Breaking Pliers
Breaking pliers or "Breakers" are a simple flat jawed tool for Breaking Glass after a Score has been put in the glass. Ideally used for small parts of glass that can't be broken with Running Pliers or other Breaking Methods.
These are the alternative option to Combo Pliers.
Tool Design
Breakers come in one style but with varying head widths. Both jaws are flat and there is no specific direction to use them.
You can find breakers made of plastic or metal. It looks like an ordinary pair of pliers with no teeth.
Tool Anatomy
Temporary list
- Head/Jaws
- Pivot
- Handle
How it Works
Breaking pliers work off a simple principle similar to how Running Pliers work except rather than using them on the line you grab the glass with the front of the jaws right next to the score. Then using a downward and pulling apart motion force is applied up on the underside of the score and force is applied down on the top laying flat on the glass to separate the glass. Then the pulling apart motion helps separate the glass.
As the glass often being broken with these pliers is thin and small, it's common for small sections to break off instead of whole parts.
Tips, Tricks, FAQ
- Breaking pliers will not groze effectively and will just cause unwanted damage.
- Breaking pliers close completely, thus squeezing too hard can cause the glass to smash or explode into bits.
- Breakers can be found with wide jaws and these are great for dealing with long bits of small/skinny glass that needs to be removed.
- Why does the glass break off in small sections or tiny bits?
- This greatly depends on the glass and the Score, clean scores on good glass can result in very small and long shards breaking off whole. Bad scores or odd glass can take a fair bit of time to break off small parts as you only get tiny bits at once.
- How small can I break off?
- The smaller it gets the hard it is to break. While it's possible to break less than 1/8th of an inch it gets difficult. Keeping it larger than is best.
- Should I use breakers over Combo Pliers?
- You shouldn't! They both do the same thing and it's personal preference as to what ones you use. Combo Pliers are by far more common and popular though.