Plier bites

[metricmonkeywrench]

How many times do you have to get a plier bite before you throw them out into the woods to be returned to nature? Both cases were pretty much the same, after patching up some flat garden cart tires on two different days while bending the cotter pin back around the large needle nose pliers slipped and chomp. First time(the finger) I figured it was just me, the second really was a good bite and I may have used a few inappropriate words. This is the same reason I don’t own any Gerber multi tools they do the same to me.

Of course like a dope I cleaned them up and put them back in the toolbox…

302702

[Winger Ed.]

They do that on purpose too.

[Geezer in NH]

Of course like a dope I cleaned them up and put them back in the toolbox…

302702

Next time is your own fault. So don't complain when they do the same thing.

[Tazman1602]

How many times do you have to get a plier bite before you throw them out into the woods to be returned to nature? Both cases were pretty much the same, after patching up some flat garden cart tires on two different days while bending the cotter pin back around the large needle nose pliers slipped and chomp. First time(the finger) I figured it was just me, the second really was a good bite and I may have used a few inappropriate words. This is the same reason I don’t own any Gerber multi tools they do the same to me.

Of course like a dope I cleaned them up and put them back in the toolbox…

302702

NEVER use needle nose pliers to bend a cotter key over. Starting out in the late 70”s as an auto mechanic one day I had repacked front wheel bearing and, as usual..was using my needle nose pliers to bend it over……..when the pliers slipped……and those things stuck the pointy end directly between my eyes on my forehead.

Please, use side cuts for that job, and inch or so down and I would probably been blind in one eye for life….

Art

[CastingFool]

Don't use regular pliers to put the brake spring over the stud. I did that once, and the pliers bit me hard on my right eyebrow.

[pworley1]

You can never trust a pair of sneaky pliers.

[1hole]

They do that on purpose too.

Yep. There are a few people that tools just don't seem to like.

[Bloodman14]

Ever do that with a Vise-Grip and you can't get the d***** thing to unlock?

[augercreek]

Ever do that with a Vise-Grip and you can't get the d***** thing to unlock?

Yes indeed I have ! I had a old pair without the unlocking lever and they would do that often if not careful!!!!!

[Handloader109]

Yep, best thing for cotter pins and similar is a relatively dull pair of side cutters. Won't bite through the soft pin and most likely will leave your hide intact. But I don't like slip joint, they will slip easy. Should toss a few. But it is more me using where I shouldn't.

Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk

[bedbugbilly]

My main concern whenever I get plier bites is if I have remembered to keep the pliers up to date on their Rabies shot . . . .

[Mal Paso]

My Star Sizer bit me a couple weeks ago, left a 1" blood blister on the side of my hand. Between Old Man Skin and having to pay attention every damn minute, it's a dangerous world out there.

[Jim22]

Even worse, perhaps, is the bite you get from a pop rivet gun. Every time.

Jim

[super6]

Naw..Exacto razors are the devil, They are trained to cut to the bone! You lose the ability to cuss after a slip and cut.

[MaryB]

Ratcheting connector crimpers... get a flap of skin in there and the only thing you can do on one pair I have is keep going until it releases... my newer crimpers for other connectors have a release lever...

[jonp]

Got bit several times now use a flat tip screwdriver. Bend apart with the tip then flatten out as needed

[shooter bob]

Seem most of these tool attacks are as gram pap said boy be smarter than the tool!

[Gator 45/70]

A day without a plier's bite is like a day without sunshine!

[beemer]

Along the same lines, I was nailing down tin roof. You would not believe the distance you can get with a 16 oz Estwing from the comb of the house, especially down hill with some choice language sent along with it.

[Land Owner]

As the new kid on the crew, I used a 28-ounce Mason's hammer for a short while in construction, buttoning up tie-beams and columns in masonry with cut nails through 3/4" plywood form boards prior to pouring concrete. After mashing my thumb, first, and 2nd fingers, the crew chief had enough.

At the beginning of the pre-dawn pour my hammer went missing. I used a borrowed hammer to repair blow-outs. Mid-morning, the crew chief told me to look for my hammer on top of the SW corner tie beam. Yes Sir. There it was, just the butt of the rubberized blue handle sticking out of a freshly hardened concrete pour.

"Go get a 16-oz. Carpenter's hammer at the hardware store RIGHT NOW, or don't come back", I was told. It almost brought a tear to my eye - those experienced construction guys looking out for me - just not as fast as that Mason's hammer.

[trebor44]

They are just looking for something to chew on, like a puppy!

[Mal Paso]

As the new kid on the crew, I used a 28-ounce Mason's hammer for a short while in construction, buttoning up tie-beams and columns in masonry with cut nails through 3/4" plywood form boards prior to pouring concrete. After mashing my thumb, first, and 2nd fingers, the crew chief had enough.

At the beginning of the pre-dawn pour my hammer went missing. I used a borrowed hammer to repair blow-outs. Mid-morning, the crew chief told me to look for my hammer on top of the SW corner tie beam. Yes Sir. There it was, just the butt of the rubberized blue handle sticking out of a freshly hardened concrete pour.

"Go get a 16-oz. Carpenter's hammer at the hardware store RIGHT NOW, or don't come back", I was told. It almost brought a tear to my eye - those experienced construction guys looking out for me - just not as fast as that Mason's hammer.

When I was a nail bender the 32 oz Vaughn was king. Drive #16 sinkers in 3 blows and straighten walls. It has a longer handle so you can put real power in a blow. The waffle face on mine is well warn so it doesn't mark wood like a new one. It's the only hammer on my service truck as it will drive nails and do the job of a single jack. Your off hand better learn to finger nails though. Good training for reloading presses, you can damage fingers there too. Drifty this morning.

[Land Owner]

Thanks Mal. For a short while, after high school, construction employment was instructive. I didn't know "jack", but responsibly showed up ready to work daily, not just "on time" but early, and stayed late too. I was on a good crew, making entry-level wages, and working for a legitimate contractor. I did as I was instructed. I learned - some lessons the hard way.

It was a highly competitive and lucrative time. It was cutthroat too. The lure of better pay and benefits led me to my 2nd crew, at another site, for a different contractor. Too late, I discovered there are "broken promise" contractors. The first week on the new crew I received partial payment and was refused all of my earned wages. Further "promises" founded on broken promises wouldn't cut it. I quit, made an immediate career change, and my off hand recovered.

[CastingFool]

I can switch hands when driving nails. Specially, when someone is watching, I'll start driving the nail with the hammer in my right hand, and then switch to my left hand.

[megasupermagnum]

Pliers ain't nothing. "Getting philips'ed" is the real deal. I've seen my share of pinched hands with pliers, as well as missing fingernails and such from various tools. I've never seen an injury as bad as a philips bit on a 1/4" driver driven through the bone of a hand. I honestly think it's worse than a drill bit. Even regular screwdrivers to the thumb are pretty gruesome. There's a reason they make star bits, and I have no idea why old timers still insist on the Philips. It's a screw that is designed to slip on purpose with zero warning, and the tool to drive them is a spear, but with flutes to tear you up.

[1hole]

I can switch hands when driving nails. Specially, when someone is watching, I'll start driving the nail with the hammer in my right hand, and then switch to my left hand.

I'm impressed and hope you never lose that ability.

I never worked as a carpenter but I've loved to "make things" all of my life and my hammer skill was pretty good. That lasted until a "T-bone" auto accident nearly killed me and bashed my right shoulder socket cartalige and tore four tendons (the rotator cuff) to bits.

Docs eventually gave up trying to repair my damaged shoulder and just replaced it. (It's still a mess but it doesn't hurt anymore and I'm grateful for that!) But, sadly, when installing the new store bought steel and plastic ball and socket some tendon and ligament connections got shifted around a bit. When I swing at a nail the old hand-to-eye memory is still there but now it makes me consistently hit about 1 1/2" to the right! I can't do that good with my left hand so instead of a hammer and nails I use a lot of "dry wall" screws and a DeWalt 18V battery drill-driver. That's a bit slower than a hammer but it works.

[jonp]

When I was a nail bender the 32 oz Vaughn was king. Drive #16 sinkers in 3 blows and straighten walls. It has a longer handle so you can put real power in a blow. The waffle face on mine is well warn so it doesn't mark wood like a new one. It's the only hammer on my service truck as it will drive nails and do the job of a single jack. Your off hand better learn to finger nails though. Good training for reloading presses, you can damage fingers there too. Drifty this morning.

You ever try one of the expensive ones like the 15oz Stiletto Titanium out of curiosity? The claim is it drives like a 28-30oz.

https://www.stiletto.com/p/ti-bone-iii-hammer-with-milled-face-and-18-hybrid-handle/TB3MC

My fallback is the old Estwing.

[Mal Paso]

You ever try one of the expensive ones like the 15oz Stiletto Titanium out of curiosity? The claim is it drives like a 28-30oz.

https://www.stiletto.com/p/ti-bone-iii-hammer-with-milled-face-and-18-hybrid-handle/TB3MC

My fallback is the old Estwing.

There was always something hotter for more money but the Vaughn would build walls then had the power to straighten them. The bad boys that would build a house in a couple days and got the big bucks used framing axes and blew out their elbows by 30. A top framer with a bag of nails is faster than a nail gun but it's harder on the body. I escaped to the technical trades as it paid better.

I have the big Bostitch 16 penny nailer that will also put Tico Nails in Simpson Strap holes slick as can be without moving the strap. That's my fancy hammer.

If I need a single nail I have to break it off a stick.

[Scrounge]

How many times do you have to get a plier bite before you throw them out into the woods to be returned to nature? Both cases were pretty much the same, after patching up some flat garden cart tires on two different days while bending the cotter pin back around the large needle nose pliers slipped and chomp. First time(the finger) I figured it was just me, the second really was a good bite and I may have used a few inappropriate words. This is the same reason I don’t own any Gerber multi tools they do the same to me.

Of course like a dope I cleaned them up and put them back in the toolbox…



The real problem is operator error. If you place the plier correctly, and grip firmly in the right area of the hand they will not do that. Get in a hurry, and don't do it exactly right, and you pay for it. Said from a font of experience on how not to do things, so not casting aspersions. ;) Learn to do it right, or pay for doing it wrong! Unless you're me. Then you need to be reminded every now and again! :)

[sloughfoot]

A couple year ago I was challenged to cut a 1/4 inch grade 8 bolt with a pair of kliens. I beared down on that bad boy holding the pliers on my lap an BAM I GOT IT! Success!!!! But the butt of the handles came together with such force got the tip of muh business and left me with a nasty bruise and blurred vision for a week

[georgerkahn]

I feel badly for all the posters' injuries/war wounds posted thus far, and am more than a wee bit surprised not reading reloading/press injuries! :) One of my most memorable causes for a string of expletives when loading (in a hurry, a few hours before a band gig) was when I moved the press's handle down with my left hand forefinger slightly (ouch!) atop a .25acp or .380 case! I do not recall which calibre it was, but I surely do recall both the pain... and dripping blood on the piano keys thru the gauze and tape bandaging a few hours later. While (I'm 74) I surely have had my share of plier bites, hammer misses, etc. -- I once even screwed a finger to the wall while putting up drywall -- NONE even comes close to that reloading press cut/smash!

[jonp]

There was always something hotter for more money but the Vaughn would build walls then had the power to straighten them. The bad boys that would build a house in a couple days and got the big bucks used framing axes and blew out their elbows by 30. A top framer with a bag of nails is faster than a nail gun but it's harder on the body. I escaped to the technical trades as it paid better.

I have the big Bostitch 16 penny nailerthat will also put Tico Nails in Simpson Strap holes slick as can be without moving the strap. That's my fancy hammer.

If I need a single nail I have to break it off a stick.

Ex co-worker sold me a used one. He ran a construction company and went out of business. It was sitting in his garage and needed to be rebuilt so I gave him $20 for it, got the parts and good as new