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ASME B107.13-2003 — Pliers: Long Nose, Long Reach
🔍 ASME B107.13-2003 is the dedicated standard within the ASME B107 “Hand Tools and Accessories” family covering long nose, long reach pliers. Replacing B107.13M-1996, it provides performance and safety requirements for these pliers and specifies test methods for evaluating them. Principal changes in this edition include the inclusion of safety considerations and reference to B107.25M-1996 (Pliers — Performance Test Methods) as the uniform test procedure, plus updated finish requirements and dimensional data. The revision was approved as an American National Standard on April 16, 2003; its technical content was later incorporated into the consolidated ASME B107.500-2010 Pliers standard.
💡 The hallmark of long nose, long reach pliers is a slender nose with extended handles: they reach into deep, narrow spaces to grip small parts while the extended handles provide sufficient gripping force — an irreplaceable gripping tool in electrical, electronic, and mechanical maintenance.
1. Scope and General Framework 📌
This Standard applies to long nose, long reach pliers, providing performance and safety requirements. The inclusion of dimensional and functional data does not imply that all products described are stock production sizes; consumers should consult manufacturers. The Standard may be used as a guide by state authorities in formulating laws or regulations and is intended for voluntary use by establishments that use or manufacture the covered tools.
The body of the Standard includes sections on definitions, requirements, test procedures, safety requirements and limitations of use, and designations; test procedures reference the uniform methods of B107.25M-1996.
2. Classification 🔩
The Standard classifies long nose, long reach pliers by nose shape and function into three principal types:
- Type I — Flat nose / duck bill: Class 1 narrow nose, Class 2 medium nose, Class 3 wide nose, Class 4 long reach flat nose.
- Type II — Double round nose: both jaws round, for forming wire loops.
- Type III — Round nose: Class 1 long nose (Style A with cutter / Style B without), Class 2 bent nose, Class 3 short nose (Styles A/B), Class 4 needle nose.
| Type | Nose Form | Class / Style | Typical Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type I | Flat nose / duck bill | Class 1 narrow; 2 medium; 3 wide; 4 long reach | Gripping thin sheet, flat gripping, deep-cavity retrieval |
| Type II | Double round nose | Round to round | Forming wire loops, shaping operations |
| Type III | Round nose | Long nose with/without cutter, bent, short, needle | Wire forming, fine-wire gripping, cutting (with-cutter styles) |
⚠️ Long nose pliers are “gripping tools,” not “cutting tools”: except for styles explicitly equipped with a cutter, they must not be used for cutting wire; and never use them as a wrench, pry bar, or hammer — the jaws will distort or chip.
3. Technical Requirements and Test Methods 📊
Performance requirements center on jaw opening and gripping function. The principal tests include:
- Jaw opening test: verifies that the jaw opening at a specified spread angle meets the tabulated dimensions, so the pliers can grip parts of the specified diameter.
- Hardness and toughness inspection: jaw and handle hardness per ASTM E18 Rockwell methods, ensuring the jaws do not deform when gripping.
- Finish and coating inspection: coating adhesion and corrosion resistance are checked for rust protection and appearance.
- Closure smoothness: the jaws must close squarely with no mismatch; the pivot must open and close smoothly without excessive play.
💡 Acceptance tip: open and close the pliers several times; the jaws should mate well through the whole travel; verify the opening with a standard-diameter pin; for with-cutter styles, additionally check blade alignment and sharpness.
4. Safety Requirements and Limitations of Use 🛡️
The safety section of the Standard states:
- Pliers are for hand service only; they must not be subjected to power drive or impact loading.
- Do not grip live conductors unless the product is marked with an insulation class and the insulation is intact.
- Gripping hardened or quenched parts may damage the jaws; choose a tool of suitable capacity.
- Stop using pliers whose jaws are distorted, chipped, or cracked.
🚨 Safety warning: the slender jaws of long nose pliers bend or snap easily under sideways force and can fly off. Apply force along the jaw axis and never pry sideways.
5. Engineering Practice Essentials 🛠️
- 🔍 Selection: electrical assembly favors Type I flat nose or Type III round nose with cutter (two tools in one); wire-loop forming calls for Type II double round nose; deep-cavity and precision work calls for Type I Class 4 long reach or Type III Class 4 needle nose.
- 🔧 Pairing: combine with diagonal cutters (B107.11) and stripping pliers to form an electrician’s tool group, with gripping, cutting, and stripping clearly separated.
- 📋 Acceptance: check jaw alignment and opening, opening feel, coating quality, and hardness reports.
- 📊 Maintenance: keep the pivot lubricated and jaws rust-free; avoid gripping hard objects that wear the jaws.
The engineering use of long nose, long reach pliers depends heavily on the geometric accuracy of the jaws. Whether the jaws are aligned and whether the opening meets the tabulated dimensions directly determines whether parts of a specified diameter can be gripped reliably without slipping. Because the handles are extended, the lever amplification is pronounced: a small change in the operator’s grip force is multiplied several times at the jaws, so when gripping brittle or thin-walled parts, control the grip to avoid crushing the workpiece. For with-cutter styles, the cutter is at the jaw tip and its cutting capacity is limited — use it only for occasional cutting of fine soft wire; bulk cutting still calls for dedicated diagonal cutters.
For purchasing and acceptance, it is recommended to sample-check jaw opening per batch and to record hardness test data for each lot in the tool ledger. In export or certification projects, also note the specific requirements that B107.25M-1996 performance test methods impose on fixtures and mandrels, ensuring the acceptance method matches the referenced test procedure. In daily service, pivot wear is the main cause of jaw misalignment; tighten or replace the pliers when looseness or mismatch appears.
6. Frequently Asked Questions ❓
❓ Q: How do B107.13-2003 and B107.500-2010 relate?
A: The technical content of B107.13-2003 was incorporated and retained in ASME B107.500, the consolidated Pliers standard, in 2010. Cite B107.500 for current requirements.
A: The technical content of B107.13-2003 was incorporated and retained in ASME B107.500, the consolidated Pliers standard, in 2010. Cite B107.500 for current requirements.
❓ Q: Flat nose or round nose — which to choose?
A: Flat (duck bill) jaws have flat gripping surfaces for sheet and flat parts; round jaws have curved surfaces for forming and bending wire loops; needle nose jaws are finest for confined spaces and precision gripping.
A: Flat (duck bill) jaws have flat gripping surfaces for sheet and flat parts; round jaws have curved surfaces for forming and bending wire loops; needle nose jaws are finest for confined spaces and precision gripping.
🔍 Q: Can a with-cutter long nose plier replace diagonal cutters?
A: Its cutter is at the jaw tip and suited only to occasional cutting of fine soft wire; for bulk or larger-diameter cutting, use dedicated diagonal cutters (B107.11).
A: Its cutter is at the jaw tip and suited only to occasional cutting of fine soft wire; for bulk or larger-diameter cutting, use dedicated diagonal cutters (B107.11).
❓ Q: What does “long reach” mean in the Standard?
A: It means the handles are extended so the operator can grip parts deep in cavities far from the hand; Type I Class 4 is the long-reach flat nose plier.
A: It means the handles are extended so the operator can grip parts deep in cavities far from the hand; Type I Class 4 is the long-reach flat nose plier.
