Parallel Pliers

[VicParticipant @vic]

These look like a handy item.

**LINK**

There seem to be many different jaw types out there but due to the construction of the pliers it looks like it’s easy to make and fit your own custom jaws.

[VicParticipant @vic]

[Clive FosterParticipant @clivefoster55965]

I have a set of Maun Industries ones. They do a whole range of different types at not cheap but affordable if I really need them prices. **LINK**

Mine are Type 4951-160. Well made and very useful. Fine, cross grooved jaws with a slim tee groove running longitudinally down the middle of one jaw face. Strong wire cutters the outside too. **LINK**

These were UK services issue so sometimes turn up at military surplus places.

Clive

[VidarParticipant @vidar]

I like the Knipex pliers wrenches. Different parallel mechanism though. They are quite versatile and comes in sizes from 125 to 400mm. The tiny one is downright cute. (There might be something wrong with me?)

The last few years, after the Knipex patent expired, other manufacturers have made similar ones based on the same concept.** Knipex pliers wrenches **

 

Edited By Vidar on 27/11/2019 13:01:34

[An OtherParticipant @another21905]

As Clive mentions, these were service issue once. I still have a pair which date back to RAF service in 1967, and they are still going strong – but I doubt if the same quality can be obtained now.

[VidarParticipant @vidar]

They are still very much in professional use with jewellers. With professional use, and prices to match, I assume there are still high quality pliers around if you're willing to pay.

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Especially useful for people who like to round off nuts at diametrically opposite corners rather than two corners towards one side as with normal pliers.

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

edit : Double posted somehow – my computer wanted to agree with my sentiment

Edited By Bazyle on 27/11/2019 18:31:21

[VidarParticipant @vidar]

Posted by Bazyle on 27/11/2019 18:30:08:

Especially useful for people who like to round off nuts at diametrically opposite corners rather than two corners towards one side as with normal pliers.

I haven't tried the jewelry style parallel pliers on nuts, but for the Knipex style parallel pliers nuts and bolts is their speciality. They offer better grip than even fix sized spanners. (As spanners need tolerances to fit the nut, and the pliers instead close in perfectly with a compound action of about 10:1).

[Tim StevensParticipant @timstevens64731]

Spanners rely on the strength of steel to prevent the jaws opening (ie for grip), but parallel pliers rely on the grip from your wrist. I know which I rely on most.

Tim

[VicParticipant @vic]

Anyone using pliers to turn nuts or bolts should expect the worst! When I worked as a mechanic I was introduced to what was called a “Top Wrench”. Although I bought both sizes for use on track rods etc at which they excelled, they also worked very well on damaged nuts due to their self tightening action.

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

Posted by Vidar on 27/11/2019 13:01:13:

I like the Knipex pliers wrenches. Different parallel mechanism though. They are quite versatile and comes in sizes from 125 to 400mm. The tiny one is downright cute. (There might be something wrong with me?)

The last few years, after the Knipex patent expired, other manufacturers have made similar ones based on the same concept.** Knipex pliers wrenches **

Edited By Vidar on 27/11/2019 13:01:34

I have the dinky 125 pair, what ever is wrong with you seems to afflict me as well.

Mike

[David George 1Participant @davidgeorge1]

I have a pair of Main industries pliers from my apprenticeship, about 55 to 60 years ago, and they are still going strong. I had to buy some new ones for the wife as they are used in stained glass work as well they are just the same and the same quality all made on site, machineing, hardening, pressing and blackodising on site just round the corner from where I live.

David

Edited By David George 1 on 28/11/2019 21:23:57

[VidarParticipant @vidar]

Posted by Tim Stevens on 27/11/2019 20:25:51:

Spanners rely on the strength of steel to prevent the jaws opening (ie for grip), but parallel pliers rely on the grip from your wrist. I know which I rely on most.

Tim

Have you tried them?

Spanners are stronger, fair enough, but the point is that with 10:1 compound action the Knipex pliers are strong enough so it isn't an issue. Further they are self-locking on a nut in one direction, so one can actually discuss if your grip strength is really used much at all. I have most of their sizes, and I have used them for everything from tiny electronics nuts to big nuts on a 13 ton excavator. I can't remember a single gripping issue, nor do I have to grip very hard.

If there is space enough I much prefer them over spanners: They grip perfectly, each cover a wide range of size so less to carry around, and for most of their grip range they will do a ratcheting action to speed things up. For nuts and surfaces that should stay prestine the grip also gives less chance of maiming compared to a spanner.

Then there are all the traditional uses as a plier.

Edited By Vidar on 28/11/2019 21:45:12

[VidarParticipant @vidar]

I have the dinky 125 pair, what ever is wrong with you seems to afflict me as well.

Mike

Somehow I find that weirdly comforting.

Would you by any chance also refer to your pet excavator as a she?

[Mark Gould 1Participant @markgould1]

Another +1 for the Maun pliers. Excellent bit of kit.

Mark

[Brian HParticipant @brianh50089]

Another possibility is the SPEETOG PLIER CLAMP.

I don't know if they are still made but there seems to be some available on the various auction sites etc.

Brian

Edited By Brian H on 30/11/2019 08:24:04

[VidarParticipant @vidar]

The jaws on that one doesn't seem to have parallel action though? It can be adjusted to parallel, but the jaws aren't moving in parallel.

Fun piece though! There are some modern equivalents which are combinations of an adjustable spanner and a plier.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Oh dear … I must be losing the plot

I saw Brian’s post and immediately thought of cuttlefish !!

MichaelG.

.

https://www.hindawi.com/journals/jmb/2014/891943/

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 30/11/2019 09:53:04

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