NEEDLE-NOSE PLIERS Needle-nose pliers (fig. 1-47, view B) are used in the same manner as duckbill pliers. However, there is a difference in the design of the jaws. Needle-nose jaws are tapered to a point, which makes them adapted to installing and removing small cotter pins. They have serrations  at  the  nose  end  and  a  side  cutter  near  the throat. Needle-nose pliers may be used to hold small items  steady,  to  cut  and  bend  safety  wire,  or  to  do numerous other jobs that are too intricate or too difficult to be done by hand alone. NOTE Duckbill and needle-nose pliers are especially  delicate.  Care  should  be  exercised when  using  these  pliers  to  prevent  springing, breaking,  or  chipping  the  jaws.  Once  these pliers    are    damaged,    they    are    practically useless. WIRE-TWISTER PLIERS Wire-twister  pliers  (safety  wire  pliers)  (fig.  1-47, view C) are three-way pliers: they hold, twist, and cut. They are designed to reduce the time used in twisting safety wire on nuts and bolts. To operate, grasp the wire between  the  two  diagonal  jaws,  and  the  thumb  will bring the locking sleeve into place. A pull on the knob twirls  the  twister,  making  uniform  twists  in  the  wire. The  spiral  rod  may  be  pushed  back  into  the  twister without unlocking it, and another pull on the knob will give a tighter twist to the wire. A squeeze on the handle unlocks  the  twister,  and  the  wire  can  be  cut  to  the desired  length  with  the  side  cutter.  The  spiral  of  the twister should be lubricated occasionally. MAINTENANCE OF PLIERS Nearly   all   sidecutting   pliers   and   diagonals   are designed  so  that  the  cutting  edges  can  be  reground. Some older models of pliers will not close if material is ground  from  the  cutting  edges.  When  grinding  the cutting  edges,  never  take  any  more  material  from  the jaws  than  is  necessary  to  remove  the  nicks.  Grind  the same amount of stock from both jaws. NOTE When jaws on pliers do not open enough to permit  grinding,  remove  the  pin  that  attaches the two halves of the pliers, so that the jaws can be separated. The serrations on the jaws of pliers must be sharp. When they become dull, the pliers should be held in a vise    and    the    serrations    recut    by    using    a    small three-corner file. Pliers should be coated with light oil when they are not in use. They should be stored in a toolbox in such a manner that the jaws cannot be injured by striking hard objects.  Keep  the  pin  or  bolt  at  the  hinge  just  tight enough to hold the two parts of the pliers in contact, and always keep the pivot pin lubricated with a few drops of light oil. REVIEW QUESTIONS Q14. Identify the different types of pliers. Q15. What are wrench pliers used for? Q16. What are side-cutting pliers used for? Q17. What is used to sharpen the serrations on the jaws of pliers? STRIKING TOOLS LEARNING   OBJECTIVES:   Identify   the different  types  of  striking  tools.  Describe  the uses    of    different    types    of    striking    tools. Describe the proper care of striking tools. List the  safety  precautions  that  apply  to  striking tools. Hammers, mallets, and sledges are used to apply a striking   force.   The   tool   you   select   (fig.   1-48)   will depend upon the intended application. 1-30 Figure 1-48.—Hammers, mallets, and sledges.