Flush cutters and plastic repair “stitches”

[Lt CHEG]

I recently acquired a 1999 2 door Tahoe 4x4. I’ve been lusting after one for over a decade and I found a solid rust free truck recently that’s now going to be a build project for me. The dash board is cracked as is typical of that era GM truck. I plan on buying and installing a Dashkin cover as I think that’s the best, most durable long term solution. However, before I install the dashkin, I’d like to stitch together the existing dash, since it’s just cracked and there are no missing pieces. I figure that a structurally together dash will also make for an overall better installation in the long run as well.

So I plan on purchasing one of those plastic repair stitch guns (I’m open to suggestions on those by the way as well). It’s the type that heats up a metal staple like object that is then pushed into the crack and permanently joins the two pieces of metal together. In order to clip off the remaining metal “legs”mod the stitches/staples, I was thinking of using flush cutters like SnapOn model 786CF to get the nibs cut flush with the dash before installation of the dashkin. I know these cutters are supposed to be for flush cutting zip ties, but would they be adequate for cutting those staples/stitches as well? I just figure they would do a slightly better job than my diagonal cutters, even my SnapOn Vector Edge ones, leaving less prep work before moving on to the next step. I’d appreciate any feedback or suggestions. Thanks!

 

[assassin10000]

End cut nippers may work better.

Flush cutters are usually mean for plastic zipties.

 

[GeoBruin]

Most flush cutters are spec'd for plastic and soft wire. There are flush cutters for cutting hard wire, but I can't afford them. All that said, you might try a cheap pair and see how long they last. If they only need to make it through one project, it might be worth donating a pair to the cause. Harbor freight has a 20% off sale this weekend on all Icon hand tools. I have a pair of their flush cutters and theyre not bad.

Good luck.

 

[mike93lx]

I think I'd just use a set of end nippers then hit the nubs with a die grinder. A little scratch on the dash won't matter

 

[Lt CHEG]

All good ideas so far -thank you. I actually hadn’t even considered the end nippers. I figured I could use a die grinder or even a dremel after a pair of angle cutters but the end nippers would be even better.

How often do the flush cutters come in handy for zip ties though? I imagine I’ll end up cleaning up some wiring here and there, so maybe it would be handy to have a pair of flush cutters anyway? I didn’t know about the Icon ones, maybe they’d be worth a shot? I was thinking about picking up a set of the Mayhew S2 steel Icon punches, along with the 58” pry bar with the Icon coupon, maybe I could throw a set of end cutters on the list too. I’m actively trying to buy newly introduced American Made products where I can, and have answered several Harbor Freight surveys by asking for more US made tools, but maybe this weekend just got a little more expensive lol. Thanks for the input so far.

 

[mike93lx]

All good ideas so far -thank you. I actually hadn’t even considered the end nippers. I figured I could use a die grinder or even a dremel after a pair of angle cutters but the end nippers would be even better.

How often do the flush cutters come in handy for zip ties though? I imagine I’ll end up cleaning up some wiring here and there, so maybe it would be handy to have a pair of flush cutters anyway? I didn’t know about the Icon ones, maybe they’d be worth a shot? I was thinking about picking up a set of the Mayhew S2 steel Icon punches, along with the 58” pry bar with the Icon coupon, maybe I could throw a set of end cutters on the list too. I’m actively trying to buy newly introduced American Made products where I can, and have answered several Harbor Freight surveys by asking for more US made tools, but maybe this weekend just got a little more expensive lol. Thanks for the input so far.

I love my klien flush cutters, even though I don't do a ton of zip ties. They are a tool that I'd absolutely replace if they got lost

 

[toolenthusiast]

FWIW my Snap-on driver sternly warned me to only use those on zipties.

 

[Steve_P]

Unless the flush cutters have carbide blades, they won't survive long cutting steel. I have the Tsunoda flush cutters for zip ties and use them often. They're awesome, very reasonably priced, and highly regarded here.

I agree with Mike above- cut them with pliers and hit them with a grinder.

On the plastic welder, I bought one from Amazon. I've only used it on a few repairs, but it works fine.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B096RPQN58/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[ObnoxiousFumes]

Guess I’ve never seen one of those plastic repair tools up close, I sort of assumed those kind of staples would have little indents at the bottom of the legs to make them easy to just snap off, kind of like the tang inside a HeliCoil.

 

[Firebrick43]

They are supposed to be melted in from the back side, where leaving them slightly long is immaterial, not from the top of the dash

 

[Lt CHEG]

They are supposed to be melted in from the back side, where leaving them slightly long is immaterial, not from the top of the dash

If I wasn’t going to put a new skin over the top of the existing dash, I agree that it would be the more prudent move. In this case, I’m covering the entire dash with a new Dashkin as it appears to offer better durability in addition to the relative ease of repair. I feel pretty confident that snipping the tails off the stitches and grinding them flat to the dash (or at least super close to the dash) will be sufficient. I’d consider removing the dash and replacing it, but chances are that another dash would turn to **** eventually as well, so I think the glued-on dashkin is the way to go. I figure I might as well take advantage of some of the additional ease of installation as well lol.

 

[mike93lx]

Block the windshield from all sparks

 

[Steve_P]

Guess I’ve never seen one of those plastic repair tools up close, I sort of assumed those kind of staples would have little indents at the bottom of the legs to make them easy to just snap off, kind of like the tang inside a HeliCoil.

No, they are just constant diameter wire, at least that's what's in my kit; they're easy to snip, though. I doubt these get used for fixing the visible side of something like a dashboard very often. The purpose is for fixing cracks in something like a bumper, or ATV parts, and then you can do it from the rear side; and even if you do it from the front, you already have a crack to deal with, so grinding them off doesn't matter- since you have a crack to fill. I called it a welder above, but it's a hot stapler. But they really do work great on cracks.

 

[gregs]

I repaired the dash in my 2010 Suburban with a hot stapler from the back side. I used one of the inexpensive hot staple kits from China. I found that the thinest straight ones worked the best. Once I got the hang of figuring out how long to let it heat the staple up and cool of, it worked well. All of my staples are designed to snap off the legs after they are melted in and cooled of.

 

[CJM8515]

go to horrible freight, buy the flush cutters, they will cut the wire. throw them out when done if you like. i did it with my atv plastics

 

[Jbullfrog]

I use a pair of Snap-On flush end cutters for my staples. I wouldn't recommend grinding them, as they will heat up enough to come loose.

 

[seber]

I also use end nippers. Mine are ground for flush cuts. I'm not sure if they all are.
Edit. I looked at some on line. Mine were bought as a farriers's tool but the carpenter's version is not flush cut.

 

[Sumboodie]

The legs break off, they are scribed to break flush.. no cutting.

 

[Steve_P]

The legs break off, they are scribed to break flush.. no cutting.

No. Not all sets. The set I have is 100% absolutely constant diameter wire. It even comes with a set of diagonal cutting pliers. Look at the Amazon link I posted.

Edit: the one I bought has >3k reviews and is the most popular seller on Amazon.

 

[Lt CHEG]

No. Not all sets. The set I have is 100% absolutely constant diameter wire. It even comes with a set of diagonal cutting pliers. Look at the Amazon link I posted.

Edit: the one I bought has >3k reviews and is the most popular seller on Amazon.

The one you posted is almost certainly the stapler I’ll buy. It looks like buying replacement staples for it won’t be a problem either, which was a concern for deciding which model to purchase.

 

[Brandon_Lutz]

I have a write up/how to on GMT400.com on how I fixed my dash in my 95. I used a AP Hot staple gun to fix the cracks and then used a skin to cover everything. Here is the thread I posted last year on how I did it: https://www.gmt400.com/threads/how-i-fixed-the-cracks-in-my-dash.59363/

For cutting the legs off, I just used a pair of channel lock side/wire cutters I've had forever. I then went over the cracks with a flap disk to get the staples flush. I have pictures attached in the thread on GMT400 on what it looks like. The cover I used was a dashskin.com cover.

 

[Lt CHEG]

I have a write up/how to on GMT400.com on how I fixed my dash in my 95. I used a AP Hot staple gun to fix the cracks and then used a skin to cover everything. Here is the thread I posted last year on how I did it: https://www.gmt400.com/threads/how-i-fixed-the-cracks-in-my-dash.59363/

For cutting the legs off, I just used a pair of channel side/wire cutters I've had forever. I then went over the cracks with a flap disk to get the staples flush. I have pictures attached in the thread on GMT400 on what it looks like. The cover I used was a dashskin.com cover.

Thank you!

 

[Brandon_Lutz]

You're welcome. I really like the dash cover, it makes everything look factory. I have a few friends that are into GMT400 stuff and when they got in the truck, their first question was "Where did you get a new dash?" If you take your time and make sure the cover fits right over all the vent holes, door light switches, etc, you really can't tell is a pad. Precision dash covers did a really good job on their cover, especially including the center vent piece.

 

[Sumboodie]

No. Not all sets. The set I have is 100% absolutely constant diameter wire. It even comes with a set of diagonal cutting pliers. Look at the Amazon link I posted.

Edit: the one I bought has >3k reviews and is the most popular seller on Amazon.

That *****.

The one I have does, which I found out only AFTER using most of the staples when glancing at the ChinGlish directions. It came with snips, so didn't think twice about it.