Best Overall
Knipex Tools 8-Inch Long Nose Pliers with Cutter
Best Bang for the Buck
Irwin Vise-Grip Long Nose Pliers
Best Extra-Long
Knipex Tools Extra-Long Needle Nose Pliers
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Needle - nozzle pair of pliers have long , pointy jaws for reach into narrow or tight spots , such as the backrest of electrical outlet box or crevices in car railway locomotive . They can also help users get a grip on lilliputian objects at embarrassing angle . These spiked grasping tools are a go - to when face with small jobs that require precision . But which models do the best ? That was our question , and the only way to get an accurate answer was to essay today ’s top contenders ourselves .
So that ’s what we did . We take the well - sell acerate leaf - nose pliers on the market and put them through their paces . We did n’t rend any punches and we did n’t give them any slack . We grasped stock-still nuts and exerted as much twisting force as we could rally . We poke the needle noses into impossibly mean spots , and we used them to twist and twist wires and cables . When we finished quiz , we examined the tools to define whether the jaw were still in conjunction .
Ahead , learn what to depend for when give away for the near acerate leaf - olfactory organ pliers , and bump out how the following models earned a spot on our lineup .
What to Consider When Choosing the Best Needle-Nose Pliers
Not all needle - nosepliersare created equally . Some use strong materials , while others may have built - in features that issue forth in ready to hand in a pinch . Whether looking for a first pair of acerate leaf - nose plyers or ready to replace an old , get into - out circle , check that to invest in a high - quality product that will last for years .
Length
Length is n’t an indication of lineament , but it can contribute to public lavatory . Needle - olfactory organ pliers come in many distance , as little as 4 inch and up to a foot . Choosing the honest needle - nozzle pliers distance calculate on the intended use .
Folks who work in tight confines such as cars and computer towers often prefer longer models , such as 8 - inch - long pliers , which can reach into a narrow orbit where a deal wo n’t fit . Electricians , on the other paw , who keep their pliers in a peter pouch or back pocket , may benefit from something inadequate or more succinct .
Material
Needle - nozzle pliers come in a few unlike materials , and materials are the main broker when it comes to quality . Pliers made of downhearted - quality steel with a chrome finish wo n’t last long . In contrast , a hard alloy blade that combines extra elements , such as nickel chromium , to the steel will outlast and outperform most other material .
It may seem that user can get away with a cheaper set of phonograph needle - olfactory organ pair of pliers since they use them less often than a pair of adjustable pliers . However , the opposite is often true . Needle - nozzle pliers have very little surface country to grip a fastener or objective , so they must spellbind it firmly . Lesser - quality acerate leaf - nose pliers ’ teeth or bad-tempered - hatching will degrade far more apace than those on a high - end pair .
Features
Depending on the labor , consumers may need a short more from a duet of needle - nozzle pliers . as luck would have it , manufacturers often include an extra feature or two that can supercharge usefulness . Wire cutters , crimp , and wire strippers are ordinarily built into these pliers . These features countenance a pair of needle - nose plier to tackle a few unlike jobs without involve to swap them out for another prick . Cut , crimp , loop , and fix a wire to a terminal with one dyad of pliers , essentially doing the job of three or four dissimilar tools .
Jaws
Before prefer a pair of phonograph needle - olfactory organ plier , view the jaw style that is most helpful . Whether it ’s a straight needle - nose , a brace of bent jaw , or a set with channel to grab fish meat hooks , users should choose the correct dash jaw for their needs .
Most DIYers will do finely with a standard set of needle - olfactory organ plyers with straight jaws , but some tradespeople may prefer other styles . For instance , mechanics may want a solidification of bent plier that allow them to hold a fixing securely without their hands block up the melodic line of sight .
folk music who screw to angle often opt for needle - nose plyer explicitly designed for this pastime . These pliers have long , lean jaws with grooves for fascinating meat hooks . These plyers do n’t see a tidy sum of rotational force , so they can be thin and will go into a fish ’s lip or gills easily .
Handle
When a solid suitcase on a crank , dash , or nail is needed , users are going to have to exert a bit of strength on the handgrip . Choosing a pair of plyers with cushioned traction and/or nonslip handles may be the way to go .
producer cake their grip or use over - molded grips to provide a nonslip and padded handgrip . These grips allow common people to practice a pair of plier in different scenario without much painful sensation or soreness .
A cushioned grip will feel like a blessing when cut wire all day . pig tend to be easy to shorten through , but unregenerate blade wire such as the type used for fence can be a challenge . Cushioned grips are essential for those types of projects .
Price
When it comes to script tools , prices are relative . What ’s “ affordable ” to a tradesperson may seem inordinate to a DIYer . The realism is , however , that most quality tools command an investment .
When it issue forth to needle - nose pliers , there are options from as low as a few dollars to as much as $ 100 . Where a set of plyers falls on this range often has to do with material and quality . Still , there are plenty of durable , well - made , middle - range pliers , as well as a few high - character modeling at the low conclusion . To find these , shopper must bed what to search for .
Our Top Picks
These needle - nose plier are all standouts in their respective categories , providing mint of note value and function for a multifariousness of uses . Find out how each performed in our hands - on tests and learn both the pros and bunco game so you could make an educated shopping selection .
Knipex is known for producing top - notch traditional pliers , so we were excited to see what they offered in the way of longsighted - nose pair of pliers . This brace of 8 - inch acerate leaf - nose pliers did n’t disappoint .
Right out of the package , the Knipex needle - nose plier showed quality craftsmanship with precise - match jaws that were n’t even a hair out of conjunction . We found the pliers to be comfortable in hand and well balanced . Knipex makes these tools of alloy steel , and they ’re stamped as being manufactured in Germany , a country with a repute for producing well - engineered items . The grip are coated with nonslip plastic that is smooth to the touch .
Photo: Glenda Taylor
We used the Knipex needle - olfactory organ plyer to tease apart stick - on bolt that did n’t want to budge . The serrated teeth keep the jaws from slip even under firm twisting atmospheric pressure . We test their cutting power on a variety of conducting wire sizes , and the Knipex lop right through with ease . The tips of the jaw are also the perfect size for curling electrical wire to equip replacement and outlet terminal .
After examination , we checked to see whether the jaws were still in alignment , and they had n’t budged a bit , which was telling . This pair of plyer may not have a ton of bells and whistling , but it will plausibly outlast and outmatch other models , even those with a higher price tag . The only thing we find would improve these top - notch phonograph needle - nozzle pliers would be spring - loaded capableness , but it ’s not a big downside .
Get the Knipex Tools 8 - inch acerate leaf - nozzle pliers atAmazon , The Home Depot , orNorthern Tool + Equipment .
Photo: Glenda Taylor
Why break the savings bank on a perfectly serviceable pair of needle - nose pliers ? This quality tool from Irwin has muckle of features , including a comfortable overmolded suitcase , a cutting sharpness , and serrated jaws , making it more useful than some plyers cost three times as much . And at 6 in long , we found the Irwin needle - nose pliers just veracious for carrying in a pocket or tool pouch or , alternately , stowing in a portable tool box .
These Irwin pliers are alloy steel raise with atomic number 28 chromium , so they ’re strong , indestructible , and unlikely to eat . On first testing , we found the serrate jaws to line up almost perfectly — not quite as precisely as our Best Overall pick , but still within what we would call a high-pitched - quality range . Only a hair ’s largeness was visible between the closed jaws , wee-wee them well suit for grasping all but the finest wires .
The cutters on this brace of plyers are exceptionally accurate , and we were able to cut both heavy- and ok - gauge wires ( 12 and 28 gauge ) . As with the other pliers we tested , we used the Irwin needle - nose pair to tease stuck - on screws , and we tested their orbit into tight spot . After testing , we found the jaw coalition had not been affected . In all , this is a decent brace of foresightful - nose plier that comes at an attractive price and should last for years .
Photo: Glenda Taylor
Get the Irwin phonograph needle - nose pliers onAmazonor atAcme Tools .
Sometimes it ’s not potential to loosen a nut or snap up and rip wiring because an fair set of plyer just wo n’t reach . That ’s when surplus - long plier , such as the Knipex 11.1 - inch needle - nozzle couple , can save the day .
As with most Knipex tools , we get these extra - long pliers to be of high quality . They ’re made of alloy steel that ’s been hardened with the comprehension of chromium and atomic number 23 , and their needle - nose jaws fit with practical beau ideal — we were able to securely grasp even the fine , 30 - gauge conducting wire without any slipping .
Photo: amazon.com
The rounded , plastic - coated grips made it well-to-do to use the plyers , even when exerting pressure as we twist off stuck nuts . A slight downside is the lack of telegram cutters on this model , but the cellular inclusion of a serrated small - pipework gripper add together a good element . We ’d also put spring - charge capability on our want list , but for an extra - long pair of needle - olfactory organ pliers , it ’s tough to beat this Knipex tool .
Get the Knipex Tools extra - foresightful acerate leaf - olfactory organ pair of pliers onAmazonorMSC Industrial .
Best Bent Needle-Nose
Tekton 6-Inch 70-Degree Bent Long Nose Pliers
Though bended needle - nose pair of pliers are n’t always idealistic , there are certain scenario in which they ’re one of the only tools that can get the occupation done . The 70 - level slant on the jaws of these Tekton phonograph needle - nose plyers allowed us to reach around corners and bend to relax out - of - the - way nuts .
We found the jaw on the Tekton pliers to be very exact and capable to compass the finest wires we had securely . Using the plyers , we were able to access a heavy - to - get hold of nut tucked behind the flywheel on a store machine that we could n’t reach with neat pliers .
Still , utilise for these pair of pliers are limited because they ca n’t grab and twist in those tight spot where only straight pliers will fit . The plastic - coated grips are politic and comfortable , and the serrate inside edges on the jaw offer additional gripping ability . At just 6 inch long , these pliers fit utterly into a scoop or cock pocket for easy access . The creature does n’t come with cutters , but after our hands - on testing , the jaws were still in penny-pinching alignment .
Photo: amazon.com
Get the Tekton needle - nose pliers atAmazon , The Home Depot , orLowe ’s .
Best Set
Sunex 3706V 16-Inch Long Reach Plier Set
Some project , such as work on locomotive or large motor , can be tricky without the prick needed to gain en , thunderbolt , and wire site in thick , taut spotlight . Fortunately , the Sunex 4 Piece 16 - Inch Long Reach Plier Set offer a workable solution .
We were move by the overall quality of this phonograph needle - nose plier band . It features four long - attain plyers that measure 16 inches long . One straight pair , a 20 - arcdegree offshoot distich , 45 - arcdegree bent - olfactory organ pair , and a 90 - degree bent - olfactory organ pair . We were able to get at every nook and cranny on a motorcycle engine by choosing one of the pliers in this hardening .
The grips are ergonomic and make out with padded , nonslip coating that avail us get a firm grasp when accomplish deep into the railway locomotive . The jaw on all the pairs matched precisely except the 20 - level offset pair , which did n’t set as tightly as it should have — we were able to slide a wire between the jaws when close . After testing , none of the jaws seemed to suffer from being used to grasp and wrick frosty nuts . Overall , we deem this bent of needle - olfactory organ pliers to be very desirable for make on motor and engines , and even for reaching around obstructions and in besotted position .
Photo: amazon.com
Get the Sunex needle - nose pliers atAmazon , The Home Depot , orAcme Tools .
Best for Fishing
Zacx Fishing Pliers Fish Lip Gripper, Upgraded
These are specialty pliers , so this is the only couplet we did n’t try by twist stuck - on nuts . Although they may be able to accomplish that in a pinch , they are n’t designed for that purpose . The Zacx pair of pliers are made for fishing . So — lucky us!—that ’s how we test them .
The Zacx acerate leaf - olfactory organ plyer are leaping - loaded , which progress to them extra - handy , and they come up with a laniard that attaches them to a sac , which can be worn on a belt . They demonstrate to have extremely sharp cutters that slice through both 10 - British pound sterling and 50 - Egyptian pound braided fishing line of work easily . The plyer ’s serrated jaws match on the dot , and they add up with an overlapping notch at the tip that ’s utilitarian for open up the split ring discover on bob and lures , making them well suited for changing lures before recasting .
These fishing plyers are also design for take away a hook from a Pisces ’s backtalk . We did n’t even get a nibble the twenty-four hours we go out , so we could n’t test that feature article , but we did approach one angler as he was reeling in his catch and asked him to try it out . He did and say , “ Those are really handy . ” However , when we showed him the included backtalk - gripper , designed to hold a Pisces the Fishes by its lip when give its mouth to pull out the hook , his response was , “ I would n’t give you a dime for that . A real fisherman would never apply that . ”
Photo: amazon.com
While some seasoned fishermen , like the goosefish we verbalize to , may find the lip - gripper unneeded , we really like these needle - nose pair of pliers , and we think the Zacx as a whole will be of enceinte consumption to folks who like to angle .
Get the Zacx phonograph needle - nose plier onAmazonorSpectrum Warehouse .
Best for Electrical Work
Kobalt Electrical Long Nose Pliers With Wire Cutter
As DIYers who often do our own wiring , it ’s not unusual for us to need a pair of long - reaching pliers and an additional pair of wire stripper . The Kobalt prospicient - nose electrical pair of pliers flux both tools into a single phonograph needle - nose pair of pliers .
The pliers measure 9.3 in long and come with nonslip ergonomic suitcase that make them comfy to employ , even when maintain straining pressure level to loosen stuck fasteners . The serrate jaws fit tightly together without leaving any spread . In addition , the plyer feature individual inner - jaw notches designed to strip insulate wire from 10 to 22 gauge in size . The Kobalt plyer also performed well for abridge various wire sizes with relief .
Though the Kobalt needle - nozzle pliers amount spring - loaded , the give is too pocket-size to launch the plier by itself . We found we still had to open as well as tight the plyers manually . Still , this Lowe ’s brand of pliers is among the best selection for DIYers who do wiring project . We were able to take hold of conducting wire insert at the back of an electric box firmly , switch off wires to length , strip them , and even attach terminal fastener by using the plyers ’ crimping map .
Photo: amazon.com
In addition , we tested the pliers ’ ability to shear small screws , and that also shape well . These are all - around plyer that will come in ready to hand for wiring and other tasks .
Get the Kobalt needle - nose plyer atLowe ’s .
Our Verdict
All the needle - nose pliers that made our lineup are honorable option for accomplishing various household and DIY tasks , but our Best Overall pick , theKnipex Tools 8 - inch acerate leaf - nose plyers , checks all the box . The tool is craft of potent alloy blade , comes with precision jaw , and offers conducting wire cutting . Our budget selection , theIrwin needle - olfactory organ pliers , provides quality feature — including comfort grips , conducting wire - cutting ability , and preciseness jaws — at an affordable toll .
How We Tested the Best Needle-Nose Pliers
Although received plyer are more versatile than phonograph needle - olfactory organ mannikin because they offer a large jaw surface for grabbing frosty screwball and pipes , sometimes only a long - reach pair of pliers will do . We choose the phonograph needle - nose plier for testing from among the top sellers on the food market to see which ones really lived up to the plug .
We tested each pair of phonograph needle - nose plier for lastingness , comfort , and role . Except for the pair we chose for fishing , theZacx phonograph needle - olfactory organ plyers , we tested each mannikin by grapple and twisting off stuck - on nuts . This created acute torsion pressure on the handles and jaws of the pair of pliers ( and on our hands ) , and we then visit the tools to ensure that the jaws were still in alinement .
We analyze the overall quality of the plyer and tested any additional function they offered , such as wire cutting , telegram denudation , and shearing of small fucking . During each phase of the testing , we present points via a statute title , reckon on how well the plyers performed . At the end of the tests , we tally up the point and used them to help limit the categories and honor for each mannequin .
Photo: amazon.com
FAQs
There can be a bit of a learning curve with acerate leaf - olfactory organ plyer , and shoppers may want further information about their raw duad . Here are some commonly call for questions about these tools and their answers .
Q. How is wire stripped with needle-nose pliers?
put the wire between the cutting jaws and softly press the grip to penetrate the wire ’s finish ( without cutting the telegram ) . Then spin the pair of pliers around the wire to cut through the intact jacket crown , and pull the jacket crown off with the serrated jaws of the plier .
Q. Can broken needle-nose pliers be repaired?
It ’s frustrative when tool fail , but we do n’t recommend try out to fix broken needle - olfactory organ pliers . They ’ll never wreak as well as they did from the manufactory . Worse , they could also become jolly dangerous , cause blood blisters or cutting into skin if they fail again .
Q. Are long-nose and needle-nose pliers the same?
“ Long - nose ” and “ needle - nozzle ” plyers are technically the same , though true needle - olfactory organ pair of pliers tend to be slender than longsighted - nose options . Today , however , the two damage are fairly standardised .
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Photo: lowes.com
