Slip joint pliers

Operator-based maintenance began with the entrepreneurial spirit of the cottage industry in the U.S. free enterprise system. In most cases, the owners fixed the sawmills, the cotton gins, the printing presses, and the wagon wheels. Owners were the skilled crafts people working within a free enterprise culture and system. For many Americans, OEM started with Henry Ford s Model T, which came with tools—a crescent wrench, slip-joint pliers, screwdriver, and hammer, and so on—for the do-it-yourself repairs. 

Machine screws (or bolts) require special tools. The combination wrench is one type of hand tool used with machine screws. The adjustable wrench is more versatile, allowing the technician to use it with different sizes of machine screws (see Figure 8-20). We may also use pliers, second-class levers, during the combining process. Pliers can be found in various types (see Figure 8-21). Slip joint pliers allow material to be held firmly. Needle nose pliers can hold smaller items. Diagonal pliers (cutters) are actually a shearing tool for wire. 

Slip-joint pliers. The most common pliers are two-position, slip-joint pliers, which allow you to close tight in one position and grip large objects in the other. Plastic-coated or otherwise, padded handles are a plus. 

Utility knife (if needed) Screwdriver WD-40 (if needed) Slip-joint pliers... 

Sink plunger Plumber s snake Slip-joint pliers Bucket Long screwdriver or wire coat hanger... 

The P-trap is held in place by friction washers and slip nuts, which may only be hand-tight. If they re too tight, give the nuts a firm crank with slip-joint pliers. 

Under the sink, attach the braided stainless steel supply lines to the faucet tailpieces, screwing them tight with slip-joint pliers. Connect the other ends of the supply lines to the shutoff valves. Use two wrenches to tighten the lines into the valves. 

Slip-joint pliers Locknut wrench (optional) Pliers Screwdriver Hacksaw (if needed) Plastic or wooden scraper Rag... 

If the old head refuses to twist, it s time for wrenches. Use strap wrenches or wrap the teeth of slip-joint pliers with electrical tape to avoid scratching the finish on the supply pipe. Grab the pipe with one set of pliers and the fixture with the other and give it a forceful twist. 

---