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Doyle Electrician Pliers let me down looking for alternative

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zktk01

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Dec 22, 2016
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KY
I decided tried out the Doyle Combination wire strippers pliers to minimize tools to carry at cell towers.
The Doyle Pliers worked great at first cell site. The second use I tried the cutters on a 6awg ground to cut it, the edge of the cutters bent and I could not close the pliers all the way. I am not sure if they are not properly heat treated tempered or I actually used them for wire bigger than intended for them.
I took them back got my refund will go back to the Kleins or maybe give Milwaukee 6in1 a shot. Just wanted to share my experience.
 

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Rabid Badger

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Yeah, that is the wrong kind of blade to put on that style of pliers. There isn't enough material behind the edge to hold up to the forces it takes to cut heavy solid-core wire. If you look at the knives on Klein's version, they look like diagonal cutters.

Looks like Harbor Freight figured it out, too. They aren't showing up on the website anymore.

Milwaukee made the same mistake on theirs. They're trying a new revision with a steeper grind angle, but it hasn't solved the problem.

Edit: I took a look at Klein's website. They don't rate their version to cut anything it can't strip, even with the beefier cutters. You might need to keep a bigger set of cutters around for thick solid core stuff.
 
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T

tyyost

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Tunkhannock, PA
I have had that style of Milwaukee with no problems, but I’m not chopping 6 Ga cables with them either. Not that it should have given you an issue but this may be a case of even if you can do, there are other tools better suited to do that.
 
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sparky 1971

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Oct 9, 2018
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Central Iowa
I have a set of these and they aren't too bad on the I only want to carry one tool days. They aren't as good as strippers, they also don't work as well as linemans pliers, but do ok as either. I've heard Klein either has or is going to be making them in 9". They will cut #6 without damage, but it won't be easy. If, in fact, there is a 9" version, those should cut #6 with ease.

www.kleintools.com

Hybrid Pliers with Crimper and Wire Stripper - J215-8CR | Klein Tools

Strip, cut, twist, shear and crimp with one tool! With full length, induction hardened knives and a high-leverage design, these hybrid pliers provide more cutting power on hard wire. It easily strips 10-14 AWG solid and 12-16 stranded wire. The wide, knurled head easily grabs and twists wires...
www.kleintools.com www.kleintools.com

I also have these. As above, they aren't as good as regular strippers, but the rest of the plier is no different than regular long nose. The first thing I did with these was take the spring out and throw it away. They might cut #6, but I don't want to work that hard. #6 is what 9" cable cutters are for.

www.kleintools.com

Pliers, All-Purpose Needle Nose, Spring Loaded, Cuts, Strips, 8.5-Inch - J206-8C | Klein Tools

The All-Purpose Pliers combine the features of a wire stripper and long-nose pliers in one. This tool can cut, strip and loop 8-16 AWG solid and 10-18 AWG stranded wire. The long nose is great for grabbing and looping wire. It also has shearing holes for 6-32 and 8-32 screws, and is spring...
www.kleintools.com www.kleintools.com
 
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LeeG

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Location
Phoenix, AZ
When I used to work with a lot of 300-750 MCM copper, I used the Klein ratchet cutters. Might be overkill for you, but they were sure nice even for chopping a whole 1” conduit full of wire after a pull.

www.kleintools.com

Compact Ratcheting Cable Cutter

This compact Ratcheting Cable Cutter allows for one-handed use of the ratcheting mechanism, so the other hand can position the cable to ensure proper cut. High-Leverage ratchet mechanism cuts copper, aluminum and communication cables leaving no burrs or sharp edges. The patented two-step ratchet...
www.kleintools.com www.kleintools.com
 
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MarvinBerry

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Oct 21, 2018
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Enchantment under the sea - NJ
Yeah #6 solid is optimistic for that style of plier... I'm in the live production / pro audio world surrounded by 12 stranded on any given day and I wouldn't even use em for that... I'd use diagonals or snips.

I have the Milwaukee 6 in 1 and they're beefy I like em the needlenose tip is great but I wouldn't ask them to slice anything bigger then 14-16. They probably could but I've got other, bigger easier options. Most of what I do with those is 18-24

Still curious about the hazard freight version... I've had em in my grip a few times I should toss a pair in the field box.
 
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lardy1

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Mar 17, 2019
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Michigan
I've been cutting 12/2 nm-b with my Milwaukee 6 in 1 and my Klein sheat cutters but I'm trying to train myself not to use those cutters as much. I'm not an electrician and don't know a lot about their tools but just looking at them makes me question using them in high leverage situations.
 
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65ranchero

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Dec 16, 2020
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Danville, VT left NJ forever
If you need to cut #6 why not get something like this?
Leverage is very good and don't need a lot of force.
There are many versions of this but I happened to have one of these when I was still working originally got it to reach a wire tie way up on the side of the trans because it was long.
www.mactools.com

Long-Reach Diagonal Cutter 11"

Made of high-alloy carbon steel .Drop-forged and heat-treated for strength and durability .Steel surface, polished and polymer coated for corrosion resistance .Plastisol-dipped handles for comfort grip
www.mactools.com www.mactools.com
 
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lardy1

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Location
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I've been using the Doyle crimpers for awhile now. I'm not sure how long they'll hold up but they crimp just fine.
 
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bwringer

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Jan 1, 2013
Messages
10,255
Location
Indianapolis
richfinn said:
Does all household/commercial wiring in the USA come in those gauge sizes??

Vehicles must be using Metric right??
Click to expand...

Yes, 'murica is the land of AWG, American Wire Gauge. And it is very, very close to damn near unpossible to get metric wire and supplies here.

And also yes, many, most, or perhaps even all Euro and Asian vehicles arrive on these shores sporting metric wire.

So if you need to repair or modify the wiring in, say, a Yamaha or Suzuki motorcycle, everything ends up lumpy and not-exactly-right, and it's made me crazy for years. Much of the wire in Japanese motorcycles is slightly larger than 18AWG, but a bit smaller than 16AWG.

It's chaos, utter chaos I tells ya.

Back to your regularly scheduled Horrible Fright grumping...
 
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D

dogdog

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Nov 15, 2011
Messages
12,711
Milwaukee have a pliers just like that. Might be a better quality. Not too sure. I have cut thhn #6 stranded with standard stripper no problems at all old craftsman brand and Klein brand I think. Never have an issue. Stripping is the same, score it and pull it out. Even though it says 10 ga only there.
 
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richfinn

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Location
Leeds, Yorkshire, England
bwringer said:
Yes, 'murica is the land of AWG, American Wire Gauge. And it is very, very close to damn near unpossible to get metric wire and supplies here.

And also yes, many, most, or perhaps even all Euro and Asian vehicles arrive on these shores sporting metric wire.

So if you need to repair or modify the wiring in, say, a Yamaha or Suzuki motorcycle, everything ends up lumpy and not-exactly-right, and it's made me crazy for years. Much of the wire in Japanese motorcycles is slightly larger than 18AWG, but a bit smaller than 16AWG.

It's chaos, utter chaos I tells ya.

Back to your regularly scheduled Horrible Fright grumping...
Click to expand...
We don't have Harbour Freight in the UK, but we do have a peculiar mixture of metric/imperial measurements for stuff 🤣
 
S

sparky 1971

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Oct 9, 2018
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Location
Central Iowa
bwringer said:
Knipex makes some lovely smaller cable shears that would be perfect for this. Expensive, though.
Click to expand...
If it's these, I don't think they are worth the price or even half price. I have a pair, used once about eight years ago, now they sit in the tool box. The handles have to open waaay too far to get the cutters over a #6. I have XL/2X hands and can barely open the handles far enough one handed.


These are what I use for #8 through #1, but this style from any decent manufacturer are better than the Knipex.


If I were to only occasionally work with #6, I'd just use linesman pliers.
 
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