier operations need a heavy grip but parts slip out of conventional pliers too easily. No need for exaggerated teeth. Add a locking function and I'm a buyer.

Beyond that, I'd like to see needle nose pliers with articulated tips that remain parallel or even go positive by adjustment, but we're talking the price of surgeon's tools now.
 
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daddy2coull

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Dec 9, 2012
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United Kingdom
I hate soft grips. For example Snap on's tools all seem to absorb oil and are a b@@@h to clean. I've sold or given away all the screwdrivers because they are impossible to turn in an oily environment and the pliers are just as bad. Bring back all the hard grips please.
 
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bastrouw

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machine_punk said:
I want a pair of locking pliers which don't pinch my leather welding gloves when I lock them. You get the perfect position, then have to unlock them to release your glove.

Kev
Click to expand...

Hi guys,

Thanks for all the comments! I am looking for stuff like machine_punks suggestion!

The company that I'm working for wants me to finds these "Problems" to fill these little niches in the market. The engineering fase (material/ergonomics etc.) will come after that.

Keep em coming! I appreciate your help very much!
 
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Adam.C

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If you look at KNIPEX needle nose, the jaws sit flush when closed or very nearly. That means if you hold something the thickness of a coin, the pliers grab the edge of the coin not the face of it.

Now look at Snap-Ons long nose. They are designed with a tapered gap when closed. Up to a certain thickness, they grip the face of something. That gives you much better control and pull strength. The alternative is to make sharp jaw teeth, but they can damage what you are holding. Snap on uses a diamond pattern, saw tooth cut to provide for a strong grip. They call it Talon grip. I think the Snap On long nose (96CF, 196CF) are by far the best design out there.

But even with the taper, it's only a matter of time before you have something too thick to grab with the tips of your pliers. Could there be pliers where you can adjust the amount of taper (so like all adjustable pliers) but where the adjust is REALLY small. So start with a taper, then provide an additional 2 or 3mm of hinge (or whatever) displacement?

Because Snap on is right. Certain pliers are designed for certain jobs. We wont use small long nose pliers to grab something 1cm thick. I just think we need a tiny bit more thickness before we are grabbing the edge of the coin (so to speak).

Send my 10% royalty fee to:.......
 
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Burgerkong

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Adam.C said:
If you look at KNIPEX needle nose, the jaws sit flush when closed or very nearly. That means if you hold something the thickness of a coin, the pliers grab the edge of the coin not the face of it.

Now look at Snap-Ons long nose. They are designed with a tapered gap when closed. Up to a certain thickness, they grip the face of something. That gives you much better control and pull strength. The alternative is to make sharp jaw teeth, but they can damage what you are holding. Snap on uses a diamond pattern, saw tooth cut to provide for a strong grip. They call it Talon grip. I think the Snap On long nose (96CF, 196CF) are by far the best design out there.

But even with the taper, it's only a matter of time before you have something too thick to grab with the tips of your pliers. Could there be pliers where you can adjust the amount of taper (so like all adjustable pliers) but where the adjust is REALLY small. So start with a taper, then provide an additional 2 or 3mm of hinge (or whatever) displacement?

Because Snap on is right. Certain pliers are designed for certain jobs. We wont use small long nose pliers to grab something 1cm thick. I just think we need a tiny bit more thickness before we are grabbing the edge of the coin (so to speak).

Send my 10% royalty fee to:.......
Click to expand...

Or something with parallel jaws and a 'V' cutout for pipes.
 
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