Not on par with Klein Lineman's pliers, but they can handle most tasks on an equal footing. The pincer blades have a very, very small gap between them when closed, and I don't think the quality of the steel is as good as the best pincers - - - but they'll probably do 85-90% of the job as well expensive lineman pliers. They cut #12 copper wire, bend and shape wires for connections, and grasp objects to pull or twist them.