3D-Printed Plier Covers Protect Tools and Work Surfaces

Application: Flexible, protective casing for vise-grip pliers
Material used: Cheetah^® 3D Printer Filament
Industry: Automotive, Hobbyist

Kyle Hossler is a full-time machinist who was running into frequent issues at work where he needed a pair of vise-grip pliers that would not damage the surface of his work. To solve this, machinists typically grind out the teeth on an old pair of pliers and braze brass into the void.

Kyle saw an opportunity here to apply his CAD skills, along with the 3D printers at his local makerspace, to create a pair of slip-over soft jaw covers for his favorite set of pliers.

Within a week, he had the design laid out and the first set printed using NinjaTek Cheetah 3D printing filament. The design was very simple but effective: it wrapped up around the side of the pliers and fit around the head like a glove. He also designed grooves into the part for the teeth of the pliers to ensure a better fit.

The design has been tweaked a few times since the first iteration, and he has managed to get the print time to under 30 minutes. He has been using his custom-made soft jaw protective grippers for about two months now, and they continue to exceed his expectations. In fact, they work so well, he almost never uses his pliers without them anymore.