Good diagonal cutter recommendation?

[qqzj]

The default choices would be from Klein. I am just wondering whether there is big difference between J2000 version and D248 version? The J2000 is significantly more expensive tho.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000302W8/?tag=atomicindus08-20

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006M6Y8O/?tag=atomicindus08-20

There is also a Klein D2000, priced closer to D248 than to J2000. What is the deal with this one?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000302WR/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Using one of these two Klein as benchmark, what are worthy alternatives? I can immediately think of Doyle from HF and maybe Irwin from Amazon, and ChannelLock 338. Does anyone have extensive experience with all these cutters? I am not look for the best of the best choice. More interested to find one with best price quality tradeoff with the quality being decent.

One final out of box choice is the Capri mini bolt cutter given its good performance in some tests. Does it make sense to use a mini bolt cutter in place of a diagonal cutter?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01018D2CS/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[eejack]

Personally I carry the D2000-48. Good solid choice, the blades are hardened to where you can practically cut nails, staples and screws. I prefer the angled head so I can use them to more easily pull nails or staples.

With constant use I replace them about every 15 or so years.

Now...pops prefers the Channellock 338s, the handles fit his hand better.

If you have big paws the thicker handles on the Klein journeyman series ( those j2000s you mentioned ) might be better for you. Pretty sure most home depots carry most of the above.

A few coworkers like the angled knipex - not sure of the model number - but I suspect they are more pricey than they are worth.

 

[KnurledNut]

More interested to find one with best price quality tradeoff with the quality being decent.

Knipex

 

[CGarage]

You need to look at your application and match cutter-jaw material to what you will be doing with the tool......

 

[qqzj]

You need to look at your application and match cutter-jaw material to what you will be doing with the tool......

Think about a good quality OEM level CV boot clamp.

 

[CGarage]

Think about a good quality OEM level CV boot clamp.

Continue your thought...........

 

[darkzero]

I've got the Knipex mini bolt cutters, liked them so much I eventually bought another pair but with the notched blade. Great cutters but they're not an alternative to diagonal cutters IMO. Jaws don't open as wide & they're thick so accessiblity will be an issue but that all depends on what you need them for. I only use the CoBolts for cutting piano wire, small screws, & stuff like like that.

For some reason I was always too cheap to buy myself a good pair of diagonal cutters. I've mostly just use cheap ones that I find left behind on the job, last pair being Milwaukee (junk IMO). Just recently I bought myself an 8" Knipex for $22, AWD but they were brand new. I've been very happy with them, of course night & day from the cheap ones I've been using. I will say get at least 8" or even 10". 6" & smaller are light duty.

As for HF, I forget if Doyle or Quinn is supposed to be their middle tier tools but at work I using a 7" and snapped the tip off one of the jaws cutting galvanized wire. Wasn't even squeezing that hard. Handles were blue so I guess those were Quinn?

 

[bwringer]

I don't think you're going to beat Channellock or Klein in bang-for-the-buck, simplicity, and toughness.

The Doyle pliers (dark red handles) at HF are pretty great in general, but the cutters aren't quite up to the standard set by C-Lock and Klein.

And of course Knipex is great if you're in a posh mood.

 

[MarvinBerry]

I have the channelock 337 & would give em 2 thumbs up... also have the Milwaukee cutters & kinda prefer them. Little smaller & easier to manage plus I dig the texture grip.

Actually... kinda like the red pliers better overall. Have a pair of channelock needlenose which have a gap in the jaws & won't grab .010 wire... so good general shop pair but near useless for the production box.

No experience with the Klein or hazard freight stuff.

 

[qqzj]

I've got the Knipex mini bolt cutters, liked them so much I eventually bought another pair but with the notched blade. Great cutters but they're not an alternative to diagonal cutters IMO. Jaws don't open as wide & they're thick so accessiblity will be an issue but that all depends on what you need them for. I only use the CoBolts for cutting piano wire, small screws, & stuff like like that.

For some reason I was always too cheap to buy myself a good pair of diagonal cutters. I've mostly just use cheap ones that I find left behind on the job, last pair being Milwaukee (junk IMO). Just recently I bought myself an 8" Knipex for $22, AWD but they were brand new. I've been very happy with them, of course night & day from the cheap ones I've been using. I will say get at least 8" or even 10". 6" & smaller are light duty.

As for HF, I forget if Doyle or Quinn is supposed to be their middle tier tools but at work I using a 7" and snapped the tip off one of the jaws cutting galvanized wire. Wasn't even squeezing that hard. Handles were blue so I guess those were Quinn?

Yeah. Same here. I always tried to make do with crappy cutters. Last time I was not able to cut a good CV clamp. So I grabbed the clamp with crappy cutter and flipped it back and forth till it snapped. Now that I have upgraded pretty much everything I use, it is finally the cutter's turn.

 

[darkzero]

Yeah. Same here. I always tried to make do with crappy cutters. Last time I was not able to cut a good CV clamp. So I grabbed the clamp with crappy cutter and flipped it back and forth till it snapped. Now that I have upgraded pretty much everything I use, it is finally the cutter's turn.

For CV boot clamps I usually use pliers & loosen them at clamp. If your careful enough some can even be undone & reused but I know you're not supposed to reuse them. I removed & reused the clamps for by inner tie rod boots & they've been fine. I don't normally reuse those types of clamps though.

 

[eejack]

Yeah. Same here. I always tried to make do with crappy cutters. Last time I was not able to cut a good CV clamp. So I grabbed the clamp with crappy cutter and flipped it back and forth till it snapped. Now that I have upgraded pretty much everything I use, it is finally the cutter's turn.

Ahh....that is what I have my tin snips for. Band metal like that seems to cut better with a bypass cutter instead of an anvil cutter. ( assuming your CV clamps are like the stainless band clamps I run into ).

I use my dikes for cutting small steel things, copper wire and whatnot, as well as prying and pulling nails and staples.

 

[shawhite]

another vote for Klein d2000. I prefer the glow in the dark d200028glw

 

[Rinspeed]

I have a couple pairs of the Klein D2000, if you only cut wire with them they will last 20-30 years. Cutting nails and screws with wire cutters is just plain stupid.

 

[spanimal]

I had to undo them with a flat blade screwdriver because apparently apprentice me didn't have the grip strength to snip them off with sidecutters like the other mechanics.

Until I bought a pair of knipex 10 inch sidecutters...then I was able to snip them off with the extra leverage provided with the long handles. I used them a lot to take nails and screws out of tyres also. Then I lost those sidecutters...but by then I no longer needed the 10 inches because I had developed the super grip strength of a trained professional .

I have a brand new pair of the blue Klein D2000...never used them yet. I do have a pair of NWS sidecutters I have used, and NWS cutters seem to cut things easier than Knipex.

Edit: to answer the question, the D2000 and J2000 has a cutting profile more suited to heavy duty tasks like cutting CV boot clamps. The blade profile of the D248 is a bit more suited for softer metals and more precise cuts, the blade angle is however not as durable as the 2000 series.

 

[isb cornbinder]

I have three pairs of these. They are best I have ever owned.

CHP-170 Micro Soft Wire Cutter, 1.5mm Stand-Off, Flush Cut, 2.5mm Hardened Carbon Steel Construction, 21-Degree Angled Jaw, 8mm Jaw Length, 16 Gauge Maximum Cutting Capacity​

 

[LOW1]

Channelock cutters and needle nose pliers are perhaps the best combination of price and quality available in pliers today.

 

[darkzero]

I have three pairs of these. They are best I have ever owned.

CHP-170 Micro Soft Wire Cutter, 1.5mm Stand-Off, Flush Cut, 2.5mm Hardened Carbon Steel Construction, 21-Degree Angled Jaw, 8mm Jaw Length, 16 Gauge Maximum Cutting Capacity​

I have those too, been using them for years. Packaged & sold by Hakko, used to buy em at my local Frys. Now that Frys is gone I buy em by the box from Amazon, 5 for $25.

But these aren't alternatives to diagonal cutters, these are delicate economy flush cutters, the cutters can easily be damaged cutting the wrong stuff. I only use them for electronics work & small zip ties.

 

[Walkers]

Mac or Knipex

Here is the review video.