Cable loppers on thin strand wire

[seagull369]

Would this big boy pictured below be able to cut thin-stranded welding cable or is it meant for thicker strand stuff? I have some 1 gauge down to 3/0 wire that that I want to cut for different projects.

The cutters are rated for (up to, I'm assuming) 1000 MCM copper.

 

[rlitman]

It'll cut it like butter. I routinely use these on stuff up to 2/0:

 

[seagull369]

Great. Thanks very much.

 

[The 52 Ford]

It'll cut it like butter. I routinely use these on stuff up to 2/0:

Same. Honestly, in a pinch I've used pruning loppers on copper and aluminum without any trouble. You can also get ratcheting cable cutters that are a lot more compact and can still cut the big stuff.

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[ez-duzit]

...in a pinch I've used pruning loppers on copper and aluminum without any trouble...

That is what the OP posted.

 

[rlitman]

That is what the OP posted.

No. That’s a cable cutter. Just made to make cutting big stuff easier.

 

[ez-duzit]

No. That’s a cable cutter. Just made to make cutting big stuff easier.

Those small, single-handed wire cutters will easily cut as large as 4/0 fine strand cable. Heavy strand 4/0 becomes a bit of a struggle.

 

[Indexmill]

Just dont try to cut hard wire with them. AMHIK.

 

[seagull369]

Someone was selling it locally for $30. It's a Klein 32". Kind of overkill for my needs, but beats using the Dremel with cutoff wheel as I had been. One of the jaws is nicked a bit, which of course was not the side the seller decided to take a closeup of in the ad. Maybe it can be dressed up. The price for the replacement jaws are about 95% of the cost of the entire tool

Just dont try to cut hard wire with them. AMHIK.

Thanks. I wasn't planning on it, but I'll be extra cautious.

 

[rlitman]

Those small, single-handed wire cutters will easily cut as large as 4/0 fine strand cable. Heavy strand 4/0 becomes a bit of a struggle.

I deal a bit with 2/0 marine battery cable, and my small Klein ones do cut it just fine, though using two hands is required for that size. I also have a HF knockoff I got for $3 that doesn’t have nearly as “sharp” and edge. That too cuts the 2/0 battery cable, but it is a struggle.

Welding cable has an insulation that cuts more easily, but the strands are about the same.

As for the OP’s find, a small nick may be pushed back with a sharpening steel, or even a delicately applied hammer. That’s what happens to these when someone uses them to cut steel.

 

[Norcal]

Most here know already but they should only be used to cut copper or aluminum cable.