6 best pliers

Review of the best according to the editorial board. On the selection criteria. This material is subjective and does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.

The real owner always has a job in the house, workshop or garage. Therefore, you cannot do without a set of tools. Pliers take an honorable place in it. With their help, you can firmly hold small parts, twist or cut wires, wire, work with electrical wiring. Every home craftsman has a multifunctional tool, but over time you have to buy new pliers. To choose the most suitable option, we advise you to heed the recommendations of experts.

How to choose pliers

1. Steel base. Users have several important requirements for pliers. They must securely fix parts with a flat and round shape, easily cut steel wire (even with high hardness), withstand severe mechanical stress (falling on the floor, hammering). All these requirements will be met by models with a base made of tool steel. The cutting part is hardened, the hardness reaches 62 Rockwell units (HRC). Such pliers will serve faithfully for more than one generation of craftsmen.
2. Corrosion protection. Any steel under the influence of moisture begins to rust, every year the thickness of the base becomes smaller. For a long time, manufacturers have provided protection against corrosion by bluing (blackening, oxidation). Today the best protective and decorative coating is nickel or chrome. The perfect appearance will be preserved even if the forgetful owner leaves the pliers on the street.
3. Overlays. Comfortable grip and safety while working with pliers are provided by pads. They are one- or two-component, as well as electrical insulating. The simplest are plastic pads, they do not slip in the hands, but over time they can slide off the metal base or crack. In terms of ergonomics, two-component handles with inserts made of rubber-polymer material look preferable. Their only drawback is destruction upon contact with aggressive media (gasoline, diesel fuel). To work with electrical wiring, it is necessary to choose pliers with dielectric coated handles.
4. Build quality. When buying pliers, you should evaluate their performance right in the store. First you need to squeeze the jaws and check the tightness of their closure. Next, you should analyze the action of the hinge mechanism. Ideally, it should have a smooth and easy ride without longitudinal and lateral backlashes. It is best to ask your consultant to cut off a piece of hard wire by examining the cutting edge afterwards. There should be no dents or chips on it.

We have selected 6 of the best pliers for our review. Among the many applicants, these models received the highest marks from experts and users.

Rating of the best pliers

Nomination	a place	Name of product	price
Rating of the best pliers	1	KNIPEX KN-0206180	RUB 3,031
	2	NWS CombiMax 109-49-VDE-180 180mm	RUB 1,617
	3	HAUPA VDE 205 mm 211202	RUB 1,520
	4	Orbis C60 PRO 46-200 / 20RR L = 200mm	634 RUB
	5	KBT 55985 180mm, 1000V	770 RUB
	6	SHTOK 1000V 180 mm 08102	RUB 479

KNIPEX KN-0206180

Rating: 4.9

Power pliers KNIPEX KN-0206180 are a versatile tool that will come in handy when performing a variety of operations. With the help of this model, it is possible to securely hold workpieces, bite wires, bend metal wires. Experts note long cutting edges, which make it easy to work with thick parts. For a set of universal qualities, German pliers take first place in our ranking.

User reviews on thematic forums are very indicative. Some experts believe that the pliers are best for pulling, biting and twisting operations. Other owners use a pliers tool as a miniature vise. But everyone loves the ease of use, sleek looks, power and practicality.

Advantages

• excellent quality;
• ease of use;
• strength and durability;
• multifunctionality.

disadvantages

• high price.

NWS CombiMax 109-49-VDE-180 180mm

Rating: 4.8

Among dielectric pliers, one of the leading places is occupied by the German tool NWS CombiMax 109-49-VDE-180. Users can use them for electrical work with voltages up to 1000 V. A distinctive feature of the model is reliable high-quality insulation, which gives the entrenching tool maximum safety. Straight jaws are made of tool steel. They firmly hold various materials, do not cause difficulties with wire biting, bending of materials of different hardness.

Along with a large number of pluses, users noticed one drawback. The cutting edges are weakly hardened, so biting off the hard wire leaves dents.

Advantages

• insulating properties;
• light weight (250 g);
• comfortable handles;
• German quality.

disadvantages

• soft cutting edges.

HAUPA VDE 205 mm 211202

Rating: 4.8

Pliers VDE 205mm HAUPA 211202 will become a simple and effective tool for the home craftsman. They are made in Germany, so there is no need to worry about product quality. Rectangular jaws are made of high quality steel, the cutting edge is hard and sharp. The two-piece handles are shockproof, making the pliers suitable for professional installers. With a length of 205 mm, the tool weighs 364 g, which is slightly more than the weight of the leaders of the rating.

Domestic consumers speak flatteringly about the quality of German pliers, good metal and comfortable handles. They withstand the test of hard materials with dignity, the cutting edge does not deform or dull.

Advantages

• durable steel construction;
• hard cutting edge;
• comfortable dielectric coated handles;
• resistance to mechanical damage.

disadvantages

• great weight.

Orbis C60 PRO 46-200 / 20RR L = 200mm

Rating: 4.7

The Spanish Orbis C60 PRO 46-200 / 20RR pliers feature a reinforced design. The manufacturer used high quality steel with a large margin of safety. The tool jaws are rectangular in shape, they securely hold parts made of different materials. Thanks to the extended cutting zone, less effort is required to cut the wire. Moreover, the thickness of the steel bar can vary from 2.3 mm (maximum stiffness) to 3.8 (soft wire). The model could not beat the German leaders in the rating due to the lack of a dielectric coating and a large weight (325 g).

Users find the Orbis C60 PRO 46-200 / 20RR pliers a useful tool for their home or garage. They are comfortable to perform a wide range of operations.

Advantages

• high quality steel;
• spectacular design;
• extended cutting edge;
• comfortable handles.

disadvantages

• significant weight;
• no dielectric coating.

KBT 55985 180mm, 1000V

Rating: 4.6

Domestic pliers with insulated KBT 55985 handles are sold at an affordable price. But these are not the only advantages of the tool. The manufacturer used tool steel in the manufacture. It is additionally hardened (cutting edge hardness HRC 62), and steel parts are nickel-plated to protect against corrosion. The gripping area allows you to hold both flat and round workpieces. The pliers easily handle stiff wires up to 1.5 mm in diameter. The experts included the model in the rating for reliability and durability.

Domestic pliers received many complimentary words from electricians and locksmiths. Their main advantages are convenience, reliability, easy rotation of the swivel joint. Although they get into the distribution network and defective products.

Advantages

• tool steel;
• insulated handles;
• high hardness of the cutting edge;
• affordable price.

disadvantages

• a defective instrument will come across.

SHTOK 1000V 180 mm 08102

Rating: 4.5

Another model with Russian roots made it into our rating. The SHTOK 1000B 180 mm 08102 pliers are a domestic development, but they are made in Taiwan. This move allowed us to reduce the price of the instrument to a minimum. At the same time, the product turned out to be extremely light (53 g) and compact (180 mm). The manufacturer made the handles not only comfortable, but also dielectric coated. Therefore, you can repair wiring at home without fear. The strength of the pliers is ensured by high quality chrome vanadium steel. You can bite the wire with the cutting edge of the jaws or in the special grooves of the hinge.

Users are satisfied not only with the low price of the tool, but also with the good quality. Some owners note slipping of plastic handles, which is unsafe when working under voltage.

Advantages

• low price;
• insulated handles;
• good steel;
• light weight.

disadvantages

• over time, the handles slide off the base.

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Attention! This rating is subjective and does not constitute an advertisement and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.