I need a pair of Dikes!

RickP330 · Apr 20, 2011

Suggestions?

I can fix anything · Apr 20, 2011

Snap on

Pro-Painter · Apr 20, 2011

RickP330 said:
Suggestions?

yeah call them wire strippers like a normal person. :lol_hitti

my fav set is a pair from greenlee. $20 at Lowe's and have a front cutter.

Sh1thead · Apr 20, 2011

channellock have treated me very well ... been through 2 pairs in 6 years of daily use.
I hear great things about klein also

23bw · Apr 20, 2011

Pair of dikes hugh? :bounce:

Who's gonna post an image of a pair?

Lugnut64052 · Apr 20, 2011

A normal person would call them "diagonal cutters," which is the long form of the word "dykes," a short-hand term which was long in use before feminazis got all pissy about it. Not being cowed by the thuggery of political correctness, I call them dykes myself.

The 10" Knipex high-leverage dykes are the shizzle, in my opinion. They're spendy, but worth it. Lowes stocks them.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_117875-1046...t=knipex&pl=1&currentURL=/pl__0__s?Ntt=knipex

chopper1 · Apr 20, 2011

23bw said:
Pair of dikes hugh? Who's gonna post an image of a pair?

I won't post an image, but there are two living a couple doors down from us. Both have motorcycles and I nick named them The Dikes with bike's.

wafrederick · Apr 20, 2011

Oftenly called lesbian pliers too,another vote for Knipex.Have a Knipex pair with the Matco brand on them,paid $54.00 for the pair.

Kirbot · Apr 20, 2011

Another vote for Channellock

BBQ&Love · Apr 20, 2011

Knipex. Best I ever owned and I have owned a few. Blowes has them.

Sancho · Apr 20, 2011

Knipex is tough to beat

greasemonkey44 · Apr 20, 2011

i like my channel locks; american made and strong as a barrel horse
altho i saw a pair of compound diacs at lowes that was tempting, more grip less fight(maid in taiwan tho

MrMark · Apr 20, 2011

Snap-on over the 10 inch Knipex for me. I have both and there is a difference. 388CF I think.

Kevski · Apr 20, 2011

I'm partial to the high leverage Knipex... they work great for other things too, like pulling cotter pins. Get the 8" dikes unless you are working on small stuff.

http://chadstoolbox.com/7402200knipex8inchhighleveragediagonalcutter-comfortgrip.aspx

DanCo · Apr 20, 2011

Snappy or Channel Locks, or and this is a big OR...you can go out to Bellport. I saw a HD emp super ****, prob pisses standing up.
...Sorry

american lockpicker · Apr 20, 2011

I recommend a pair that are feminine and 18ish. :bounce:

Or Swiss made Wiha.

davidj · Apr 20, 2011

I have several pairs of those... umm... uhhh... dykes. anyway... I have snap on, mac, matco, hf, and companion. the hf and companion ones are in my cheap "throw away" type tool bag. and the snap on, mac, and matco ones are in my box. I always find myself using the matcos over the snap ons... Idk why.

tw33k2514 · Apr 20, 2011

Snap-on, knipex, Channellock, Wiha. You really can't go wrong with any of those.

briggsguy17 · Apr 20, 2011

Pro-Painter said:
yeah call them wire strippers like a normal person.

my fav set is a pair from greenlee. $20 at Lowe's and have a front cutter.

These are wire strippers: http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:13,s:0&biw=1107&bih=590
and these are dykes: http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...ugQez-7iRDQ&page=1&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0
And I say Snap On.

Gokart · Apr 20, 2011

Klein J2000-48 8-Inch Journeyman

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006M6Y8O/?tag=atomicindus08-20

zer0cell · Apr 20, 2011

For American made I'd choose the Channellock 338 or the any of the Klein dykes from the 2000 series (with or without comfort grip). The craftsman (western forge) ones aren't too bad if you can get a deal on them but I'd prefer the aforementioned two.

If you want German made go with Knipex or NWS.

All those brands put out good products though so its a matter of preference... Just get one and be happy

jcfields · Apr 21, 2011

Channellock 338 are my personal favorite. They'll easily cut through anything you'd reasonably want a pair of dikes to cut through, and the contour of the handle is very comfortable and easy to work with. Great pliers.

The Klein Journeyman J2000 ones are good too if you like molded grips (or get the Klein D2000 if you want dipped). I like the Channellocks better, though.

I don't recommend Craftsman for this. I have the 7" Craftsman and the 6" and 8" Craftsman Professional pliers, and I've been surprised at how much harder it is to cut things with them than with the Channellocks or the Kleins.

Pro-Painter · Apr 21, 2011

briggsguy17 said:
These are wire strippers: http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:13,s:0&biw=1107&bih=590
and these are dykes: http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...ugQez-7iRDQ&page=1&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0
And I say Snap On.

I honestly did not know that. I use to work doing spray foam insulation (icynene) when I was younger and the electricians would always be rushing to finish up so we could spray. I would hear them yell "Hey can you hand me the dikes?" I asked one day and one of them said "you know, Wire dikes" and held up a pair of wire strippers.

The real "dikes" you referred to, I simply called "cutters". I didn't realize they had a special name.

Bolster · Apr 21, 2011

Here you go, a pair of dikes, as requested. Actually I could use a pair, myself.

ZRX61 · Apr 21, 2011

I ahve Channelock, Matco, Knipex & a few others. They all work.

rockwithjason · Apr 21, 2011

i always buy klein, but then again i am a wireman

larry_g · Apr 21, 2011

And since you really don't know what you want realize that there are ones for hard wire and for soft wire. So what you are cutting has a bearing on what you need to purchase.

lg
no neat sig line

wilb1976 · Apr 21, 2011

Klein 2000 series blue dipped handle angled head. (Ab)used EVERYDAY. Also like the Knipex 10" high leverage.

JustBob · Apr 21, 2011

Bolster said:
Here you go, a pair of dikes, as requested. Actually I could use a pair, myself.

What you have there is not a pair of dykes... that is just a good start to great night!

This is a pair of dykes...

Personally I really like the Klein dykes (diagonal cutters)!

Adrien · Apr 21, 2011

Klein and Channellock are the only companies that make them...as far as I'm concerned anyway.

Adrien

m_fumich · Apr 21, 2011

Lugnut64052 said:
A normal person would call them "diagonal cutters," which is the long form of the word "dykes,"

I must not be normal. I've always called them dykes.

If you're only looking for a single size, regardless of what brand you get, be sure to get ones that are big enough for the job. Nothing worse than trying to but large gauge wire with under sized dykes. Plus, when it comes to anything that cuts, you get what you pay for.

cheap bastard · Apr 21, 2011

Bolster, thank you for keeping this thread on topic.

shampoop · Apr 21, 2011

I have a pair of snappys and channellocks. The snapon ones do take less effort, but really the channellocks would definitely be plenty for a home user, and "good enough" for a someone who uses them professionally. But if you just want nicer ones, or use them a ton, the snappys are definitely better.

ecotec · Apr 21, 2011

Klein D2000 9" or Knipex 10"

chewy7 · Apr 21, 2011

american lockpicker said:
I recommend a pair that are feminine and 18ish. Or Swiss made Wiha.

LawnDart79 · Apr 21, 2011

m_fumich said:
I must not be normal. I've always called them dykes.

Hell, I call them "side cutters" I must be abnormal too... :eek7:

NUTTSGT · Apr 21, 2011

I bought a pair of Channellocks at the swap meet a few weeks ago. I have only used them a few time but I llike them better that the Craftsman they replaced.

+1 for Bolster.

DARKSCOPE001 · Apr 21, 2011

I have channellocks right now. very happy with them. been eyeballing that knipex 10" set for a while now. nobody else (as far as local) has a 10" set and those knipex tools are just plain **** in your toolbox. cant go wrong with either. but as far as my two cents goes. for anything under 10" channellock is pretty nice and U.S. made. for the big boys knipex but thats just because they are the only ones I can find that have a pair that big.

Thanks
Sean Scott

Avgas · Apr 21, 2011

Does snap on still offer those long reach cutters?

Kevin54 · Apr 21, 2011

At least on GJ you can always tell where a thread is headed by the title :lol_hitti

I need a pair of Dikes!

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