5" Flat Nose Pilier

What the pliers are for

Flat pliers are a basic tool of the modeling bench. Straight jaws with no point hold a part across its whole width, so it does not twist in them and they leave no point marks in it. They are used for bending wire and photo-etched parts against an edge, for straightening bent pieces, for holding small components during gluing and for lifting a part out of a bath where fingers do not belong.

The workmanship

The length of the tool is 5 inches, that is roughly 127 mm. That is a size which is held well in one hand and at the same time gives enough leverage for harder wire. The pliers are held in the whole palm, and the pressure should be applied steadily rather than with a jerk. When bending wire, move the material along in small steps and shape the bend in several goes; the result is then smooth and without a kink.

Work and care tips

• on soft material put a strip of paper between the jaw and the part, and no print will arise
• bend photo-etch by pressing it against the jaw along the whole width of the bend, not only at a corner
• do not use the jaws as a hammer or as a pry bar, as they risk going out of line
• for cutting wire reach for sprue nippers, as flat jaws are not meant for it
• wipe the tool after work and store it dry, as damp does it no good

Who they are for

The pliers suit anyone who builds plastic models and works with photo-etch, wire or small electronics. They come into their own on aircraft just as on vehicles, dioramas and collectors' repairs. Unless stated otherwise, one piece of the tool is supplied, without further accessories and without a case.