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40 year old Dykes

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tearapin

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Here is my cheap pair of 40 year old dykes. They broke today as you can see. I want to replace them but have no idea what to get. The broken ones did not need sharpening during the 40 years I used them. They cut a lot of wire and zip ties. As they are small they were great for close quarter work.

Can someone recommend a new pair that are sharp and will stay sharp?
 

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laser3kw

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did you say "40 year old dykes"? They don't look a day over 25 :D
where are they broke?
edit: I see it now - the one tip is broken off
 
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AA/FC

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40 years old? And they still had the plastic coating on the handles? They honestly don't look that old.

I would buy either Knipex, or Snap on.... all the other brands are the same to me when it comes to sharpness. Any Chinese brands are average..... just average.

My $.02.....
 
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tearapin

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AA/FC said:
40 years old? And they still had the plastic coating on the handles? They honestly don't look that old.



My $.02.....
Click to expand...

They are. I can't explain it either. The handles are in tact. Crazy. I always break out the bigger set when there are bigger jobs. These have seen only small diameter cutting tasks but held up well for a Chinese tool

Sad day when I saw the broken tip. :(
 
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macgee

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+1 ^

Erem Swiss is excellent. I would choose them before anything else.

One pair of Erem's that I have were made in Italy, I bought them in late 80's that I still use today and still going strong. Granted, they sat for 20yrs in storage, but they're my favorite. I think they're now made exclusively in Switzerland and Dykes is pretty much their speciality. I also have their carbide tipped dykes.

Erem says you can re-sharpen them three times but I've yet to do so. I have pairs from Knipex, Channellock, Klein, Utica and others.

Check out EREM 822N and 896E, I think they're the closest to your pair?

https://www.weller-tools.com/professional/USA/us/Weller+Erem/Cutters/Series+800
 
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WisJim

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My Craftsman ones that I got new in 1969 are holding up fine and still have the plastic on the handles. Sadly new ones can't hold a candle to them
 
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tearapin

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WisJim said:
My Craftsman ones that I got new in 1969 are holding up fine and still have the plastic on the handles. Sadly new ones can't hold a candle to them
Click to expand...

Yes I find that too. Sad. I got those pliers in the 90's. Was a sad thing when they broke. Was a reached for most often tool.
 
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tearapin

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Thanks everyone. I think I will try Knipex since I can get them from Home Depot and if I do not like them I can return them :)
 
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jeepinerdeep

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macgee

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tearapin said:
Thanks everyone. I think I will try Knipex since I can get them from Home Depot and if I do not like them I can return them :)
Click to expand...

Go ahead and try Knipex, its a good company with high HRC steel. I have a couple of their cutters (Knipex 7605125) but did not like them, more for the ergonomics and not having a return spring for the handle, that was something I didn't realize I liked so much until I didn't have it. I still have a new pair in the box.

I forgot about this site, they have a slew of different cutters (sorry, Dykes) to choose from, from cheap to pricey:

https://www.riogrande.com/searchresults#t=products&sort=relevancy&layout=card&numberOfResults=144&f:categoryfilter=[Tools%20%26%20Equipment,Pliers%20%26%20Cutters,Cutters%20%26%20Shears,Flush%20Cutters]
 
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measuredtwice

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tearapin said:
Here is my cheap pair of 40 year old dykes. They broke today as you can see. I want to replace them but have no idea what to get. The broken ones did not need sharpening during the 40 years I used them. They cut a lot of wire and zip ties. As they are small they were great for close quarter work.

Can someone recommend a new pair that are sharp and will stay sharp?
Click to expand...


A gazillion forum members jumped on the Ebay deal that I posted for Swanstrom carbide tipped cutters. Seller doesn't have anything listed now but he's been selling on and off for years so I'd recommend adding him to your saved list--> https://www.ebay.com/sch/m.html?_odkw=&_ssn=nileras

measuredtwice said:
Retail they're about $160-200. I bought mine from this seller for $19. He's raised the price to $21.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/202861954816
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measuredtwice said:
The best ones that I've used are carbide tipped Swanstrom M-series.

For cutting hard wire, you will get much more life out of carbide tipped.


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measuredtwice said:
Here's a photo of the carbide edge on the Swanstrom. Sorry that it's blurry. The camera wanted to focus on the pivot rather than the edge.

By far the best that I have used. Cuts everything like butter.

attachment.php
Click to expand...
 
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