DeWalt 10 in. Straight Jaw Pushlock Plier

A quick-adjust idea with some real-world snags

I reached for these 10-inch push‑lock pliers out of curiosity more than anything else. The concept is slick: hold the work with one hand, tap a button to size the jaws with the other, and let a ratcheting action snug things down as you squeeze. In practice, I found a tool with some genuine advantages—especially in jaw capacity, reach, and safety—but also a fundamental behavior that slowed me down on a lot of everyday tasks.

Build, size, and jaw geometry

The pliers feel solid in hand. The hardened Cr‑V steel jaws are well cut, with a square, straight profile and teeth that bite confidently. On my sample, the front teeth met with minimal gap and there was very little lateral play at the joint. The long, straight jaws reach deeper than typical 10-inch slip-joints, and the tool’s stated jaw capacity of 2.375 inches proved legit. That extra reach and capacity matter when you’re on larger nuts, couplings, or odd-profile items where you want more contact.

At 10 inches overall and about 1.1 lb, they’re on the heavier side for the size but still reasonably balanced. The grips are thin, rubberized sleeves—not plush, not sticky, but serviceable. The non‑pinching handle geometry works; even when I mis-grabbed, I couldn’t trap skin between the handles. That’s a real safety improvement over traditional tongue‑and‑groove pliers.

The push‑lock mechanism: how it actually behaves

Mechanically, think of the button as a push‑to‑unlock, not a push‑to‑lock. Pressing it releases an internal bar so you can slide the jaws open to where you want them. Let go, and the bar re-engages with a set of teeth (19 discrete positions). Squeeze the handles and the movable jaw ratchets inward, closing the gap in small steps until it’s tight on the work. It will not open back up without you pressing the button again.

That one-way ratchet is both the headline feature and the quirk that trips you up. If you need to repeatedly release, reposition, and re-grip the same fastener—think overhead plumbing or conduit in a joist bay—the moment you let go of the handles, the jaw tends to “zip” itself smaller. Then you have to hit the button to reopen to your workpiece, every single time. Traditional channel-style pliers hold their channel setting; these do not hold an open width—by design, they only lock against opening wider.

In other words: if your muscle memory expects a set-and-forget jaw opening, this mechanism fights that expectation.

In use: plumbing, mechanical, and odd jobs

• Galvanized and brass fittings: The pliers shine when you can set once and continuously apply pressure without many re-grips. For breaking loose a stubborn coupling, I could quickly open, seat, squeeze, and then keep walking the fitting with small bites. The long, straight jaws put more teeth on the flats than a rounded groove style, and the leverage felt excellent.

• PVC unions and plastic nuts: The extended jaw depth helped wrap more surface area, minimizing deformation. I appreciated the predictable bite.

• Locknuts and hex hardware: On 1/2-inch to 1-inch hex, the pliers were fine. The ratcheting close made quick work of taking up slack. But on repetitive tasks where I needed to release and re-position frequently, I found myself slowing down to thumb the button over and over.

• Thin material and sheet work: Good control. The precise tips and long reach let me grip edges without marring.

• Automotive bay: The weight and jaw length are useful for grabbing awkward brackets and housings. But again, if you’re hopping on and off a part repeatedly, the need to re-open with the button is noticeable.

Across all of this, the jaws kept their bite and didn’t cam out under reasonable torque. I never pinched my hand in the handles. That anti-pinch geometry earns high marks.

Ergonomics and control

The handles are a bit narrow and firm. With gloves, it’s fine; bare-handed, I wished for a tad more cushion. The grip compound doesn’t get gummy or slick with a bit of oil on it, but it doesn’t add much comfort either. Leverage is strong for a 10-inch tool, and the pivot remains tight with minimal wobble.

Two-handed operation felt most natural for me: one hand to guide the jaws, the other to tap the unlock button and pre-size. One-handed use is possible—especially once you learn to cradle the fixed handle with your palm and bump the button with your thumb—but I wouldn’t call it intuitive on day one. There’s a learning curve to avoid ratcheting the jaws tighter than you intend while you’re maneuvering into position.

The sticking point: retention and unintended movement

On my sample, the button engaged positively and the slider stayed put while set against a workpiece. Where I ran into trouble was during repositioning. If I loosen my grip to move to the next bite, the jaw frequently closes down a notch or two by gravity or vibration, and sometimes all the way shut. That’s consistent with how the mechanism is supposed to work, but it adds extra steps: unlock, reopen, re-grip, repeat.

I also saw occasional creep of a notch under vibration when the tool wasn’t clamped on anything—never catastrophic, but enough to be noticeable. If you expect the jaws to remain at the last open size while you shuffle your hands or shift your stance, you’ll be disappointed.

Durability, maintenance, and warranty

The steel and grind quality are where I’d want them to be for a daily tool. After a week of mixed use on pipe, fasteners, and some mild abuse as an improvised clamp, the teeth showed minimal rounding. The button spring feels robust. The absence of a through-bolt at the joint means nothing to loosen, and the engagement bar has a healthy tooth profile that should wear slowly.

A couple of practical notes:
- Keep debris out of the adjustment track. Grit can make the button feel sticky and encourage notch creep.
- A light oil on the slider smooths travel but don’t overdo it—excess oil invites chips.

There’s a limited lifetime warranty and a 90‑day return window, which offers some peace of mind if your sample’s mechanism doesn’t behave as expected.

Where this tool makes sense—and where it doesn’t

Strengths:
- Big, useful capacity for a 10-inch plier, with real reach.
- Secure teeth and straight-jaw geometry that grips flats well.
- Anti-pinch handle design that actually works.
- Quick sizing from fully open to on-target without hunting channels.

Compromises:
- The ratchet-down behavior means you must press the button to reopen every time you release the work. That slows repetitive regrip tasks.
- Handles are on the thin/firm side for prolonged squeezing.
- The mechanism rewards two-handed operation; one-handed use is possible but takes practice.

If your use case is occasional adjustments, one-and-done grips, or clamping while you do something else, these pliers are capable and comfortable enough. If your day involves a lot of overhead pipe, conduit, or anything that demands frequent release and re-bite, the mechanism becomes a drag. Traditional tongue-and-groove or a push-button design that locks both open and closed positions will keep your rhythm better.

Recommendation

I don’t recommend these as a primary pair of slip-joint pliers for tradespeople who constantly release and regrip—plumbing, HVAC, and electrical conduit work will feel slowed by the ratchet-down behavior. However, as a secondary set for general shop use, odd jobs, and tasks where you set once and keep pressure on, they’re capable, grippy, and safer on the hands than many traditional designs. If the idea of a quick, one-way ratcheting close appeals to you and you’re comfortable with the extra button presses during repositioning, you may appreciate what these bring. For most users who want a set-and-forget jaw opening that holds between bites, I’d look elsewhere.