Do we really NEED so many different plier-based cutters?

[oldschoolcraft]

I'm not lost, I know this is GJ but as I'm putting lots of my tools in storage and assembling streamlined handyman toolkits, I have to ask myself if I really need that many pliers-based cutters.

I really like my linesman pliers, they are one of my favorite tools, and they have cutters. I don't know if I also need diagonal cutting pliers in my minimalist kit. At least not big ones. There might be some scenario where I need some small ones to reach into a tight space and make a cut, but what would I be cutting with 10" diagonal cutting pliers that I can't cut with linesman pliers?

I do have the Knipex CoBolt in my kit, and that can cut stuff linesman can't, but do I need all three?

I feel like there's so many cutters on pliers as a convenience to add speed because a lot of jobs involve grabbing and twisting some wire and then cutting it. If you had to put most of your tools into storage and pare down to a small tool bag, how many different types of pliers based cutters would you have?

 

[Ilikeike]

I use 7" diagonal cutter for zip ties and wire all the time.
When I have the lineman pliers out, I'm normally pulling a fish tape with mine, since my model is made for that, little big for most of my wire cutting purposes.

 

[Beerhippie]

The vast majority of pliers that have some kind of cutting feature have one thing in common: They struggle to cut anything, including zip ties.

One good set of small dikes--4-7", one pair linesman's pliers, one pair of medium-size cable cutters--10-12" and you're good for 90% of what you'll ever need to cut. I like to throw in a pair of small needle-nose with good cutters. I hide my good cutters and let other employees struggle with the crappy ones which they're just going to lose, anyway.

 

[four.cycle]

If you had to put most of your tools into storage and pare down to a small tool bag, how many different types of pliers based cutters would you have?

at minimum, a pair of 8-inch linemans pliers and a pair of 7-inch diagonal cutters. I would most likely also throw in a little 4-inch pair of flush cutting diagonal cutters.

 

[Wamsutta]

I'm not lost, I know this is GJ but as I'm putting lots of my tools in storage and assembling streamlined handyman toolkits, I have to ask myself if I really need that many pliers-based cutters.

I really like my linesman pliers, they are one of my favorite tools, and they have cutters. I don't know if I also need diagonal cutting pliers in my minimalist kit. At least not big ones. There might be some scenario where I need some small ones to reach into a tight space and make a cut, but what would I be cutting with 10" diagonal cutting pliers that I can't cut with linesman pliers?

I do have the Knipex CoBolt in my kit, and that can cut stuff linesman can't, but do I need all three?

I feel like there's so many cutters on pliers as a convenience to add speed because a lot of jobs involve grabbing and twisting some wire and then cutting it. If you had to put most of your tools into storage and pare down to a small tool bag, how many different types of pliers based cutters would you have?

Cotter pins! You need the 10" length for leverage and lineman pliers aren't going to fit in there!

 

[Beerhippie]

at minimum, a pair of 8-inch linemans pliers and a pair of 7-inch diagonal cutters. I would most likely also throw in a little 4-inch pair of flush cutting diagonal cutters.

I forgot the flush cutters!

I seem to have lost my last pair. Either I didn't hide them well enough or I hid them too well. IIR, they were 4-5". Now to find a new pair of good ones....

 

[four.cycle]

^ Japanese.
I bought a tiny pair of Klein "flush cutters" - they were only about $8 bucks - not worth a damn. Gave 'em to a buddy and he tossed them.
Check the "tools of Japan" thread - there was a brand several guys raved about. (Merry? Tsunoda?)

 

[Zewnten]

Klien high leverage side cutters and SO or Klien 8" needle nose. Pair of modified linesman's pliers for fencing.

 

[Beerhippie]

Klien high leverage side cutters and SO or Klien 8" needle nose. Pair of modified linesman's pliers for fencing.

For fencing, just break down and get some good fencing pliers! They "do it all". Nothing like purpose-built tools for the job.

I don't recall what brand I have, but I do know they came from the GSA catalog and somehow got "stuck to the truck" one day and ended up in my rig.

 

[Beerhippie]

^ Japanese.
I bought a tiny pair of Klein "flush cutters" - they were only about $8 bucks - not worth a damn. Gave 'em to a buddy and he tossed them.
Check the "tools of Japan" thread - there was a brand several guys raved about. (Merry? Tsunoda?)

Yeah, Klein is a ****-shoot these days. Time was, Klein tools were what distinguished the men from the boys (electricians, anyhow), but no longer.

 

[four.cycle]

^ to be fair: I was on my way to a job site, I knew I had to cut ONE zip tie off at the job. I'd forgotten my nippers at home. I was at Platt Electric. I bought the cheapest pair they had. Moral of story: cheap isn't always the best choice.

 

[Zewnten]

For fencing, just break down and get some good fencing pliers! They "do it all". Nothing like purpose-built tools for the job.

I don't recall what brand I have, but I do know they came from the GSA catalog and somehow got "stuck to the truck" one day and ended up in my rig.

I've been building fence my whole life some summers professionally to pay for school. Only farmers and DIY guys use multi function fencing pliers. I had a real hammer, real pliers, real staple puller in a tool belt, fencing is twice as fast and not nearly as irritating.

 

[four.cycle]

^ not so sure about that. I've done a lot of repair work on barb-wire fence lines that were strung on old cedar posts, and the "fencing pliers" made the work a hell of a lot easier than a big pair of linemans pliers and a hammer and a pry bar. (all of which I had there at the cabin.)
I suppose they all have their place.

Odd that so many members here seem to be less than fond of the standard 7-inch diagonal cutter - it's usually my go-to for cutting most anything.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Sometimes having the right size and style makes a huge difference. Especially with stainless wire or fine stranded copper.

 

[Etchase]

End nips come in handy. Basically a whole bag devoted just to cutters, in a variety of sizes is the GJ way.

 

[bcradio]

I've been building fence my whole life some summers professionally to pay for school. Only farmers and DIY guys use multi function fencing pliers. I had a real hammer, real pliers, real staple puller in a tool belt, fencing is twice as fast and not nearly as irritating.

And what do you use to cut it?

 

[theoldwizard1]

I have 2 drawers for pliers/cutters/crimpers !

For a "to go" box, you need arc joint pliers, locking pliers, one straight, one needle nose, regular needle nose, side/diagonal cutters (dykes). If you have the room, slip joint pliers.

 

[Hannahranga]

Define plier based? My minimum is small flush cutters, pair of cross cut pliers (not a fan of linesmen) and cable cutter pliers for bigger cable. That said there's enough different types for different uses that while you might only need a handful the next bloke needs a different handful.

 

[dchawk81]

I'm not lost, I know this is GJ but as I'm putting lots of my tools in storage and assembling streamlined handyman toolkits, I have to ask myself if I really need that many pliers-based cutters.

I really like my linesman pliers, they are one of my favorite tools, and they have cutters. I don't know if I also need diagonal cutting pliers in my minimalist kit. At least not big ones. There might be some scenario where I need some small ones to reach into a tight space and make a cut, but what would I be cutting with 10" diagonal cutting pliers that I can't cut with linesman pliers?

I do have the Knipex CoBolt in my kit, and that can cut stuff linesman can't, but do I need all three?

I feel like there's so many cutters on pliers as a convenience to add speed because a lot of jobs involve grabbing and twisting some wire and then cutting it. If you had to put most of your tools into storage and pare down to a small tool bag, how many different types of pliers based cutters would you have?

I feel like we need more.

 

[Zewnten]

And what do you use to cut it?

Hard wire for electric, mini bolt cutters. Regular wire either Klien high leverage side cutters or the cutters in the lineman pliers

 

[cmandp]

I only use my linesmans for electrical work, cutting copper wire or pre-twisiting for wire nuts. No cutting steel as I don't want to wear the cutters so they don't cut copper cleanly. I use side cutters for any general purpose cutting and keep a pair in my electrical bag.

I'd rather have a gripping type plier like needle nose or water pump and side cutters. I always end up needing the side cutter to cut right up against an obstruction that gripping pliers with a cutter can't reach or abusing them to pull nails/cotter pins, etc.

 

[Tools4Me]

I never found lineman pliers particularly useful. I find them to be too bulky and heavy for most jobs, and a "jack of all trades master of none" type tool. I sold mine off years ago and I don't miss them.

In my travel kit I have a small pair of Xuron flush cutters for cutting things like zip ties, a pair of Knipex angled 8" diagonal pliers for general cutting of wire and for jobs like pulling romex staples, and lastly I have a pair of Knipex Cobolt pliers for cutting thick or hard wire because they have amazing leverage compared to diagonal pliers. I keep a pair of 8" slip joint pliers with diamond pattern gripping jaws in my travel kit for general grabbing and/or tweaking tasks.

 

[mrklean]

These milwaukee parrot style head cable cutters are my new favorite. Cutting 12-3 romex with them is so much easier on your arms. Plus they can pretty nicely cut hose and many other things.

Milwaukee 10 in. Cable Cutting Pliers 48-22-6104 - The Home Depot

Milwaukee Cable Cutting Pliers feature a forged head for lasting durability and high cut quality through the toughest applications.

www.homedepot.com

 

[JradM]

You might like the Wiha BiCut diagonals if you're looking to reduce the number of tools you carry. They sort of operate like a hybrid Cobolt and diagonal cutter.

You push the "power" button to change the handle to jaw ratio so you can make difficult cuts, or push it off and they work like normal side cutters. It's what I keep in my mobile tool bag.

 

[seber]

In my gobag kit I keep a linesman pliers and a wire crimper-stripper-cutter. Forget the name. Dedicated sidecutter is handy at home but for minimalist it isn't needed.

 

[bcradio]

Hard wire for electric, mini bolt cutters. Regular wire either Klien high leverage side cutters or the cutters in the lineman pliers

What about fencing wire?

 

[Hannahranga]

These milwaukee parrot style head cable cutters are my new favorite. Cutting 12-3 romex with them is so much easier on your arms. Plus they can pretty nicely cut hose and many other things.

Milwaukee 10 in. Cable Cutting Pliers 48-22-6104 - The Home Depot

Milwaukee Cable Cutting Pliers feature a forged head for lasting durability and high cut quality through the toughest applications.

www.homedepot.com

They also make fairly decent striper's for bigger cable. I've been quite impressed with mine especially as I bought them after recoiling in shock looking at the price of ratcheting cable cutters.

 

[chevy.stroker]

I second the diagonals for cotter pins. Easiest tool for extraction.

For zip ties you need Knipex soft cut pliers. They have no bevel cut into the back of the cutting edge, and should not be used on hard metal. Here is an example:

https://www.knipex-tools.com/produc...iagonal-pliers-flush-cutting-plastics/7211160

 

[richfinn]

I carry a pair of regular side cutters for heavy duty stuff and some small flush cuts for delicate wires and zip ties (both Knipex)

Weicon number 5 automatic wire strippers

 

[Zewnten]

What about fencing wire?

Hard wire for electric, mini bolt cutters. Regular wire either Klien high leverage side cutters or the cutters in the lineman pliers

I meant regular fencing wire; barbed, twisted, single, welded, woven, all the soft ones. As to romex or automative wiring I use Klien side cutters, just not the same pair.