Recommendation for side cutters

SparkyCal

Mar 11, 2020
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Mar 11, 2020
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Can anyone recommend a decent pair of side cutters? Mine is a cheap one and it's already busted. What I mean is the pliers that flush up against a connection, to snip it off. Preferably something I can find on Amazon.

Thank-you
 

Harald Kapp

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Nov 17, 2011
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Get a brand item like Wiha, Weller, Knipex, Belzer, Gedore....
Those will last.
I've seen Wiha, Gedore and Knipex on Amazon.
 

hevans1944

Hop - AC8NS
Jun 21, 2012
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Which ever cutter you finally choose, NEVER use them to cut steel wire, such as piano wire or spring wire or anything harder than copper wire. That means you should NEVER loan your cutter to ANYONE. Don't ask why I have given you this unsolicited advice.

Diagonal cutting pliers (the proper name for this tool) are available in flush-cutting grinds such as this one. I recommend flush-cutting pliers for electronics work, and regular cutting pliers for electrical wiring. Purchase a decent pair of wire stripping pliers with rouind holes for particular wire gauges. A set of three will cover every usual wire gauge from 4 AWG down to 30 AWG without nicking the wire as you strip the insulation off. Avoid the el-cheapo strippers with "v-jaws" instead of round holes. These are a case of "one size fits none" and you are guaranteed to nick a few wires. Wire nicks mean eventual wire failure.
 
Last edited:

Ylli

Jun 19, 2018
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Ugh. Those don't cut the wire, they tear the wire. My favorite has always been Erem. For small stuff I use a 622NB https://www.amazon.com/622NB-Magic-...d=1&keywords=erem+622nb&qid=1597264417&sr=8-1, and for the larger stuff I use a 592E https://www.amazon.com/592E-Diagona...ld=1&keywords=erem+592E&qid=1597264643&sr=8-1
 
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