Combination Pliers

Combination Pliers

Combination pliers — also called linesman pliers or multi-grip pliers depending on configuration — are the most versatile general-purpose pliers in a tradesperson's toolkit. They combine a flat gripping section near the pivot, serrated jaws for round stock and pipe, and a side wire cutter in a single tool. AIMS Industrial supplies combination pliers and general pliers from professional brands for trade, maintenance, and engineering applications.

Types of Pliers

• Combination pliers (linesman pliers): Fixed pivot with flat and pipe-gripping jaw sections and an integrated wire cutter. The standard electrician's and tradesperson's plier. Available in lengths from 160mm to 200mm for different hand sizes and reach requirements.
• Multi-grip / water pump pliers: Adjustable pivot allowing the jaw opening to be set across a range of sizes. Widely used for plumbing, fitting, and general mechanical work where a range of pipe and fitting sizes need to be gripped with one tool. Channellock-style with straight jaws and tongue-and-groove-style with angled jaws are both available.
• Long-nose (needle-nose) pliers: Extended tapered jaws for reaching into confined spaces, forming wire, and handling small components. Often include a wire cutter at the jaw base.
• Cutting pliers (side cutters / diagonal cutters): Purpose-built for wire and cable cutting — the jaws are a pair of hardened cutting edges rather than gripping surfaces. Flush cutters and standard diagonal cutters serve different applications.

Brand and Quality Considerations

Pliers are hand tools that are used daily and take genuine abuse in trade work. Jaw hardness, pivot quality, and handle comfort vary significantly between budget and professional-grade tools. Knipex manufactures pliers to extremely tight jaw tolerance with induction-hardened cutting edges — the standard reference for professional trade pliers. Bahco and Stanley produce reliable mid-range options that suit most trade and maintenance applications without the premium of top-tier brands.

Handle Design and Comfort

Insulated handles (1000V rated) are required for electrical work — look for the IEC 60900 / AS/NZS 60900 certification mark, not just the visual appearance of insulation. For non-electrical use, multi-component handles with soft grips reduce fatigue during extended use.

Plier Maintenance

Keep plier pivot pins lightly lubricated with a drop of machine oil to prevent stiffening and corrosion at the pivot. Clean jaw serrations periodically — debris packed into the serrations reduces grip effectiveness. HSS cutting edges in quality pliers can be re-sharpened using a fine file or slip stone when they dull. For the right plier for your application, contact our team.