The Pliers

It's widely known that humans aren't the only species that use tools (Joshua Klein's TED talk about crows using tools, and there's always cute sea otters breaking shells open with rocks, amongst a slew of others). However, we certainly have the coolest ones. And with that said, this is my first of many entries showcasing a tool.

While searching for some pliers for electrical work, I came across a few companies out there - Wiha, Knipex, Klein, and Channellock, to name a few. These all are great products, however I ended up picking up a set of Knipex precision electrical pliers. But you can't go wrong with any of the above.



They're made in Germany, and are as fine of a hand tool as you can purchase. Although they're a little on the pricey side, my mentality when buying tools (especially hand tools) is that, unless I lose it, this is the LAST one I'll ever need to buy. And, heck, I like things that are made in Germany.

I also went with the ESD version, which means you're protected against electrostatic buildup which electrical components can have... although I wouldn't recommend futzing with electrical components unless you know what you're doing!

I purchased mine from ChadsToolBox.com - they seemed to have the best prices and an a good selection too. They had to ship from Germany first, but considering these should last me a lifetime, I was ok with the wait.

Good luck, and happy... pinching?