Cool Tool: Jewelry Pliers Get Those Hard-To-Reach Spots

This past weekend, I ran over my own glasses with my motorcycle. I pulled off this impressive feat through a carefully honed method called “not drinking enough coffee,” and its successful execution left me in a bit of a pickle. Without my glasses, I could still ride the bike — my vision isn’t that bad — but reading deli signs would be nigh impossible. Truly, what worse thing can happen to a person?

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Luckily, I was able to bend them back into shape. In the process, however, I realized the tools I’d used to do so — a set of jewelry pliers — had far more automotive uses than I’d ever imagined.

Good as new! Except for the parts that aren’t. I’m ignoring those, thoughPhoto: Steve DaSilva / Jalopnik

To be clear, I’m not recommending you go out and replace your Snap-On tools with equivalents from Michaels. They won’t hold a bolt the same way, plain and simple. Instead, jewelry pliers are a good add to your toolbox, one that comes in handy when you’re working wiht small pieces.

Jewelry pliers, being small and largely needlenose, offer a level of precision that others don’t. Some come with angled gripping surfaces, which can reach around frame rails or between wires, while other shapes are best used to grab clips or fix bent keys.

Sure, you can get angled pliers at any Harbor Freight, but they’re often enormous — unwieldy and imprecise when you need something compact and versatile. Where those pliers falter, the humble jewelry plier shines.

So add a set of jewelry pliers to your toolbox. ‘m sure somebody’s doing a black Friday deal. Worst case scenario, you’re out 13 bucks for a tool you never use. In the best case, though, they’ll be the only thing that can help ensure your deli order goes well.