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A Family Handyman report points out four secondary functions built into some everyday tools: pliers may cut wire, wire strippers may shorten screws, manual can openers may open bottles, and nail clippers may include files. These features vary by model, so users should check their tool before relying on an extra function.
Family Handyman has highlighted four secondary functions found on some familiar tools: pliers with wire cutters, wire strippers that can shorten machine screws, manual can openers with bottle openers, and nail clippers with built-in files. The roundup may help people avoid searching for a separate tool, but the features are not present on every model.
On some pliers, a cutting edge near the hinge trims soft wire. The report says users should check their particular pair, because not all pliers include cutters. Some may also have wire-stripping capability, which is designed to remove insulation without cutting through the wire itself. Those functions are different, and users should not assume a tool can perform both.
Some wire strippers include threaded holes near the handles for shortening machine screws. A screw is placed in the hole matching its size, then the handles are squeezed to cut it. Family Handyman says this can be useful when fitting electrical fixtures or other hardware that needs shorter screws. The roundup also notes that certain manual can openers have a bottle-opening notch or hook, while some designs use a magnet to lift a cut can lid.
The fourth example is the nail clipper: many models have a fold-out metal file for smoothing nail edges after trimming. Some also include a pointed tip intended for cleaning beneath nails. As with the other examples, the shape and placement of these features differ across products. The report cites product information from Channellock, Klein Tools, Milwaukee Tool, OXO and Zwilling as source material for its examples.
Built-In Features Can Save a Search
These extra functions can make routine tasks more convenient by putting a second tool within reach. Someone trimming soft wire, shortening a screw, opening a bottle or smoothing a nail may already have a suitable feature in hand. That can reduce interruptions during small jobs and make a compact toolbox or travel kit more useful.
The practical value depends on the tool’s design and the task. A built-in cutter is not automatically suitable for every wire, and the report does not claim that these features replace dedicated tools in all circumstances. Checking the tool’s markings and instructions before use helps avoid damage to the tool or workpiece.
pliers with wire cutter and wire stripper
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Four Tools, Several Designs
The roundup focuses on ordinary tools with less obvious functions, rather than presenting a new product launch or a change to tool standards. Its examples span home repair, kitchen use and personal care. Family Handyman cautions that features differ by model, a qualification that matters because the same broad tool category can include several designs.
The source lists manufacturer product materials for specific examples, including slip-joint pliers, a wire stripper/cutter, a can opener and nail clippers. It also names a folding utility knife among its sources, but the supplied article text does not describe a separate hidden function for that knife. The four functions covered here are those explained in the report’s text.
“Some everyday tools have other tools built in, but those extra features are easy to overlook.”
— Family Handyman report
wire strippers with machine screw cutter holes
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Features Depend on the Model
The supplied report does not identify how common each feature is across products, or how many models include it. It also does not provide comparative testing, performance measurements or guidance covering every material and task. The phrase “most people never use” appears in the headline, but the supplied material does not include survey data establishing how often people notice or use these functions.
It is also not clear from the source whether every listed example is intended for frequent use or only occasional convenience. Readers should check the design and manufacturer instructions for their own tool rather than assuming that a feature described for one model applies to another.
manual can opener with bottle opener
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Check Your Tool Before Use
No follow-up announcement or additional testing is described in the supplied source. For readers, the next practical step is to inspect the tools they already own for cutters, threaded screw-sizing holes, bottle-opening notches, magnets or folding files. Confirm the intended function in the tool’s instructions, especially before using a cutter or screw-shortening feature on a repair task.
nail clippers with folding nail file
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Key Questions
Do all pliers have built-in wire cutters?
No. The report says the feature is model-dependent; check near the hinge for a cutting edge and consult the tool’s instructions.
How can some wire strippers shorten a machine screw?
Some have threaded holes near the handles. The screw is placed in the appropriately sized hole and the handles are squeezed, according to Family Handyman. Check the tool’s markings and instructions before using this function.
Can a manual can opener also open bottles?
Some models include a notch or hook that serves as a bottle opener. The feature’s location and shape depend on the design.
What extra feature may be built into a nail clipper?
Many nail clippers have a small folding file for smoothing rough edges. Some models also include a pointed tip, but designs vary.
Source: rss
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