I've been using cheap pliers for a while now and finally broke down and bought a set of four NWS pliers. I've heard nothing but good things about them and they're probably the nicest looking pliers out there. I started out with the combination pliers and they seemed to cut through wire easily until I looked at the cutting edge. The wire left a small indentation on the cutting edges. Both top and bottom. I tried a few more times along different spots and the same thing happened. I then tried the needle nose pliers and the same thing happened. The wire was 3/64 inch music wire. It's tough wire but even my cheap linesmans cut through it without damage. I figured that I got some that maybe didn't get hardened enough. So I called the store where I got them and when he tested a pair he had, the same thing happened. Has anyone else had this problem?
NWS pliers - soft cutting edge?
- Thread starter Jared123
- Start date
Bobcat753
Well-known member
I use mine for copper wire and zip ties only. Check the NWS website, they have the cutting capacities listed for each type of material in industry.
http://www.nws-tools.de/en/
http://www.nws-tools.de/en/
kctyphoon
Banned
If you'd like to try another set, try the knipex 8" diagonals.. if possible maybe you can post the pliers that you bought. I'm surprised to hear this personally, but companies do make different pliers for different things, some just rated for plastic.
I've had my knipex for a while at work and they help up to cutting everything I've asked without any damage yet.. I had the same issue as you with my channellock diagonal cutters. Rated for hard piano wire but didn't hold up for more than a day without obvious damage..
These are the knipex I have. I must have a dozen or more models and brands and these are my favorite and what I feel are the best out of what I've tried.
Knipex 7401200SBA 8-Inch High Leverage Diagonal Cutters https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000X4OFUE/?tag=atomicindus08-20
I've had my knipex for a while at work and they help up to cutting everything I've asked without any damage yet.. I had the same issue as you with my channellock diagonal cutters. Rated for hard piano wire but didn't hold up for more than a day without obvious damage..
These are the knipex I have. I must have a dozen or more models and brands and these are my favorite and what I feel are the best out of what I've tried.
Knipex 7401200SBA 8-Inch High Leverage Diagonal Cutters https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000X4OFUE/?tag=atomicindus08-20
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kctyphoon
Banned
Channellock also doesn't offer any difference in cutting hardness throughout their pliers lineup. Every plier is made from the same steel and the only thing that sets models apart is the length of the handles and style of joint used.. that info comes directly from channellock. There is no heavy duty cutter to be found from them.
I would imagine that the NWS Fantastico would be among their best pliers for cutting hard wire. I have the rebranded Irwin versions, but I don't have the actual experience with cutting really hard items with them to feel confident saying they will withstand what you need. I've honestly never read of anyone having a bad experience with their cutting jaws, so this is a first for me. I pretty confident in recommending the Knipex though.
I would imagine that the NWS Fantastico would be among their best pliers for cutting hard wire. I have the rebranded Irwin versions, but I don't have the actual experience with cutting really hard items with them to feel confident saying they will withstand what you need. I've honestly never read of anyone having a bad experience with their cutting jaws, so this is a first for me. I pretty confident in recommending the Knipex though.
Carquest
Well-known member
I use 10 inch Knipex to cut high tensile fence wire, don't know how this compares to piano wire. I love the Knipex
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Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
FMC1959
Well-known member
These will cut piano and other hardened wire
http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=71973&cat=71969
http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=71974&cat=71969
Long nosed pliers, my guess is that most are not hardened, intended for electricians cutting softer wires. Pliers, that may depend on the brand, but would guess its 50/50 on them being hardened.
I have 2 pairs of these, they cut piano wire, nails, and other hard steel with ease
http://www.knipex.com/index.php?id=1216&L=1&page=group_detail&parentID=1367&groupID=1479
I have these also, but prefer the above
http://www.knipex.com/index.php?id=1216&L=1&page=group_detail&parentID=1367&groupID=1473
Anyway, never make assumptions, great tools perform great, when used as intended. The above dikes I love are 64 HRC, use them for banging on solid steel and they have a good chance of breaking because the hardness makes them brittle.
http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=71973&cat=71969
http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=71974&cat=71969
Long nosed pliers, my guess is that most are not hardened, intended for electricians cutting softer wires. Pliers, that may depend on the brand, but would guess its 50/50 on them being hardened.
I have 2 pairs of these, they cut piano wire, nails, and other hard steel with ease
http://www.knipex.com/index.php?id=1216&L=1&page=group_detail&parentID=1367&groupID=1479
I have these also, but prefer the above
http://www.knipex.com/index.php?id=1216&L=1&page=group_detail&parentID=1367&groupID=1473
Anyway, never make assumptions, great tools perform great, when used as intended. The above dikes I love are 64 HRC, use them for banging on solid steel and they have a good chance of breaking because the hardness makes them brittle.
jo4gj
Well-known member
Would the linemans in this set work best for piano wire
https://store.snapon.com/Product-Details-PLR300-P648389.aspx
https://store.snapon.com/Product-Details-PLR300-P648389.aspx
kctyphoon
Banned
Possibly, but for $170 snap on can keep their pliers as far as I'm concerned..
I've yet to find a need to look for anything else besides my Knipex stuff..
rick carpenter
Well-known member
Local
Well-known member
You can buy a lot of knipex for that price.
bcradio
Well-known member
Are there a lot of piano technicians on this board or something?
tonyciambrone
Well-known member
I find my NWS electricians cutters to be not hard enough for hardened wire.
I second the 10" knipex for cutting piano wire...
I second the 10" knipex for cutting piano wire...
http://www.leevalley.com/en/graphics/tech_Off.gif
Here's a link to the set I was talking about. The plier number is 109 69 205. It does say they can cut hard wire. Looks like most agree that the knipex are able to handle harder wire so I'll probably try them. I also like that they list the hardness of the cutting edge. From all the ones I've seen the hardness is Rc 64 so no surprises.
Here's a link to the set I was talking about. The plier number is 109 69 205. It does say they can cut hard wire. Looks like most agree that the knipex are able to handle harder wire so I'll probably try them. I also like that they list the hardness of the cutting edge. From all the ones I've seen the hardness is Rc 64 so no surprises.
Looks like the last link doesn't work. Here's a new one. http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=71971&cat=1,43456,43400,71969
kctyphoon
Banned
I have the 8" and 10" knipex diagonals. The heads are SLIGHTLY different, but I prefer the 8" cause it just feels better to use. The 10" is a bit too long for most things, and can be a bit cumbersome at times. Both are good, so use your best judgement. You can go into most home centers and compare sizes with different tools.. 10" is usually a standard size for pump pliers, so figure that's about the size of the 10" cutters.. more leverage, but might be a little overkill. You will be the best judge for what suits you..
FMC1959
Well-known member
That's my electrician's bag....I am not an electrician but do a fair amount around my house and 2 sheds.
I agree with most of what Mr jack from Jeremy V's link, as well as what others have said on this thread. I think a lot of it has to do with personal preference as well as what the most of your needs are.
My favorite are the 10" Knipex dikes, how they feel in my hand, ease of use and how they perform. If I were cutting more nails and screws, I would probably use the mini bolt cutters more often, but I cut more electrical wires as well as general wires (fence, piano and spring...etc)
What you see in the pictures, 3rd pic, the nippers, they have their place, personally I don't use them as often as I thought I would. I also have my NWS wire strippers I just got recently: used them once and so far they are good.
4th & 5th pic, various pliers, I have some other Mastercraft and less name brand in my sheds, these are my better ones. The 8" Diamaloy are about 35 years old, bought them new. They have cut nails and other stuff, as well as the blue Klein 9" linesman, and have survived with no issues. What shows in the picture is more shiny metal where the have done some cutting, but no denting or ruined edge.
Never tried with the NWS and Knipex 1000v, mainly because I have plenty of dikes to do the job, wouldn't want to ruin them if they aren't hardened at the cutter.
6th pic are various dikes and cable cutters. The red Kleins on the far right specifically state not to be used for hardened wires, as well as the green ones just to the left. The NWS Fantasticos have performed very well so far, I haven't tested them enough to say they are, or are not, as good as my Knipex, but so far so good. The red in the middle are another pair of Klein's, intended for softer electrical wire. I tried them for the heck of it on something hard, can't remember what, but it total borked them. They wouldn't close smoothly till I ground them smooth. This was a test which I do not need to repeat. The blue CL are old and been through some wars. The cutters have been marked up but did OK for the time I have had them. The Milwaukee's have been decent, cut a few hard items and they didn't flinch. If they can handle tough stuff and survive like the mini bolt cutters, I doubt but so far surprised me.
Last pic, 2 mini bolt cutters and 2 of the 10", which one of each in my bag and one of each in my tool drawer. The other 8" Knipex dikes, not intended for hard wire, mainly electrician's dikes.
Overall I can't say anything bad about the mini bolt cutters, I have used them even for tearing metal and other stuff...pretty indestructible. Maybe because I also have larger bolt cutters, or who knows why, I just love the 10" dikes the most.
If you are cutting a lot of hard wire and the occasional nail or screw, and like a nice clean cut, I think the 10" dikes would do. If you need to cut more nails, screws and bolts, then maybe the min bolt cutters. Either way, you should be happy.
Again, this is my 2 cents, and I really did not do any "tests", just observations of using these tools.
One last thing, the Knipex blue & red handles are hard and very similar to the regular red handles, they just have a bit more thickness or volume in your hand. The difference is not big and would say depending on your hand size and personal preference. The extra that Knipex charges for these is not worth it for my needs.
