Side cutters for hardware cloth

[reader2580]

I cut lots of hardware cloth for putting on buildings at a Scout camp. I use an abrasive blade in a circular saw for most cuts, but I use side cutters for cutting off the metal sticking out.

What side cutters are good for this? I have two pairs of Channel Lock side cutters, but one is too dull now for this after 10 buildings. Would the Klein D2000 be a better choice, or is there a better tool?

 

[jallyn]

Knipex "CoBolt" compact/mini bolt cutters. Pricey but will last forever doing what you are asking.

 

[Provincial]

I use a pair of tin snips to cut hardware cloth. Quick, easy, and accurate, plus it doesn't require power.

Channel Lock, Klein, and the top foreign brands are all good cutters. Since you are cutting in a very concentrated part of the blade (the end), I can see where you are getting more wear than normal.

Consider grinding off the last 1/4" or so from your cutters as they get dull. That will move your working area to an unworn spot. Go slow and use lots of cooling water to keep from heating the steel and losing the temper.

There are cutters designed for Music (Piano) Wire, which is spring tempered. Those will have harder, more durable blades. Starrett and Knipex make good ones. Look on Ebay for used Starrett cutters, but be sure that they are marked for Music Wire.

 

[BD1]

Have you consider a 4 1/2'' grinder and cutting wheel ? I use one on stainless hardware cloth and works well.

 

[reader2580]

I have tried tin snips and it doesn't work all that well. A cordless circular saw with abrasive blade is the best thing I have found for the long cuts I make when I am cutting hardware cloth to width. A grinder would not have as much control.

The little ends remaining after cutting are hard to cut with an abrasive blade. I usually cut them off if need be with side cutters. I don't think I am always using the end of the blade.

I thought about the Kobolt, but not sure which one to get. I have no idea where there is a retailer who actually has them in stock to look at.

 

[AA/FC]

I thought about the Kobolt, but not sure which one to get. I have no idea where there is a retailer who actually has them in stock to look at.

Menards stocks Knipex cobilt mini bolt cutters. And yeah, Klein or Knipex side cutters would work great too.

 

[flat tire]

I have tried tin snips and it doesn't work all that well. A cordless circular saw with abrasive blade is the best thing I have found for the long cuts I make when I am cutting hardware cloth to width. A grinder would not have as much control.

The little ends remaining after cutting are hard to cut with an abrasive blade. I usually cut them off if need be with side cutters. I don't think I am always using the end of the blade.

I thought about the Kobolt, but not sure which one to get. I have no idea where there is a retailer who actually has them in stock to look at.

are you using your snips properly.
I cut 20' lengths with snips with no problem

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

What is hardware cloth? Link to pic?

Sent from my XT1032 using Tapatalk

 

[AA/FC]

What is hardware cloth? Link to pic?

Sent from my XT1032 using Tapatalk

LINK

 

[tdkkart]

Never cut stainless hardware cloth, but most other hardware cloth is galvanized and quite soft, so I would expect to be able to get a LONG life out of a pair of wire cutters cutting hardware cloth.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Yep, I have used tin snips for it.

 

[jallyn]

I thought about the Kobolt, but not sure which one to get.

Any of them would work for you. If you only use them for cloth and never for larger stuff you don't need the "notch". If you need to make lots of cuts in rapid succession I would get the ones with a spring. If you are cutting through the middle of a row of wires in your cloth the straight ones are good. If you are trying to hug one side go for the angled (about 20 degrees offset). Amazon has decent selection, price, and 2-day shipping.

As others have said going better quality on your side cutters is an option too: Knipex or Klein.

 

[ckprax]

My local sears carries Knipex. They have the 8" and 10" diagonal cutters as well as the 8" mini bolt cutters. I got the 8" diagonal for $22 and they are rated for piano wire.

My Home Depot has the 8" diagonals as well but no other cutters from Knipex.

For hardware cloth I use tin snips.

 

[reader2580]

Menards stocks Knipex cobilt mini bolt cutters. And yeah, Klein or Knipex side cutters would work great too.

Menards has the model with the notch, but I am not sure that would work for the 19 gauge wire on hardware cloth. I need to look around and see if anyone locally has the Cobolt.

Last year I used one pair of side cutters and they seemed to have difficulty cutting the wire. I grabbed the other pair and they worked much better.

 

[My Old Tools]

I've been cutting 1/8", 1/4", and 1/2" galvanized with a pair of heavy scissors for years.

 

[skruft]

I use the tinsnips called "aviation snips" which work fine.

 

[nh_yota]

I use compound aviation shears (tin snips) - the Wiss ones with the yellow handle.

If you're cutting a lot of it you should get a used sheet metal shear.

 

[reader2580]

I've been cutting 1/8", 1/4", and 1/2" galvanized with a pair of heavy scissors for years.

What kind of scissors can cut hardware cloth?

 

[balrog]

What kind of scissors can cut hardware cloth?

http://www2.fiskars.com/Products/Ho...are-Shears-and-Snips/Shopboss-Hardware-Snip-9

 

[southalabama]

Aviation snips for me. Midwest brand I think.

 

[AA/FC]

Menards has the model with the notch, but I am not sure that would work for the 19 gauge wire on hardware cloth. I need to look around and see if anyone locally has the Cobolt.

Last year I used one pair of side cutters and they seemed to have difficulty cutting the wire. I grabbed the other pair and they worked much better.

Interesting.... I'm pretty sure I bought my Knipex mini bolt cutters at Menards, and mine do not have the notch. Otherwise Sears stocks Knipex. Last time I was at the Sears in Burnsville they had pretty good inventory of Knipex products. Check with them to see if they have the model you're looking for.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

I like these for hardware cloth. Wiss M300 ...... or there is another one. One is smooth blade and one has super baby serrations. I use the serrated for this application. But have both and they are great.

http://www.ironworkerstool.com/product-p/wiss m300.htm

 

[reader2580]

It looks like I need to buy a small roll of hardware cloth to test with. I need to try tin snips again. I recall that tin snips are hard to get up close to the air. I don't like to have any wire sticking out along the edges. I am putting the hardware cloth over aluminum insect screen and don't want to snag the screen. (Boys and animals destroy screens without hardware cloth over the top.)

 

[AA/FC]

Years ago I worked in a metal fab shop where they used hardware cloth pretty much on a daily basis.... They either used an electric Bosch Unishear, or good old fashioned tin snips to cut the stuff.



.

 

[MaineGuide]

Aviation snips for me. They last as long as it takes for me to lose a set. Done more than a dozen chicken coops on my current set.

 

[ovrrdrive]

I always used tin snips too but your requirement about not having the ends stick out kind of kills that. When i did it last I wanted the ends to stick out because that's what I used to hook the sides of the cloth together instead of hog clamps or the like. If you want clean cuts against the edge I'd probably be looking at something similar to the circular saw you've already been using or a 4.5" cut off wheel that you can get against the wire.

You could always look at right hand or left hand snips. That might let you get closer.