Pliers are pilers, right? Not always. In fact, these MIG Welding Pliers are a like a Swiss Army knife for anyone who MIG welds regularly. While most people will probably get the most use out of its wire-cutting function, the tool actually does much more. Here are the four ways to use it and why it’s probably the only tool you need to keep on your cart.
Pliers
Naturally, these pliers work perfectly as, well… pliers. It’s always handy to have pliers nearby for grabbing hot work pieces without burning yourself. They also work great for pulling wire through the torch should it get stuck or feeding new wire through the machine when replacing a spool.
Beyond standard plier duty, these also have built-in openings specifically for loosening or removing contact tips (smaller diameter) or the nozzle (larger diameter). Two different cup sizes are machined into the handles just for this purpose.
Wire Cutters
These pliers incorporate a built-in hardened cutting blade. But if you look closely, you’ll notice they’re not centered on the tool. They’re intentionally set deeper from one edge than the other. Cutting your MIG welding wire from the farther edge gives you the perfect ¼-inch “stickout” required for a clean start. No guessing required, just line up the nozzle and trim to the edge.
Spatter Removal
At some point, you’re likely to get some welding spatter built up inside the nozzle. To keep the wire feeding cleanly, use the backside of the plier tips to clear out the inside of the nozzle. The square edges act as scrapers to knock off the little beads and keep you moving.
Hammer
Anything’s a hammer if you swing it hard enough. Seriously though, sometimes you just need to give the work a little hit to make small adjustments. The hardened steel construction is great for realigning material or knocking off minor mistakes. We won’t judge how you use it, just know that if you need to hit something with these pliers, you can.