Is Knipex the only wire cutter that can consistently cut stranded?

[5ubtle]

This YouTuber (Outdoors55) seems to think so. He mainly does knife sharpening videos and seems to know a lot about sharp edges.

He also has a follow up video where he found that Grandpa's wire cutter is better.

 

[drmarkr]

These certainly will. Without problems. But I'd never use them on solid wire...

 

[LigouriRd]

Comparing sheet metal wire cutters to a forged one is not really "apples to apples". I wonder how the Knipex 97 21 215 series would compare?

 

[darkzero]

I saw that video, IMO no.

I've been using the wire cutter on these GITD Klein wire strippers to cut stranded wires at work daily for the past 4 months now. We deal with a lot of wiring (automotive), use 16 ga the most followed by 10, 12, 8, 6, & 4 ga. I don't cut the 6 or 4 with the Kleins though. There is no noticeable damage on them yet.

Prior to the Kleins I was using a hand me down HF Doyle wire stripper/cutter for 6 months & they continued to cut fine. I didn't need to replace the Doyles, just felt like it, I still have them in the tool box as back up.

However I don't cut any solid wire with them though. I assume that's what's causing the damage in his testing.




I just recently got these Tsunoda 6" cable cutters to primarily use for cutting wires instead of the wire stripper cutters. They are listed to be able to cut up to 4 awg. While it can cut 4 awg I use my 10" cable cutters for that & for cutting bundles of wire. I'm really liking these Tsunodas, especially cause they're spring loaded. They cut very nicely with little effort.

 

[darkzero]

BTW, I wanted to get the Knipex step cuts but they're $40 & not spring loaded. Gedore has a non step cut blade cable cutter which is identical to the Knipex non step cuts except the Gedore is spring loaded. But also $40.

I paid $17 for the Tsunodas above & I'm very happy with them and they're made in Japan. While I am a fan of Knipex & own my fair share, Knipex prices have gone up a lot in the recent years. I will only buy Knipex now when I can find deals on them.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Many, MANY years ago Clauss made "No-Nik" wire strippers. Precision ground. Each stripper did ONE AND ONLY ONE SIZE wire.

They stop making them and moved to fiber optic strippers. I can't even find them any more.

 

[klassenl]

I use these every day to cut anything from cat3 to 10/2 nmd to fixture wire . My current pair is a number of years old and still working well. I usually lose them before I wear them out.

 

[American Locomotive]

Comparing sheet metal wire cutters to a forged one is not really "apples to apples". I wonder how the Knipex 97 21 215 series would compare?

Well a big point of his video is that simply changing the heat treat the and cutting angle on the stamped steel cutters dramatically improves their performance.

 

[Nick Rivers]

If you are talking wire CUTTERS, and not wire strippers, then the Swiss made FELCO C3 or C7 will cut stranded perfectly:




Alliance Member's post #2 looks to be a set of FELCO cutters.

 

[JradM]

I watch Outdoors55 for the knife content and that was still probably my favorite video he's ever done. He did a follow up video recently too.

I thought that was a very interesting result. Heat treat and cutting angle made a big difference - it may even be that cutting angle alone is enough to change the result (so maybe there IS hope for someone with a pair of stamped cutters who doesn't want to spend thousands of dollars on equipment to "fix" them ).

I kind of think suggesting cable cutters or not using the stamped cutters on solid wire is missing the point - the tools say they are intended for that purpose. Outdoors55 is just highlighting the point that they don't seem to hold up. Helpfully he even shows how the manufacturing process could be changed so that they do.

For those of you defending the Kleins - what did he get wrong? Why do you think he observed damage relatively quickly while you can use the same pair for years?

 

[darkzero]

For those of you defending the Kleins - what did he get wrong? Why do you think he observed damage relatively quickly while you can use the same pair for years?

I posted about Kleins I'm currently using but I'm not defending them, was just sharing my experience. I'm not really a big fan of Klein anyway but I have a few things from them. I just got the ones I posted simply cause they glow in the dark, not cause they are Klein.

I work mainly in automotive so I don't deal with solid wire much, just the occasional home DIY stuff. Stranded wire is what I deal with the most. I wasn't saying these types of wire stripper/cutters shouldn't be used with solid wire, I just don't cut solid often.

The wire strippers are designed to strip solid wire also so why not cut solid wire? In his video that's the only other thing he's cutting so I'm assuming it's the solid wire that is causing the damage. I don't remember all the details in the video but did it show how long/many cuts until the damage occurs? I know he likes to do excessively long cut tests with knives.

If it is the solid wire causing the damage then that's a design flaw or as he reports insufficient heat treating. Seems like these are one of those tools where someone copied someone & now everyone makes them the same regardless of their flaws or whatever.

 

[cbracer]

If you are cutting wire you don't use strippers. If you must, try stainless for longer life:

Amazon.com

Otherwise use real cutters:

Amazon.com

Amazon.com

 

[JradM]

I posted about Kleins I'm currently using but I'm not defending them, was just sharing my experience. I'm not really a big fan of Klein anyway but I have a few things from them. I just got the ones I posted simply cause they glow in the dark, not cause they are Klein.

I work mainly in automotive so I don't deal with solid wire much, just the occasional home DIY stuff. Stranded wire is what I deal with the most. I wasn't saying these types of wire stripper/cutters shouldn't be used with solid wire, I just don't cut solid often.

The wire strippers are designed to strip solid wire also so why not cut solid wire? In his video that's the only other thing he's cutting so I'm assuming it's the solid wire that is causing the damage. I don't remember all the details in the video but did it show how long/many cuts until the damage occurs? I know he likes to do excessively long cut tests with knives.

If it is the solid wire causing the damage then that's a design flaw or as he reports insufficient heat treating. Seems like these are one of those tools where someone copied someone & now everyone makes them the same regardless of their flaws or whatever.

He was doing 100 solid copper wire cuts then taking a closeup of the edges. That's probably not going to happen right away for most users. It's not really that much though either.

I feel similarly about Klein. Some if it is GREAT! Then I'll try something that *****. I can't always tell ahead of time which is which.

I wonder if Channellock's knife and anvil style cutting edges are good. My 909s are the oldest "good" pliers I own and still work great - but those aren't stamped steel like most of what he was testing.

 

[Wrench97]

I cut stranded wire all the time with these,




No issues.

 

[richfinn]

So many better options than those cheap stamped multipurpose wire strippers

I like Weicon number 5 or 6 wire strippers (so much faster and much more comfortable)

My wire cutters are both Knipex (a heavy duty pair of Diagonals and some small flush cuts)

I think for some stuff (basics) you can't go wrong with Knipex

 

[darkzero]

He was doing 100 solid copper wire cuts then taking a closeup of the edges. That's probably not going to happen right away for most users. It's not really that much though either.

I feel similarly about Klein. Some if it is GREAT! Then I'll try something that *****. I can't always tell ahead of time which is which.

I wonder if Channellock's knife and anvil style cutting edges are good. My 909s are the oldest "good" pliers I own and still work great - but those aren't stamped steel like most of what he was testing.

100 cuts, I certainly missed that. I'm not an electrician so I probably haven't even made 100 cuts of solid wire in my lifetime let alone on a single pair of cutters (replacing & adding new outlets in the house). The cutters on wire strippers for me are just for convenience, great for when I need them, but I usually have a separate tool for cutting.

For cutting solid wire I tend to use diag cutters (pinch cut). I used to use 18 or 22 awg solid wire somewhat often but I forget what I used to cut that with & it's not really thick anyway.

Not that it matters to me much in most cases, I prefer to use a shear type cutter for stranded wire. But pinch cut will work fine depending on the wire gauge (small enough).

At work I'm still using my good ol trusty Thomas & Betts crimper, got them off a Matco Truck in the early 00s. It has an anvil style cutter. While they still cut fine I rarely use them for cutting. Like with the wire strippers, the cutter is just there for convenience. I never thought much of anvil style cutters on pliers & don't prefer them. But perhaps they are designed to last longer?

Only other anvil style cutters I use (not for wire) aren't the same though, razor blade with a plastic anvil, Ronan Multi-Cut.