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Best flush cutters

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electroman187

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 27, 2016
Messages
147
Location
NH
The Swanstrom M403C are extremely sharp and precise.

I recently had to remove a very tiny, very tight stitch from a wound on an infant. The hook on the special stitch removal scissors just were not small enough to get under the stitch. I would have had to dig into the wound to get under. Keep in mind that they are literally designed to do this one job. Well, out came these pliers - easy work.

On another note, because they are carbide they are also brittle and prone to break. Ask me how I know.
 

RTM

Well-known member
Joined
May 13, 2019
Messages
13,053
Location
SF Bay Area
Geez, ordered mine at 8pm West Coast time on the 15th, and they arrived today, from Puerto Rico. Can’t get that speed on contiguous US shipping anymore it seems. Seem like stout little devils.
 

928'er

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 26, 2012
Messages
756
Location
Wine Country, CA
Geez, ordered mine at 8pm West Coast time on the 15th, and they arrived today, from Puerto Rico. Can’t get that speed on contiguous US shipping anymore it seems.

Similar experience. Ordered mine on the 16th, received them today on the 19th.

Less than 3 days from Puerto Rico to California! Wish Amazon Prime was as fast...
 

speed88

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 11, 2017
Messages
207
Location
Illinois
Got my pair yesterday. Very nice especially for $23.00. :shocking::beer:
 

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pizza

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 4, 2019
Messages
1,739
Location
Midwest, USA
thank you, pcmeiners. i grabbed one to try out. that shape looks a little nimbler than the M403C which gives me trouble in some electronics work i use them for.
 
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measuredtwice

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 17, 2019
Messages
1,705
Location
USA
I haven't seen the Aven with carbide cutters. I know with certainty that Aven's "Stealth" line is made in Pakistan but I don't know the COO for the carbide cutters.....could be Pakistan or China or Taiwan. They appear to have similar construction and handles to the Pakistan-made Stealth line. Let us know how they work out for you.

I've had the Swanstrom carbide cutters for a couple years and they still cut hard wire just as good as the day that I got them. Swanstrom does offer cutter "reconditioning" but I doubt I'll need it --> https://swanstromtools.com/tool-reconditioning/
 
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measuredtwice

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 17, 2019
Messages
1,705
Location
USA
"I got them. Swanstrom does offer cutter "reconditioning" but I doubt I'll need it "

It is a two for one deal, the tool and your wallet get "reconditioned" at the same time :)

Ha! Did you contact them for the rates? I bought a bunch at $19 (before I posted them here and you guys drove the prices up ;) ) so I should be set for a long time and hadn't looked into the cost of reconditioning.
 

pizza

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 4, 2019
Messages
1,739
Location
Midwest, USA

it took over a month to arrive (11/16-12/21), but i got it. wasn't the seller's fault afaik. i think it was just jammed up in usps. shipped from CA.

i forgot all about it because of new years, but i had some time to look at it today. it's basically junk.

the markings on the handle are flaking off. build quality feels not great.
it only really cuts well right near the tip. if you squeeze it hard, it still won't cut beyond the tip, but the blades come out of alignment with a crunch.

i'll try to return it. it says 30 day returns, and it arrived dec 21, but the normal return button is missing probably because it took so long to get to me. i hope ebay backs me up.

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designer485

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 12, 2010
Messages
546
Location
Orange County, CA
My favorite flush cutters are made by Lindstrom. They are precise and feel great in the hand.

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And for cheap, but surprisingly good, the Hakkos are hard to beat.

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superautobacs

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 31, 2008
Messages
3,997
Location
Vancouver, BC
I bought a pair of Tronex some years ago to try out, but wasn't too impressed.

Those Lindstroms above a really nice looking, and priced accordingly!

Those Hakko's and other rebrands are made in Italy. OEM is Piergiacomi.

My 3.Peaks, Fujiya, and MTC flush cutters have served me well so far.
 

NYCone

Active member
Joined
May 22, 2016
Messages
33
Are the high end cutter really worth the extra $$? I've looked at them on and off again for years and always buy the $8 cheapo cutter. I love great tools, but is a cutter really worth 10-20x as much?
 

Davefr

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 7, 2010
Messages
11,815
Location
OR
Are the high end cutter really worth the extra $$? I've looked at them on and off again for years and always buy the $8 cheapo cutter. I love great tools, but is a cutter really worth 10-20x as much?

IMHO, yes. Buy "top shelf" small precision cutters. Cheap cutters that don't cut
consistently across the entire jaw, soft jaws that nick easily, jaws that deflect or don't get flush are a PIA.

If you're on a budget at least get Xuron's. The handles are hard plastic, the joint is pretty basic but they work surprisingly well.

If the Ebay seller still has carbide Swanstroms, then get them. It's a "no brainer". They're excellent and cheap.
 

RoundedNut

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 8, 2018
Messages
239
Location
driveway
Are the high end cutter really worth the extra $$? I've looked at them on and off again for years and always buy the $8 cheapo cutter. I love great tools, but is a cutter really worth 10-20x as much?

No, because a lot of people are using electronic lead cutters to cut things like zip ties. Unless you assemble electronics or are a hobbyist, you should use something else.

For cable ties, something like these are a much better choice: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002RDDLJK/?tag=atomicindus08-20

or specifically: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0756YR7XX/?tag=atomicindus08-20
 
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