What are the shaped gaps for on a pair of fence pliers?

Question

What are the shaped gaps for on a pair of fence pliers?

I bought a used pair at a garage sale, but I cannot figure out what the shaped gaps are for. I read on the net that in addition to the staple pullers the tool has a "wire stretcher" and a "wire splicer". How does that work?

Answer 1

Fence pliers are a nifty tool.  I own a pair.

Mine have a set of serrated jaws below the pivot for doing stuff that require pliers, like grabbing nut or bolt heads.  I also grab wire with the jaws and pull it.

There's the hammer; that's easy.

The pointy thing that looks like a bird's beak is the stable puller.

Mine has fence wire cutters on both sides of the pivot.

And on the top end are the two-toothed jaws for twisting wire.  I also pull netting and welded wire fence with these.

The twisting jaws take some practice to use.  You have to get both strands into the center gap, and then close the jaws so that a wire protrudes on either side of the pivot.  Then twist.

Answer 2

These pliers have a small hammer surface, the jaws , a long pointy end  which should be the staple puller with a fulcrum to yank steel staples out of wooden fence poles...one of the gaps is most likely a Cutter to clip the wire  and the other May be used when joining two pieces of wire together, crimp and twist..  to join.. think about being a farmer or rancher  you rode your horse, drove your tractor  or pickup riding  doing fence repairs...or installation, Wooden poles are set with a post hole digger and filled in with a shovel, wire  is used  Barbed or straight run off a spool  from pole to pole attached to the pole using a nail like staple that may have been Bent  to secure the wire or u shaped in later years, any  changes would  require Tools to hammer and also remove  these staples and also join  spools of wire together , How many tools  do you really want to carry around? 5 miles from your workshop? these pliers simplify and recycle  staples too.. saving money  

Answer 3

The small + shaped gap is for twisting 2 pieces of barb wire together when they run parrallel the end gap in the pincher is for twisting a butt splice in 2 pieces of barb wire

Answer 4

They are used to crimp hog rings, on a wire fence such as chain link, there is a bottom wire and you attach the wire easily with hog rings. The term hog rings comes from the pig raising industry and you put a ring in their nose to keep them from rooting under the fence.

http://www.hogrings.com/

Answer 5

To splice, Over lap the two ends of the opposite wire down in the shaped gap, then close the handle. It will grip them both then tug out a bit and twist the two together. After they are tight, open the handle and the to pointed ends will come out.

To stretch the wire you put a loop in the wire just short of the next post. slip the curved pointed end in the loop and place the head of the fence pliers on the fence so you can pull the handle and roll them away from the wire to be stretched and the hook will pull the wire around to the post edge. while holding tight around the edge temporarily letting the post edge hol the wire. slip the hook out and use the pliers to hammer in a new staple. the pointed end is also a "u"staple puller