These made-in-Japan pliers from Tsunoda seem like a unique problem-solver.
There’s a lot going on here. To start, it has ultra-thin angled jaws.
The pliers look convenient for accessing fittings and fasteners that might otherwise be difficult to reach with other pliers.
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I found this image, of the pliers tightening a threaded stem caster, to be particularly convincing.
The pliers also have a 3-position slip-joint design that lets it grab materials and objects of different widths.
The slip joint allows for greater jaw engagement when grabbing wider items.
Yes, adjustable pliers can do the same, but these also have thin jaws at an angle. I found it to be a good combination of features.
I didn’t realize it at first, but the pliers also have a wire cutter.
The handles are bare finished metal – meaning there’s no dipped or cushion grip – with a lanyard or tether hole at the end.
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I wasn’t familiar with the brand, and that further convinced me to give it a try. It might take some time for me to form an opinion, but in the meantime please let me know if you have any questions.
Tsunoda also offers these with straight jaws, and they also have standard slip joint pliers – I bought one of those as well.
Price: $21.55
Matt_T
The offset might work well for electrical locknuts. The 29 or 32mm capacity should definitely fit 1/2″ but might be a little too small for 3/4″.
Nathan
3/4 is 19mm give or take a bit. 1/2 being 13mm. Should be fine
Hunter
A 3/4” locknut has a OD of 1 3/8, so who it 35mm.
Nathan
completly forgot that was id.
Matt_T
Yeah it’s IPS nominal ID so add about 3/8″ish to get the OD. Then add some more for the nut.
MM
These look like a useful problem solver. I have a similar tool though it is not slip-joint, the Knipex angle head “cycle pliers”.
Jared
I’ve been happy with my Tsunoda pliers. I think you’ll like them.
That does look unique an useful. I think I might try a pair myself.
Nathan
I’ve always wondered why there aren’t more thin jaw pliers. Interesting
fred
From my teen years 1950’s bicycle kit – I still have a pair of Eldi #21 pliers that look very similar to these. The Eldi’s are 8 inches long and were billed as axle and cone nut pliers. The jaws are almost as thin as a cone wrench and have serrations. They presumably worked with various sizes of cone nuts – but were never as good as having a pair of cone nut wrenches that were sized for a correct fit. They gave credence to the old advice to never use a pair of pliers instead of a wrench on a nut. They tended to bugger up the nuts. I believe that they were made in Germany – and I still have them tucked away somewhere.
I have several Tsunoda soft-jaw pliers that seem well made and I use on occasion. I’ve seen some other specialty pliers form the brand as well – like these:
https://www.amazon.com/Tsunoda-CVP-225-Conveyor-Pliers-maintenance/dp/B07G6Y7YVW
frobo
Thanks for the link to the Tsunoda soft jaw pliers; I just ordered a pair. They seem like a better design than the ones I have seen at Harbor Freight (and they’re cheaper).
As for thin slip joint pliers, according to Alloy Artifacts they were fairly popular back in the 1930s and 1940s. They seem to have faded a bit since then. Like you, I’ve always felt that thin wrenches are a better choice if available.
Yadda
Crescent manufactured thin nose pliers as did Diamond. Crescent also made angle nose pliers similar to these.
fred
Diamond (as in Diamond Tool & Horseshoe) is a brand name that has faded into obscurity. With mergers and acquisitions over the years – they seemed to have gotten absorbed into what’s become Bain Capital’s Apex Tool Group. The Royal Kerckhaert Horseshoe Factory still seems to use the brand name on some farrier hammers.
The Crescent (sometimes hyphenated) brand name, on the other hand, is now being applied to many tools coming out of Apex – not just pliers, screwdrivers and wrenches. I guess the brand is thought to resonate better with consumers than ones like HK Porter, Lufkin, and Wiss
Don Julio
When I find the occasional Diamond tool at a garage sale or swap meet, I’m a buyer at a reasonable price. They seem decent, and I give them to my daughter for her tool chest. She’s an equestrian trainer and she likes the equine history of the Diamond tools.
Robert
I have two different pairs of Igarashi soft jaw pliers for household use. Don’t need to use them often, but when I do they are life savers, non-marring and quite competent. And they have the ultimate stamp of approval, the wife’s.
fred
Their long slip joint pliers can also be handy:
https://www.amazon.com/Igarashi-Plier-straight-HLS-300-4953880166235/dp/B002PK0JOK?th=1
https://www.amazon.com/Igarashi-Plier-straight-HLS-300-4953880166235/dp/B002PK0JOU?th=1
Jim
I’ve used these pliers from Tsunoda to cut hundreds of cable tires in the last 3 or 4 years.
Tsunoda, KBN-125, Cable Tie Cutter (5-Inch)
If the pliers you show are similar quality they could be an excellent buy.
The design looks interesting
fred
I’ve seen this tool in use:
https://www.amazon.com/ACT-Fastening-Solutions-MG-1300-Ergonomic/dp/B004UHCI2M?th=1
But for just nipping the tie ends – the Tsunoda is almost half the price
https://www.amazon.com/Tsunoda-KBN-125-Cable-Cutter-5-Inch/dp/B07H3QL9JF
IronWood
I splurged on the ACT tool years ago and it was a great purchase. That Amazon price is crazy high, but I’d definitely still buy it again. Can’t beat it for cutting zip ties off wire harnesses or bundles without doing damage. It does a decent job flush cutting the ends, but not as good as a dedicated flush cutter. Anybody doing marine, auto, or equipment wiring should have one in my opinion.
Stuart
@Fred – I bought the 6″ recently for testing!
@IronWood – I got the other ACT too, and there are some other options https://toolguyd.com/cable-tie-removal-tools/
Bill
Like Fred, I’m a bit old school in this regard and I cringe at sight of pliers being used on a hex nut. There are plenty of thin and specialized, “proper” wrenches, for most any application.
Nathan
I do agree I avoid pliers mostly. There was a thin jaw adjustable wrench I’ve been meaning to get
fred
I have 2 (3 and 6-inch) of the Engineer brand ones that I’m happy with.
https://www.amazon.com/Engineer-TWM-03-Adjustable-Monkey-Wrench/dp/B000TGHOCW
Channellock (made by Irega in Spain) – sell wide mouth ones in 6 and 8 inch lengths:
https://www.amazon.com/Channellock-6-Inch-WideAzz-Adjustable-Wrench/dp/B00VBPY8Z6
Kurt
I used the Channellock 6 slim jack adjustable wrench on casters; works like a champ! These pliers look interesting as well.
Shane
The Army broke me on crescent-type wrenches years ago. We had to use the EXACT tool for the task. I rarely use one but this can be handy
https://www.amazon.com/%E3%83%AD%E3%83%96%E3%83%86%E3%83%83%E3%82%AF%E3%82%B9-Lobtex-Hybrid-Monki-UM24XG/dp/B00762IKB6
fred
We had heard good things about the Lobster (Lobtex) brand Japanese tools. So, we tried out a couple of their items. From my old inventory records, I deduce that we probably passed them around to try – but the guys did not like them enough to buy more of these:
https://www.amazon.com/Lobtex-LOBSTER-Faucet-pliers-Model/dp/B002UBMO8I
https://www.amazon.com/LOBTEX-NTLM/dp/B00762AMLM
The pliers may have been more aligned with Japanese fixtures. I’m not sure about the nut runner – but it gets some decent reviews in Japan
Blocky
I’ve got three pairs of lobtex. They are incredibly trim and light for how well they hold parallel. Almost too well for many applications. Sometimes it feels like they have a bite and I have to open the jaws by the dial. I could see how it would not be a favorite for turning pipes.
I keep one in my bag for bicycle wheels. My e-bike and analog bike have 4 different sizes of lugnuts between them. I’ve never rounded one over.
LGonToolGuy'd
Those lobtex that have the ball bearing mechanism are great. Imported some five or six years ago.
LGonToolGuy'd
Tsunoda’s G-Less ball bearing system for keeping adjustable wrenches ideal have been wonderful for me. I love them. They make narrow models, etc.
https://www.lobtex.co.jp/english/products/tabid/153/pdid/E-PUM/catid/81/Default.aspx
928'er
I have several pair of Tsunoda pliers. They are easily on par with Knipex at about half the price.
TMedina
Y’all are murdering my budget.
Interesting uptick in Japanese tools – I found these the other day and ordered a pair just for the soft jaws alone.
https://hausoftools.com/collections/soft-touch-neo/
fred
Amazon has what they call “lowest price in 30 days” -p on one of theose IPS pliers
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CR1F14WN
KokoTheTalkingApe
Stuart,
Your two links go to two different models of pliers. Was that a mistake?
Your Amazon link goes to ultra-thin models PLC-200GUB (bent) and PLC-200GUS (straight) and they’re black. The link in “I bought one of those [straight pliers] as well” goes to model numbers PLC-200U and PLC-150U, which are silver and just “thin”. Their jaws look narrow but not especially so (I don’t see any measurements). The ultra-thin pliers look almost like they’re stamped out of thick sheet metal.
Thanks for the tip, btw! I’m getting a pair of the straight ultra-thin.
Stuart
Yes. The second link adds “and they also have standard slip joint pliers” and that’s the one I linked to – the standard jaw-type pliers. There’s nothing special about them (no angle, no reduced profile jaws, etc).
I thought that would be a good combination, one with angled head with thin jaws, and also the plain “standard” pliers.
KokoTheTalkingApe
Ohhh! I must’ve missed that somehow.
Garrett
I bought a pair of these a few years ago (https://www.amazon.com/Tsunoda-WP-300SC-S-PLA-iers-spring-12-inch/dp/B0756KZ6WQ), albeit with blue grips, for tightening/ripping large cylindrical objects, and found them to have much better grip and durability than the generic “cannon plug” style pliers (or the rubber strap wrenches) I was recommended by others before that.