Flush Cutters for Stainless Safety/Lock Wire

[Colin Len]

I recently picked up a Clamptite tool and have plans to make some new garden hoses and air lines. I then realized I should probably invest in some decent flush cutters. I have a couple basic sets of nippers but non that are flush and most are made for softer materials. I've mainly been buying Knipex when I need new pliers and the such but other than these high leverage flush cutters (which seem like complete overkill) all I can find from them are cutters made for plastic.

I expect this will be mainly for smaller wire - currently 0.041 stainless steel but possibly as thick as 0.062 since that's what my Clamptite can handle.

 

[timgunn1962]

Those Knipex high-leverage flush cutters appear to be for soft metals and plastics. I am pretty sure I've never seen a flush-cutting plier for stainless. Harder/tougher wire needs even harder cutting edges. Hardness tends to go hand-in-hand with brittleness. Flush cut geometry doesn't give enough support to the cutting edge for it to survive cutting hard wire.

I have always used a pair of Felco C7 cutters for Stainless and other relatively-hard wire. They tend to give a pretty tidy flat end.

 

[Colin Len]

Good catch on that, I just saw metal at first, guess those aren't overkill, lol. Not that it matters as I wasn't really considering them anyway, just an example of what I was finding from Knipex.

The hardness of SS is my whole reason for asking. I figured there'd be something out there though, especially for such small wire. I'm fine if they aren't perfectly flush, just the best I can get to have a wire end that isn't like a razor blade when cut.

 

[JradM]

I'm interested too. I've only ever seen flush cutters advertised for plastic and copper. Doesn't seem to be such a thing for steel - but it would be nice to be wrong.

 

[GeoBruin]

How much do you want to spend?

Tungsten Carbide Cutter

www.lindstromtools.com

Swanstrom M403C Carbide Tapered Fine-Tip Flush Cutters - RioGrande

www.riogrande.com

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003IT6VDU/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Excelta C7145X Cutters - Taper Head - Laser Flush Cut - Carbon W/Carbide Inserts - Long Handle

C7145X cutters not available until 5/1/24 Buy Excelta at MTE Solutions.

mtesolutionsinc.com

https://www.hisco.com/Product/599TF-12200

 

[Colin Len]

How much do you want to spend?

Tungsten Carbide Cutter

www.lindstromtools.com

Swanstrom M403C Carbide Tapered Fine-Tip Flush Cutters - RioGrande

www.riogrande.com

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003IT6VDU/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Excelta C7145X Cutters - Taper Head - Laser Flush Cut - Carbon W/Carbide Inserts - Long Handle

C7145X cutters not available until 5/1/24 Buy Excelta at MTE Solutions.

mtesolutionsinc.com

https://www.hisco.com/Product/599TF-12200

Ouch, yeah, those are a bit pricey for this situation. I'm not opposed to spending a little bit on a nice tool but this is probably 2-3x what I could justify in this specific instance as it's not something I'm likely to use a ton.