Crescent has recently come out with new Pivot Pro compound leverage pliers and cutters. The new Crescent pliers are identical to the Gearwrench Pivot Force pliers and cutters, which isn’t surprising since both brands are owned by the Apex Tool Group. There is an exception – the Crescent pliers have thicker comfort-grip handles.
In addition to the diagonal cutter and long nose pliers that are also found under Gearwrench branding, Crescent has also come out with Pivot Pro Linesman pliers.
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Prices: $18-$20 each, $35 for 2-piece set
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First Thoughts
I was somewhat impressed with the performance of the Gearwrench PivotForce cutters, and assume that these Crescent pliers and cutters roll off of the same assembly line. While I am okay with simple vinyl-dipped handles, I like the idea of Crescent’s thicker handle grips.
The downside to compound-leverage pliers like these is that the handles spread further apart and the jaws open to a lesser extent, than with ordinary pliers. But, this is pretty much the only way to multiply leverage without stepping up to larger pliers with longer handles.
These pliers, like the Gearwrench ones, straddle the line between innovation and gimmick, but I find them to be well within the innovation side of things. The concept behind these pliers isn’t exactly new, as I’ve seen similar designs in NWS Fantastico cutters and Knipex TwinForce cutters, but the execution looks sound.
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Dave L.
These look like the might save some wear and tear on your hands, but I would support the idea of putting a little heavy grease around that pin now and then to forestall wear.
mnoswad1
The pin looks to be the gimmick part of the design………it doesn’t do anything. It could be removed and have no effect of the function.
The greater leverage comes from a smaller hinge pin that is located closer to the jaw opening. they’ve just moved the cutting edges closer to the pivot point to gain leverage.
It looks cool…….do we will buy it.
Koko the Talking Ape
The pin isn’t a gimmick. It is part of the compound mechanism. One leg of the pliers is actually two pieces joined a little below the pin. You can see that clearly at 1:33 in the video. Maybe more durable than the multi-pivot principle in aviation snips, though the pin does have to be lubricated or you lose the mechanical advantage to friction.
harry
Hey look it’s the Gearwrench Pivotforce pliers but, only cheaper and with possibly better grips. I have the Gearwrench version of the side cutters. They weigh about twice what a regular pair of side cutters but, do make cutting multiple strands of wire a breeze. I would like to try the Knipex version to compare the two.
Stuart
I did NOT like the Knipex cutters. Took 2 operations and some fiddling for each cutting task.
Michael Quinlan
Something that’s rarely (never?) Mentioned about tools providing increased leverage is that they necessarily require the handles to open further (than standard tools) to get the jaws to open the same amount. This requires your hand to be open further, decreasing your ability to apply force to the handles.
With the handles open the same amount on both types of tools, the jaws on the “increased leverage” tools won’t own as far, and the material you’re cutting won’t go as far into the jaws – negatively affecting the advantage of the tool.
Out of curiosity, I wanted to figure out the net effect of these tools. Assuming 1/2″ from the pivot point to the innermost cutting edge, and a 1/16″ round material being cut, I calculated a 50% increase in leverage at the handle results in the material moving further out in the jaws to the point where the advantage at the handle is completely offset by the repositioning of the material. I could be wrong – having done this with only a mental visualization and a calculator.
Am I way off base?
Stuart
That’s why I mention this potential downside in the post. 😉
All compound action pliers have the same tradeoff, or at least all those I have seen. The benefit if these is that you get greater leverage and reasonably compact tool size. These pliers are not as streamlined as regular pliers, but they’re also not as clunky as compound pliers that have aviation snips-like designs.
The compound design effectively creates a torque multiplier. I’m sure that there’s a quantitative answer, but it’s not going to be easy to calculate without modeling. 50% benefit sounds about right from a logical standpoint.
Michael Quinlan
Sorry… I got interrupted several times while teasing the post and watching the video, and apparently never completed the reading.
It’s impossible to not have this trade-off; the work done remains the same, so if you decrease the force you MUST increase the distance (spread at the handle). The only variation I’ve seen is my ratcheting PVC cutter – you have to open and close the handle several times in order to bring the cutter from fully-open to fully-closed.
How about an update on Ben? If you’re considering nicknames, how about DroolGuyd? (Just kidding)
Cody
These have been out for about 6 month to a year. I first saw them going though Home Depots website.
Cody
Why don’t you do a review video of them? It’s been forever since you made a video.
Stan
I am not sure nine months constituents forever, but that was when the last video was published.
On another tool forum I read recently, I noticed a member thought these were made in USA similar to the Crescent “Duraplyers” used to be.
This is not the case anymore. I’ve been to Home Depot recently and these are made in either Taiwan or China.
Just FYI in case anyone read that similar thread and might have been confused.
Robert
The moment you mention pliers with a compound design, you start hearing about the width of the grip opening to obtain the compound leverage. As with any other tool however, you need to apply it to appropriate usages. They all have their place.
In my experience, tools like this are well suited to narrow but heavy guage wiring. Even standard household 12 guage can get hard on your hands after installing a number of wall outlets, light switches, etc. I have a previous version of the Crescent compound pliers with blue and white handles. Whenever I work with heavier guage wiring, I use them almost exclusively. I have a pair of Klein Journeyman pliers too, but I use the Crescent more often for the added leverage.
If you intend to occasionally turn small nuts and toggle bolts with this tool, you’re looking at the wrong item. While these are still pliers, they aren’t built for the same tasks as those with a traditional design.
fred
In a production environment – where repetitive motion injury is a real potential – and productivity is needed – cable and wire cutting substitutes pneumatic power for hand power – and tools made by Simonds , Erem and the Eraser Co. come to mind. For larger cable – ratcheting and long handled cutters seem to still curry favor – but I’ve seen Milwaukee cordless cable cutters on showing up on some jobsites.
Rick
I can see how the compound dikes might be useful. But long noses probably shouldn’t be “force-multiplied”.
Bob
I have had a pair for about a year and love them. Never noticed the fact that you have to open the handles wider. I guess because I was only ever cutting wires or finishing nails, never anything very thick.