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A Family Handyman report describes secondary functions that some common tools include: pliers can cut wire, wire strippers can shorten machine screws, manual can openers may open bottles, and nail clippers often include a file. These features vary by model, so users should check their tool before relying on them.
A Family Handyman report points out secondary functions built into some familiar household and repair tools: pliers may cut wire, wire strippers may trim machine screws, manual can openers may open bottles, and nail clippers often include a file. The features are not present on every model, making a quick inspection more useful than assuming a tool can do a particular job.
On some pliers, a cutting edge near the hinge, behind the gripping jaws, can trim soft wire. The report says users may also find wire-stripping capability on certain pliers, but distinguishes that task from cutting: a stripper is designed to remove insulation without severing the wire itself. Tool design and capability vary, so the tool’s specifications matter.
Some wire strippers have threaded holes near the handles for shortening machine screws. A screw is placed in the appropriately sized hole and the handles are squeezed to cut it. Family Handyman describes this as a possible convenience when fitting hardware such as electrical fixtures; it is not a feature of all wire strippers.
Other examples involve household items. A manual can opener may have a bottle opener formed into its handle or cutting mechanism, while some can opener designs include a magnet to help lift a cut lid. Many nail clippers have a fold-out metal file for smoothing nail edges, and some include a pointed tip. Their placement and design differ by model.
Fewer Tool Changes During Small Jobs
Recognizing built-in features can save time on a small repair or routine task by avoiding a search for a separate tool. The report’s examples are practical, limited conveniences: a suitable cutter can trim soft wire, and a compatible wire stripper can shorten a machine screw. A can opener’s bottle opener or a clipper’s file may also be useful when those items are already at hand.
The benefit depends on having the right model for the task. A feature that is absent, damaged, or unsuitable should not be treated as a substitute for the correct tool. That distinction is especially relevant for electrical work: shortening a screw is not the same as working on live wiring, and users should follow product instructions and appropriate safety practices.
multi-function pliers with wire cutting
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Features Differ by Tool Model
The report frames these functions as easy-to-overlook extras, rather than new product announcements. It notes that tools can remain in a toolbox or drawer for years without their secondary features being noticed. Its examples span repair tools and household implements, but each depends on a particular design.
Family Handyman lists product references from Channellock, Klein Tools, Milwaukee Tool, OXO and Zwilling among its sources. Those references do not establish that every product from those manufacturers has every feature described. The article’s central qualification is that features vary by model; checking the tool itself or its manufacturer documentation is the appropriate way to confirm.
“Features vary by model.”
— Family Handyman report
wire stripper with screw shortening feature
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Which Tools Include Each Feature
The supplied report does not identify how common each feature is across products or provide a survey of tool owners. It also does not give model-by-model compatibility details for all the examples. Readers should not assume their pliers cut wire, their wire strippers cut screws, or their can opener includes a bottle opener without checking the specific tool.
The report describes screw cutting as useful for hardware installation, but the supplied material does not give detailed instructions for choosing a screw hole, checking the finished cut, or deciding whether a particular screw is suitable. Manufacturer instructions and the requirements of the job remain relevant.
manual can opener with bottle opener
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Check the Tool Before Use
Before starting a task, inspect the tool for a marked cutting edge, threaded screw-cutting holes, a bottle-opener notch, or a folding file. Then check the manufacturer’s instructions or product details to confirm what the feature is designed to do and which materials or sizes it supports.
For electrical work, use the correct tool and follow safe procedures rather than treating a secondary feature as a reason to skip precautions. The source report does not announce a follow-up test or a new product release; its practical takeaway is to verify a tool’s functions before relying on them.
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Key Questions
Can all pliers cut wire?
No. Some pliers have cutting edges near the hinge, but the report says the feature is not universal. Check the specific tool before using it to cut.
How do wire strippers cut machine screws?
Some models have threaded holes near the handles. The screw is inserted into a correctly sized hole, then the handles are squeezed. Not every wire stripper includes this feature.
Do manual can openers also open bottles?
Some do. A bottle opener may appear as a notch or hook on the handle or near the cutting mechanism, but designs vary.
What extra feature do nail clippers commonly have?
Many include a small metal nail file that folds out or sits along the body. Some models also have a pointed tip, though the location and design differ.
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