Knipex Mini Bolt Cutter?

[decableguy2000]

I'm lineman for a commuincations company. I have HK Porters and Klein bolt cutters. The kleins have sucked from day one. I keep eyeballing the Knipex Mini cutters, but I dont know if they will do what I need them to do. I need to to cut 1/4" and 5/16" steel stranded cable. I like the idea of being able tote them up a pole on belt.

Jeremy

 

[franzdom]

Knipex 95-61-190 is going to do better than the co-bolt, it's made for stranded cable but not really up to 5/16". Should be perfect for 1/4". The co-bolt is more of a masher like any bolt cutter. Something else to consider would be NWS Fantasticos or the dual action equivalents.

 

[devoncoolman]

Agree the knipex wire cable cutters would suit your task better.

 

[OxJaw]

I have a pair of the Knipex mini bolt cutters and while they will cut cable (haven't cut thick cable with them though) you would be better off buying cable cutters. I bought a pair of used Felco C7 cable cutters off ebay and they will cut whatever I can fit in the jaws. They are much better than anything else I have used. If you search around you can find good deals on used ones.

 

[kiatech]

look into "felco cable cutter"

 

[neophyte]

Felco C7 cable cutters are supposedly good up to 1/4", but that might be pushing it unless you're cutting low tensile strenghth cable. If you want something more carriable that can cut 5/16" cable you would be better off with Felco C9 cable cutters.

Felco C9s are 13" long and listed as being good up to 3/8"/9mm for regular wire rope, high tensile strand up to 7mm, and stainless strand up to 6mm, and "extra tough" rope or strand up to 5mm. This is the description from Felcostore.com but it sort of covers max capacity and what you should expect.

The only way to tell what you really be able to cut would be to try them on what you need to cut, in the setting you need to cut it and see if it works.

I have some C9s I used for cutting Stainless cable that I think was 5mm. The C9s cut the cable cleanly but it took some effort and two handed use. If you wanted to use them while up a pole, you would probably want to brace one of the cable cutters arms on the pole and then apply pressure to the other. Felco actually includes instructions on how to brace hold the cable cutters in different ways to get the proper leverage to safely cut tougher materials.

https://www.felcostore.com/item/f-c9?referer=wirecablecutters

http://www.felcousa.com/felco/pages/product.page?name=FELCO C9

http://www.felcousa.com/assets/pdf/FELCO C9_EN.pdf

 

[skruft]

I think you need a wire rope cutter rather than a bolt cutter.

 

[Monte]

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/-ngRPjAwp74" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Wamsutta]

look into "felco cable cutter"

The C9 cutter is Felco's smallest two-handed wire cutter. It features Felco's patented "triangular cut", a system designed to cut rope smoothly -- without being crushed. The C9 has hardened steel blades and center bolt and unbreakable forged aluminum alloy handles with plastic covering for good grip. The tool cuts wire rope up to 3/8 inch or 9 mm thick, high tensile steel strands up to 7 mm thick, stainless steel strands up to 6 mm, extra tough wire rope or strands up to 5 mm. In addition, it cuts electric cables of copper, aluminum or steel-cored aluminum, and aluminum or copper rods up to 9 mm. The C9 also cuts steel rods up to 7 mm and tempered steel spring wire up to 4 mm in diameter.

Length 13 inches. Weight 1.75 pounds.

That definitely looks like the tool the OP needs since it cuts steel cable. Those Knipex cutters mentioned previously are for cutting copper strands only.

 

[decableguy2000]

It's not fine stranded like wire rope. It only has 6 or 7 strands. I'll see if Ican get a few photos.

jeremy

 

[cosmik binturong]

the c9 is indeed a good choice since it's not that easy to cut more than 5mm stainless cable with the c7, at least if you cut lots of the stuff, it gets rapidly tiring.

 

[franzdom]

Knipex 95-61-190, doesn't this have basically the same spec? It is definitely not just for copper wires.

 

[cosmik binturong]

like the c7 mostly yes. not the c9. bit bigger.

 

[franzdom]

Well I just cut derailleur and brake cables with it, when I need to go big I will have to look at the Felco

 

[cosmik binturong]

or a bench-mounted Morse one!

 

[Wamsutta]

Knipex 95-61-190, doesn't this have basically the same spec? It is definitely not just for copper wires.

In their description for the 95-61-190, they mention the cutting capacity for copper only; unless I'm reading it wrong...

http://www.knipex.com/index.php?id=1216&L=1&page=art_detail&parentID=1371&groupID=1438&artID=125

 

[franzdom]

wire rope 6mm

 

[Strouty]

He is talking about EHS (extra high strength) guy strand. It is 7 strands and I do not think the felco plies would cut it. The mini bolt cutters may do the 1/4" but I doubt the 5/16". It is tough stuff. I personally use an 18" set of bolt cutters to do this.

* I am conveying my true thoughts telepathically *

 

[Wamsutta]

wire rope 6mm

So did I come to the wrong conclusion after reading the specs?

If I'm wrong, I need to know. Thanks.

 

[franzdom]

Yes, the way I read it the wire rope is steel.

 

[Makapuu]

Wire Rope Cutter Video on the Knipex channel at youtube:

 

[Strouty]

Guys he is not cutting wire rope.

* I am conveying my true thoughts telepathically *

 

[NoahG]

Cordless angle grinder perhaps?

 

[OxJaw]

He is talking about EHS (extra high strength) guy strand. It is 7 strands and I do not think the felco plies would cut it. The mini bolt cutters may do the 1/4" but I doubt the 5/16". It is tough stuff. I personally use an 18" set of bolt cutters to do this.

* I am conveying my true thoughts telepathically *

I don't have any experience cutting the high strength strands stuff but the Felco site says they will cut it, if I'm reading the chart correctly.

https://www.felcostore.com/wirecomparison

 

[Makapuu]

How about these? The dude doing the comparison has a great accent - you'll see:

I have pair of the 36" 71 72 910 Knipex bolt cutters. Used them only a couple of times - but find reasons to use them!

This is the Knipex page with cable and wire rope cutters:

http://www.knipex.com/index.php?id=1216&L=1&page=groups&groupID=1371

And a search for Bolt cutters:

http://www.knipex.com/index.php?id=1216&L=1&page=search

Something here should work.

 

[Strouty]

I don't have any experience cutting the high strength strands stuff but the Felco site says they will cut it, if I'm reading the chart correctly.

https://www.felcostore.com/wirecomparison

The only pair that has anything I would describe as close is the special pair for cutting barbed wire. EHS guy wire is tough stuff, we use 18" to 24" bolt cutters up to 3/8" (and that is tough to cut) after that, I use 48" cutters. I think the biggest I have ever cut is 9/16" with bolt cutters. We use a gas powered cut off saw or a grinder with a cut off wheel. Before cutting it you have to serve the end of the cable, you can actually use electrical tape to do this, it takes several wraps. The wire is spring loaded and tries to unwrap itself. You have to be careful because the stuff will smack you in the face if you are not in control of both ends.

 

[dreamcatcher]

I’m coming into this conversation late but I thought I’d share my experience for prosperity.

Recently tasked with building a small cable bridge using 7-1 EHS guy wire I was easily able to cut it using el-cheapo 24” bolt cutters. However, for the end clamps I’m using I also needed to trim individual strands in a tight space...which proved much more difficult! Standard Channellock diagonal cutters wouldn’t touch it. The company I bought the clamps from recommended Felco c3 cutters but the price is up there and I don’t care for the stamped handles. I opted for the cheaper, forged Knipex 95-61-190 cutters. Nope! I got them to shear the wire but smashed my fingertip into my thumb tip so hard I thought I broke something!! In desperation, I tried a pair of cheap (HF?) 8” bolt cutters; it wasn’t butter but it was 10x easier than with the Knipex cutters. I may need to upgrade my little bolt cutters to finish the job as they are beginning to deform a bit after several cuts but for the price, I’m happy.