Snap on side cutters failure.

[98ssuck]

So about a year ago my side cutters failed on me. 87acf the cutting edges passed over each other. No big deal I brought them to my guy. He replaces them, with green ones marked useh so I am very happy. Just the other day I noticed the same thing happen. Has anyone else had this issue.

 

[Scotland Offshore ABZ]

Yes, but only on a pair I bought many moons ago which did not have USA stamped on them. They were the 184CCP size set though. Call me paranoid but I think Snap-On were trying to go down the MAC route of selling Taiwan/China OOC tools but keeping it quiet. My Snap-On guy replaced them with another pair stamped USA and I have been using them hard for 3 years no problems.

 

[jallyn]

Just curious, did you go He-man on them, or twist them/side-load them heavily? Or would you say they failed from just typical use?

 

[rlitman]

Just curious, did you go He-man on them, or twist them/side-load them heavily? Or would you say they failed from just typical use?

I would say that "typical use" for those cutters would be going he-man on them, with twisting to pull out cotter pins and all other sorts of similar stuff that would be considered abuse to smaller diagonal cutters.

These are a mechanic's and not an electrician's tool, so they are made for a different type of use. On that note, looking at pictures of this model (I own Snap On diagonals, but not this particular model), I see they have very rigid handles combined with a reduced size pivot. They do this to give you higher leverage and grip than normal diagonals, at the expense of a potentially higher failure rate. And I'm sure that extra leverage comes in real handy until you manage to break them. But with the Snap On warranty, I wouldn't worry about the breakage. Just use them, and if or when they break, get a new pair.

 

[98ssuck]

Just curious, did you go He-man on them, or twist them/side-load them heavily? Or would you say they failed from just typical use?

No very light use. Cutting copper wires and small, 1/4" or less copper tubing.

 

[T45]

So is this a design flaw or a materials flaw?

This looks like what happens to a scissor after

you try to cut stainless or hardened wire

 

[mrjaw14]

Go Knipex and go home (happy)

 

[Pipe]

Go Knipex and go home (happy)

Or not go anywhere, have your driver come to you, and get the snappy warrantied for life.

 

[amorrow]

I've had the same thing happen to a couple pairs, but admittedly it was misuse as described above. Both pairs removed many upholstery hog rings that were cut from the tip ends and twisted to remove. I wouldn't expect any pair of diagonal cutters to do anything but, when used like that. I've never had a pair twist/loosen like that when used properly.

 

[370]

My snap on side cuts have been ok. But honestly Klein's blow them away! I picked up the snap on one cheap otherwise I wouldn't even own them

 

[DeliveryGuy]

I had this problem too. This is the 388cf though.

 

[DeliveryGuy]

Here's a pic of the 388cf's brand new. I quickly swapped them for a new pair. My current ones have been fine since then, but I'm not hard on my stuff.

 

[kctyphoon]

One word - KNIPEX

 

[AA/FC]

Hi have Knipex and Snap On side cutters and both have been excellent for me...

This is a set of pics that I took of my Snap On side cutters that I bought off the truck a while back. I thought the heat treat marks around the cutting edges were interesting. (This picture has been posted here before)

 

[Scotland Offshore ABZ]

I only bought this set yesterday because they were on special and there seems to be swarf inside the mech. Also the machining is a bit dodgy. Look at the finishing. I will be trying to exchange this set next week as I don't think this is up to SO standards. Does anyone else have a pair that look as bodged as these?

 

[Dirty Diesels]

I only bought this set yesterday because they were on special and there seems to be swarf inside the mech. Also the machining is a bit dodgy. Look at the finishing. I will be trying to exchange this set next week as I don't think this is up to SO standards. Does anyone else have a pair that look as bodged as these?

I'd be sending those back, too!

 

[SantaAna12]

Since when do you have to baby sidecutters?

 

[Scotland Offshore ABZ]

Since when do you have to baby sidecutters?

Good Point

 

[tonyciambrone]

If you can't go through the trouble over entering CC info online and receiving a package...you could purchase knipex through matco or Mac.

Another votes towards knipex for cutters.

 

[Hammer1963]

I have those and they are good bur not great. I have not had any issues with mine but they are warranted, so use it.

 

[Sine Swept]

If you go Knipex and actually want to cut things that shouldn''t be cut, get the mini Bolt Cutters!!

 

[jt777]

At work everyone at the shop reaches for my kleins before the snap ons. They seem to be built better. But you can't beat the grip on the snap ons even though the kleins have a nice grip

Sent from my SM-G900W8 using Tapatalk

 

[Brownsfan]

If you can't go through the trouble over entering CC info online and receiving a package...you could purchase knipex through matco or Mac.

Another votes towards knipex for cutters.

Hell. My snap on guy sells Knipex. If you could put snap on grips on Knipex cutters you would have a perfect tool. Like others have said. My Klein are my favorite. The blue handle 2000 series will cut anything I can throw at them.

 

[DSLTRK]

I have the SO 388 series dikes and they too are sloppy and the jaws overlap. Not impressed considering they cost me $50 and have seen very limited use.

Pliers are definitely not SO's strong point.

I'd go Knipex or Klein for dike pliers. They've been making pliers for over a century.

 

[Scotland Offshore ABZ]

I like the MAC ones which I believe are Channelock but SO just offers me better service which is the only reason I buy their stuff.

 

[abvw]

It's been just over a year, my Snap-on 312CP has been bullterproof for automotive use, pulling cotter pins, tire punctures, cutting zip ties, cables and wires. The Channellock 337 it replaced was worn out in 6 months.

They both feature a "knife-and-anvil" design at the cutting end, I thought it was a Channellock exclusive but I cannot find a clone/equivalent, the 338 at 8" is the longest they make.

 

[mrjaw14]

If you go Knipex and actually want to cut things that shouldn''t be cut, get the mini Bolt Cutters!!

That's the truth, those mini bolt cutters rock

 

[d4dawg]

I'd choose Knipex over Snap-on any day. I am not impressed with the quality of Snap-on pliers at all. Too many machining inconsistencies which I wouldn't expect for the price.

 

[Sine Swept]

Machine screws, deck screws, nails are like butter. Not sure what the toughest thing I cut with them was, I don't seem to remember a time that they didn't stand up to the task.

The SO side cutters must be the Knipex needle nose equivalent. Somethings just not right.

 

[chrisnazzy]

Everyone knows Knipex are awesome pliers / cutters but I personally choose Snap On for most of mine including 4 different PN's of just diagonal/side/true flush cutters. My oldest pair is almost 15 years old and is still nearly perfect. I have noticed that my true flush cutters do "click" when squeezed shut but there is no noticeable jaw deflection.

 

[370]

With my Klein's I can cut a 1/4 x20 bolt. I'm sure knipex are similar in cutting ability. Injust prefer USA made Klein's. I do love knipex for channel lock style pliers though.

 

[ptschram]

I only bought this set yesterday because they were on special and there seems to be swarf inside the mech. Also the machining is a bit dodgy. Look at the finishing. I will be trying to exchange this set next week as I don't think this is up to SO standards. Does anyone else have a pair that look as bodged as these?

Do they cut copper wire?

That's the standard you should be holding them to.

 

[lazer50]

I have a question?its actually two part.is snap on quality/tool source changing? I notice not only in this thread but it seems alot is mentioned about getting tools warrantied or replaced.i have alot of inventory of snap on and other tool truck brands and really dont remember guys being on the truck to get tools replaced.either making a payment or buying a needed tool.as far as cutters i have several brands and styles but never use for anything but cutting electrical wire or a soft solid conductor.so are they making them cheaper or are guys using them for stuff not intended for particular tools?

 

[ptschram]

I have a question?its actually two part.is snap on quality/tool source changing? I notice not only in this thread but it seems alot is mentioned about getting tools warrantied or replaced.i have alot of inventory of snap on and other tool truck brands and really dont remember guys being on the truck to get tools replaced.either making a payment or buying a needed tool.as far as cutters i have several brands and styles but never use for anything but cutting electrical wire or a soft solid conductor.so are they making them cheaper or are guys using them for stuff not intended for particular tools?

I have been buying or had given to me as gifts, Snap-On tools since 1970 when my sister's ex-husband was a Snap-On dealer.

At one point, he gave me a 1/2" impact socket set and proudly told me I would never break them. Imagine his surprise a week later when I called him telling him I needed a new 1/2" socket as I'd rounded the one I had and broken it (keep in mind that this was 40 years before I bought my first impact).

All tools break eventually.

Edit-now that I have my own tool truck, I see the same guys breaking the same stuff every week. I'm certain it's abuse but I'm not gonna say anything about it.

 

[lazer50]

Its just my opinion and it may be my generation.but snap on builds quality tools and their lifetime warranty is for defects in workmanship or failures etc.they design tools so they dont have to use the warranty if so very little.when the tool truck guy warranties a tool for abuse over time that adds up and eventually either quality declines,prices go up,or they start sourcing tool making overseas.it happened with other companies and it will with them.

 

[MarineScott]

Go Knipex and go home (happy)

EXACTLY!!!
Love my Knipex

 

[MShaw]

I have Snap on that I have had for over 50 years with no problems. I guess the older stuff is better.

 

[Stevedore]

With my Klein's I can cut a 1/4 x20 bolt. I'm sure knipex are similar in cutting ability. Injust prefer USA made Klein's. I do love knipex for channel lock style pliers though.

I like Klein tools. A while back, I decided to change the baseboard molding in part of our house to a wider style, and didn't want to disturb the carpeting. I bought some Klein "high-leverage" cutters with the angled head & used them to cut off the finishing nails after prying the molding out a bit from the wall. That way I could lift the molding straight up & out. The cutters did quite a bit of relatively heavy cutting, and remained like-new afterwards. Good qulity, IMO.

A sequel to this story is that some time afterwards, I went to use them for something, & couldn't find them in my tool chest. I looked everywhere for a few days, gave up, & ordered a new pair. I fully expect to find the original ones somewhere now.

 

[Scotland Offshore ABZ]

Do they cut copper wire?

That's the standard you should be holding them to.

They cut no problem at all, I just expected the finish to be of a higher standard given the price. Swarf and cutting fluid running out of a brand new pair of snips is not what I would call top quality, but I know where you are coming from.

 

[abvw]

They cut no problem at all, I just expected the finish to be of a higher standard given the price. Swarf and cutting fluid running out of a brand new pair of snips is not what I would call top quality, but I know where you are coming from.

Maybe its oil/lube to keep them from rusting, don't forget the tool truck parked outside is not climate controlled from freezing winter nights.

All of my Snap-on pliers were so tight off the truck it was almost impossible to operate with one hand. After a workout you can see grains of metal coming out of the pivot, I thought this was a sign of tight tolerance manufacturing and didn't think much of it.