By:  Beth Knott

You've seen 'em and you probably know them by name, but why have a bunch of different syles of pliers?  What does one type do differently than another type anyway?  Take needle nosed pliers, which are also called thin-nosed pliers, for example.  They're often used for gripping, bending and cutting wire.  They fit nicely into tight spots,so electricians also find them pretty useful.

We regular folks use them for things like craft projects, especially when working with thin craft wire or beads and other small objects.  The appeal here is that they can grab things that are hrd tohold with your fingers.

Needle nosed pliers come in lots of sizes.  Many have a wire cutter at the pivot, and some have springs built into the handle to keep the nose open.  This feature provides you with even greater control.  Every Hands On Woman should have at least one pair of these, if not several.