Best End Nippers/Flush mini bolt cutters?

[bleomycin]

I have a bunch of roofing nails in my attic I need to cut flush. I haven't had a chance do measure the diameter of them yet but they're fairly thick and seem exceptionally difficult to cut. I was completely unable to cut them with the Knipex Bolt End Cutting Nippers 61 01 200.

I was able to cut them with the Knipex CoBolt 71 22 200 but it's a huge struggle and theres no way i'd be able to cut more than a few at a time with these. Does anyone know of anything better than these that will cut the nails as flush as possible with the least amount of effort? It seems if Knipex made the CoBolt with handles twice as long that'd be all I need. These from Matco seem like a possible option, but i'm afraid to throw that much money at another set that aren't much marger than the CoBolt's I already have. Thanks!

 

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

I got the HF ones, worked well for me.

 

[thursday]

Cut off wheel on a die grinder/rotary tool is your best bet for flush, and fast.

 

[T45]

Those 10" Matco cutters have less handle leverage than the Knipex cutters you have already tried,,,

The OP was talking about 200mm, so only 8 inches long for those nippers...so If that was accurate and not a typo, first stop should be a longer 250mm as you point out, but would need to go with the 74 series diagonals. this does 4.6 vs 4.0 mm rated capacity. then ther is the 250mm center cutter at 5.0mm capacity

http://www.knipex.com/index.php?id=1216&L=1&page=art_detail&parentID=1367&groupID=1479&artID=2615

switching over to 250 x cobolts, gets up to 5.6mm rated capacity for nails.

http://www.knipex.com/index.php?id=1216&L=1&page=art_detail&parentID=1367&groupID=2430&artID=34794

The only issue I see is what is the correct form factor and most usable tool for the application. It would be smart to take 30 seconds and measure one of the nails.

 

[anurag1990]

Try knipex 18" bolt cutter 71 72 460. You can try other brands available cheaper, if its a one time use.
Now there is 10" version of cobolt also, but its better to go for 18" knipex.

 

[T45]

The 10" cutters I was referring to were the Matco cutters the OP linked to, not the 8" Knipex cutters he talked about. \\

Got it...yes those are the relabeled 74 series diagonals with the angled head...so the place to end up is probably there....I didn't see a 10 inch end nipper form factor.

 

[bleomycin]

Thank you everyone for the replies. Good to know those matco are just rebranded knipex, too bad it sounds like they won't be of any help to me. I'll definitely measure the diameter of the nails when i get home today. In the meantime would these be worth a shot? Theyre the longest i've found yet Channellock 148-14 13.75-Inch Cutting Nipper Plier https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000189GRO/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[DHCrocks]

Cut off wheel on a die grinder/rotary tool is your best bet for flush, and fast.

this or an oscillating multi tool with a metal cutting blade. it will be flusher then any nipper can get. if you don't have one get a cordless multi tool it comes in quite handy and I use it more often then I I thought I would. I use a 12v Bosch.

 

[kctyphoon]

Cant you just bend the nails instead of cutting them?

If you insist on cutting you can just use a grinder with metal cutting blades if flush is that important. Don't know how I'd feel about doing that if the nails are holding my shingles down. I'd like there to be a little safety "extra" in case they ever pull or work their way out a bit.

 

[bleomycin]

I found these: http://www.hittools.com/catalog/itemlist.asp?catid=75&parentid=74

Seems like they could do the trick? It's difficult to tell from photos exactly how flush i'll be able to get the cuts though. Price is pretty reasonable for the 14" at ~$55 online. I may just order them and see what happens and worst case fall back to a multitool with carbide blade.

 

[fourjeepin]

this or an oscillating multi tool with a metal cutting blade. it will be flusher then any nipper can get. if you don't have one get a cordless multi tool it comes in quite handy and I use it more often then I I thought I would. I use a 12v Bosch.

I LOVE my multi tool, but have not been at all successful at cutting even thin steel with it.

I have tried many different tools to cut nails flush in my basement ceiling and found that vise grips work the best. Cutters are too much work and don't cut very flush. Multi tool blade is toast after one nail. Grinder will work, but messy and loud for a finished space.

Why are you cutting the nails in the attic? I am doing it because I am leaving the ceiling in the basement exposed for the extra height, access to water pipes, and because it looks nice, being all old hardwood planks from 1953.

Subbed for other suggestions.

 

[T45]

It seems if Knipex made the CoBolt with handles twice as long that'd be all I need.

If you do not need the size of CoBolt (compact bolt cuttter), you're options open-up.

 

[DHCrocks]

fourjeepin, you need to use the carbide or bi-metal blades those can cut thru nails. Agreed that the regular blade will be destroyed by hitting a single nail. use quality blades also, I tried the cheap off brand ones and those just don't last. I only buy bosch blades now.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

7" depressed center wheel on a 5" angle grinder. Wear gloves, its scary if you mess up and the disc breaks up.

 

[CGT80]

7" depressed center wheel on a 5" angle grinder. Wear gloves, its scary if you mess up and the disc breaks up.

What a horrible idea. It is bad enough that people think they have to run a grinder with no guard to be effective. I have done lots of grinding and never had to remove the guard for a disc. The risk is too great and there are better tools.

An angle grinder with a cut off disc, or if they are short, use a grinding wheel starting at the tip of the nail.

What works great for shingle nails, which usually don't protrude much, is a makita 5" disk sander with a 24 or 36 grit disc. I used to use a 7" disc on the 5" backer so I could sand eves and all the other wood on the outside of houses when I was a painter. The disc sander is made so that your hand is further from the disc but the 7" is prone to catching where the sheeting meets the 2x lumber. The resin backed discs are actually made for blending and finishing metal, so they hold up well to nails. It is easier to grind the nails without gouging the wood, so if or when you paint, you won't see the nails very easily. I would start with the 5" disc and 36 grit. It will be slower but safer and may leave a better finish.

If the nails are very long, you can cut them by hand and then use the disc sander or grinder. The makita disc sander is also pretty light and it is much easier to use overhead single handed than an angle grinder.

 

[kctyphoon]

I'm just curious why they need to be cut completely flush over just being bent over with a hammer.

You could always get a die grinder, or rotary tool with a cutting disc also.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

What a horrible idea.

the 7" wheel cuts nails effortlessly 3-4 ata time in under a second, and the big disc is much easier to keep flat on the surface. I'd use a big grinder, but that would **** in an overhead position, and clipping nails doesnt require much power.
one at a time with a sander held over your head sounds like a miserable waste of time, especially with an average garage having several coils of nails holding the roof on.

 

[miter]

I have used my Knipex Cobolt to cut roofing nails in my attic and they work well.
I have a different model than the one you listed. http://www.knipex.com/index.php?id=1216&L=1&page=art_detail&parentID=1367&groupID=1473&artID=20525 They are angled at 20 deg to give hand clearance and have a recess in the blade for easier cutting of thicker material.

I also have the Knipex Bolt End Cutting Nippers you referenced and they do cut the nails but it takes more force than my Cobolt. Maybe you nails are heavier that the ones used in my roof .

A grinder would work but I was concerned with the sparks and fire hazard as I did not want to remove all the items stored when cutting the nails.

 

[manwithtools]

This seems like a crazy request. Why do you think that you need to cut the nails flush? Are you trying to install rigid foam insulation? You can push the foam over the nails if that is the case.

Bending the nails over is a certain recipe for shingle replacement, I would not recommend that. Bending the nail shank will potentially cause the nail head to cut the shingle depending on the sheathing material.

Oscillating tool or cut off wheel is the better solution if it really has to be done.

 

[CGT80]

the 7" wheel cuts nails effortlessly 3-4 ata time in under a second, and the big disc is much easier to keep flat on the surface. I'd use a big grinder, but that would **** in an overhead position, and clipping nails doesnt require much power.
one at a time with a sander held over your head sounds like a miserable waste of time, especially with an average garage having several coils of nails holding the roof on.

Have you used a 5" disc sander?
It acts more like a grinder and is light weight. The disc can be kept almost flat without gouging. It doesn't compare to most sanders. A single nail takes at most a few seconds. I can use one by feel and with a single hand. It also works when dragging across the nails, and when you hit one, you pause on it until it is gone. Actually, you don't want to try to cut through it, hence clipping the nails if they are long.

I wasn't knocking the ability of an angle grinder, just how dangerous a disc can be with no guard and a person's hand so close to the disc.


https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000GAUXWE/?tag=atomicindus08-20