Adam Savage's Favorite Tools: 3 Essential Pliers!

Soft-jaw eyeglass repair pliers: amzn.to/2DDBumg
Jeweler's pliers: amzn.to/3lWDyqH
Screw pliers: amzn.to/3jSPW9r amzn.to/2EUW4iL
Today's tool tips are a three-in-one: Adam recommends three sets of pliers that perform unique tasks for grabbing, gripping, and manipulating materials for shop work. There's soft-jaw pliers that are great for holding on to delicate parts without marring them, jeweler's pliers that are amazing for bending coat-hanger wire, and screw pliers that are essentially a handheld small parts vise. Make sure they're part of your plier collection!
Shot by Adam Savage
Disclaimer: Tested may earn an affiliate commission when you buy through the links here.
Join this channel to support Tested and get access to perks:
/ @tested
Subscribe for more videos (and click the bell for notifications): www.youtube.com...
Tested shirts and more: teespring.com/...
Twitter: / testedcom
Facebook: / testedcom
Instagram: / testedcom
Discord: / discord
Tested is:
Adam Savage / donttrythis
Norman Chan / nchan
Joey Fameli www.joeyfameli.com
Gunther Kirsch guntherkirsch.com
Ryan Kiser / ryan.kiser
Jen Schachter www.jenschachte...
Kishore Hari / sciencequiche
Sean Charlesworth / cworthdynamics
Jeremy Williams / jerware
Kayte Sabicer / kaytesabicer
Bill Doran / chinbeard
Ariel Waldman / arielwaldman
Darrell Maloney / brokennerd
Kristen Lomasney / krystynlo
Intro bumper by Abe Dieckman
Set design by Danica Johnson / saysdanica
Set build by Asa Hillis www.asahillis.com
Thanks for watching!
#AdamSavage #favoritetools

[@tested]

Soft-jaw eyeglass repair pliers: amzn.to/2DDBumg Jeweler's pliers: amzn.to/3lWDyqH Screw pliers: amzn.to/3jSPW9r amzn.to/2EUW4iL

[@Mongo63a]

you need a set of parallel jaw pliers as well. www.amazon.com/Mazbot-Smooth-Chain-Parallel-Pliers/dp/B01FSVMGXY/ref=sr_1_7?dchild=1&keywords=parallel+jaw+pliers&qid=1603807652&sr=8-7

[@davidfletcher8197]

@@Mongo63a Agreed, I came down here specifically to ask why he missed the parallel pliers. I think it was another Adam video that introduced me to them in the first place and they were one of my most valuable purchases.

[@emmakai2243]

These look like great tools, but I wouldn't qualify them as "essential" pliers...more like niche-pliers. As a weekend/latenight hobbyist...budget is always a big concern, and I can't afford specialty tools that I'd only use a couple times a year. I can think of some very easy home hacks using needle-nose, vise-grips, and/or needle-nose vise-grips to accomplish tasks that these tools fix.

[@asyoz]

Adam, do you already have a set of angled needle-nose pliers? They're a truly beautiful thing...

[@pacificcoastpiper3949]

Screw pliers also look like they’re good for manipulating small square bar

[@Gerald5000]

For anyone looking for what Adam called Jeweler's Pliers, they're actually 'Stepped Bail-Making Pliers'. It'll help your search.

[@nightnola]

These are my go to when installing outlets and want to bend wire around the screw downs. Easy, repeatable, accurate bends.

[@tiffanysandmeier4753]

I have a set. They are nice. Before he showed, I thought he was talking about chain nose pliers (I think they are called) that are like needle nose, but smooth inside. Also wire looping pliers are graduated round, small at the tip and larger at the base, so can make different sized loops, but not quite as consistent as the stepped loops.

[@FrozenThai]

@@nightnola ahh smart. Just wire bending in general, with different gauges and without damaging the insulation.

[@jhopk83388]

If you don’t like the Chinese ones on Amazon check out knipex 22-160.

[@Epiphalactic]

@@nightnola fyi, outlets come with their own way to perfectly bend the wire around the screw. Way easier.

[@AllynWrench]

Just a tip here that I found very handy. I have a set of long reach needle nose pliers that I slid a square cut o ring onto. I work in the Automotive industry, they are the o rings that are on the bottom of oil filters. You could probably use rubber bands too but I found that the square cut shape of the o ring lets me "roll" it up and down the handles one handed. A regular round style o ring will just roll away. But the reason the o ring helps is it turns my pliers into a temporary locking plier that doesn't clamp like a vice grip. It is SO useful for something like holding a nut or a bolt or even a screw with one hand a spinning the other end of the fastener I am using. The rubber stretch of the o ring lets the pliers hold tight enough to be in control, but they will even kind of let go automatically if too much torque is applied. You can also make them grab harder by sliding the farther up the grips. Thank you for your videos Adam and all of the Tested team.

[@j.yossarian6852]

This is a gold tip

[@MrGlennJohnsen]

these are the type of comments that makes this community awesome, simple and functional "tricks of the trade" that applies to many different fields. Thank you so much! :D

[@AllynWrench]

Thank you!

[@jermlac]

I use a piece of bicycle inner tube to do the same thing with my Leatherman. I just carry the inner tube on the flap of the Leatherman case and can pull it off and use it around the end of the handles when I need the Leatherman to lock onto something.

[@breadbutt]

I've used rubber, electrical tape and even just a little cloth to get a grip without marring something. There's a guy with a restoration youtube channel who put hot glue on the serrations of his vise grips so that he could hold things without scratching them. at least I think it's hot glue, looks to hard to be silicone. whatever it is, it seems to work very well.

[@manueldeubler1127]

Knipex Pliers wrench. If you don't have one, get one. You will find dozen of uses. They replace a whole set of open-end wrenches. In addition, I have used the perfectly parallel jaws to push in bearings, bend metal and push a button into a pair of jeans.

[@nickshepherd1935]

PREACH!

[@1pcfred]

If you think a pair of pliers can replace wrenches then you just do not know how to use wrenches.

[@nickshepherd1935]

@@1pcfred Or you end up repairing a lot of stuff previously attempted by people who really don't know how to use wrenches. Knipex pliers are great for ripping rounded or otherwise ruined fasteners off to be later replaced (and properly torqued with a socket that fits). Don't get some though, I don't get a commission and saving you effort is not my job.

[@1pcfred]

@@nickshepherd1935 I don't generally work on things others have. If I am dealing with a stripped fastener I am going to use Vise Grips in that situation. That's if I don't just drill it out and re-tap it. Or cut it off if it is a nut and bolt. Sometimes welding something on a stripped head helps too. Really depends on the situation. You'd be surprised what can be done with just a hammer and cold chisel. if I want to save effort I don't work on things.

[@Ryan.Rivera]

Came looking through the comments for this!! Knipex cobras are leagues ahead of blue channel locks

[@spasticmuse4262]

I would love for Adam to do a tool segment on "homemade tools"; the tools you either couldn't afford, couldn't acquire, or simply didn't exist for a job you needed to get done. SO... you make one!! I would think that's right up his alley and probably has a few he could show. My favorite example actually applies here: Rebuilding rear brake calipers on a import car(the kind some mechanics would know with the "twist in" piston). Part of the integrated parking brake mechanism is buried in the bottom of the piston well, held in by a c-clip. Long story short, no c-clip pliers could reach and do the job, so I ended up getting a pair of 8" hemostats, grinding points into the ends of the jaws, and they worked a treat! PS: Rebuilding those kinds of calipers is really only for those who are broke, desperate &/or ignorant. But doable.

[@Dragon-Slay3r]

Plier jaws thanks guys we got this in the bag

[@spasticmuse4262]

@@Dragon-Slay3r My shop is currently in the state of a 'dog's breakfast'. But when I do get it orderly, those 8" hemostats will be on prominent display in a prized position!

[@dennisdjou634]

Knipex pliers are the bomb and I use them every day. Both the aggressive toothed as well as the non marring ones. Their ability to adjust and grip firmly is insane.

[@MaxWobbles]

One of my favorites have been the knipex pliers wrench. They're parallel jaws that essentially act like an adjustable wrench that won't slip. They also don't have any teeth to mar what you're working on. Great for an fittings and also surprisingly great for sheet metal.

[@agentchodybanks9120]

Came to comment this

[@bobbobberton1111]

I worked in an orthodontic lab for many years. The dental industry has some pretty interesting pliers. Probably similar to some jeweler's equipment. The 3-pronged pliers and bird beak pliers we're my bread and butter. I've made tens of thousands of retainers with them, and they're worth checking out for a shop.

[@feelthepayne88]

You probably have some already, but parallel jaw pliers are awesome as well.

[@JamesBond-fx3zt]

Yeah, Bernard pliers!

[@deefdragon]

I was genuinely surprised that he didn't talk about these.

[@samueldeter9735]

Why? I've never used them, so they just look gimmicky to me.

[@feelthepayne88]

@@samueldeter9735 a regular pair of pliers is also pushing the part out of the jaws away from the pivot point as it clamps down. Parallel jaw pliers apply the force directly towards the opposing jaw.

[@samueldeter9735]

feelthepayne88 so useful for larger objects? Just trying to wrap my head around it

[@enochjukie]

My favorite pliers are made by Knipex. They make some of the best quality tools available and many different styles.

[@daviddavis584]

Yeah, the germans know whats up.

[@wmgriffin5602]

Knipex is a very good example of "you get what you pay for". The grip you get from Kinpex Cobra's is miles ahead of any other pliers I've used. I own every size they make and use them all day at work

[@RunninGunner04]

@@wmgriffin5602 I even edc the 7 1/2 inch version

[@elliotromokurek6981]

I've got two pairs of pliers that are worth mentioning, the first is the Knipex pliers wrench, I have the seven inch version and it literally changed my life. The grip that you can get with them is incredible and because of that, the jaws don't have to be serrated so they don't mark up parts. The second pair is a set of dentist's tooth extracting pliers, like the knipex they have a lot of holding power and the jaw shape is completely unique, their profile is designed to hug around a tooth and follow its contours. This one I use less frequently but its always in a situation where no other tool would work.

[@andrewdescant]

I've got the pocket sized (4in) one but with the pipe wrench teeth to bite into rounded off nuts. I looked at the non marking version but wasn't sure it could grip that hard. Sometime after that I read the thing that makes the jaws on yours stay parallel is a 7x force multiplier.

[@guenthersteiner8163]

@@andrewdescant the version without teeth is called the Knipex pliers-wrench. They’re somewhat pricy but the quality is top notch

[@mark4j9f]

I was just working on bending spinner bait wire and complaining about how the needle nose didn’t make a proper loop. Boom. Ordered the jewelers pliers. Thanks fellow nerd.

[@TheHappyKamper]

I could watch Adam talk about interesting tools all day

[@bbram000]

I have the screw pliers, they are great for loosening stripped screws as well.

[@staggerwings]

This. It's why I bought my pair, to take stripped-head hex screws out of vintage computers and accessories.

[@pargeterw]

@@staggerwings I made my own by taking a dremmel to some of the super cheap pliers he showed at the beginning, because I met a stripped screw!

[@kuangsheng3891]

It's really the main purpose isn't it?!

[@ultranitro437]

I have a set of 15" long double jointed needle nose pliers so they fully open without having to open the handle end all the way. Perfect for grabbing things down in a hole where theres no room to work.

[@TestSpaceMonkey]

Agreed! I got a set after a recommendation from Tom at Oxtools. They're the kind of things that you don't use a lot but when you need it, nothing else will do. There's another comment here about adding a stout o-ring as a quick lock that I'll try out too.

[@tildessmoo]

I love those things so much! Saved my life on many an occasion.

[@philipzielinski]

And the Amazon algorithm goes bonkers on these three items. Someone at Amazon: “Huh, looks like Savage is talking about pliers today.”

[@dalesims1626]

I purchased a pair of the screw pliers (medium size)and used them 3 days later for the first time, removing stripped and damaged flathead screws. They worked great, l wish that I had known about them years ago. A MUST have for person working with broken/damaged bolts or screws. Looking to purchasing the jewelers and soft face pliers in the future Dale

[@ankh428]

Never thought I'd be interested in watching a video about pliers and feel so thrilled about it. Adam's excitement is infectious and I always en up learning new stuff.

[@richardmartin7179]

As a technician one thing that is super satisfying for me is having the right tool for the application! I definitely will be getting a pair of the jewelers pliers and soft jaw pliers! I have the new knipex twin grip on order and have been meaning to order engineer or vampliers screw pliers. In my line of work I could use them for screw extraction when a customer has stripped the heads on a screw in a less than spacious area.

[@sibat777]

Top tip on the eye glass repair marking problem, get hold of a normal pair of pliers of appropriate size, stretch cable heat shrink tape over the nibs and heat to fit, repeat with as many Layers you need to get softness you require. Alternatively get a tin of plastidip this is a liquid rubber that dries like the rubber grip on the handles of wire cutters etc.

[@angrychef56]

Great ideas! I have a few pliers that I wrapped tape around the tips and they work barely better than they look (embarrassing)!

[@sibat777]

@@angrychef56 sorry for all the typos - apple auto complete hates me grrrr🤪🤪🤪🤪

[@ionstorm66]

Hot glue works better. You can grab while it's still a bit hot, and it will form to the surface, and grip extremely well.

[@GuitarDad5150]

Adam’s hands and fingers at 2:00 say it all. True man that works all day with his hands. What a wonderful sight.

[@johnegan4056]

Knipex pliers wrench Fantastic stuff They replace spanners as well

[@1pcfred]

No they don't.

[@johnegan4056]

@@1pcfred in what way? mine do for all sorts of jobs on my cars and bikes

[@whitewolf-po2nd]

@@johnegan4056 i love the knippex pliers wrench but i think they don't replace spanners but if you only have one kit of them the wrench is an superior addition

[@johnegan4056]

@@whitewolf-po2nd ok so there must be a few jobs that a spanner is superior However for most people the pliers wrenches will do 98% of job I haven't used a spanner since I got mine

[@whitewolf-po2nd]

@@johnegan4056 I agree i bought mine(180mm version)before I bought the Wera spannerkit but have to say that you have definitely more torque with the spanners. And if you have to hold the nut while tightening the bolt you need both. And its also a question of space which tool you should use. I think the pliers are a must have and they are very versatile(you know it 😂), but you should have both.

[@Hardcoreaireng]

As a professional trim carpenter, my go to pliers are the Visegrip 7LW. These locking pliers are made for holding bolts and nuts on three sides. However, my primary use is to pull out pins and brad nails. The rounded head allows you to pry the nail out without marring the wood.

[@AllynWrench]

I didn't even know screw pliers was a thing! Thank you Adam! I am definitely getting myself a pair or few.

[@NAJALU]

I thought he was going to suggest parallel jaw pliers, which are also work well for screws.

[@cookingwithjesus]

I made my own from some needle nose and shaped them with a dremel

[@thomassmith9059]

The “Screw” Pliers are actually designed for screw and bolt extraction. Worth having a complete set! They are made in Japan with the tool quality you expect. The source brand is ‘Engineer’ or ‘Neli-saurus’. They are also available in US rebranded as ‘Vampliers’ . TIP:Sometimes you can find them cheaper on Amazon or eBay under the ‘Engineer’ brand. The brands all have the same quality. I have at least one pair in every tool bag and an array of them on the bench tool board. -- Note: there are a few more models available under the ‘Engineer’/‘Neil-saurus’ label than Vampliers. -enjoy!

[@Dave_Metz]

I really like reversible Safety Wire Pliers. Had a Mac Tools pair prior to having all my tools stolen recently. Very fun to use and excellent for adding a measure of safety for critical bolts you don’t want to back out. Gradually trying to replace my collection. Will be on my list for sure.

[@john345ish]

oh those screw pliers - how many times i could have used those - thanks - this just might be your best tool tip!!

[@paulb4496]

I had a "Maker" friend that would have loved this video. He had a 'bot cave' in his basement where he built robots. He was eccentric and passionate about life like Adam. Sadly he got pancreatic cancer and passed away last year. I miss you Randy...you were truly Unique.

[@nicholastubman3585]

I wish we could have had a shop teacher like you when in school that would have been awesome😀

[@kayzinwillobee]

OMG !!!!!!! I just paused your video and ordered some screw pliers on amazon. I wish I had know about this tool years ago. In my line of work I have to occasionally cut the heads off stuck screws and then back them out from the other side. I have the best needle nose vice grips money can buy and it does get the job done. But like you said I never get a good grip and the tool will slip off the screw multiple times during its extraction. Its really annoying. I cant wait to try these!!!! Thank you thank you thank you !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@mad-0614]

My girl is a dentist surgeon. And I've always been fascinated with every special tool they have and end up buying a pair for me as well. I find basic surgery pliers and clamps and tools super use full for tiny projects.

[@_dude..]

Got some Neji-saurus screw grip pliers - they are effing great.

[@chadhill9901]

As a music teacher, I've been trying to find pliers that I I can use on instruments without marring them. Valve caps especially like to get stuck. Those eyeglass pliers are exactly what I'm looking for. Thank you for sharing these!

[@microwave221]

Engineer sells their screw pliers under the name Vampliers in the US. Was so excited to see Savage uses them too, always great to get second-hand validation from Senpai.

[@ezridonnangelo9412]

As someone who makes aesthetic Chainmail, my smooth jawed 90° needle nose jeweler's pliers are SOOO nice. Won't mar, and super easy for bending jump rings when combined with smooth flat nosed pliers

[@jonathan__g]

I'd love to see Adam curate a top 10/15 tool set that every maker should have in a set. And then potentially sell it :D

[@DrWibblyWobbly]

I've always loved welpers, or welding pliers. They have square needle nose tips, two different size oval cutouts for gripping round objects, cutters and a good size flat surface that is conveniently hammer shaped. Great all around pliers that I use often

[@50sKid]

Ahh, I did not know about those jewelers pliers!

[@timwrigley102]

www.gesswein.com/c-579-pliers.aspx I'm a gold smith. We have a lot of crazy pliers.

[@SaintedSirr]

I use two pairs of those for chainmaille. I just wish I could find ones with longer handles.

[@CeToxihuitl]

@@timwrigley102 agree

[@bc7495]

Same I need a spring for a gun that I can't even begin to try and describe to a search engine and am stuck making my own these will make that task super simple by pos mares up shitty spring

[@sirflamedrop6165]

I'm silversmith, and yep.... I can also testify that we've got lost of pliers. Some of those pliers are actually tapered and don't have steps, and I prefer those over the stepped ones for most applications

[@papaarmo5028]

My favorite pair of pliers I use a for automotive factory hose clamps. They are hose clamp pliers. The working end is at the end of a long cable and the plier ends lock down so you can use both hands to free the hose clamp from the rubber hoses and easily pull the clamp away to remove the hose.

[@hurdygurdyguy1]

7:14 ... but wouldn't the striations on the pliers damage the threads on the screw?

[@NicholasKratzer]

I love these videos so much! I've wanted non-marking pliers for years, and would never have thought to look at eye glass tools. "Tools you need but haven't heard of" are the best kind of tools!

[@PelicanPines]

You missed one... Knipex Plier Wrench. Check them out... when you get these... you will want one in every size.

[@manueldeubler1127]

I agree. It's almost a pity that a tool nerd like Adam does not have a whole set of them.

[@malafanang0]

My most missed plier type tool is a pair of Knipex Pliers Wrench. They are expensive but for how useful they are they are worth it. I have not had the extra money to replace my Pliers Wrench (5” Pocket size) since mine were stolen but they are on my list. They come in many sizes but I only ever had the 5” and they handled most of my everyday wrenching and bending needs. Between them and my leatherman, there is not many things I can’t take apart and fix at least good enough to get through until a proper fix can be made. On another note I carry a lot of tools (by my restaurant coworkers standards) in my pants pockets and I highly Recommend an organizer like the Yellow Birch Outfitters PocKit organizer. I have used it to to cary my pen, pad, light, knipex and leatherman/or SAK handyman every day for the last 4 or 5 years.

[@sdfsdf2205]

A video idea: on the fly quick tool mods for regular tools for various applications, instead of the perfect tool for it?

[@trulsdirio]

When doing my apprenticeship wich included lots of repairing eye glasses I have learned about so many different specialized pliers they use, it was amazing. Not only the ones you showed, but ones specially for adjusting the nose pads, ones for closing the frame if it is screwed together while still allowing to screw in the screw through the jaw of the plier, a few different ones for precisely soldering on hinges in different spots, others that help with putting the sleeves on the end of wire frames, obviously also for getting the lenses into plastic frames and some for bending hinges to make them square again.

[@jimgoodwin6440]

Damn it, Adam! Now I just had to spend another 45 bucks on Amazon!

[@scottmantooth8785]

*you're worth it*

[@ottopartz1]

A trick I learned for field expedient use is to put fish tank type tube over the jaws of plyers to make them non marking. A little blast from the heat gun on the end of the tube to make it plyable, slip it on and cut the excess off with a box knife. Also works with fuel line and the long straight jaw vice grips to make a hose clamp off tool to keep hoses from making a mess without damaging said hose.

[@GPDIY]

Can't believe the youtube algoritme only showed me this channel today.

[@vallassy]

You have a lot of catching up to do :)

[@grandolddrummer]

Welcome to the party!

[@youthgaming6455]

Enjoy

[@MrAwesome583]

you are in for a treat

[@GPDIY]

@@grandolddrummer Thank you my friend.

[@shrekdaklown]

couple of my go to pliers are parrot jaw pliers for doing alignments on cars are just turning round metal with a positive grip and cannon plug pliers for delicate work on metal and plastic caps and tubes the nylon jaws dont damage the finish i love them

I played the bass for Serrations for Gription in college.

[@1pcfred]

But can you tell cheap serrations from premium serrations? Cheap serrations only go one direction. Premium serrations are cross hatched. Cutting the serrations twice is an extra operation.

[@eovnu87435ds]

My favorite "everyday" pliers is the Knipex 31 11 160. They're super flat but with a 2.5mm square tip at the end, and sharp enough that you could use the ends as a flat head screwdriver if you wanted. So many "pointed" needle nose pliers are useless to me because they are too small in width, but these can get into tight spaces but still provide plenty of surface area to grab on tight with. The other thing that in general terms is great when needed are parallel jaw pliers. You can get a bit more surface area on a part than channel locks could give you to keep your part from rotating while you hold it.

[@mtoddohno]

“Grip-tion... ” Another Savage-ism.

[@tildessmoo]

Sorry I can't think of a way to start this other than the ubiquitously annoying "well actually...", but, well, actually, it's a common term in science and engineering (I think it may even have been in one of my junior high text books) for the total gripping force due to grip + friction. Basically, friction is a result of microscopic forces (electromagnetic attraction at the molecular level, grabbing from surface imperfections, etc.), and grip is a result of macroscopic forces, such as visible ridges and bumps, as well as outside mechanical interference adding to the normal force (which is actually increasing friction, since that's friction coefficient x normal force; just because it's sometimes used in science doesn't mean it's actually a clearly defined scientific term! Although, that can also cause ridges to dig in, where they'll directly pull on the material, which isn't friction) such as when you pull harder on the handles of a pair of pliers.

[@Merennulli]

@@tildessmoo If you find it annoying, you can just leave it off. "Well, actually..." is just linguistic padding like "um".

[@tildessmoo]

@@Merennulli "Um" is a meaningless interjection used solely to fill time with sound while your mind assemblies more words. "Actually" is a word indicating that the following sentence contains true information, especially as a response to an incorrect statement. "Well" is an interjection used to indicate a departure from the information to which you are responding (both in opposition and in changes of subject). "Well, actually" is also used to begin useless, pedantic arguments, often one that miss the point, so often that it has become a (generally unpleasant) trope. Thus, my word choice, my reluctance to use the words I ended up choosing, and now I've had to explain the joke to someone who probably _should_ have started their response with "Well, actually..."

[@Merennulli]

@@tildessmoo I was trying to be helpful since you expressed frustration at having to use a phrase. Don't worry, I won't respond to you again.

[@LilyJaneH]

I have a pair of channel lock type pliers that are made for finish plumbing work. They have replaceable nylon jaw inserts so that they can get an extremely positive grip on round things without marring them. I use them for repairing brass instruments when valve caps get stuck mainly, but I have used them for a multitude of other things as well.

[@sirfrankiii]

My eyes got really big when I realized how the screw pliers worked.

[@1pcfred]

I have a few pair of old gas pliers. They have that notch in the nose. Gas pliers are really cool. Great for gaslighting!

[@InsideAlan]

I cut a small v notch in my parallel pliers, I suspect they hold even better!

[@1pcfred]

@@InsideAlan mine all have grooves from the factory.

[@dezg5791]

my new favorite pliers is the Knipex 8603180, the 7'' model is just the right size for putting in a pocket, the mechanical advantage these give you is crazy. Knipex also makes a grippy jaw version that i just bought but haven't had the opportunity to use yet. lineman's pliers are great for manipulating anything small and work as a hammer, cutter, and more. -bulletproof parallel pliers come in handy for bending and holding long/flat material without marring. extra long needle nose like the Knipex 28 71 280 Long Reach come in handy too, Klein makes some good ones as well

[@TheThatoneguy12121]

I know this video came out last year but the best pliers for me that I just absolutely love and use for so much are my series of Kraeuter & Co. pliers from the early 1900s given to me from my grandfather in every size and shape, nothing can break those things.

[@TheSuburban15]

Brass pliers are used for pulling stuck parts or runners out of very expensive molds. Also very handy for pulling apart dirty or tightly fitted parts.

[@matthewbrown435]

Always love listening to you Adam, you make even the most mundane subjects entertaining and informative, one way or another 👏👏

[@MikesFoggyIdea]

Man I love your tool tips!! I just bought 3 new pliers I never new existed but have needed for O so long, Thank you.

[@henrikjensen3278]

One type of pliers I have found out is very useful is parallel grip pliers, they can get a tight grip on stuff with parallel surfaces, something normal pliers cannot. One of them I use is Knipex 86 05 180.

[@pssnyder]

I work with ball and socket joints on RC cars a lot and there are pliers specific to those needs that are pretty handy. I believe the specific name for them is Ball Link Pliers. They allow you to insert and remove ball joints from socket ends (the sphere and the end with the hole in it) much easier instead of using needle nose which usually ends with crushing the ball joint or pinching your fingers. They are basically needle nose but with forked ends and a little protrusion on the inside of one of the ends to either help pry a ball joint out of a socket hole or to help press it in. Pretty handy when you do that a lot. super specific use case but I use mine all the time.

[@willg574]

I really recommend the Knipex Cobra pliers and Knipex Pliers Wrench. There are multiple sizes and all of them have a jewelers over mold attachment available. They are pricey, but are well with the money. I use them daily as an HVAC technician, and they have replaced multiple pliers I've had to carry before. Keep being being nerdy my friend!

[@Medevil9908]

I have those exact pair of PZ-57. There was a sheared shoulder bolt at work in a plate that was a pain to replace because of all the sensors mounted on it. Those pliers got hold of the small amount of material that was protruding and extracted it with ease. I wholly recommend those as well.

[@heavymetalweld805]

I have a pair of pliers that I got from my grandfather's collection. They are parallel flat nose pliers with cutter. These pliers don't open real wide but they cut damn near everything. I've cut 1/8th welding rod with ease.

[@glenmartin2437]

Thank you. Wish I had some of those tools when dismantling laboratory instrumentation for repair. I do home repairs, work our our car and work on amateur radio gear, so this is most helpful.

[@bobm5951]

Pliers with that cutout in the end are gas and burner pliers. I have a 10 inch pair with 2 spaces, different sized, for gripping pipes and the tip part is for adjusting the screw for the burner for the flame. They're marked UTICA 1300-10.

[@backpacker3421]

Engineer tools are EXCEPTIONALLY well made. I have two sets of pliers and two pairs of scissors. After watching this I'll add a smaller screw plier set to my collection (right now I have the one a size up from the largest shown here). But, I would buy ANY tool made by Engineer. The build quality is truly top notch, and the precision machining is wonderful.

[@benneboii8117]

Pin wises used in watchmaking is an excelent tool aswell for holding onto threads or screws, I love mine and could not live without them.

[@charlescoker8041]

A couple weeks ago, I noticed you using a pair of bernard pliers. They are the ones that are hinged in such a way that the jaws are always parallel. I discovered these about 20 years ago and I love them. I don't believe they still make them, but I found a full set of them on eBay. About one of the most useful tools I own.

[@thedevilinthecircuit1414]

Great vid! Love me some pliers. I'll add two: Knipex Cobras, the 9" size. Supremely useful, self-locking, and they'll fight over it when you're dead. The other is really not a plier, but yeah, it is: the hand vise. I have several (all antiques), and they are the perfect holder when making small metal and plastic parts.

[@DrGerryD]

You may have missed a tip with pliers, use a larger rubber band around the handle to make a mini-clamp to hold things when you are soldering them. The pliers also act as a heat sink stopping the heat from getting to the component like a 7805 voltage regulator or a LED. I Like your channel, you are not just a TV star, you seem like real people. (compliment)

[@MarcusWolschon]

The screw pliers by Engineering are also fantastic for gripping stripped screw heads. And they also make a fantastic scisor DESIGNED (as opposed to "abused") for cutting wires.

[@elijahvivio1996]

Oh those screw pliers are life changing. I have gaffer taped channel locks to hold screws. The gaffer has enough play to hold with no thread damage; while the channel locks allow a ton of pressure, but it's not perfect.

[@monkeywrangler5200]

Vampliers (like screw pliers). They’re good. I love em. Also kiwi pliers which I also have a set I ground a groove in each for undoing those very annoying spring hose clamps more easily. You can get cheap knockoff kiwi pliers at advance auto stores. Love em. They’re angled and make some finer work on the hobby bench easier but like I say, I have em in the auto shop too.

[@Nyubjub]

Parallel jaw Knipex pliers. *chef's kiss* . I use them quite a bit. Good for flattening / straightening things like a little mini vice. And good for pressing in roll pins.

[@CallenMagnuson]

I have a set of the small screw pliers and you missed one of the most useful aspects of them. They work magic on stripped screw heads and I can remove even the most stubborn small screws without risking damage to the surrounding area.

[@danstheman33]

The screw pliers aka screw extraction pliers aka Vampliers are amazing. Very useful for removing stripped screws, if you keep them sharp by only using them for that purpose. They are made in Japan and sold under both the Engineer and Vampliers brand, identical except for the color and markings, and usually the Vampliers brand costs a bit more. Every handyman or anyone who routinely fixes things should own a pair! And also a Knipex pliers wrench as another commentor mentioned. Both are pricey, but both are absolutely worth it.

[@evanhohenadel5960]

Adam if you haven't already gotten them make sure you get knipex pliers. Take a look at the selection they offer. I am a diesel mechanic and don't know how I did the job before I got them.

[@MvZiCMaN]

OMG!!!!! screw pliers are the pliers ive been dreaming of my entire life!!!! Ordering a set ASAP!

[@beavismount]

Snap-On 612AEP. Around $85 but worth it, they're like the screw pliers but for so much more. They work better than vice grips for removing stuck button head screws. And then Soft Jaw Pliers, like channel locks but with rubber jaws. Commonly used for working with circular electrical connectors.

[@JingleJoe]

Just a week or two before this video aired I insisted on the company I work for, buying us Engineer brand screw pliers. I also own Engineer side cutters and, a year or two ago, insisted again that my workplace buy them- some of the engineers at my workplace were so impressed with their quality that they instantly purchased pairs for themselves to use at home.

[@goodwolf152]

Screw pliers are also super useful for removing stubborn screws whose heads have been stripped and also happen to be inaccessible with traditional pliers using lateral torque.

[@AUSSIEGARAGE_YT]

I have a set of the screw pliers by a company called Vamplier, they have deeper serrations and have more teeth than the engineers you showed. I love them, they have saved me hundreds of times when I snap the head off a bolt or round out a rusted screw. They are advertised as screw extracting pliers by Vamplier

[@SteveVanceIsAwesome]

Engineer makes the Vampliers for the US market. They have a ton of different ones, just search them on Amazon or elsewhere.

[@SonStashu]

I work on top of the line straight from the factory ambulances and they cost around $400k+ and some customers are very particular. I have had the engineer pliers help me COUNTLESS times in the year that I've owned them, including earlier today.

[@sharpsharpy7327]

Dear Adam, love this! Thank you for taking the time to help others. Your channel is a joy to watch.

[@jonferraez]

The PZ-57 model for sure worked well for me for a 2.5mm tiny screw that was holding in an M.2 based Wi-Fi card (the same screw size that M.2 NVME hard drives use) in my motherboard that was totally bald on the head (they over torqued it from the factory apparently, and the metal was fairly soft). The surface area that I had to work in was not much larger than a normal Philips screwdriver could fit into so trying to drill it out would not have been fun, and on the other side of the motherboard in the exact place I'd have been drilling was the only M.2 NVME hard drive connector port (so that ruled out me drilling). I ordered this and it worked the first try to grip the 2.5mm head size completely stripped head screw, after I tried various other tricks like rubberband, tinfoil, and latex gloves methods of screwing it out with various Philip head screwdrivers (that did not work at all). So yea it is very good at smaller screws, but it is nice to see it could work for normal head size screws too (the PZ-57 box only says it works with from 2 to 3.5mm). It seems from this video that is very underrated or understated and it seems like it could support up to about 9.5mm (which is what the PZ-58 model is rated up to actually, from 3 to 9.5mm as that box states). Either way you can't go wrong with this brand, made in Japan and nice packaging that states all of the specs in both English and Japanese.

[@markdmaker3173]

If no one else mentioned it already there are a pair of pliers called vam pliers. There used to remove broken screws, super strong positive grip.

[@69uremum]

Dental forceps are nice for hobby use. They are all stainless steel and the forceps used for manipulating braces and bending wire are just great.

[@evans_workshop]

While not a true off the shelf plier, I use several pair of cheap Harbor Freight lineman’s pliers that I heat up the head to soften the steel, drill a hole for a short length of piano wire, then weld that wire permanently into one of the jaws so it just protrudes into the hole drilled through the lower jaw. This makes a fabulous precision punch. I have some with approx. a 1mm punch up to about a 3mm punch and the work tirelessly. Much better then 1mm drill bits that cost a fortune. And when it dulls a bit, sharpen with a Dremel tool and rotary disk.

[@prowokator]

Parallel jaw pliers are something that every one making jewelry or other fragile and small thing should have. They are so so good for manipulating brass sheets etc.

[@GlenGlenervo]

the Knipex adjustable pliers-wrench is one of the best tool purchases I've ever made. Perfect for flattening, straightening or bending small pieces of metal. and imo they are far superior to a typical adjustable wrench in speed and ease of use.

[@Indiskret1]

I got a Knipex 82 02 200. Very useful both for grabbing screws and nuts. Same nose with cutouts that grabs screws really tightly.

[@revenger2111]

hey adam, i have a tool tip for you! as a metal model builder, i often have to hold on to small parts and maybe file them. and we have a nice tool for this in dutch we call it a ''handbankschroef'' which translate's to hand vice. you should look it up!

[@ediblerubber]

I've made custom jaws for some of my pliers, have a very thin sheet of aluminum about as thick as a soda can. One has a very thin layer of rubber on it to insure I can grip firmly yet softly.

[@backpacker3421]

Jeweler's pliers have one further advantage when you want to bend smooth curves. Whereas needlenose pliers have a sharp 90 degree bend between the gripping surface and the outer (bending) surface, jewelr's pliers are smoothly curved so you won't have to put a sharp turn in the wire to start the bend.

[@markmonroe7330]

Love you Adam. You make the world a better place.

[@shannahmiller]

Glass running pliers, made out of steel, are super useful when cutting glass. The plastic ones work, generally, but the metal ones are more accurate and can break narrower pieces of glass. The key is to either buy ones with pads on the jaws, or make pads with gaffer's or other similar tape.

[@robertnirenberg4556]

Screw pliers are absolutely one of those tools you didn't know you needed until you got your 1st set. I have a pair of lineman type pliers and a pair of needle nose that changed my life!

[@devenwearshats7450]

When it comes to grabbing screws or other small round things I have found a 1/2 keyless chuck for a cordless drill works excellent as a large pin vice

[@ambsquared]

Engineers brand pliers also sold as Vampire pliers, are designed to extract stripped screws. The grooves going 90^ to normal are for holding the screw head in the tip while you then twist it out. They work great unless the head is below the surface.

[@brianlawson3757]

If you don't have cash for specialty pliers right now but need to do more delicate work, you can always apply a layer of veg tanned leather to the jaws with glue or tape to get by a while. I still do the same with my C-clamps and vice jaws in my shop at home to prevent marring. Also, leather actually gives you more positive grip on most materials! 😎👍