Screw-Head Pliers to the Rescue

Screw-head pliers to the rescue

The Engineer PZ-57 pliers have been earning their keep in my shop ever since I spotted them in an Adam Savage video on YouTube. Specifically designed to grip small, round objects, these pliers are built for the moments woodworkers dread most: a stripped screw head or, worse, a screw snapped off flush with the surface of a workpiece.

A near-sure solution. If you find yourself with a stripped-out screw, these screw-nose pliers will almost always save the day.

The jaws wrap the entirety of the screw shank, gripping it firmly all the way around and giving you more purchase on the screw than you get from regular pliers or even locking pliers. This is also the perfect tool for holding a screw while trimming it to length at a grinder.

One last screw. Breaking a screw while installing hinges is no longer a tragedy. These pliers excel at pulling out a broken screw near, or even flush to, the work surface.

Imported from Japan, these PZ-57 pliers can be had for under $25. The first time you use them successfully, you’ll thank me. You won’t reach for them every day, but you’ll use them more than you think you will.

Engineer PZ-57 Screw-Head Pliers $25
engineertools-jp.com

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