Klein D2000 - Blade Damage

[Winterborne]

Discovered I had damaged my Klein D2000 linesman while at work today cutting small diameter (1/16") solid roll pins.

Where did I go wrong and what are the limits for the D2000?

Looking for recommendations on cutters that can withstand the roll pins.

 

[neophyte]

Roll pins are hardened carbon steel.
Where you just cutting the roll pins, or trying to pull the roll pins?
If the cutters are hardened for cutting harder material, like piano wire, then the edges might not be suitable for side loading such as pulling.
Knipex, usually the winner for edge durability in cutter tests, makes cutters specified for piano wire, but also cutters with edges hardened a bit less for just “hard wire”.
The cutters that are hardened less are meant for twisting, pulling, and bending, such as their concrete nippers.

 

[LXCam]

Most solid roll pins are hardened. So there’s that

 

[neophyte]

Most solid roll pins are hardened. So there’s that

Google says somewhere between 45hrc to 60hrc for carbon steel roll pins.
Google says the same range for Hex Keys.
Piano wire, usually listed from most plier/cutter manufacturers as the “toughest” material, is listed between 41-60hrc according to Google.
The Project Farm tests use “drill bits” and Hex Keys as the final toughest test, and the hex keys in his last cutter test killed everything but the Knipex cutters.
The tests of cutters don’t include pulling though, and that is sometimes a standard task done with cutters.

 

[PCustoms]

I didn't respond, as I figured I was missing something, otherwise the cause and effect were both right in the OP

 

[Winterborne]

Roll pins are hardened carbon steel.
Where you just cutting the roll pins, or trying to pull the roll pins?

Just cutting new pins to shorter length.

 

[rancherbill]

Looking for recommendations on cutters that can withstand the roll pins.

That Electrical Wire Cutter cut wire very well. I have never seen a Roll Pin Cutter.

Even Google has never heard about one, so you probably can't find one. Google AI has some suggestions.

 

[The Cobbler]

wrong tool for the job. roll pins are hardened steel. an abrasive wheel should have been used

 

[JuncleJohn]

Should have used an abrasive cutoff wheel.

John

 

[PCustoms]

Just cutting new pins to shorter length.

How often do you do this? Any reason to not buy shorter pins?


Years ago used to use a "guillotine" shear to cut bolta, never seen one small enough for line but maybe it exists

 

[neophyte]

Just cutting new pins to shorter length.

I would not do that with cutters.
A basic roll pin assortment from Harbor Freight will cost less than the Klein pliers.
If the quality of the roll pins is important, an assortment from McMaster-Carr, or another industrial supplier would be higher quality, but potentially more expensive than the Klein pliers.
Knipex usually wins as far as edge durability goes, (although I have seen the occasional picture of fractured edges.)
There are nipoers available with replacement cutter blades, that can also be sharpened, but the cutter blades usually cost as much as a pair of klein pliers would, or more, and the cutters are extremely expensive new.
Wire rope cutters made for high tensile wire might work, but quality brands like Felco are fairly expensive, and ruining a pair testing the cutting ability would ****.
Midwest and Knipex make similar high tensile cable cutters, with a leveraged design, but I don’t have experience with either.

 

[Winterborne]

Should have used an abrasive cutoff wheel.

After discovering the damage, I was thinking along similar lines: vice grips and a Dremel cutoff wheel.

How often do you do this? Any reason to not buy shorter pins?

I was cutting 1/2" long pins down to 1/4", MacGyvering a small hard stop in Johnson Controls analog pneumatic thermostats. Water in plant air system caused many to fail. Ran through all our spare stock, so I started going through our bucket of failed thermostats trying to get a few back into service. Our VAV Belimo valves fail open, pouring 105 degree heat into the rooms. Repairs couldn't wait until Monday.

 

[Zewnten]

I don't think any shearing device is going to hold up to cutting hardened material like this.

 

[KnurledNut]

If sparks from cutting were gonna be a problem, I would have used my carbide jaw side cutters.

 

[cmandp]

I never cut anything but copper or aluminum with my electrical tools even my Klein linesman. Steel does wear the cutters enough to not cut copper as nicely or not be able to cut the fine strands.
I have a pair of Channellock Dykes in my bag just for cutting steel.

But also yes roll pins are quite hard, not the best material for cutting with side cutters.

But if you got the system working A $50 pair of pliers lost sounds like it was worth it to get it done.

 

[kbuhagiar]

But if you got the system working A $50 pair of pliers lost sounds like it was worth it to get it done.

Exactly - whatever it takes to get the job done. Back in the day with Pacific Bell we called that 'needs of the service'.

 

[Beerhippie]

Water in plant air system caused many to fail.

Time to convince the Powers That Be that you all need a whole-house refrigerated air dryer?

Everything that runs off compressed air will work better and last longer. I really can't believe the difference it made in our plant.

 

[Nobody-named-Olli]

Caught a hardened (“blue steel” as we call them here) nail with my Klein’s (J2000 9NECR) once, and yes it got the same scar, but only one. It happens. Smoothened it out with a file.

Did something similar to a pair of Knipex cable shears when I accidentally grabbed it to cut the (spring hardened) wire of some plastic air duct hose. Didn’t think straight, of course that is piano/ spring hardened wire … So yeah, got a nick as well. Same story, smoothened it out with a file. Stupid mistake, happens. …

I have so many different options to “cut” something nowadays. …

Honestly, if you care about that particular pair of pliers, get new ones and keep them “for good”. Keep the other one to do what you are doing and replace once that day comes.

I do that with my go to NWS Fantastico side cutters. Currently running a supplier branded pair, they simply eat everything and I don’t sweat it. If I need new ones, I pick up a new pair from whichever supplier has their re-brand on sale/ for the cheapest price and be done with it.

Kind regards,
Olli