How come I can't find fixed pliers with all the functionality of a quality MT pliers?

M

Mud Shrimp Moe

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Nov 6, 2011
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644
I was just thinking to myself that carrying a Victorinox Huntsman plus a decent pair of fixed pliers and you'd have nearly all of the functionality of, say, the Leatherman Supertool 300 ... well no serrated blade and fewer standard driver sizes ... but you'd also have scissors and the toothpick/tweezers. Call it a wash. Well, and the Huntsman tools don't lock.

To me this would be an acceptable alternative to carrying a heavy duty MT since to me the real advantage to carrying a larger MT is 90% in the pliers. Fixed pliers solve this "problem." And no matter how heavy duty the MT is, fixed pliers is going to at least match a MT for heavy duty pliers applications. However, while I can find quality needle nosed pliers, wire cutters, regular pliers, and crimpers, I can't find a quality fixed set that has all of these functions together. If I did, I'd seriously consider carrying it in my EDC bag and just a SAK in my pocket.

I think fixed pliers are dominated by a tradesman philosophy where the weight of carry four pliers based tools really isn't a big deal. But I think a multifunction head on a fixed set of pliers would rule. I don't mind the multifunction head at all ... to me they can nearly do it all .... but the added strength you get from fixed pliers would make them nearly unbreakable.

What are your thoughts?

I think my compromise solution may be carrying a medium duty MT (Leatherman Juice, Sideclip or Fuse) and carrying a set of Channel Locks in my car. The needle nose, wire snipping, and crimping functionality of a medium duty MT is generally fine. But if I really need heavy duty torque on a nut, not heavy duty MT is going to match some Channel Locks.
 
You might get sick of carrying around a set of pliers, but if i had to carry one it would be either Stanley or Klein needlenose. I carry a leatherman wave in my truck as a backup to my saks..... it very rarely gets used. Whenever I need pliers I tend to be either at work or at home. There are good pliers readily available at both places.
 
Mud Shrimp Moe said:
I think my compromise solution may be carrying a medium duty MT (Leatherman Juice, Sideclip or Fuse) and carrying a set of Channel Locks in my car. The needle nose, wire snipping, and crimping functionality of a medium duty MT is generally fine. But if I really need heavy duty torque on a nut, not heavy duty MT is going to match some Channel Locks.
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I think this is the way to go. As a general rule, I think that most of us who carry MTs do so for the convenience of not having to walk to the tool box. We also like the sense of security that comes with being prepared for anything. But do most of us literally "need" MT pliers or even fixed pliers? Eh, I don't think so. Its just a time saver and convenience thing generally. So carrying a medium duty MT and then keeping the big boy stuff (channel locks, Vice Grips, etc.) in the car is the way to go.

There is a sliding scale of utility on one end and easy of carry on the other. We each have to find where we position ourselves on that scale. Some guys carry nothing, and other guys are loaded down with gear.
 
Reading this sentence,

"But if I really need heavy duty torque on a nut, not heavy duty MT is going to match some Channel Locks."

makes me wonder why you bother asking the question.

Ever hear of wrenches? I remember, as a child, getting smacked in the head, by my engineer father, for using pliers on the wheel nuts of my bicycle............
 
synthesist said:
Ever hear of wrenches? I remember, as a child, getting smacked in the head, by my engineer father, for using pliers on the wheel nuts of my bicycle............
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I own and use wrenches, ratchets, torque wrenches, etc. I believe in right tool for the job. But this question is about portable carry, not an extensively stocked tool chest. While I generally believe in right tool for the job, like nearly anybody I know I've also been known to loosen a nut with a pair of pliers simply because I couldn't be bothered to go hunt down the right sized box wrench or because I didn't have all of my tools on me. I figure one reason they even make "heavy duty" MTs is because of people wanting to use pliers in higher torque applications like that. Because, as I said, for bending wire, cutting wire, and most needle nosed work, there isn't that cosmic of a difference between a medium duty MT and a heavy duty MT.
 
If you had fixed pliers with the tools in the handles, wouldn't it make it difficult to use the tools? Because you couldn't move the other handle out of the way, etc.
 
Take a look at the Buck Utility (bu732bk on Knifecenter.com). All works with one hand; heavy duty blade, pliers, flat head and phillips head screwdrivers and scissors. I love mine. 3 inch blade (heavy duty); 4.25 overall. Don't let their description as a fishermans's knife bother you. This is a great general all around heavy duty multitool.

http://home.earthlink.net/~steinpic/bu732bk.jpg

Rich
 
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I had the same dilemma a couple years ago. I also used to carry only a Huntsman when outdoors, until I found myself in need for some pliers. Since I didn't want to carry a big multitool, I decided to stick with my SAK and just added a pair of needlenose pliers to my load out.

However, after a couple months somebody gifted me my first plier-based multitool and I liked the convenience of it, ever since I carry a SAK and a medium-duty Leatherman when I'm out.

Fixed pliers are cheaper and probably stronger, but they can't beat the convenience of a Leatherman IMHO.
 
I don't quite understand what your saying, you cant find good pliers? NWS is a german brand that makes some dam nice pliers. If you want some real nice needle nose check out the Snap on talon grip.

Or are you saying you want a multi tool with stronger pliers, than you should check out the Wenger SOSAK SwissGrip.
 
whateatsrabbits said:
I don't quite understand what your saying, you cant find good pliers? NWS is a german brand that makes some dam nice pliers. If you want some real nice needle nose check out the Snap on talon grip.
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I'm saying that if some company made fixed pliers that had a head that was shaped like a Leatherman Suptertool 300 (needle nosed type design but with a "regular" plier section, wire cutters, hard wire cutters, and possibly crimping) I'd buy the pliers.

I'm not talking about tools within the handles of fixed pliers.
 
Well I finally decided that Multi-tool pliers just didn't work for me and settled on a sak and a pair of Cee Tee slip-joint pliers. I traded away all my multi-tools except my user Leatherman Kick. I still have it because nobody wanted it. I have looked for needle nose pliers with jaws that are designed like multi-tool pliers. I didn't find any but am getting along well with my Cee Tee's. I have actually become rather attached to them.
Jim
 
If I could find some Cee Tee type pliers that had high functional wire cutters as well, I'd settle for those. Having actual needle nosed with a regular section AND wire cutters, however, would be optimal. If I could find those, I'd probably ditch pliers based MTs altogether.
 
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