Uneffective dykes

[Fender1325]

I have a set of duralast dykes I bought about a year ago at autozone. I didnt think this was a tool you could mess up - they felt comfortable and werent super cheap, but they dont cut worth a damn. I had to lean on them on my workbench just to cut a flimsy coat hanger.

Are they basically garbage or is there a way to sharpen them?

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

I thought this thread was going to be about something else!

 

[ChrisFox]

Just throw them up in a vise and go after it with a file. Can't hurt.

 

[Askme42]

Looks like those have been used a lot.

 

[zkling]

It is very difficult as you have to take the exact amount off across the entire length of the edge otherwise they will not close and cut properly. Go get a set of Channellock 337's or the like.

 

[Askme42]

It is very difficult as you have to take the exact amount off across the entire length of the edge otherwise they will not close and cut properly. Go get a set of Channellock 337's or the like.

Yep I have the regular and comfort grip channellocks.

 

[Fender1325]

These were rarely used - just used in dirty situations and kept in a tool box.

I'll try filing and if they dont work i'll get something else

 

[The Cobbler]

It is very difficult as you have to take the exact amount off across the entire length of the edge otherwise they will not close and cut properly. Go get a set of Channellock 337's or the like.

I think you have to take more off the farther from the pivot you get so they close tight on each other

 

[cheechi]

Try swapping them for warranty if they haven't been used much. But ultimately a better pair is definitely a good idea.

Generally I like the mini bolt cutters or even cable cutters styles over dikes.

 

[chris142]

I had the same pair. They broke on the first kotter pin I tried to cut.

 

[belvedere]

I thought this thread was going to be about something else!

So did I...

 

[neophyte]

I have a set of duralast dykes I bought about a year ago at autozone. I didnt think this was a tool you could mess up - they felt comfortable and werent super cheap, but they dont cut worth a damn. I had to lean on them on my workbench just to cut a flimsy coat hanger.

Are they basically garbage or is there a way to sharpen them?

A bad manufacturer can f&%k up making any tool, including a hammer.

 

[Charlief]

Warranty? I personally wouldn't buy any hand to unless it's warranteed... Snappy... Cornwell... Knipex

 

[uart]

I thought this thread was going to be about something else!

I had to google "dykes tools" the first time I heard someone here refer to them.

We usually call them side cutters in Australia, so it took me a while to get the connection between "diagonal cutters and dykes.

 

[bobbycos]

Just throw them up in a vise and go after it with a file. Can't hurt.

I did it and so far so good

I do have channel locks too

 

[jjjrmx5]

Diagonal cutters are ment for copper and soft metal cutting.

Youwant to cut a coat hangar , go Knipex Cobalt/Mini Bolt cutter or even the wire cutter portion of a slip joint plier.

It's also why I see so many fucked up diag. cutters in the field.

Right tool for the right job folks.

 

[neophyte]

Diagonal cutters are ment for copper and soft metal cutting.

Youwant to cut a coat hangar , go Knipex Cobalt/Mini Bolt cutter or even the wire cutter portion of a slip joint plier.

It's also why I see so many fucked up diag. cutters in the field.

Right tool for the right job folks.

Some diagonal cutters are exclusively made for cutting soft wire. If you use them on hard wire you destroy the edges.

Some diagonal cutters are made exclusively for cutting hard wire. If you try using them on soft wire, or even really soft steel they can't cut worth £$%^.

Snap-On and Bahco made Diagonal cutters that had different geometries between the cutting edge tips and the area of the cutting edges near the pivot, that could be used to cleanly cut both hard and soft wire equally well. Despite Snap-On owning Bahco, the two cutters used different blade designs.

With European made cutters like Knipex, the companies tend to list the materials and capacities of their cutters. Unfortunately USA companies don't seem to do this as standard.

 

[JUNK-MAN]

I'd just scrap those and get Snap-On, Mac or channallock ones, I use Snap-On's that I got used there still very sharp I use them a lot.

 

[dirtydogintex]

considered using lineman pliers instead of dykes?
dykes tend to last longer when not fed a diet of steel stuff....

where are the Klein & Craftsman boys?

 

[T45]

Ya'll need hardened eges to cut coat hangers.

 

[tdkkart]

This pair should be able to gnaw through most anything........

 

[ecotec]

I would go with Knipex or Klein 2000 series (made to cut machine screws and such).

If you are working that hard to cut a coat hanger, you should throw them in the garbage.

 

[drew03cmc]

I'd just scrap those and get Snap-On, Mac or channallock ones, I use Snap-On's that I got used there still very sharp I use them a lot.

Mac cutters are Channellock. Given a choice between my Knipex and the pair of SO cutters I had, Knipex all day. The PowerEdge on the SO cutters was okay, but the Knipex would do the job with less effort.

 

[abk241]

Diagonal cutters are ment for copper and soft metal cutting.

Youwant to cut a coat hangar , go Knipex Cobalt/Mini Bolt cutter or even the wire cutter portion of a slip joint plier.

It's also why I see so many fucked up diag. cutters in the field.

Right tool for the right job folks.

Yeah...C'mon, dykes are for cutting through aluminum or copper wire - NOT steel coat hangers.

 

[1969]

Buy a good pair.........

 

[T45]

Monte posted this up in another thread...

 

[Lassen Forge]

Go to Tractor Supply and get a set of Fence Pliers - the slipjoint wire cutters on them are made for cutting fence wire, so they'' handle stuff like coathanger, plus they have a better mechanical advantage than sidecutters...

THe ones you want look like this and run about 11 inches.

 

[404]

I thought this thread was going to be about something else!

Something like Dykes that don't ****?

 

[d.mcfarland]

NWS Fantastico are supposedly very good as far as leverage goes. I only have NWS combination pliers and even those cutters are pretty dang good, so I could only imagine that the dedicated cutters are better.

Remember that cutters with longer handles are going to be easier to squeeze through a cut because of the leverage.

 

[Cope]

I know using diagonal cutters on material other than copper wire is a bad idea, but I was given a pair of Crestalloy diagonal cutters in 1966, and have used them only to cut welding rods, pull cotter pins and cut other steel items.

 

[NE-TEX]

Try the Klien blue handle ones. They are made for cutting hard wire. The red handles are for softer wire. They last forever. I think the Lineman line has the bigger soft handles.

 

[toplessHO]

I ve been using a pair of the offset high leverage Channel loks for years and dont worry about what I cut.

 

[redwrench60]

Throw those *****-Last side cutters over your left shoulder and get a good pair. Doesn't have to be Knipex. Klein, Snap On, Channellock, there's too many good ones to mention. Life's too short for ****** cutters!

 

[oldldh]

Go to Tractor Supply and get a set of Fence Pliers - the slipjoint wire cutters on them are made for cutting fence wire, so they'' handle stuff like coathanger, plus they have a better mechanical advantage than sidecutters...

THe ones you want look like this and run about 11 inches.

Fence pliers have the cutters!!!

And...

I've heard that dykes don't ****, if they're utilized on the proper stuff...

 

[FMC1959]

This pair should be able to gnaw through most anything........

I am still recovering from this....nasty!

Like other have said, standard dykes won't last long on coat hangers and other hard metals. I have a pair of these for hard wire, and they are great
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000X4MPAQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

The above cutters haven't flinched on anything I throw at them, but to not take chances on anything extra hard or thick, I use these
http://www.homedepot.com/p/KNIPEX-8...utter-64-HRC-Forged-Steel-71-01-200/100668975

Right tool for the job, you won't have problems. Knipex are among the best, but numerous brands have the same as the above and will do the job much better than dykes meant for soft metals.

 

[uart]

I have a set of duralast dykes I bought about a year ago at autozone. I didnt think this was a tool you could mess up - they felt comfortable and werent super cheap, but they dont cut worth a damn. I had to lean on them on my workbench just to cut a flimsy coat hanger.

Are they basically garbage or is there a way to sharpen them?

I agree with the "not the right tool for the job" sentiment.

Before doing anything I'd check what they're like at nipping copper wire. Try them on something decent sized like a piece of house power cable, and also try them on something nice and thin like a strand from a broken pair of ear buds or similar.

If it cuts both of these nice and clean then that tool is doing what it's intended for. So leave it as it is and just go get yourself the right tool for cutting nails and coat hanger/fencing wire - a 10" pair of fencing pliers or a small set of bolt cutters.

 

[ER70S-2]

So the general consensus is that coat hangers are hard? I mean, compared to copper or aluminum, sure, but a hard metal? Seriously?

 

[Scimmia]

In general, yes, coat hanger wire is fairly hard wire.

 

[Fender1325]

We're talking a thin metal coat hanger here. Like one i can bend into any shape easily with my hands.

I dont think these are the wrong tool. I have used the same style offering from snap on and can cut nails, hose clamps, etc.

This duralast pair i have also cant cut 1/2" rubber fuel line. So i dont know about the right tool for the job argument. Im nearly never cutting copper wire. Cant imagine youd need something as heavy as these either for that. I bought these at an auto parts place not an electrical supply shop.

All in all i'll file them one day and still plan on getting nicer ones

 

[uart]

So the general consensus is that coat hangers are hard? I mean, compared to copper or aluminum, sure, but a hard metal? Seriously?

It can vary a lot, both in size and hardness depending on the coat hanger. It's can be reasonably soft, but it can get work hardened quite a lot too.

TBH I wouldn't have expected it to be easy with that size and style of cutter. Most of those type of cutters are designed to cut copper wire.