Tongue-and-groove pliers

Adjustable clamping hand tool

Tongue-and-groove-pliers in extreme positions, size 10 inches

Tongue-and-groove pliers are a type of slip-joint pliers. They are also known as:

* adjustable pliers,
* Channellocks (i.e., Channellock brand pliers),
* water pump pliers,
* groove-joint pliers,
* arc-joint pliers,
* Multi-Grips,
* tap or pipe spanners,
* swan neck pliers.
* Monkey pliers.

## Design[edit]

They have serrated jaws generally set 45 to 60 degrees from the handles. The lower jaw can be moved to a number of positions by sliding along a tracking section under the upper jaw. An advantage of this design is that the pliers can adjust to a number of sizes without the distance in the handle growing wider. These pliers often have long handles—commonly 240 to 300 mm (9.5 to 12 inches) long—for increased leverage.[1][2][3] The weight of the tool can also vary, depending on the material used.

## Uses[edit]

Tongue-and-groove pliers are commonly used for turning and holding nuts and bolts, gripping irregularly shaped objects, and clamping materials. It is also possible to rotate objects while keeping them in one position.

## History[edit]

Originally developed as a blacksmiths tool, patented in in 1899 Canada under CA64246A [4] by Vernon Graham Higgins and sold out of Fortuna, California by the patentee. Advertised in the November 1899 issue of "The Blacksmith and Wheelwright"[5], an American periodical; the original variants had longer reigns than the modern equivalent, and may not have had the groves in the jaws.

The current design of pliers was developed and popularized by the Champion–DeArment Tool Company in 1934 under the brand name Channellock (after which the company was later renamed)[6] but are also now produced by a number of other manufacturers.

## Gallery[edit]

*   *   *   *   *

This tool article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

|

* v
* t
* e

## References[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tongue-and-groove pliers.

1. ^ US 2592927, Manning, Howard H., "Adjustable pliers", published 1952-04-15, assigned to Champion De Arment Tool Co.
2. ^ US 4890519, le Duc, Don, "Adjustable pliers", published 1990-01-02
3. ^ "Common Maintenance Tools and Their Use: Water-Pump Pliers and Groove-Joint Pliers". Aviation Boatswains Mate E - Aviation theories and other practices. Retrieved 2010-03-29.
4. ^ CA 64246A, Graham Higgins, Vernon, "Tongs", published 1899-10-09, assigned to Vernon Graham Higgins
5. ^ https://hdl.handle.net/2027/nyp.33433090788914?urlappend=;seq=534;ownerid=27021597770158974-538
6. ^ US 1950362, Manning, Howard H., "Tool", published 1934-03-06, assigned to Champion De Arment Tool Co.

* v
* t
* e

Hand tools

* Sawhorse
* Toolbox
* Workbench

* Adjustable spanner
* Antique tools
* Basin wrench
* Block plane
* Brace
* Bradawl
* Breaker bar
* Cat's paw
* Caulking gun
* Clamp
* Crimper
* Crowbar
* Fish tape
* Gimlet
* Glass breaker
* Grease gun
* Hammer
* Hammer tacker
* Hawk
* Headlamp
* Hex key
* Hole punch
* Impact driver
* Jack
* Locking pliers
* Lug wrench
* Mallet
* Mitre box
* Monkey wrench
* Multi-tool
* Nut driver
* Paint roller
* Paintbrush
* Pencil sharpener
* Persian drill
* Pincers
* Pipe wrench
* Pliers
* Plumber wrench
* Plumber's snake
* Plunger
* Podger spanner
* Punch
* Punch down tool
* Scratch awl
* Screwdriver
* Sledgehammer
* Slide hammer
* Socket wrench
* Spike maul
* Staple gun
* Stitching awl
* Strap wrench
* Tactical light
* Tire iron
* Tongue-and-groove pliers
* Torque wrench
* Tweezers
* Upholstery hammer
* Wrench

Types of tools
Cleaning
Cutting and abrasive
Forestry
Garden
Hand
Kitchen
Machine and metalworking
Masonry
Measuring and alignment
Power
Woodworking
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template