What are end-cutting and carpenter’s pincers?
What are end cutting and carpenter’s pincers? |
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Carpenter’s pincers |
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Carpenter’s pincers, also called nippers, are pliers which are used to grip and extract nails and staples from wood. They have strong metal jaws with bevelled (tapered) edges which are broad enough to grasp a nail without cutting through it. | |||
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The head is used as a point of leverage against the wood when removing nails and staples. Because of its smooth and rounded shape, the head rolls on the wood instead of digging into the surface and causing damage. | |||
End cutting pincers |
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End cutting pincers, also known as end cutters, nippers or end cutting pliers, are used to cut through materials such as wire, springs, nails, rivets and bolts.
They feature much sharper jaws than carpenter’s pincers and an almost flat bladed head which lets you cut close against the surface without digging into it. You can also use them to both twist and cut wire in one go. |
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What’s the difference? |
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To some extent the tools can be used interchangeably, as both pincers are capable of grasping and cutting items. But the main difference is that carpenter’s pincers are designed mainly for gripping, whereas end cutting pincers, as the name suggests, are meant chiefly for cutting. | |||
How big are they? |
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End cutting and carpenter’s pincers vary considerably in size and specification. The jaw size, handle length and hardness of the cutting edges can all differ depending on their intended use. | |||
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The smallest end cutting pincers are only around 100mm (4″ approx) long and weigh just 62g (2.2oz approx). | |||
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Most end cutting pincers measure between 150mm (6″ approx) and 200mm (8″ approx), which is a convenient size to hold in the hand while still providing handles long enough to give a good amount of leverage. Most average sized end cutting pincers can cope with soft wire up to around 3mm (⅛”) in diameter and hard wire up to around half that. Heavy duty cutters can manage hard wire up to around 3mm (⅛”) in diameter. | |||
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Carpenter’s pincers tend to be bigger, with wider heads, and can be up to 300mm (12″ approx) in length. The width of the head can vary between 20mm (¾” approx) and 30mm (just over 1″). | |||
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