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A Family Handyman report describes secondary functions found on some common tools: pliers may cut wire, wire strippers may shorten machine screws, can openers may open bottles, and nail clippers may include files. These features are not present on every model, so users should check their tools and follow the manufacturer’s directions.
Family Handyman has drawn attention to extra functions built into some everyday tools, including wire-cutting edges on certain pliers and nail files attached to some clippers. The report describes four examples that could spare users from searching for another tool, while stressing that features vary by model and should be checked before use.
Some pliers include wire cutters near the hinge, behind the gripping jaws. Family Handyman says these cutters can trim soft wire. The report notes that some pliers may also have wire-stripping features, which remove insulation rather than cut through the wire itself. These functions are different, and the tool’s design determines whether either is available.
Some wire strippers can shorten machine screws using threaded holes near their handles. The user places a screw in a correctly sized hole and squeezes the handles to cut it to length, a feature the report says can help when fitting electrical fixtures or other hardware. The report also describes bottle openers built into some manual can openers, often as a notch or hook, and magnets on certain models that help lift cut can lids.
Nail clippers may include a folding file to smooth edges after trimming. Some also have a pointed tip intended for cleaning beneath nails. Family Handyman’s examples are based on products and references from manufacturers including Channellock, Klein Tools, OXO and Zwilling; the report does not suggest every tool in any of these categories has the same features.
Small Features Can Replace a Tool Search
Knowing what a tool can do may save time during a minor repair or routine task, particularly when a separate cutter, bottle opener or nail file is not close at hand. The practical benefit depends on the specific model: a tool that lacks the relevant feature cannot perform that extra job, and a feature designed for one material or task should not be assumed suitable for another.
The examples also underline the value of checking a tool before starting work. A built-in wire cutter, screw-cutting hole or lid magnet may be easy to miss, but identifying it in advance can help users choose the right tool and avoid improvising with an unsuitable one. For electrical work, the report’s examples do not replace proper safety precautions or the right equipment for the task.
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Where the Extra Functions Are Found
The report focuses on features integrated into tools people may already own, rather than new products or a change to tool standards. It describes cutting edges near plier hinges, threaded holes in some wire strippers, bottle-opening notches on some can openers, and files attached to nail clippers. Their placement and form depend on the design.
Family Handyman cites manufacturer materials for several products, including Channellock slip-joint pliers, a Klein Tools wire stripper and cutter, an OXO steel can opener, and a Zwilling nail clipper set. The supplied source also lists a Milwaukee folding utility knife among its references, but the four examples in the report text concern pliers, wire strippers, can openers and nail clippers. No broader product survey or usage data is provided.
“Features vary by model.”
— Family Handyman
Which Tools Have These Features
The report does not establish how common these features are across all tools, brands or price ranges, and it provides no survey of how often owners use them. It also does not identify a single universal design: placement and availability vary by model. Readers should consult the markings or instructions for their particular tool rather than assume it has a feature based on appearance alone.
The source offers only limited detail on safe operating limits, such as what wire a particular cutter can handle or which screw sizes fit a stripper’s holes. Those specifications depend on the tool. The examples should not be treated as a substitute for manufacturer guidance or for choosing equipment suited to a specific job.
Check the Tool Before Starting
For readers applying the report’s suggestions, the next step is to inspect the tool and check its manual or manufacturer information. Look for a marked cutting edge, threaded screw-cutting holes, a bottle-opening notch, or a folding file, and confirm what each feature is designed to handle. Do not force a tool to perform an unlisted task; if the design or safe use is uncertain, use the appropriate dedicated tool or seek qualified guidance for the work.
Key Questions
Do all pliers have built-in wire cutters?
No. Family Handyman says some pliers have cutters near the hinge, but features vary by model. Check the tool before relying on it.
How can some wire strippers cut machine screws?
Some models have threaded holes near the handles. A screw is placed in the correctly sized hole and cut by squeezing the handles, according to Family Handyman. Check the tool’s instructions for compatible sizes.
Can a manual can opener open bottles?
Some can openers include a bottle opener, often shaped as a notch or hook. Not every model has one.
Where is the file on a nail clipper?
On some models, a small metal file folds out from beneath the lever or sits along the clipper’s body. Its location and design vary.
Source: rss
