Pliers are a bench staple. They're most likely your first purchase and the last tool you put down at the end of the night. And as with any need-to-have tool, there are plenty of choices depending on the job. Here is a quick breakdown of some of the more popular plier types along with their uses.

PLIERFEATURESUSE

Loop Closing		 Grooved & smooth
inside edges		 Closing loops & rings

Rosary		 Round nose + wire cutters Repetitive work like
chains and rosaries

Gem Setting		 Small jaws that can be
swapped for different gems		 Gem setting

Round Nose
(Long & Short Jaw)		 Long: Allows for increased
range of loop diameters

Short: Provides increased
stiffness at tips to resist
deformation		 Long: Clamp and form
loops on leads or wire

Short: Working with
heavier gauge wire

Needle Nose
(Long & Short Jaw)		 Long: Slightly rounded inner
edges, bearing ring lap joint

Short: Slightly rounded inner
edges, induction hardened tips		 Long: Used for extended
access

Short: Small tips allow for
access into tight spaces

Bent Nose		 Cross section and taper is the same
as chain nose, but jaws bend to
one side		 Better access to tight areas
Useful in chain and for "tucking
in" wire ends in beads

Chain Nose		 Jaw cross section is flat where they
meet and round on the outside. Jaws
taper to fine point		 Opening small jump rings, bending
thin gauge wire, and holding small
beads

Ring Bending		 Concave/convex jaws with convex
being slightly thinner than the
concave jaw		 Bending metal at right angles, closing
bows and bending ring shanks

Wire Looping		 One round and one concave jaw Bends wire easily

Compound Parallel Jaw		 Compound joint makes sure the jaws
remain parallel throughout their range
of motion		 Perfect for working with difficult-to-
hold items like beads

Flat Nose		 Both jaws are perfectly flat with a
rectangular cross section		 Bending angles in wire and sheet, holding
small beads and bezel wire during filing,
and opening/closing jump rings

Bow Opening		 Heavy-duty, special joint pliers. Jaws are
kept closed by spring in handle. When handle
is compressed, jaws open		 Open bows, links, and jump rings

Nylon Jaw		 Replaceable jaws made of nylon, which is
softer material than most jewelry metals		 Very delicate work where metal can
become scratched or otherwise marred

Split Ring		 Distinctive shape with one tapered jaw and
one that comes to a bent point		 Designed to open split rings
 
Of course, this list doesn't include EVERY plier available today - we'd need another couple pages to do that ;-) You can see all of the options in our new Tools, Equipment, and Metals 2017-2018 catalog.

Which type is your favorite? Do you have a favorite brand? Share your thoughts with your fellow Benchjeweler.com jewelers!