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A Family Handyman report highlights secondary features found on some common tools: pliers may cut wire, some wire strippers can shorten machine screws, certain manual can openers include bottle openers, and many nail clippers have folding files. The features are not universal, so users should check the design and instructions for their specific tool.
A Family Handyman report has identified secondary functions on four common tools: some pliers cut wire, some wire strippers shorten machine screws, some manual can openers open bottles, and many nail clippers include a file. The features can save a search for another tool, but they vary by model and should not be assumed to be present on every version.
On some pairs of pliers, a cutting edge near the hinge sits behind the gripping jaws. It is intended for trimming soft wire, according to Family Handyman. The report cautions that not all pliers include cutters and distinguishes them from wire strippers, which remove insulation without cutting through the wire itself. Users need to identify which feature their tool actually has before using it.
Some wire strippers have threaded holes near the handles for shortening machine screws. The user places a screw in the hole of the matching size and squeezes the handles to cut it. Family Handyman says this can be useful when fitting electrical fixtures or other hardware that needs shorter screws. The report also notes that some manual can openers have a bottle-opening notch or hook in the handle or near the cutting mechanism; some instead have a magnet to lift a cut can lid.
A fold-out metal file is another common extra, often found beneath the lever or along the body of a nail clipper. It can smooth rough nail edges after trimming. Some clippers also have a pointed tip for cleaning beneath nails, but the report says the location and design of these features differ. Its examples include product references from Channellock, Klein Tools, OXO and Zwilling, among others; the listed examples do not establish that every product in those categories has the same functions.
Small Features Can Reduce Tool Searches
These built-in functions can make routine household tasks easier by letting people use a tool already at hand instead of searching for a separate implement. A wire-cutting notch on pliers or a file on a clipper is a practical convenience, while a screw-cutting feature may be useful during hardware installation. The benefit depends on the specific tool design and the material or task involved.
Knowing the difference between similar features also matters. A wire cutter trims wire; a stripper removes insulation. A can opener’s magnet, where included, lifts a lid but does not make the sharp lid safe to handle without care. Checking the tool before use can help avoid damage to the tool or workpiece and reduce the chance of an injury from sharp edges.
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Features Depend on the Tool Model
The report frames these functions as overlooked extras rather than new inventions or changes to tool design. It lists four familiar categories—pliers, wire strippers, manual can openers and nail clippers—and gives examples of the secondary functions some models carry. The underlying point is that an item’s familiar primary use may not be its only designed use.
Family Handyman’s report cites manufacturer materials for specific examples, including Channellock slip-joint pliers, a Klein Tools wire stripper and cutter, an OXO steel can opener, and a Zwilling nail clipper set. Those references provide examples, not a guarantee about all products. The report itself repeatedly qualifies the features with terms such as “some” and notes that designs differ.
“Some everyday tools have other tools built in, but those extra features are easy to overlook.”
— Family Handyman report
Which Models Include Each Feature
The report does not identify how common each extra feature is across the full range of tools available, or how many owners overlook them. It also does not provide a single checklist that applies to every manufacturer or model. Availability, placement and intended use remain model-specific, and the article’s examples should not be read as a claim that every plier, stripper, can opener or clipper works the same way.
It is also not clear from the report whether the listed manufacturer examples are current in every market or whether their designs have changed since the cited product information was published. Readers should consult the markings and instructions for their own tool, especially before cutting screws or wire.
Check the Tool Before Using It
The practical next step is to inspect the tool itself and consult its manufacturer’s instructions. Look near plier hinges for a designated cutting edge, check wire strippers for labeled screw-sizing holes, examine a manual can opener for a bottle-opening notch or lid magnet, and see whether a nail clipper has a folding file. Do not force a tool to perform a function it was not designed for.
For electrical work, users should follow applicable safety rules and use tools suited to the job; the report does not provide a substitute for electrical safety guidance. Whether these extras are useful will depend on the tool in hand and the task. The report offers no announced follow-up or broader product survey, so the main takeaway remains to check individual models rather than assume a hidden function is standard.
Key Questions
Do all pliers have wire cutters?
No. Some pliers have cutting edges near the hinge, but Family Handyman says the feature is not present on every pair. Check the tool’s design and instructions.
How can wire strippers shorten a screw?
Some models have threaded holes near the handles. A screw of the matching size is placed in the hole, then the handles are squeezed to cut it. Use this only if the tool is designed for that function.
Can a manual can opener also open bottles?
Some can openers include a bottle-opening notch or hook, often in the handle or near the cutting mechanism. The feature varies by design.
What extra feature may be built into nail clippers?
Many nail clippers have a small metal file that folds out or sits along the body. Some also include a pointed tip, but placement and design differ.
How do I know whether my tool has one of these functions?
Inspect the tool for the described feature and check its manufacturer’s instructions. Do not assume another model’s design or intended use applies to yours.
Source: rss
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