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A Family Handyman report describes four common tools that may have secondary functions: pliers with wire cutters, wire strippers that shorten machine screws, can openers with bottle openers, and nail clippers with files. These features are not present on every model, so users should check their tool’s design and instructions before relying on them.
A Family Handyman report points to built-in features on some everyday tools that can spare users a trip back to the toolbox: pliers may cut wire, some wire strippers can shorten machine screws, certain manual can openers include bottle openers, and many nail clippers have a small file. The features vary by model, making it worth checking the tool before assuming it can perform a second task.
Pliers may have a cutting edge near the hinge, behind the gripping jaws. According to the report, that edge can trim soft wire, but not every pair of pliers includes cutters. Some tools also have wire-stripping notches, which are intended to remove insulation without cutting through the conductor; those notches serve a different purpose from the cutting edge.
Some wire strippers have threaded holes near their handles for shortening machine screws. The user places a screw in a correctly sized hole and squeezes the handles to cut it. The report says this can be useful when fitting hardware such as electrical fixtures, where a screw may need to be shorter. The tool’s markings and instructions matter: the feature applies to suitable machine screws, not every kind of fastener.
Other examples are found outside the workshop. Some manual can openers include a bottle opener, often formed as a notch or hook in the metal; some also use a magnet to lift a cut lid and help avoid touching its sharp edge. Many nail clippers have a fold-out file, while some designs include a pointed tip for cleaning beneath nails. The report describes these as model-dependent features, rather than standard equipment on every tool.
Small Features, Fewer Tool Searches
Knowing what a tool already includes can make a small repair or routine task simpler. A built-in wire cutter or nail file may mean there is no need to search for a separate item, while a can-opener bottle opener can add a second use to a kitchen utensil. These are modest conveniences, not substitutes for choosing the right tool for a job.
The distinction matters most for wire and fasteners. A wire stripper is designed to remove insulation at a specified gauge, while a cutter trims wire; using the wrong part can damage the wire or leave an unsuitable cut. Likewise, the screw-shortening holes described in the report are for compatible machine screws. Users should check the tool’s labels and manufacturer guidance instead of treating the extra feature as universal.
multi-function pliers with wire cutter
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How These Tool Features Are Built In
The examples come from a Family Handyman roundup about tools that combine more than one function. Its listed product references include Channellock slip-joint pliers, a Klein Tools wire stripper and cutter, an OXO steel can opener, and Zwilling nail clippers. The source also lists a Milwaukee folding utility knife among its references, but the supplied material does not describe a specific second function for that knife, so it is not included among the four examples here.
Across the four tools, the secondary feature is usually a small part of the tool’s shape: a cutting edge beside plier jaws, threaded holes in a wire stripper, a hook on a can opener, or a folding file on a clipper. Designs differ, even within a category. A product reference or a familiar appearance alone does not establish that a particular tool has the feature; inspecting the individual tool is necessary.
wire stripper with screw shortening feature
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Which Models Include Each Feature
The supplied report does not state how common each feature is across products, provide a survey of tool owners, or identify how many people overlook them. Its headline’s suggestion that most people never use the features is not supported by usage data in the material provided. The article should therefore be read as a practical roundup, not a measurement of consumer behavior.
It is also unclear from the source which specific models have each feature beyond the examples and product references it names. The exact location, permitted material, and limits can vary. Users should consult the tool’s instructions, particularly before cutting wire or screws, and should not assume an accessory is designed for a task simply because it resembles one.
manual can opener with bottle opener
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Check the Tool Before Your Next Job
No follow-up study or product announcement is identified in the supplied material. For readers, the next step is straightforward: inspect the tool already in hand, look for markings or a fold-out component, and consult the manufacturer’s instructions to confirm what it is designed to do. For electrical work, follow applicable safety practices and use tools rated for the task; a built-in feature does not replace proper equipment or professional help when a job requires it.
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Key Questions
Do all pliers have built-in wire cutters?
No. The report says some pliers have a cutting edge near the hinge, but the feature is not present on every pair. Check the specific tool before using it to cut wire.
How do wire strippers shorten machine screws?
Some models have threaded holes near the handles. A compatible machine screw is placed in the correctly sized hole, and squeezing the handles cuts it. Check the tool’s markings and instructions first.
Can a manual can opener also open bottles?
Some can openers include a bottle opener formed as a small notch or hook. This is a model-specific feature, not a standard part of every manual can opener.
What extra feature may be built into nail clippers?
Many nail clippers have a small file that folds out or sits along the body. Some designs also have a pointed tip, but the placement and features vary by model.
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