SAK Pliers

J

jtb49er2000

Joined
Dec 7, 2005
Messages
229
I have a question regarding the little pliers found in various Victorinox pocketknives. Does anybody actually use the pliers on a regular basis, and if so, what can you do with such a small pair of pliers? I recently purchased a Victorinox Mechanic primarily to play around with the pliers (thought they looked pretty nice in the picture). The knife is definitely up to typical Victorinox standards for quality and fit and such, but to be honest, I still haven't found a lot of uses for the little pliers. Thanks for any info!
 
I use the ones on my SwissChamp for retriving small parts and holding small fastners found in electronic gear and such. I have also used them a few times to open a can that the "pull to open" ring breaks off of.
 
SLD said:
I use the ones on my SwissChamp for retriving small parts and holding small fastners found in electronic gear and such. I have also used them a few times to open a can that the "pull to open" ring breaks off of.
Click to expand...

I have done those things with the Vic SAK pliers, but often as not I just like having them there to substitute for having to grasp and yank things with my fingers that are small. For example, the other day I had to pull out picture hanger nailes from drywall. I didn't have a claw hammer handy to do it with. I know from past experience that I can pull such small nails out with my fingers but it's hard on the skin sometimes! My SAK pliers made quick work of this task, and my fingers didn't get all ripped up in the process.

Another example is pulling wires through small openings, such as when you're wrapping wire around screw eyes to hang picture frames.

Another example is pulling cable ties tight.

One thing that has a bearing on this for me personally is that my 52-year old fingers don't have the same dexterity and sensitivity to touch that they once did. It's much easier to pick up small objects such as pins and small screws with the pliers than with my fingers, nowadays.

- Tim
 
A few years ago I used my Swisschamp to frame and hang a photo exbition (I'm a photographer). The gallery was supposed to supply tools but none could be found and it was a long way home and back, a classic situation for multitool backup. The wire was thin enough to be easily cut and twisted with the small pliers, and the regular screwdriver did for the frame assembly. A piece of cake, actually (I could have used the corkscrew to open wine bottles at the reception that evening, but it wasn't necessary :)).

Other than that, I find all kinds of uses for the pliers, like small fixes on photo gear, lifting hot stuff, pinching things shut, pulling out small nails, staples and tacks, and some tweezing chores the supplied tweezers can't quite manage. Just this afternoon a pull tab broke off on a sardine can, so I punched in one edge of the scored area, grabbed it with the pliers and pulled it open more easily than if the pull tab had stayed intact.

It can't really replace a full size tool, but there are a surprising number of plier chores this little gizzy can handle.
 
znapschatz said:
A few years ago I used my Swisschamp to frame and hang a photo exbition (I'm a photographer). The gallery was supposed to supply tools but none could be found and it was a long way home and back, a classic situation for multitool backup. The wire was thin enough to be easily cut and twisted with the small pliers, and the regular screwdriver did for the frame assembly. A piece of cake, actually (I could have used the corkscrew to open wine bottles at the reception that evening, but it wasn't necessary :)).

Other than that, I find all kinds of uses for the pliers, like small fixes on photo gear, lifting hot stuff, pinching things shut, pulling out small nails, staples and tacks, and some tweezing chores the supplied tweezers can't quite manage. Just this afternoon a pull tab broke off on a sardine can, so I punched in one edge of the scored area, grabbed it with the pliers and pulled it open more easily than if the pull tab had stayed intact.

It can't really replace a full size tool, but there are a surprising number of plier chores this little gizzy can handle.
Click to expand...

I actually like the SwissChamp a lot, but it's just too large for me to EDC comfortably most of the time, even in the new keen-o swivel clip Vic pouches. I carry it on weekend outings when I'm going to be working on hands-on projects like Rotary work days in our local park or building something with one of my grandkids.

I EDC a custom SAK with pliers that I call a Senior Mechanic. However, I always have either my SwissChamp or my XLT nearby in the car's glovebox or in my briefcase.

- Tim
 
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