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Plier heads and helical chirality

Sven34 · 8 · 677
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us Offline Sven34

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Plier heads and helical chirality
on: November 13, 2025, 04:26:38 AM
I don't know if this topic has been brought up before, but if so, I was not able to bring it up using the forum search feature.  If not, I am going to risk blowing up the internet here  :rofl: 

Leatherman and Gerber pliers-heads exhibit left-hand helical chirality, and SOG pliers-heads exhibit right-hand helical chirality.  This is true of all the examples of these brands that I have, and of the images I have searched online.

Left-hand helical chirality would be similar to s-laid rope, left hand threads, a left hand twist drill, a left hand wound spring, left hand helical gears, etc.

Right-hand helical chirality would be similar to z-laid rope, regular right hand threads, standard twist drills, right hand wound springs,  right hand helical gears, etc.   

For Leatherman and Gerber pliers-heads, the plier member on the side facing you points up to the left and down to the right. This is true no matter which side of the pliers is facing you, and no matter which direction the pliers are turned. This is left-handed helical chirality.

For SOG pliers-heads, the plier member facing you points up to the right and down to the left. This is true no matter which side of the pliers is facing you, and no matter which direction the pliers are turned.  This is right-hand helical chirality. 

I know this is critically important somehow. It probably is the key component to unraveling the Unified Theory, if only I could figure out how the puzzle-piece fits.  :think:

I discovered this accidentally while comparing my Leatherman Supertool to my SOG Power Lock tool this evening.

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Thanks for your interest, Sven34
« Last Edit: November 13, 2025, 04:38:39 AM by Sven34 »

us Offline SteveC

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Re: Plier heads and helical chirality
Reply #1 on: November 13, 2025, 05:31:29 AM
Very observant   :think:
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no Offline Vidar

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Re: Plier heads and helical chirality
Reply #2 on: November 13, 2025, 05:33:19 AM
As they are not mirror images of each other there is no bisection plane, and thus no chirality in the chemical sense at least. I'm sure that is important to consider for your unified theory somehow.

More seriously I seem to have a faint memory of multi-tool manufacturer actually switching that around at some point for some model. I'm sure someone here with better memory than me could possibly even explain why.
 


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wales Offline magentus

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Re: Plier heads and helical chirality
Reply #3 on: November 13, 2025, 11:37:13 AM
Quote from: Vidar on November 13, 2025, 05:33:19 AM
As they are not mirror images of each other there is no bisection plane, and thus no chirality in the chemical sense at least. I'm sure that is important to consider for your unified theory somehow.

More seriously I seem to have a faint memory of multi-tool manufacturer actually switching that around at some point for some model. I'm sure someone here with better memory than me could possibly even explain why.

I *think* it was the Vic Spirit but my memory is old and tired so I may be wrong
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wales Offline magentus

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Re: Plier heads and helical chirality
Reply #4 on: November 13, 2025, 11:42:23 AM
'Use the force Harry' - Gandalf
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us Offline Sven34

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Re: Plier heads and helical chirality
Reply #5 on: November 13, 2025, 04:58:51 PM
Quote from: magentus on November 13, 2025, 11:42:23 AM
   https://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,2463.0.html

Cool! Thanks for the link! I can definitely see the reasoning there for Victorinox intentionally choosing the pliers-crossing orientation that they did to reduce pliers breakage in high-torque stuck-fastener loosening applications. 

Now I just wonder why Leatherman has made the opposite choice. 

It would be interesting to see the data on percentage of pliers-head breakage of the two different pliers-crossing options.

us Offline Farmer X

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Re: Plier heads and helical chirality
Reply #6 on: November 14, 2025, 02:51:44 AM
Interesting observation. Either way works well enough for me, I guess.
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pt Offline pfrsantos

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Re: Plier heads and helical chirality
Reply #7 on: November 14, 2025, 11:08:18 AM
Quote from: Farmer X on November 14, 2025, 02:51:44 AM
Interesting observation. Either way works well enough for me, I guess.
It has some influence on the tool. Not as much as in scissors, due to the slimmer design, but I believe it can make a difference, particularly in thinner plier's heads.

Thanks a lot for making me learn and think, instead of just enjoying myself with the pics and rants in the forum.

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