What are Seaming Pliers?
What are seaming pliers? |
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Seaming pliers are a hand tool used to grip and bend or fold small sections of hard but pliable material, especially lead, but also aluminium, copper and zinc. | |||
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Seaming pliers are also known as lead seaming pliers, hand seamers, clinching pliers and hemmers. | |||
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Seaming pliers are used mainly for roofing work, where they form a seam to join panels of sheet metal together, to cover a roof.Seaming pliers are also used to create a decorative finish or ornamental ridge to the seam on the sheet metal.
Seaming pliers clinch the edges of metal to form a seal. |
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Sheet metal |
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Sheet metal is any metal that has been made into thin, flat pieces of between 0.15mm (0.01 inches) and 6.35mm (0.25 inches) thick. It can then be cut and/or bent into a variety of shapes. | |||
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Clinching sheet metalClinching metal with seaming pliers involves joining together separate pieces of sheet metal, either by bending over any protruding parts, or securing them by forming an edge. |
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Forming a seamWhen an individual piece of metal is formed the edges are bent over and shaped to form a smooth seam. |
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People who work with lead, especially roofers and plumbers, use seaming pliers on a regular, even daily, basis. Seaming pliers are an essential part of their tool kit. | |||
