2023 Author: Douglas Hoggarth | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-24 11:23
Surprising but true: every repairman will argue that pliers are not a professional tool. However, when asked whether he uses them, he will answer: "Of course."
There was an opinion that a professional tool should perform one single operation (that is, you need to use nippers for biting, and pliers for gripping), but this does not seem to apply to pliers: there are more than enough professional models. So we decided to figure out what's what.
FUNCTIONALITY
Pliers as a special case of pliers are a product that combines the functions of two separate devices: pliers and wire cutters. This versatility comes in handy for frequent small jobs. However, this comes at the cost of some restrictions. If nippers are a tool, relatively speaking, a consumable (blunt - acquired new ones), then pliers, by everyday standards, are almost eternal. Therefore, the cutting function of pliers is most often used only for cutting wires. Otherwise - after contact with hard materials - the cutting parts will grind off and the tool will turn into pliers.
STEEL
The steel from which the pliers are made determines their working qualities to the greatest extent. Here, manufacturers not only strictly adhere to the composition of the material, but also use many special processing technologies to give the elements the required hardness. For example, the lid of the hinge mechanism will be maximum only when the hardness of the axial and external parts is the same.
Jaws and cutting edges of expensive models, in addition to the usual heat treatments, are often hardened with high frequency currents.
COATING
The next step is to apply an anti-corrosion compound to the tool so that after the first rain the pliers do not have to be changed. The simplest protection - bluing (synonyms - oxidation or blackening) of steel - consists in placing the part in a stream of hot steam containing oil. After that, it is sometimes covered with a special varnish.
Oxidation slows down the oxidation processes, but does not provide good protection if it gets wet frequently. Therefore, black (blued) pliers are designed for workshops. To survive in the open air, they need more protection, for example, chrome plating (or coating parts containing chrome compounds). Such products are distinguished by their steel shine. To make the chrome pliers look more attractive, their sponges are sometimes polished, then the surface acquires a characteristic sheen.
Rarely, but zinc coating is found. It is in no way inferior to "chromium", and tolerates impacts even better (zinc is softer than chromium). However, in terms of presentability, such samples are clearly inferior to chrome-plated ones.
HANDLES
Now you need to ensure comfortable contact with the pliers with the palm. For this, the handles are "put on" in plastic. Offhand, all handles can be divided into one-piece, ergonomic (with rubber inserts) and electrical insulating. In the latter, the material, as a rule, is more rigid, but it insulates from voltage up to 1000 volts. The rubber inserts of the ergonomic handles make them more comfortable, but at the same time increase the sensitivity to chemicals (rubber is a "delicate matter"). If the chemical resistance of the handles is paramount, the one-piece option is more appropriate. And especially for "chemists", many manufacturers produce models without even covering the handles.
An important point is the reliability of fastening the plastic linings. It is impossible to work with a specimen whose handles rotate or slide off the rod. The easiest way is to put them on glue, but it can dry out or "melt" on contact with a solvent. This method is complemented by thermal shrinkage of the plastic (in other words, it is hot on the rods). Well, it is very rare that the handles are reinforced with special pins.
GENERAL
A notch is applied to the lips with pliers. Its size and shape determines how well the tool will hold the part. A notch is sometimes found on the other side of the axis (closest to the handles), this allows you to choose a grip option. In the shape of the jaws, the pliers follow the thumb and forefinger of the hand brought together. The geometry of these tools practically does not vary from model to model, only the dimensions change. The total length of the sample indicates the "strength" qualities of the instrument. All other distances (from the jaws to the axis, the length of the notch on the jaws, the length of the cutting elements, etc.) differ slightly from brand to brand.
A special item is the sharpening of the cutting edges. By using various know-how, firms are trying to give these elements certain qualities: they are hardened in a special way, sharpened at certain angles, etc.
The quality of the final product can be judged by how it is assembled. Ideally, there should be no backlash in the axis, and the handles should be smoothly and effortlessly divorced (then the pliers can be operated with one hand). In the compressed position, a small (no more than tenths of a millimeter) gap between the jaws is allowed.
A little trick: to appreciate the "unfamiliar" pliers, look in front of the flattened lips. If you see two regular rectangles of the same shape, chances are high that you have a high quality sample. The fact is that during production they do not pay special attention to this nuance, and the fidelity of the shapes of these parts indicates the accuracy of all assembly operations.
Of the proprietary technologies of renowned manufacturers, we separately note the original hinge designs, which increase the reliability of the tool and extend its life.
ROCKWELL HARDNESS ASSESSMENT (HRC)
Hardness is the resistance of a material to local plastic deformation when a harder body - a tip (indenter) is introduced into it. The latter is a low-deformation body (diamond, hard alloy, hardened steel) of a certain geometric shape (ball, pyramid, cone, needle).
The value of hardness is judged by the size of the resulting deformation (imprint). Depending on the test method, the properties of the tip and the material under test, different criteria are used to evaluate.
The most widely used measurement is the indentation. There are several methods, but the Rockwell method has become the most popular (especially in industrial settings). When measuring according to this method, the tip of the standard type is pressed into the surface by successive loads applied - preliminary F0 = 98 N and main F1 = 1373 N. Total force acting on the tip:
F = F0 + F1 = 1471 H
The conventional unit of hardness is the value corresponding to the axial displacement of the tip by 0.002 mm. The hardness value is determined after removing the main load (F1) directly on the scale of the device. The formula for calculating HRC is as follows:
HRC = 100 - (h-h0) / 0.002, where: h0 is the depth of penetration of the tip into the test body under the action of the force F0;
h is the penetration depth of the tip under the full load F, measured after it has been removed.
When measuring, at least three experiments must be carried out.
There is no exact way to convert HRC into other units of measurement (obtained by other methods). Comparisons are made in tables.
TEST CONDITIONS
Considering all of the above, we tried to test 12 samples of pliers "in full". The most popular models with a length of 180 mm were selected for testing. We did not insist on samples with the same handles or with the same coating.
MECHANICAL TESTS
They were held on the basis of the laboratory "Testing of materials and structures" of the Department of Applied Mechanics, Moscow State Technical University. N. E. Bauman. Qualified employees carried out experiments in accordance with the tasks set by the editorial board.
EXPERIENCE # 1.
Preliminary assessment of workmanship. First of all, we conducted an initial inspection of the "exhibits". The presence of backlash, the accuracy of the geometry of the jaws, and the ease of spreading the handles were noted. Comments were included in the section "Consumer Analysis" of model descriptions.
EXPERIENCE # 2.
Determination of the hardness of steel. Measurements were carried out on a Rockwell hardness tester TK-14-250 separately for four zones: a fine notch zone (in the area of the jaws), a large notch zone (in the area of a circular lumen), a bite zone and an axial zone. Note that it was not possible to determine the hardness of the cutting elements due to technical limitations, so the "thick" part of the profile was measured.
EXPERIENCE # 3.
Structural strength tests. In accordance with the requirements of GOST 17440-93, the strength of the handles was assessed. To do this, a force of 800 N (about 80 kg) was applied to the handles, previously released from the coating, at a distance of 80 mm from the hinge axis. Between the jaws of the pliers, a plate with a hardness of 40 HRC and a thickness of 2 mm was placed at a length of 8 mm from the top of the jaws.
For the experiments, we used a 1958U10 No. 95 universal testing machine. The loading was repeated 4 times. During the experiment, the relationship between the force and the mutual displacement (approach) of the points of force application was recorded. Let us say right away that under loading with a force of 800 N no plastic deformations were observed in any specimen, i.e. the pliers of all firms have fully retained their performance.
For a comparative assessment of the rigidity of the structure, the flexural rigidity of the handles was calculated (the force required to bring the points of application closer by 1 mm).
EXPERIENCE # 4.
Snack tests. The experience also passed in accordance with the requirements of GOST 17440-93.
A piece of high-strength steel wire (diameter - 1.6 mm, ultimate strength - 2200 MPa) was installed between the blades of the cutting machine, and the handles were loaded with pliers with a force of 570 N (about 57 kg). The appearance or absence of plastic deformation of the blades was used to assess their durability.
In addition to software tests, we decided to conduct another experiment. There is an opinion that well-sharpened pliers should cut a sheet of paper. Although, in our opinion, it is not entirely correct to judge the cutting ability of tools based on the results of this "test", nevertheless, we did it.
EXPERIENCE # 5.
Retention tests. A steel rod (diameter - 4 mm, hardness - 5 HRC) was installed between the jaws of the pliers, and by selecting the force applied to the handles, it was loaded with a fixed force of 1500 N (about 150 kg). Thereafter, a gradually increasing torque was transmitted to the rod. Up to a certain value, the rod remained motionless, then began to scroll (a breakdown occurred). By the magnitude of the moment turning the rod relative to the jaws, indirect conclusions were drawn about their holding capacity.
According to laboratory specialists, this parameter deserves special attention, since one of the main functions of the pliers is to hold parts.
EXPERIENCE # 6.
Evaluation of the ergonomics of the pliers. One of the most important indicators is the maximum force transmitted by the pliers to the jaws during manual work. To a large extent, it depends on the ergonomics of the handle, but design features also contribute to it.
In our experience, consistently men and women, using different models, tried to give out the maximum they were capable of. The measurements were made on a 1958U10 No. 95 universal testing machine.
CHEMICAL TESTS
In this series of experiments, we studied the resistance of the samples to the impact of petroleum products on them (or the oil and gas resistance of the pliers). The conditions were the most stringent, but let's say right away that most of the models passed the test.
The tests were carried out on the basis of the laboratory of the department "Chemistry" of the Moscow State Technical University. N. E. Bauman. Experiments were carried out by qualified specialists, we only set tasks for them.
EXPERIENCE # 7.
Petrol resistance. For 24 hours, 12 pliers were placed with one handle in AI-92 gasoline. On an electronic balance, the weights of the samples were recorded before immersion and after extraction from gasoline. The next two measurements were taken after 24 and 120 hours of drying. All mass changes were correlated with initial values.
EXPERIENCE # 8.
Oil resistance. The only difference from the previous test was that, instead of gasoline, the pliers were immersed in BP Visco 3000 10W40 oil and the fourth measurement, corresponding to 120 hours of drying, was not performed. The comments in this case boiled down to the only conclusion - all the pliers passed the test easily.
Bahco 2628G
Price: retail - $ 20 (June 2003).
Universal pliers with ergonomic handles.
PURPOSE: holding parts with great effort; biting electrical wires, etc.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
STEEL: alloyed chrome vanadium; coating - blued to protect against corrosion.
HANDLES: two-piece.
LENGTH: 180 mm. Weight: 76 g.
FEATURES: original design of the hinge; hardening of jaws and cutting edges by high-frequency currents; return spring for opening the handles.
MANUFACTURER'S RANGE: handles - one-component, two-component, electrical insulating (up to 1000 V); coating - chrome-plated, blued. Model lengths: from 160 to 200 mm.
CONSUMER ANALYSIS
The assortment of the Bahco company - a well-known world manufacturer of professional equipment - has always been distinguished by quality and an abundance of original solutions. The pliers we tested were no exception.
CONSTRUCTION: Bahco's universal pliers are very different from similar products from other companies. The shape of the plastic handles does not have wide parts in front of the rods - there is nothing to rest against. But the rubber pads completely cover the ends - it is easy to produce longitudinal pressure.
Metal parts are rounded not only for image reasons, but also in order to facilitate access to difficult places. In general, the geometry of the parts is completely unusual - Hi-Tech, in a word.
The originality of the design of the hinge lies in the fact that the fixed engagement of the axis in one of the halves does not look like a round rod, but an asterisk. The hardness of the metal in this place differs "demonstratively" - the material is weaker hardened. Technologically, this ensures a long service life of the hinge without loosening. Initially, there is no backlash in the hinge at all, but it opens easily with one hand, the stroke is smooth. The hardness of the rest of the details is very strict.
Sharpening the blades allows you to effortlessly cut even thin sheets of paper. This is due not only to their special hardening using high-frequency currents, but also to the fact that there is a small gap between the jaws, and all the pressure of the handles is primarily transferred to the cutting edges.
The burnished finish does not tolerate moisture well. Note that Bahco has models that differ from the 2628G only in chrome; there are modifications with a one-component handle (petrol-oil resistant) and electrical insulating (with traditional protective "covers" that prevent fingers from contact with metal).
The original part - the return spring (by the way, disconnected) - is on all Bahco pliers. A thin strip of elastic steel with one end goes under the plastic of the first handle, and with the other it springs against the approximate second handle.
To help the buyer, on the packaging of the entire tool, special marking graphically shows all the "talents" of each specific model.
TEST RESULTS: High professional "claims" were fully confirmed by our tests. The rigidity of the structure is excellent: even under heavy load, the handles come together barely noticeably. The hardening of the sponges is correct: there are no deformations after contact with the test specimen. The retention of the notch is very good and the force transferred to the jaws by hand is one of the greatest.
Prolonged "swimming" in gasoline resulted in slight shrinkage of the rubber pad. Handle oil is harmless.
SUMMARY: an original model with extraordinary abilities. Not only does not have chemical resistance (corresponding Bahco pliers have a different "lining"). Ideal for work in the workshop or workshop.
Brigadier 21 102
Price: retail - $ 6.4 (June 2003).
Universal pliers.
PURPOSE: holding parts; biting electrical wires, etc.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
STEEL: high carbon tool steel; coating - bluing and varnishing to protect against corrosion.
HANDLES: one-piece; protective protrusions that prevent hand contact with the part.
LENGTH: 180 mm. Weight: 263 g.
MANUFACTURER'S RANGE: handles - one-component, two-component, electrical insulating; coating - chromium-nickel, blued. Model length: from 100 to 280 mm.
CONSUMER ANALYSIS
The international group of companies Brigadier has already gained worldwide fame as a manufacturer of high-quality professional equipment and building materials.
CONSTRUCTION: simple and solid - that's the exact definition for this model. In strict accordance with the canons of "pliers construction", Brigadier specialists have made a classic product.
The protrusions on the front of the plastic grips prevent the hand from sliding forward. They are also included in the work when squeezing widely spread pliers. Roughness, invisible at first glance, is only on the outer surface of the plastic, the rest of the zones are smooth.
The hinge is made of high quality - there is no backlash, it works smoothly, it can be easily opened with one hand almost to the limit.
The hardness of the steel turned out to be relatively low. When the hardness tester passed the zone of a large notch and the bite, a smooth increase in the values was noticeable.
All parts are blued, and not hidden under plastic are also varnished. This protection is not designed for aggressive environments; This model is not "street", but "shop", it is better not to leave it in the rain.
TEST RESULTS: the pliers showed good values for the rigidity of the structure, they are not very springy under load.
Hardening of cutting elements - not resistant to heavy loads. After passing the endurance test, small dents remained on the blades, visible in the light when the jaws were drawn together.
The model is in the middle of the list in terms of its ability to transfer forces and hold the scroll bar.
As you would expect, the one-piece handles have successfully passed the oil and gas test.
SUMMARY: professional model for everyday work. She did not excel in outstanding performance, but she transmits average efforts regularly. It has good oil and gas resistance, but not the strongest moisture protection, therefore it is suitable for workshops or workshops.
Gedore 8245-180
Price: retail - $ 16.8 (June 2003).
Universal pliers with ergonomic handles.
PURPOSE: holding parts with great effort; biting electrical wires, etc.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
STEEL: alloyed chrome vanadium; coating - chrome-plated anti-corrosion.
HANDLES: two-piece; protective protrusions that prevent hand contact with the part.
FEATURES: original design of the hinge; induction hardening of cutting edges.
LENGTH: 180 mm. Weight: 262 g.
MANUFACTURER'S RANGE: handles - one-component, two-component, electrical insulating (up to 1000 V), uncoated; coating - lacquered, chrome-plated, polished chrome. Model lengths: from 160 to 200 mm.
CONSUMER ANALYSIS
Gedore is a world-famous brand of professional tools. High quality and reliable, it has won the trust of many European users. The assortment of the offered goods is very wide, but with a pronounced bias towards "power" models.
CONSTRUCTION: the simplicity of the shape of Gedore 8245-180 has a certain grace - it is pleasant to hold such a tool in your hands: nothing superfluous, everything is in place. The rubber pads do not feel like a separate grip element. They cover only those areas that have the maximum pressure, that is, the half farthest from the hinge, this makes them inconspicuous and invisible. The shape of the handles themselves is convenient: moderately thin, they allow you to work both accurately and strongly. The thumb and forefinger fit comfortably in the grooves in the grips, allowing you to transfer forces even to wide-open jaws.
The originality of the design of the hinge lies in the fact that the axial rod, pressed into the fixed handle, at the point of pressing is not round in shape, but resembles a rounded gear. Such a system is more robust: it does not get loose over the years, does not form a backlash. By the way, it is not there at all - the mechanism is assembled very precisely, it works smoothly, fully opening with minimal effort.
The material from which the pliers are cast has a high hardness that remains unchanged at any point on the product, except for cutting edges hardened in a special way. The geometry of all elements - from the symmetry of the side edges to the accuracy of the dimensions of the jaws - is kept very precisely.
Good corrosion protection - galvanized. Such a tool will not fail if exposed to rain.
Good sharpening of the blades makes it easy to cut even a thin sheet of paper.
TEST RESULTS: the mechanical performance of the pliers turned out to be very high; in terms of the transfer of force to the sponges, both men and women gave them high values. The test for the rigidity of the structure also gave good results.
The only low indicator was obtained when evaluating the holding capacity of the sponges. Inspection of the notch showed that it was not sharpened sharply. On the one hand, this reduces the reliability of gripping thin parts, on the other hand, the notch is not threatened with grinding.
After experiment no. 4, a barely noticeable deformation remained on the cutting elements, which can only be noticed when viewing a compressed tool in the light. I must say that when cutting the paper after this experiment, the sheet remained uncut at this point. So it's best not to use pliers to cut through hard materials.
Despite the fact that after 24 hours of exposure in gasoline the handle lengthened, during the drying time "everything returned to normal." A few days later, it was possible to distinguish a sample that passed chemical tests from an untouchable one only by the smell of gasoline. The rubber inserts have not lost their qualities.
SUMMARY: high quality professional tool. The two-component handles have not only good ergonomics, but also high oil and gas resistance. The chrome-plated coating reliably protects the parts from rusting. Tool suitable for strenuous work in harsh conditions
Kraftool Will 65/180 22002-1-18
Price: retail - $ 18 (June 2003).
Universal pliers with electrical insulating (up to 1000 V) handles.
PURPOSE: holding parts with great effort; work with live material; biting electrical wires, etc.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
STEEL: alloyed chrome vanadium; coating - chrome-plated anticorrosive, polished.
HANDLES: one-component electrical insulating (up to 1000 V); protective protrusions that prevent hand contact with the part.
LENGTH: 180 mm. Weight: 238 g.
FEATURES: metal cross pin inside the handles to prevent them from sliding off the shafts.
MANUFACTURER'S RANGE: handles - one-component, two-component, electrical insulating, uncoated; cover - chrome. Model lengths: from 160 to 200 mm.
CONSUMER ANALYSIS
A wide range of professional tools under the name Kraftool is available to the Russian buyer. Pliers with this brand are found in workshops and repair shops, but they are quite suitable for home use.
CONSTRUCTION: the originality of this particular model is that soft plastic handles are cast directly on the rods (pins are welded to the latter and it is impossible to fit the handles otherwise) Such measures completely exclude slippage of plastic when transferring any efforts, because it literally sits like a glove.
The handles are not only electrically insulated, but also molded from plastic, pleasant to the touch, and their shape is thought out and comfortable. Wide "aprons" closer to the axis of rotation prevent the hand from sliding forward and touching the metal (after all, it can be energized). Next comes the narrow "waist", which comfortably fits the thumb and forefinger of the working hand. This is where the greatest force is transmitted to the rods when the wide open pliers are squeezed. Therefore, in this place (and from the inside, closer to the end of the handle), the surface is covered with "peas" (grooved with dots). And to transmit large forces in a compressed state, the outer sides of the distal parts of the handles are smooth.
The build quality of the pliers emphasizes their professionalism - there is no backlash in the mechanism, the handles open easily. But not to the full width, but to about half (this is how the tool is "pushed open" most often), then you will have to make a little effort, but everything can be done with one hand.
The geometry of the jaws for all samples is almost perfect, which indicates a high quality of assembly. The small notch does not start immediately - about 2 mm of the clamping edges are flat - this way you can clamp the part more tightly. The cutting planes are well sharpened, they even cut the paper.
The hardness of the material is quite high and differs significantly in different parts of the mechanism. This indicates a special hardening technology.
Chrome plated - reliable protection against corrosion. Thanks to it, the tool not only looks attractive, but also works in the rain outside as reliably as in a dry workshop.
TEST RESULTS: The pliers turned out to be one of the most flexible when testing the strength of the structure, but after removing the load, their shape was restored invariably. The blades of the cutting elements showed high strength: after testing, no traces were left on them. Low indicators were obtained when evaluating the "power" qualities of the pliers, with all the perceived convenience in transferring force to the jaws, they were inferior to many other samples.
The pliers passed the oil resistance test very well. So even if you forget them for the night in a petrol puddle, nothing bad will happen.
SUMMARY: a well-made tool for professional use. It features a well thought-out shape of the electrically insulated handle. It is molded directly onto a pin with a pin, sits firmly without slipping. The tool is well protected against corrosion and chemical attack, suitable for work in extreme conditions, for example, in auto repair shops, where contact with water, salts or gasoline is frequent.
Legioner 22025-1-18
Price: retail - $ 5.2 (June 2003).
Universal pliers with ergonomic handles.
PURPOSE: holding parts with great effort; biting electrical wires, etc.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
STEEL: alloyed chrome vanadium; coating - chrome-plated anticorrosive, matte.
HANDLES: two-piece; protective protrusions that prevent hand contact with the part.
LENGTH: 180 mm. Weight: 245 g.
MANUFACTURER'S RANGE: handles - one-component, two-component, electrical insulating; cover - chrome. Model length: from 160 to 180 mm.
CONSUMER ANALYSIS
The Legioner brand is new on the Russian market. A professional tool with this name is created using original design solutions and, in addition to professional quality, has an attractive appearance.
CONSTRUCTION: pliers handles are divided into two parts. The interior is lined with plastic, and the top is clad in soft rubber, which improves contact with the palm. Moreover, the ergonomic insert stretches along the entire surface, covering even the protective "apron" (extension of the handle near the hinge, preventing the hand from sliding forward). Thanks to its presence, the tool can safely rest against the part.
The pliers are made of high quality, there is practically no play in the joints. The geometry of the jaws is also strictly maintained, which indicates a high level of all factory operations.
A noble matt sheen - the effect of the usual anti-corrosion chrome plating. The special technology of its final revision allows to give the pliers an advantageous appearance. And under the coating is hidden steel of high hardness, strictly maintained in all details.
The sharpness of the cutting edges deserves praise: not every tool has them sharpened so that it is easy to bite even one sheet of paper.
It is convenient to use the pliers with one hand. They open easily to medium angles. Then the handles need to be "pushed" a little, and only for the most complete opening, you will need to take the tool in both palms. By the way, in this position, the already noted "aprons" at the top of the handles turn out to be advantageous - the angles created by them allow even in this position to transfer rather large forces to the levers.
TEST RESULTS: in all mechanical tests, the pliers proved to be confident average. Not champions, of course, but they are quite convenient for professionals.
Cutting elements demonstrated good durability: no traces of sufficiently severe impact in experiment No. 4 remained on them.
The ergonomic handles are capable of transferring quite large forces to the jaws.
The only thing that the pliers did not cope with was a one-day exposure in gasoline: the plastic was deformed, and the rubber insert lost its elasticity. Prolonged oil "baths" did no harm to the instrument.
SUMMARY: professional model with good working qualities. It compares favorably with an attractive design. The noble matt sheen of the chrome-plated anti-corrosion coating is both effective and functional. Pliers do not always tolerate long-term exposure to harsh chemicals (such as gasoline), so they are more suitable for the workshop or for the home.
NWS 110-56-180
Price: retail - $ 11.3 (June 2003).
Universal pliers.
PURPOSE: holding parts; biting electrical wires, etc.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
STEEL: alloyed chrome vanadium; coating - chrome-plated anticorrosive, polished.
HANDLES: one-piece; protective protrusions that prevent hand contact with the part.
LENGTH: 180 mm. Weight: 276 g.
FEATURES: overhead cutting unit.
MANUFACTURER'S RANGE: handles - one-component, two-component, electrical insulating, uncoated; coating - chrome-plated, blued. Model length: from 145 to 225 mm.
CONSUMER ANALYSIS
NWS is a renowned professional equipment brand. For the production of hand tools, the company uses high quality Solingen materials, as evidenced by the markings on the pliers we tested.
CONSTRUCTION: chrome plating, rustproofing pliers, polished. The appearance of the tool undoubtedly benefited from this, and the durability of the protection improved.
The hardness of the material is high enough to ensure a long service life. Its value in various measurements showed that hardening specifically strengthens the sponges and the axis (their hardness is higher). The rotary mechanism works smoothly and it is easy to open it more than halfway with one hand. However, there is already a slight backlash in it.
To cut the material more accurately, the cutting parts placed relative to the parts help to cut the material (the cutting line is more visible). The blades themselves in this "alignment" are located on the edge of the jaws. By the way, the type of pliers only benefits from this.
Transparent handles made of elastic material are also spectacular. Their outer surfaces are strewn with dots ("peas"), which reduce slippage. And the front is trimmed with protrusions that do not allow the palms to break forward when the longitudinal rest. The same elements allow the transfer of force to the wide open arms.
Precision of all forms of manufacture is impeccable.
TEST RESULTS: The handles showed "miracles of flexibility". When a test load of 800 N was applied to them (specified by GOST), the measurement points approached by almost a centimeter. However, every time the pressure was released, no permanent deformation remained, so all requirements were met.
After the test test, visible marks remained on the cutting surfaces. So the enhanced appearance of the blades is not a reason to overload them: they will last a long time only when cutting soft metals.
The small notch did not show great holding capacity. The "transfer" function proved to be much better: it is easy to transfer decent force to the jaws.
The chemical resistance test has passed excellently. However, we did not expect anything different from one-component handles.
SUMMARY: good protection against external influences allows you to equip even auto repair shops with these professional pliers (neither gasoline nor moisture will harm them). The tool did not show extraordinary abilities, but it is quite suitable for solving everyday tasks
Orbis 41 18
Price: retail - $ 16.6 (June 2003).
Universal pliers with ergonomic handles.
PURPOSE: holding parts with great effort; biting electrical wires, etc.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
STEEL: alloyed chrome vanadium; coating - chrome-plated anti-corrosion.
HANDLES: two-piece; protective protrusions that prevent hand contact with the part.
LENGTH: 180 mm. Weight: 253 g.
FEATURES: original design of the hinge; induction hardening of cutting elements.
MANUFACTURER'S RANGE: handles - one-component, two-component, electrical insulating, uncoated; coating - chrome-plated, blued. Length of models: from 110 to 225 mm.
CONSUMER ANALYSIS
Orbis is a professional tool.
CONSTRUCTION: the emphasized "professionalism" of this tool is visible in everything. Handles with large protective lugs prevent the hand from sliding forward. They are also included in the work, transferring efforts when squeezing wide-open pliers. The rubber inserts, which reinforce the places where the maximum forces are applied, have a rough surface. Their material is dense, its weak compression is felt only under heavy loads.
There is no play in the hinge, and it should not appear even when working with heavy loads. For reliability, the end of the hinge axis, pressed into the stationary half, is not in the form of a round rod, but gears with four rounded teeth.
The inner side of the cutting elements shows that the blades have been specially hardened to increase their durability. They are sharpened so well that they cut the paper with minimal squeezing. All other parts give off a characteristic shine - the metal is chrome-plated to protect against corrosion.
The hardness of the steel from which the pliers are made is high. In the area of the axis, the metal is slightly "tempered" (the hardness is less) - this situation is typical for products that have undergone technological production.
TEST RESULTS: the structure did not show high rigidity. When loaded with eight hundred newtons, the control points approach each other by almost half a centimeter, however, when the pressure is removed, the pliers restore their shape (by the way, GOST requires this).
The hardened surface of the blades did not receive visible deformations after experiment No. 4, but it became less brisk to fight, for example, with a paper sheet. Having made many cuts with a new sample, we noticed that the razor-sharp surfaces gradually come to the usual state for all pliers - sharp, but considerable effort is needed to cut the paper sheet.
The holding ability of the instrument turned out to be not very high, but the force with the help of pliers turned out to be quite decent.
Prolonged soaking in gasoline noticeably deforms the handle - the rubber insert hardened and shrank slightly, and it itself stretched out strongly and after drying it did not return to its original state. Oil baths were painless for the instrument.
SUMMARY: professional model, suitable for heavy loads. The hinge pin is reinforced, the parts are chrome-plated to protect against corrosion, the ergonomic handles are equipped with protective aprons. The tool is not resistant to prolonged exposure to gasoline, so it is more focused on carpentry or locksmiths.
Remocolor 34-0-102
Price: retail - $ 5.5 (June 2003).
Universal pliers.
PURPOSE: holding parts; biting electrical wires, etc.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
STEEL: alloyed chrome vanadium; coating - nickel-ferrum (Ni-Fe) anticorrosive, matt.
HANDLES: one-piece; protective protrusions that prevent hand contact with the part.
LENGTH: 180 mm. Weight: 308 g.
MANUFACTURER'S RANGE: handles - one-component, two-component, electrical insulating, uncoated; coating - chrome-plated, blued. Model lengths: from 160 to 200 mm.
CONSUMER ANALYSIS
Remocolor products combine affordable price and quality for professional use.
CONSTRUCTION: The plastic from which the pliers handles are molded, although firm to the touch, elastic enough to last a long time. If you leave a dent on it with a sharp object, then gradually it will regain its shape. The geometry of the handle allows you to rest while working without the fear of fingers jumping forward.
The instrument is assembled soundly, there is no backlash. The quality of the material is strictly maintained - the sponges are hardened along the entire surface equally, on the axis the hardness is slightly lower, and for all three measurements (the table contains the average value).
The mechanism works well, easily opens with one hand. The parts are covered with an anti-corrosion NiFe coating, its matt sheen makes the product look solid.
TEST RESULTS: The pliers' blades require careful handling. After loading them in experiment No. 4, deformations, noticeable even to the eye, remained on the cutting edges. The initial sharpening did not allow cutting the paper sheet. Thus, it is better to "bite" only the wires, they are soft enough - there will be no harm.
The design has been tested for rigidity: under load, the handles spring almost imperceptibly. The notch also performed well - the torque required to turn the test rod was large.
But the ergonomic performance of the handles turned out to be low - the wide handles did not allow you to properly press the levers even with a small opening. The length of the fingers, of course, is enough to reach the second handle, but you won't give out much strength with an open palm.
The plastic handles have passed the oil and gas test without damage. When kept in gasoline, however, they first changed their shape, but after drying they restored their original appearance.
SUMMARY: a model suitable for both home use and work in production. The wide handles are oil and gas resistant, but are not adapted to transmit significant forces.
Stanley 84-032
Price: retail - $ 17 (June 2003).
Universal pliers.
PURPOSE: holding parts; biting electrical wires, etc.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
STEEL: alloyed chrome vanadium; coating - chrome-plated anticorrosive, polished.
HANDLES: one-piece; protective protrusions that prevent hand contact with the part.
LENGTH: 180 mm. Weight: 313 g.
FEATURES: original design of the hinge.
MANUFACTURER'S RANGE: handles - one-component, two-component, electrical insulating, uncoated; coating - chrome-plated, blued. Model length: from 150 to 200 mm.
CONSUMER ANALYSIS
Stanley's professional tool has been one of the trendsetters in the global market for decades. This brand has reached a similar level of fame in Russia. Many salespeople use Stanley as a "watershed" in comparison, dividing everything else into "better" or "worse." We could not help but hold the pliers of this brand in our hands.
CONSTRUCTION: all forms are classic. No deviations from accepted standards were found in the geometry of metal parts or plastic handles.
The handles are simple, no "bells and whistles". There are protective tabs in the front and a rough surface on the top of the plastic.
The hinge is precise - no backlash, it works smoothly, but we managed to open only one of the three tested samples with one hand to the end. In the other two, he was easily exposed only to the medium "range". For a long and reliable service, the designers have strengthened it by pressing the axis of rotation into a stationary part with a gear-like engagement.
The wide edges, not buried in plastic, were polished. As a result, the chrome coating has acquired a mirror-like sheen - it looks more impressive. Functionally, chrome is a reliable anticorrosive.
The hardening of these pliers is carried out cunningly - this was evident from the hardness measurements. The values, which everywhere ranged from 45 to 47 HRC, dropped to 37-39 closer to the hinge - the metal is softer here.
The cutting elements are sharpened with high quality - they can even bite a single sheet of paper without much effort.
TEST RESULTS: The stiffness tests gave poor results. Under load, the handles noticeably come together, but when released, they return to their "rightful" place. The loading of the cutting elements left minor marks on the blades, so to increase the resource it is better to cut something softer than hardened rods with them.
The "power" ability of the pliers is commendable for a model with one-piece handles. The holding ability of the sponges is also great.
The petrol-oil resistance test once again confirmed the main advantage of simple plastic handles - insensitivity to petrol.
SUMMARY: A simple, high-quality model designed for tough work in harsh environments. Differs in good power data, moisture resistance and oil and gas resistance. Suitable for a wide variety of professional applications.
Stayer 2214-1-18
Price: retail - $ 4 (June 2003).
Universal pliers with electrical insulating (up to 1000 V) handles.
PURPOSE: holding parts; work with live material; biting electrical wires, etc.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
STEEL: alloyed chrome vanadium; coating - bluing and varnishing to protect against corrosion.
HANDLES: one-component electrical insulating (up to 1000 V); protective protrusions that prevent hand contact with the part.
LENGTH: 180 mm. Weight: 300 g.
MANUFACTURER'S RANGE: handles - one-component, electrical insulating; coating - burnished. Model length: from 160 to 180 mm.
CONSUMER ANALYSIS
The Stayer brand has taken root in the Russian market. Both professionals and amateurs have a lot to choose from a tool with this name. Reliability and durability are emphasized by the name itself (long distance runner).
CONSTRUCTION: simple, ingenuous model. It is made soundly: the backlash in the rotary mechanism is small, the quality of sharpening of the blades is good (despite the fact that the pliers do not cut the paper). The hinge works smoothly, easily opens with one hand to the extreme position.
The plastic handle is firmly seated on the adhesive. By the way, its shape corresponds to the name of the pliers - "electrically insulated": a wide element on the handle prevents the palm from sliding forward and does not allow contact with the part. So when working, it is safe to abut with pliers.
The hardness of the samples is high and constant in all elements, which indicates that the technology is precisely kept during production. On two of the three samples, the geometry of the jaws is not ideal (one rectangle is slightly smaller than the other), but this can only be seen with the naked eye.
The anti-corrosion coating is quite simple, the black color of the pliers indicates that they were only blued. Therefore, this product is best suited for work in a workshop or workshop, being exposed to rain is contraindicated for it.
TEST RESULTS: flexural rigidity and deflection under load are not the highest, but quite sufficient for long and reliable operation of the tool. The durability of the blades is commendable - the number of samples on which deformations remained after the removal of the load in experiment No. 4 was half of those tested. Stayer fell into the "persistent" group.
Good results on the moment of turning the bar in the jaws indicate a well-executed notch. But it was not possible to transfer great efforts with the help of the wide handle - they cannot be squeezed strongly even in an incompletely open state (the palm is not large enough for this). This is the "payment" for electrical insulation. And, by the way, for oil and gas resistance - in these tests, the samples showed excellent results.
SUMMARY: Solid pliers suitable for home or industrial use. The electrically insulated wide handles do not allow the transfer of large forces, but they are distinguished by good gas and oil resistance.
Workman 180 mm
Price: Retail - $ 2.7 (June 2003).
Universal pliers with ergonomic handles.
PURPOSE: holding parts with great effort; biting electrical wires, etc.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
STEEL: alloyed chrome vanadium; coating - polishing to protect against corrosion.
HANDLES: two-piece.
LENGTH: 180 mm. Weight: 266 g.
FEATURES: non-standard geometry of the inner surface of the jaws (shortened, without a large notch, with an extended cutting zone); additional notch on the side closest to the handles.
MANUFACTURER'S RANGE: handles - one-component, two-component, electrical insulating, uncoated; coating - chrome-plated, blued. Model length: from 150 to 200 mm.
CONSUMER ANALYSIS
CONSTRUCTION: These pliers look very solid. The red plastic of the handles is almost completely hidden in the "covers" of rough rubber. The handles look graceful (if only such an epithet is applicable to pliers). The tool lies comfortably in the palm of your hand, and due to correctly selected corners and a thin plastic coating, it is effective in use.
Backlash in the hinge is minimal, the mechanism works precisely. Opening is not difficult, and it is easy to open up to the largest angles with one hand.
The hardness of the metal, which is high on the jaws and on the cutting surface, is noticeably reduced in the axial part and in the area of the wide notch. This testifies to the manufacturability of production - the hardening of parts takes into account the features of the tool.
Small projections on the jaws in front of the blades prevent the cutting parts from tightly pressing against each other, leaving a gap of hundredths of a millimeter. Such measures protect the sharpening of the blades, but it is for this reason that the pliers did not cope with cutting the paper. By the way, the same "stop" leaves a gap (about 0.1 mm) between the jaws visible only to the light.
Among those tested, there were only two samples of the American type (unlike all the others belonging to the German type) - without a large notch and a round hole between the jaws and blades. Workman is one of them. Its cutting elements are slightly elongated compared to the dimensions adopted for such a tool. The front notch by 3 mm does not reach the edge of the jaws, some of which are flat, but not ground (so that the part does not slip). A small notch on the side closest to the handles goes all the way to the plastic.
Plastic, by the way, is electrical insulating (up to 1000 V), but for frequent work under voltage it is better not to use pliers, since the absence of protective plastic protrusions forces the craftsman to be careful so that the index finger does not slip and touch the metal.
TEST RESULTS: the material of the sample, and the entire structure as a whole, proved to be very durable. At high loads, their deflection was very small, and even the severe impact of experiment No. 4 did not leave any marks on the cutting elements.
The highest results were obtained in terms of "power" characteristics. The remarkable moment of turning the clamped steel rod speaks of the quality of the notch, and the great value of the force transmitted to the jaws - the excellent transmitting abilities of the mechanism and the thoughtful shape of the handles. Not the least reason is the shortened distance from the jaws to the axis of rotation compared to other models (the shoulder is less - the force is greater).
Soaking in gasoline affected the rubber coating: it shrank, became a little smaller and tougher. Of course, you can continue to work with such a tool, but not as new. Oil "baths" do not change the shape of the pliers, but the rubber becomes more slippery, and its texture does not allow the handles to be wiped dry.
SUMMARY: a good professional model. Best suited for work in dry environments such as a carpentry workshop. Distinguished by enviable "strength" indicators, which are largely due to the original shape (one notch instead of two on the lips and a shortened distance from the edge to the axis).
Anchor Mechanic 19027
Price: retail - $ 4.5 (June 2003).
Universal pliers.
PURPOSE: holding parts; biting electrical wires, etc.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
STEEL: alloyed chrome vanadium; coating - chrome-plated anti-corrosion.
HANDLES: one-piece; protective protrusions that prevent hand contact with the part.
LENGTH: 190 mm. Weight: 313 g.
FEATURES: non-standard geometry of the inner surface of the jaws (shortened, without large notches); additional notch on the side closest to the handles.
MANUFACTURER'S RANGE: handles - only one-component; cover - only chrome. Model lengths: 115 to 215 mm.
CONSUMER ANALYSIS
These pliers belong to the Mechanic series of tools. The company "Enkor" also has another series - "Precision Mechanics", consisting of models more suitable for work with electronics and other "simple" tasks.
CONSTRUCTION: The shape of the pliers is very different from that generally accepted among today's manufacturers. The fact is that they are of the American type (most of the models in our test are of the German class). There were no specimens 180 mm long in Encore's assortment; we took a 190-mm tool for testing and tested it, regardless of the difference in "height" (GOST offers a method only for pliers 180 and 200 mm).
With the larger total length of the model, the jaws turned out to be the shortest of all samples taken. In a word, it can be seen that all the efforts of the designers were aimed at increasing the transmitting capabilities of the tool. Since the cutting elements on the jaws are of the usual length, there was only enough space left for one notch. It is quite large - it's still a power model. On the other side of the hinge, another notch is provided - a smaller one. It is capable of clamping even thin parts - the edges are brought together with a gap of about a millimeter.
The build quality gives no reason for any complaints: there is practically no backlash, all dimensions are kept exactly. The mechanism works smoothly, but it is easy to open the pliers with one hand only to the middle angles, then you cannot do without the help of the second.
The hardening of the metal is of high quality, uniform - the hardness in all parts is almost the same, everywhere measurements showed high values.
With apparent simplicity, the handles are well thought out. Wide protrusions in front do not allow the palm to slide off; moreover, on the upper part along the entire length of the coating, the plastic is made rough. The material is elastic and does not wrinkle when transferring significant forces.
TEST RESULTS: The pliers passed all tests. The design possesses commendable rigidity, so that the greatest forces can be applied fearlessly to the arms. Jaw holding ability at height - high torque was required to turn the steel bar.
The pliers took one of the first places in the transfer of force, so that the main task of the designers - to create a "power" model - has been completed. Sharpening of cutting edges corresponds to the status of "strong man": it tolerates loads well.
One-piece pliers handles have successfully passed the oil and gas test. Having lengthened slightly after a one-day stay in gasoline, they regained their shape the very next day.
SUMMARY: Solid professional pliers optimized for power work. The transmission of large forces is facilitated by the unusual geometry with elongated handles and shortened jaws. The handles are oil and gas resistant, so the tool is ready for harsh conditions.
