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Multi-Tool Plier Codes Guide: 4 in to 6 in Jaws Explained
When a range is sold by model code rather than by description, the codes are usually the honest way to buy: each one is a specific jaw length, handle style and finish, and the differences between them are small but real. This guide explains how to read the codes, what the 4 in to 6 in jaw lengths are for, and how to standardise on one or two codes for a workshop so that everyone reaches for the same tool.
What the codes and sizes tell you
- Jaw length first. The range covers 4 in, 4.5 in, 5 in and 6 in. Small jaws reach into terminals and tight enclosures; larger jaws give leverage on stiff cable.
- Suffix letters. Codes ending in C are the economy or bulk variants of the same jaw. If a C version is in the range at a lower price, it is the same tool family without the finish or packaging of the main code.
- Same jaw, different handle. Several codes share a jaw and differ only in grip, which matters when a tool is used all day.
- Function set. Strip, cut, crimp and bend are the shared functions; the difference between codes is the notch sizes cut into the jaws.
- Consistency. Buying the same code repeatedly keeps stripping and crimping results identical across a team, which is worth more than the small saving from mixing codes.
Choosing a code by the work
| Work | Jaw length | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Control panels, terminal blocks, small enclosures | 4 in to 4.5 in | Reaches the terminal without the handle fouling the enclosure |
| Domestic wiring, lighting and sockets | 5 in | Enough leverage for 2.5 mm cable, still fits a pocket |
| Production stripping and repeated crimping | 5 in to 6 in | Longer handles reduce hand fatigue over a shift |
| Cutting stiff or larger cable | 6 in | Leverage, plus a deeper cutter position |
Standardising on one tool
In a workshop the cost of a tool is not the purchase price, it is the time lost when four people make four different crimps. Picking one code, buying it in the packaging size that suits your store, and keeping a spare set in the drawer removes the variables: the strip length is the same, the crimp depth is the same, and a test crimp in the morning tells you whether the tool still closes fully. Where a team works on several cable types, two codes are usually enough: a small jaw for panels and a larger one for cable work, with the same functions on both so nobody has to remember which tool does what.
The multi-tool pliers in this guide
Every code in this range
Eleven options in four jaw lengths. Prices are per unit.
| Code | Jaw | Where it suits | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| DL20026C | 5 in | Bulk buy for a site bag | $8.99 |
| DL20025C | 4.5 in | Bulk buy, panel work | $10.93 |
| DL103006C | 6 in | Bulk buy, cable cutting | $10.93 |
| DL20025 | 4.5 in | Panels and small terminals | $12.17 |
| DL20026 | 5 in | General electrical work | $12.17 |
| DL103004 | 4 in | Small enclosures | $12.17 |
| DL103005 | 5 in | General electrical work | $12.17 |
| DL103006 | 6 in | Stiff cable and repeat work | $12.17 |
| DL103045 | 4.5 in | Terminal and instrumentation work | $12.17 |
| DL103105 | 5 in | Grip variant, general use | $12.17 |
| DL103205 | 5 in | Grip variant, general use | $12.17 |
Keeping a coded tool working
- Record the code on the tool. Codes that look alike get mixed; a marker or a coloured sleeve on the handle saves a wrong strip.
- Check the notch against the cable once a month. Strip a scrap length: if the copper comes out ringed, the notch needs a stroke of a file.
- Clean the pivot. Dust changes closing depth more than wear does on these tools.
- Do not close the spring flat in storage. Store open, or the return spring takes a set.
- Replace rather than rebuild when the pivot has play. Jaw alignment cannot be restored by hand, and a misaligned crimp is worse than no crimp.
- Keep two codes, not six. A standard panel tool and a standard cable tool keep the work consistent and the drawer simple.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the C suffix mean?
In this range the C codes are the lower-priced variants of the same jaw family, typically supplied in bulk packaging rather than individually presented. The jaw function is the same, so the choice is about price and packaging.
Which jaw length is the most useful?
5 in. It reaches most terminals and still cuts and strips the cable sizes used in domestic and light commercial work, and it is the length most people keep in a pocket.
Are the grip variants mechanically different?
They share the jaw and the function set; the difference is in the handle and finish. If you work with the tool in hand for hours, take the variant that feels comfortable rather than the lowest price.
Can I use these for network cable?
For cutting and stripping the jacket, yes, within the notch sizes. For crimping RJ45 plugs you need a dedicated crimper with a flat die that closes all contacts at once.
How do I know when the tool is worn out?
When a fresh strip leaves rings on the copper and a crimp no longer holds under a firm pull, and the pivot has side play you cannot adjust out. That tool has done its work.
Buying the right one
Pick the jaw length by the work, then buy the code once and stay with it so results stay repeatable. The coded multi-tool pliers in this guide cover 4 in to 6 in with bulk variants, which makes them straightforward to standardise across a workshop.
