Best Combination Pliers UK for 2023: Cutting & Gripping

Traditional pliers are a toolbox essential, but what if one
pair of pliers could do more than one job?

That’s where combination pliers come in, and in this post
we’ll look into the best options on the market today.

Best Combination Pliers by Type

Combination pliers can both grip and cut using the same tool. Below, we’ve categorised the best tool depending on the job you want it to do:

Combination Side Cutting Pliers – Best All-round DIY Tool

If you want a pair of pliers with a strong cutting mechanism
and a solid grip, then the
Side Cutter Parallel Pliers by Maun are perfect.

There are so many reasons why this powerful tool is better
than traditional combination pliers, including:

• The tool’s compound-lever action multiplies the
  user’s hand force at the cutting edges by 25 times. That is DOUBLE the force of
  traditional scissor-action combination pliers of the same length, so you can
  generate much more cutting force with a smaller tool.
  
• The side cutter edges are hardened for
  durability, to HRC 57 for smaller tools and to class-leading HRC 62-65 for the
  200 mm pliers. You won’t find more durable cutting pliers.
  
• Utilising its parallel jaws, this tool grips
  evenly along the whole length of its jaws (as opposed to scissor-action pliers,
  which only have a small, single point of contact). When gripping hexagonal
  fastenings, it’s like having an instantly adjustable wrench. The parallel jaws
  can also be used for straightening and removing kinks in wire.
  
• The tool’s parallel jaws are serrated, making
  their grip second to none on a wide range of surfaces.
  
• The v-slot in one of the tool’s jaws gives you
  better purchase on wire (due to the increased area of contact with the wire).
  
• An open throat permits you to the feed wire down
  the full length of the jaws. This means you can grip wire using the entire
  surface of the jaws. And you can do this at any point along the wire and not
  just at the end, as with regular combination pliers.
  
• A return spring option makes the tool
  self-opening, speeding up repetitive cutting and removing the need for that
  awkward “little finger” motion to push the pliers open again.
  

These pliers are available in a range of sizes from 125 mm
to 200 mm, so you can choose a tool that fits your particular task or hand
size. You can view the
different options here.

Learn more about Parallel Pliers here.

Combination Electricians Pliers – Best for Electrical Work

When cutting and manipulating wire all day long, you need a
tool that’s reliable, and saves you from picking up and putting down multiple
tools during one task.

That’s where the Side Cutter Parallel Pliers For Hard Wire 160 mm, with a range of features
designed to make your life easier.

The parallel jaws are v-slotted, so you can feed wire down
the entire length of the jaws for better grip. The integrated side cutter is
capable of cutting through even the hardest of wire, with hardened cutting
edges to HRC 57 for durability and sharpness during repeated cutting over a
long period of time.

Combination Dental Pliers – Best for Cutting and Bending Orthodontic Wire

If you need a set of pliers to both cut and bend dental wire,
then the
Side Cutter Parallel Pliers Autoclave Safe 140 mm are ideal.

They can be fully sterilised for a healthcare setting, and
are capable of cutting through hard dental wire with ease. The side cutter
multiplies your hand force by 25, so repetitive cutting doesn’t tire out your
hand.

Combination Fencing Pliers – Best For Installing and Maintaining High Tensile Wire Fencing

Installing and maintaining livestock fencing requires a
whole range of tools, so any set of pliers that can reduce the weight you have
to carry around the farm is a must.

These Fencing Pliers by Maun have been specifically designed to deal with the
problems faced by those installing electrical wire fencing.

A very rugged tool, they’re designed for gripping and
cutting through high tensile electric fencing wire. It contains unique features
such as the v-slotted jaw so the full length of the pliers jaws grip onto the
wire, as well as an open throat to feed wire and therefore grip along any part
of the full length (as opposed to only the ends with conventional pliers).

The cutter is hardened to HRC 62-65 for durability and long
lasting cutting sharpness.

Learn more about fencing pliers here.

Watch our Side Cutting Parallel Pliers in action here.

Why use combination pliers?

The main reason to use combination pliers is to save yourself time. As the tool can cut and grip, you don’t have to switch between different tools when you’re having to both bend and cut through something. It also saves you having to carry two different tools with you, useful for electricians who are squeezing into tight areas, or farmers who don’t want to carry more than one tool when going about their land.

Do combination pliers cut wire?

Yes combination pliers are usually wire cutters, which will allow you to cut through a range of wire types (including hard metal wire and electrical wire). Just ensure any electrical wires are not live before cutting.

Conclusion

We hope you found our comparison of the best combination pliers useful.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.

Next, why not browse our related pages at the links below:

• Different Types of Pliers
• What are Pliers Used For
• Best End Cutters
• Best Fencing Pliers
• Best Plier Sets
• How To Choose the Best Pliers for a Garden Tool Kit
• How To Cut Wire with Pliers
• What are Pliers
• What are combination pliers and how do they work?
• End Cutting Pliers
• Pliers
• Jewellery Pliers
• Parallel Pliers