Mini Precision cutters/pliers

[Avgas]

What are some good precision cutters and needle nose pliers to look out for? mostly for dealing with electrical wires and electronics

 

[slipjointed]

Pro America are really good, Hakko CHP, Xuron, those are some of the ones that don't cost a fortune. Allspec is a good place to buy electronics pliers

 

[Monte]

Lindström
www.lindstromtools.com

Knipex
http://www.knipex.com/index.php?id=1216&L=1&page=group_detail&parentID=1367&groupID=1486

Tronex
www.tronextools.com

Schmitz
www.schmitz-zangen.de

Erem
http://www.cooperhandtools.com/brands/erem/index.cfm

 

[slipjointed]

www.lindstromtools.com

Lindstrom are superb, but very expensive. I would venture to say that up to $80 for a single set of pliers is a bit rich for most people's blood.

The best deal here in the states is Pro America, USA made, great quality, and about $10 a set.

There's also Xcelta and Xcelite. If cost was no option then Lindstrom would definitely be high on the list.

 

[Avgas]

Thanks slipjointed, exactly the info I was looking for

 

[pault28]

I'll second the Cooper/Xcelite/Crescent cutters. They are made in the USA, cheap at about 13 bucks for needlenose and cutters 2pk combo from home depot, and surprisingly good, sharp, and durable. I use mine every day cutting relatively heavy stuff and they're excellent.

 

[Alchymist]

I like the Dimaloy electronic series. For really fine work, (but expensive) these are tops:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000B5YB54/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[treasureseeker]

I like Knipex and tronex tools. If some knows of a tool roll for my collection please let me know

View media item 9967
View media item 9971
View media item 9969

 

[marnav1]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150429308082&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
An excellent cutter........................

 

[dankicksass]

The Craftsman Professional miniature pliers are not very good.

 

[Avgas]

View media item 9967

Model number of the red knipex on the left??

 

[KenS]

Channellock Little Champs were an excellent value. I question the wisdom of Channellock killing that line. I hear they were imported from Europe and the dollar-euro disparity made them too expensive to import, but even at a higher price I think they would have continued to sell. If you can find them NOS, buy them. You won't regret it.

 

[treasureseeker]

Model number of the red knipex on the left??

75 22 125 I got them from Chads years ago

 

[stolender]

I have a Facom cutter sold by Harry J. Epstein. They are, I believe, a factory second and the flaw is noted in the description. The flaw does not compromise their intended use. $12.50. My favorite mini cutter.
http://store.harryepstein.com/cp/Facom/416P.html

 

[Hoss356]

I'm gonna have to repeat the Cooper/Xcelite/Crescent cutters are good to go. I was looking for a nice pair of US or European mini cutters without spending $40+ on them when I found some Xcelite mini flush cutters and liked them so much I bought another pair just so I can have a pair at work and at home. I use the black handled work pair everyday without a hiccup.

work pair


home pair

 

[ourkid2000]

I think the best bang for the buck are the Pro America ones. I have Lindstroms, Knipex, and Mac mini pliers and the Pro America ones are almost as nice in every way. Get em from Allspec, ive had great service there.

 

[treasureseeker]

In a clean environment the Tronex cutters are exceptional. The handles are a comfort material. I got them off of EBay.

 

[catsteve]

Just wondering if anyone has been tempted to get any of these.
the seller has had them on fleabay for a while now. anyone got any experience with them? i know NWS regular pliers/cutters are highly regarded.

good price too.

no association with seller


http://cgi.ebay.com/NWS-SOLIGEN-GER...ultDomain_0&hash=item27b9536134#ht_2234wt_907

http://cgi.ebay.com/NWS-SOLIGEN-GER...ultDomain_0&hash=item2a0ec99366#ht_2234wt_907

http://cgi.ebay.com/NWS-SOLIGEN-GER...ultDomain_0&hash=item27b9531530#ht_2234wt_907

 

[Monte]

Channellock Little Champs were an excellent value. I question the wisdom of Channellock killing that line. I hear they were imported from Europe and the dollar-euro disparity made them too expensive to import, but even at a higher price I think they would have continued to sell. If you can find them NOS, buy them. You won't regret it.

They were made in Germany

http://www.wttool.com/index/page/pr...name/Little+Champ+Pliers+Channellock+Closeout

 

[JML2]

If you're doing a significant amount of high-precision production electronic work (building or repairing components on circuit boards, etc.) then you are likely to want very expensive forged tools. But if this is for simpler work, or occasional use, you can likely do just fine with the far less expensive but extremely precise stamped-steel tools from Xuron (US-made) or CHP (made in Italy, imported by Hakko - great handles, and very inexpensive). They're usually about $10 each. Xuron makes tools for Cooper, Xcelite, etc., but the quality of those rebranded tools seems to be inferior to those with the Xuron name on them.

Klein's miniature pliers and cutters aren't bad at all; they're US-made and have a captured coil spring setup.

The Channelock German-made minis (if you can find them) are pretty good, but they're softer than they ought to be (the leaf springs are also prone to corrosion).

There's also a source for a set of three long-discontinued NOS Craftsman Professional miniature pliers which were made in France by Facom: http://hamilton-tool-supply.amazonwebstore.com/Craftsman-3-pc-precision-plier-set/M/B001ION8M4.htm The set (needle-nose serrated, angled wire cutter, end nipper) is only $18. They have far more in stock than the website suggests - I drove over there to pick them up instead of paying shipping from the website or from their Amazon storefront. They needed removal of the old oil/grease, and some new lube, but they're very well made. (As noted, the current versions of these, from China, are pure junk.)

 

[Avgas]

I bought a Xcelite 170M to start out my collection, can these cut tie wraps as well?

 

[pault28]

I cut cable TV coax with mine all the time. Ive cut a ton of 14AWG solid wire too. The excelites really are great cutters. I am sure you'll love them.

 

[Greatbear]

The Swiss-made Erem tools are fantastic. The few that I have are saved for delicate electronic work I do (and the occasional hangnail ). I have a collection of Excelite I use for more general projects.

 

[djcrunkmix]

I am extremely surprised no one has mentioned Wiha.


http://www.wihatools.com/pro_ESD_Pliers.htm

It's good stuff. Made in Germany.

 

[tradesmanschoice]

The Swiss-made Erem tools are fantastic. The few that I have are saved for delicate electronic work I do (and the occasional hangnail ). I have a collection of Excelite I use for more general projects.

For top quality, my favourites are the Erem range of precision cutters and pliers as well as the Knipex range. For example:-

http://www.tradesmanschoice.com/catalog/Knipex/79_32_125_ESD.html

Unfortunately, the Lindstroms are going downhill fast - now made in Spain, the quality isn't what it was. And of course, the price hasn't gone down either. I do have some made in sweden left, but not many.

 

[Monte]

There is another swedish manufacturer of precision pliers: www.larsontools.se

available through www.edsyn.com

 

[archfish]

The Craftsman Professional miniature pliers are not very good.

+1 Too much flex in the needlenose, overall not great fit/finish.

 

[baucom]

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...08&group_ID=796&store=snapon-store&Part=PWC19

Looks like Xuron to me, and with Snap-on's free shipping they're as cheap as anything else counting delivery cost.

 

[Avgas]

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...08&group_ID=796&store=snapon-store&Part=PWC19

Looks like Xuron to me, and with Snap-on's free shipping they're as cheap as anything else counting delivery cost.

wow, should have gotten that

 

[djcrunkmix]

^ Doesn't look very impressive. I'd give Wiha or Xcelite a try...they're into this business for a long time. I don't understand the Snap-on obsession. They make good quality mechanic's tools. But, if you're looking for a toothbrush...you should really buy a Snap-on toothbrush simply because of their reputation for mechanic's tools.


/rant.

 

[Avgas]

^ Doesn't look very impressive. I'd give Wiha or Xcelite a try...they're into this business for a long time. I don't understand the Snap-on obsession. They make good quality mechanic's tools. But, if you're looking for a toothbrush...you should really buy a Snap-on toothbrush simply because of their reputation for mechanic's tools.


/rant.

Read the comments, that cutter seems to be made by Xuron, and it costs less then anywhere else.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BN79QO/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[djcrunkmix]

^ ok, makes sense then. Go for it! Xuron makes quality stuff.

I have these except mine are 48 deg angled.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003XNTA2K/?tag=atomicindus08-20


If you have Amazon prime, its free shipping. These cut full flush and are VERY sharp. I could cut through guitar strings like butter (although I am not suppose to. These are only meant for copper).

 

[kgorman]

I was looking at Wiha

http://www.wihatools.com/500seri/568_Serie.htm

 

[djcrunkmix]

I was looking at Wiha

http://www.wihatools.com/500seri/568_Serie.htm

I can personally vouch for them. You won't be disappointed.

 

[PrecisionTools]

I have been hovering around this forum too long and this thread made me finely sign up!

My suggestion for quality, long lasting pliers would be a product with a box joint. Knipex, Lindstrom, CK, Bernstein, Wiha & NWS all make excellent, box jointed, micro polished electronic pliers with my preference being CK. (http://www.ck-tools.com/)

They can be had for reasonable prices on Ebay Germany if your in no hurry to acquire them.

Cheers

PT

 

[JML2]

The Wiha 568 series are re-handled CHP tools, at a premium price - at least twice what they're sold for under other names in Europe or the USA. They're made in Italy: http://www.piergiacomi.com/

 

[Monte]

www.piergiacomi.com

 

[nanofrog]

Unfortunately, the Lindstroms are going downhill fast - now made in Spain, the quality isn't what it was. And of course, the price hasn't gone down either. I do have some made in sweden left, but not many.

Could you elaborate on the reduction in quality?

I ask, as I've seen statements such as this before (without further elaboration), and haven't had access to more recent units to see for myself. And given their prices, seems a bit expensive to find out they're junk. My primary reason for asking, is that I'm interested in the RX handles (I use them very often, and for long periods of time).

I've recently picked up a pair of Swanstrom cutters for evaluation (S512E). And though I've not had them for long (need to give it more time), so far they're great on larger wire gauges (rated up to 14AWG), but not so much with smaller ones (insulation isn't cutting cleanly on 26AWG and I have to rip it loose from the rest of the wire). Bit more play in the joint than I expected as well, and I've not been able to tighten them (have the correct Torx bit, but it didn't budge, and I didn't want to strip the head or break the bit).

Looking at other brands, I've had some disappointment as well with Knipex (pliers, not cutters). I've also found a video review of NWS pliers on youtube that shows they have the same problem as Knipex's pliers = gap between the jaws when fully closed (I think that person may be a member here).

No experience with CK.

I know Erem is a possibility, but more recent Cooper tools I own have gone down in quality (Weller has really hit the dumpster - top of their line soldering stations and irons defective right out of the box ).

There is another swedish manufacturer of precision pliers: www.larsontools.se

available through www.edsyn.com

I've seen these on edsyn's site, but haven't any clue as to how well they work.

Any experience with these?

Any insight from anyone would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[PrecisionTools]

Yep, that was my vid. So far the holy grail for me has been Schmitz http://www.schmitz-zangen.de/ haven't done a write up on them yet, but its on the way.

CK are fantastic, but that's because Schmitz make them!

Lindstrom have been taken over buy a multinational and have given away manufacturing their pliers with a box joint...a deal breaker for me.

Be aware that my NWS review was with their micro line model, they make larger ones that I haven't had the chance to try out yet.

 

[vintagefan]

Yep, that was my vid. So far the holy grail for me has been Schmitz http://www.schmitz-zangen.de/ haven't done a write up on them yet, but its on the way.

CK are fantastic, but that's because Schmitz make them!

Lindstrom have been taken over buy a multinational and have given away manufacturing their pliers with a box joint...a deal breaker for me.

Be aware that my NWS review was with their micro line model, they make larger ones that I haven't had the chance to try out yet.

That's sad to hear... right now my favorite pliers are the Lindstrom RX, but I have the ones with a lap joint and screw. They are made in Sweden I think?

Have they outsourced all pliers or just the box joint models?