Cutting pliers for automotive use

[Fender1325]

I have a set of Klein's that usually get the job done, but sometimes not. Sometimes I don't have enough leverage.

I do automotive restoration. A lot of times I need to cut old steel brake lines, gas lines, hose clamps, etc. It's asking a lot of my Klein's. It usually takes a good bit of effort but usually gets it done.

Is there pliers out there that would be faster/easier? Most cutting pliers I see are designed for electricians cutting wire and cable.

I know about tube cutters that you spin around and around. My need is for breaking down a car before I make new lines. Thanks

 

[tonyciambrone]

Knipex 10" Diagonal Cutting Pliers

I don't think the NWS Fantastico cutting edge holds up as well but that would be my second choice.

 

[Brownsfan]

Klein 2000 series with the blue handles. They will cut anything . These are the new heavy duty version. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Klein-T...-Diagonal-Cutting-Pliers-J200059SEN/303125782

 

[Fender1325]

Klein 2000 series with the blue handles. They will cut anything . These are the new heavy duty version. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Klein-T...-Diagonal-Cutting-Pliers-J200059SEN/303125782

Let me see the model I have - very similar to that, and I'm pretty sure I paid more - bought at home Depot or lowes

 

[Fender1325]

My model just says journeyman on them. Red/black handle

Edit:. These ones. I thought I paid $50 for those suckers but maybe my memory is wrong, or they came down. Anyhow, I want to outperform these guys.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000CRY52A/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Modern Garage]

I do the same when I get some rust-bucket in that needs new brake lines and I've wondered if a small bolt cutter would be quicker. It would require both hands to operate though and wouldn't fit in small spaces, but my hands just get sore clipping old lines with a pliers type cutter.
Joe

 

[Fender1325]

I do the same when I get some rust-bucket in that needs new brake lines and I've wondered if a small bolt cutter would be quicker. It would require both hands to operate though and wouldn't fit in small spaces, but my hands just get sore clipping old lines with a pliers type cutter.
Joe

Agreed! Luckily, generally speaking, space is not too much of a problem - within reason.

 

[drtyler]

Gedore 8340 Z-200 JL Bolt cutter

https://www.kctoolco.com/gedore-8340-z-200-jl-bolt-cutter/

I've used this and the cheap small one from Harbor Freight a lot for cutting lines and small bolts. The Gedore is the better tool, price is just typically kind of high.

 

[chrisnazzy]

Snap-on 388ACF High leverage diagonal cutters.

https://store.snapon.com/High-Leverage-Diagonal-8-5-16-High-Leverage-Diagonal-Cutter-P885553.aspx

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[WittHay]

The Snap-on 388ACF are good cotter pin pliers, strong enough to cut large sizes.

Have done lots of scrap vehicles over the years, have used bolt cutters to cut the fuel and sometimes the brake lines. Always a torch around when scrapping to cut cables

The fancier compact Knipex bolt cutters would probably work well

 

[bczygan]

Saws-all?

 

[E.Marquez]

The Snap-on 388ACF

I have these and use them a fair bit...if I was cutting brake lines, E bake cables, fuel lines ect often, id use someone with compound leverage like mini bolt cutters.
It takes a hand full of pressure to cut that stuff with the 388ACF, it does the job no doubt, but its takes some pressure. And for the brake / fuel line, you have to open them up a fair bit making them hard to use one handed unless you have large hands.

Id get these https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000SOSC4Y/?tag=atomicindus08-20
And save them just for the kinds of things you mentioned...and maybe small fasteners under 1/4" and non grade 8 (10.9) at that.

 

[wkndwarrior29]

I have an old snap on HL-9 that works well for small bolts and would probably suit your needs, they are reasonable to find on eBay..

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[JohnDeere1]

Knipex 10" Diagonal Cutting Pliers

I don't think the NWS Fantastico cutting edge holds up as well but that would be my second choice.

I have both and they cut like butter also have the Klein 2000s and a pair of Wiha 100pc and long reach craftsman can go on and on but the first 2 are the top cutters in my box.
I do have the 10" knipex and the shorter ones the longer ones are best.

 

[kctyphoon]

A Klein 9" or Knipex 10" set is probably what you'd want. If you like Klein, Klein just came out with some serious 9" cutters that are actually 9" lineman pliers with the head formed into diagonal cutters instead. They are seriously over engineered. Otherwise they make 9" diagonals with yellow handles that are like regular hd cutters.

What you can't see in the pics is how thick and heavy they are.

Knipex 10" at the top

 

[theoldwizard1]

Knipex 7101200 8-Inch Lever Action Mini-Bolt Cutter

Not cheap. They also have 10"

 

[VinceG]

Knipex 10" Diagonal Cutting Pliers

I don't think the NWS Fantastico cutting edge holds up as well but that would be my second choice.

I love my Knipex

 

[kctyphoon]

I love my Knipex

Those are good too.. for $50 they should be..

 

[jsmeece]

I have two pair of the German made Irwin, bought from Lowes on clearance for $7 a pair, so far so good. I think there are the ones at the 3 o'clock position in kctyphoon's picture above. I also have Craftsman and several Tekton, like the Irwins the best.

 

[bubinga]

Knipex 10" Diagonal Cutting Pliers

I don't think the NWS Fantastico cutting edge holds up as well but that would be my second choice.

Baby Knipex Bolt cutters!

 

[davethorik]

If you've worn out Klein, try Knipex. I cut thru a single edge razor blade with my 10" diagonals just to see if they could do it. They did. I was impressed.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

I use a cutter to crimp the old line, then twist the crimp and it breaks off.

 

[Fender1325]

I use a cutter to crimp the old line, then twist the crimp and it breaks off.

What I usually need to do is cut right before the fitting. This allows me to take the old rusty fitting out with a socket, and keeps the line mostly intact to replicate with new line.

 

[billyjp2]

Those knipex mini bolt cutters are VERY impressive. I work for a company that does large ID hose assembly and we use those to clip the helical wires inside suction hoses. We have worn out many sets of normal bolt cutters, but the small knipex pair is still going strong after 6--8 months being used several times a day.

 

[rustbucket5]

knipex all the way, have both the diagonals and the mini bolt cutters. the diagonals have zero wear on them, its incredible considering how much i use them. the bolt cutters can cut brake cables with almost no effort feels like cutting a cotter pin. they are expensive however

 

[kctyphoon]

knipex all the way, have both the diagonals and the mini bolt cutters. the diagonals have zero wear on them, its incredible considering how much i use them. the bolt cutters can cut brake cables with almost no effort feels like cutting a cotter pin. they are expensive however

Yea I've had the same experience. I bought the 8", 10" diagonals, mini bolt cutters, and 10" alligators. The 8" diagonals are by far my most used tool, and after heavy use for probably 2 years now(?) they have not one chip or any sign of damage to the blades. I bought a pair of the Channellock 338's to give them a shot and they were ruined within 2 hours trying to cut stainless steel cable ties.

I might pick up those Kleins I pictured just out of pure curiosity, even though I'm not a big fan of the wide grips. The longer cutting head is a nice feature.

 

[Fender1325]

knipex all the way, have both the diagonals and the mini bolt cutters. the diagonals have zero wear on them, its incredible considering how much i use them. the bolt cutters can cut brake cables with almost no effort feels like cutting a cotter pin. they are expensive however

I'm not cutting cables really at all, but brake lines as in, steel hydraulic tubing. The knipex mini bolt cutters have my attention. I'll probably give them a go

 

[apdxyk]

Gedore 8340 Z-200 JL Bolt cutter

https://www.kctoolco.com/gedore-8340-z-200-jl-bolt-cutter/

I've used this and the cheap small one from Harbor Freight a lot for cutting lines and small bolts. The Gedore is the better tool, price is just typically kind of high.

Gedore blades are induction hardened to 63-65

 

[davethorik]

Gedore 8340 Z-200 JL Bolt cutter

https://www.kctoolco.com/gedore-8340-z-200-jl-bolt-cutter/

I've used this and the cheap small one from Harbor Freight a lot for cutting lines and small bolts. The Gedore is the better tool, price is just typically kind of high.

Not sure why you'd pay $57 for those when the Knipex are on Amazon for $45. Unless you like the blue grips that much?

 

[drtyler]

I didn't buy them from KC Tool. I bought from amazon.de for half, which was less than the Knipex at the time. Not sure what the price is now.

Not sure why you'd pay $57 for those when the Knipex are on Amazon for $45. Unless you like the blue grips that much?

 

[oldldh]

I know everyone's shouting out about their cutters...

But, I'm a poor old retired dude, and I can't afford truck brands...

So...

I went with Tekton...

#34025 11", 30 degree Cutters --- $ 14.99 from Amazon...

Haven't failed to cut anything I've asked them to...

Lifetime warranty, too...Break them, send an email, with photo, to Tekton, and they'll ship you another one...

 

[apdxyk]

Dr. Tyler, That is what I do all the time. TBS AAchen is another good source for German tools. The Gedore ones are meaty, everything Gedore is meaty. Right now Gedore is 35 and Knippex is 28 Euros on Amazon.de, you'll be charged a modest shipping fee on top of that.

 

[rick carpenter]

A Klein 9" or Knipex 10" set is probably what you'd want. If you like Klein, Klein just came out with some serious 9" cutters that are actually 9" lineman pliers with the head formed into diagonal cutters instead. They are seriously over engineered. Otherwise they make 9" diagonals with yellow handles that are like regular hd cutters.

What you can't see in the pics is how thick and heavy they are.

Knipex 10" at the top

I fondled those new Kleins at HD the other day. They are built like a tank. I don't think they'd cut any better than my 10" Knipex. OTOH I wouldn't hesitate to use those Kleins to hammer a bit... don't want to do that with my pretty Knipexes.

 

[redwrench60]

The 10” Knipex diags and mini bolt cutters are certainly excellent and I have two pairs of each but I never hear anyone here mention the Knipex 10” center cutting pliers. They combine the traits of the mini bolt cutters and the 10” diag side cutters with tons of cutting power and reach.

 

[rustbucket5]

The 10” Knipex diags and mini bolt cutters are certainly excellent and I have two pairs of each but I never hear anyone here mention the Knipex 10” center cutting pliers. They combine the traits of the mini bolt cutters and the 10” diag side cutters with tons of cutting power and reach.

they are on my wishlist to try out

 

[DGersic]

For cutting out brake lines where access is limited and one hand operation is desirable, I like these.



https://www.jbtoolsales.com/crescent-ps5429c-9-proseries-diagonal-compound-action-pliers/

The compound action makes one handed cuts with minimal effort. Not sure how long the cutting edges will last, after a couple of years in my garage they seem to be dulling, but they still cut well.



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[redvalkyrie]

Seems like there are many good recommendations. My vote also goes for the Knipex dikes and bolt cutters.

 

[Htscheg]

Linemans cutters work well also!

 

[4x4gearhead]

+1 on knipex 10" diagonal cutters. I have had a pair for 10 years, and use them for exactly what you mentioned. They are bulky for using as a general cutter but they cut better than any other brands i have used. The certainly cut old ****** brake lines like nothing else and i have a lot of cutting pliers, CL snap on matco

 

[Fender1325]

I just wanted to let everyone know, my wife got me those knipex mini bolt cutters as an early Christmas present and they cut steel brake lines with one hand! Very nice.