Why are these so expensive?

[Subutai]

Evening everyone,

I stumbled upon these flush cutters:

https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/apex-tool-group/576TX/4524741

And I was wondering why are these so expensive? Are they used in some sort of high precision industry like aerospace?

My apologies if this is an amateur question.

 

[mike93lx]

You can get them for under 200 on Amazon so part of the issue is digikey.

They have tungsten carbide cutters. Very hard, very expensive, and they are esd-safe. They can be used for cutting stainless, whereas cutters like the $20 Klein d275 that many of us likely have can only do thin copper and plastics

Diagonal Cutting Pliers, Flush Cutter, Lightweight, 5-Inch - D275-5 | Klein Tools

The Precision Flush Cutter offers added comfort for cutting applications that demand precision and control. Improved knife design on these pliers snips soft wire up to 16 AWG for a flat, flush cut. The ultra slim profile increases access in confined areas. Grips designed for greater control...

www.kleintools.com

 

[Subutai]

You can get them for under 200 on Amazon so part of the issue is digikey.

They have tungsten carbide cutters. Very hard, very expensive, and they are esd-safe. They can be used for cutting stainless, whereas cutters like the $20 Klein d275 that many of us likely have can only do thin copper and plastics

Diagonal Cutting Pliers, Flush Cutter, Lightweight, 5-Inch - D275-5 | Klein Tools

The Precision Flush Cutter offers added comfort for cutting applications that demand precision and control. Improved knife design on these pliers snips soft wire up to 16 AWG for a flat, flush cut. The ultra slim profile increases access in confined areas. Grips designed for greater control...

www.kleintools.com

Thanks for the reply. I do solar installation and I myself use a Klein d275 for copper wire and copper wire only (10 gauge and below), so I’m afraid I would never be able to justify the expense to myself or more importantly, my wife.

 

[AEAdam]

And I was wondering why are these so expensive? Are they used in some sort of high precision industry like aerospace?

My apologies if this is an amateur question.

We use Snap On and Xuron. Guessing: the Kleins above are Xuron rebrands, and made in USA.

 

[dchawk81]

I kinda want a pair for zip ties.

 

[4xdog]

There was a guy on eBay who sold (very lightly) used pairs of carbide-edged flush cutters for notalot. We talked about it on here some years ago, and I got a pair after learning about that option.

They were originally part of some medical device, used to cut wires as part of its use or removal, I believe. For all I know the guy is still on eBay. Maybe in Puerto Rico IIRC? If I remember I'll check the name on mine and update this thread.

The pair I have are fantastic. I use them all the time and would miss 'em if they were gone.

 

[Pexto]

There was a guy on eBay who sold (very lightly) used pairs of carbide-edged flush cutters for notalot. We talked about it on here some years ago, and I got a pair after learning about that option.

They were originally part of some medical device, used to cut wires as part of its use or removal, I believe. For all I know the guy is still on eBay. Maybe in Puerto Rico IIRC? If I remember I'll check the name on mine and update this thread.

The pair I have are fantastic. I use them all the time and would miss 'em if they were gone.

I remember that, had to run out to the garage to check mine.

They are Swanstrom M403C carbide-edged diagonal cutters, and they are amazing!

 

[4xdog]

I remember that, had to run out to the garage to check mine.

They are Swanstrom M403C carbide-edged diagonal cutters, and they are amazing!

Yep! Those are the ones. Thx for checking.

 

[Steve_P]

Yes, I got in on that deal also. Yes, they were shipped from PR. And they were crazy cheap. We surmised they were used for some type of medical equipment purpose because that was the only logical explanation.

 

[techieman33]

The amazon listing mentions cutting catheters. Which would indicate them being used in the medical field, thus the incredibly high price.

 

[southalabama]

I kinda want a pair for zip ties.

It’s all relative to wants, needs and income and if your relatives are Musk, Gates or Cuban.

 

[oldschoolcraft]

Sometimes tools are specially made for the healthcare or aviation sector and command a massive price, because it’s all corporate B2B sales anyway. And due to liability or industry-specific reasons they need a unique tool that they pay out the **** for!

 

[dchawk81]

It’s all relative to wants, needs and income and if your relatives are Musk, Gates or Cuban.

Waiting to see if I'm in Stockton Rush's will.

 

[White_lightning]

Thanks for the American-made "just as good" recommendation, Mr. Mike! I saw that Acme Tools sell those Kleins. I signed into the site, checked the reviews, added one to cart, and pressed "Logout." What I have in the bank that I have been saving for...about a two months goes to dental work and Epstein's Day.

 

[AEAdam]

Sometimes tools are specially made for the healthcare or aviation sector and command a massive price, because it’s all corporate B2B sales anyway. And due to liability or industry-specific reasons they need a unique tool that they pay out the **** for!

Not my experience. We are good customers. Buy a lot of hardware. Typically we don’t pay retail. Sometimes our tool reps offer deals at corporate prices to employees. It’s not a 50% discount, but it may be more than 20%. Never got involved with boxes. We have top of the line EPIQ boxes with tool sensors. Probably paid a lot for that.

stationary tools, workbenches vises, cabinets are all USA high end. We have a lot of lista/vidmar stuff.

 

[WWheeler]

I kinda want a pair for zip ties.

For that kind of use get yourself a Knipex "super knips" for under $30.

 

[KnurledNut]

How about some homemade carbide cutters?

 

[CGarage]

Evening everyone,

I stumbled upon these flush cutters:

https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/apex-tool-group/576TX/4524741

And I was wondering why are these so expensive? Are they used in some sort of high precision industry like aerospace?

My apologies if this is an amateur question.

*
Why are these Wire Cutters so expensive?

 

[mike93lx]

*
Why are these Wire Cutters so expensive?

Coming in hot with the helpful post!

 

[Davefr]

We use Snap On and Xuron. Guessing: the Kleins above are Xuron rebrands, and made in USA.

Agree. Xuron's are excellent value and perform very well. For softer materials, they're all you need.

 

[mike93lx]

Agree. Xuron's are excellent value and perform very well. For softer materials, they're all you need.

I love mine. A tool I wish I bought a long time ago

 

[CGarage]

Coming in hot with the helpful post!

Yessir!

 

[Skyman]

Evening everyone,

I stumbled upon these flush cutters:

https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/apex-tool-group/576TX/4524741

And I was wondering why are these so expensive? Are they used in some sort of high precision industry like aerospace?

My apologies if this is an amateur question.

For fine work on relatively soft copper wire and component leads, take a look at Lindstrom flush cutters.

 

[Subutai]

For fine work on relatively soft copper wire and component leads, take a look at Lindstrom flush cutters.

Thank you for the suggestion. Do you think they would work well on brass photo-etch? Photo etch is thin pieces of brass used in scale model construction (I.e. the engine compartment grills on a tank, antenna on an airplane, etc).

 

[dchawk81]

For that kind of use get yourself a Knipex "super knips" for under $30.

That is soooooo middle class.

 

[WWheeler]

That is soooooo middle class.

Knipex is middle class. lol, um ok if you say so.

I've had my pair for almost 20 years now and they still cut perfectly. I only use them for small gauge copper wire and braided cable sleeving (for building custom PCs) that a lot of other brand flush cutters of the same type can't seem to cut that stuff cleanly enough to use even when new.

dchawk was asking about a pair for cutting zip ties, Those Knipex will cut a million zip ties and still be sharp enough to be considered 'new'.

 

[dchawk81]

Knipex is middle class. lol, um ok if you say so.

I've had my pair for almost 20 years now and they still cut perfectly. I only use them for small gauge copper wire and braided cable sleeving (for building custom PCs) that a lot of other brand flush cutters of the same type can't seem to cut that stuff cleanly enough to use even when new.

dchawk was asking about a pair for cutting zip ties, Those Knipex will cut a million zip ties and still be sharp enough to be considered 'new'.

He wasn't asking about anything...

 

[WWheeler]

Fair enough. You're a real peach. Not.

 

[dchawk81]

Fair enough. You're a real peach. Not.

Sorry to have disappointed you.

 

[darkzero]

For fine work on relatively soft copper wire and component leads, take a look at Lindstrom flush cutters.

And that's the brand that I used to wonder why they cost so much. I hear people raving about them but I'm too cheap & can't justify the cost of them.

Being cheap I just buy the Hakko branded CHP-170 flush cutters in a 5 pack at a time. They can get damaged easily if cutting to the wrong stuff but I really only use em for electronics so they last me a long time. I first bought these from Fry's, perhaps I should/could buy better ones but I'm just so used to using them.

At my old work they supplied us with economy Xcelite or Plato cutters, never did like the feel of them.

I kinda want a pair for zip ties.

I took that as a funny but to be serious, before I got these I used flush cutters to cut zip ties all the time, still do sometimes. But these work great for zip ties, part of the jaws can also be used for pulling them tight too. I've got/prefer the 5", they come in 6" too. I've got 3 pairs now to keep at various places.

 

[dchawk81]

And that's the brand that I used to wonder why they cost so much. I hear people raving about them but I'm too cheap & can't justify the cost of them.

Being cheap I just buy the Hakko branded CHP-170 flush cutters in a 5 pack at a time. They can get damaged easily if cutting to the wrong stuff but I really only use em for electronics so they last me a long time. I first bought these from Fry's, perhaps I should/could buy better ones but I'm just so used to using them.

At my old work they supplied us with economy Xcelite or Plato cutters, never did like the feel of them.


I took that as a funny but to be serious, before I got these I used flush cutters to cut zip ties all the time, still do sometimes. But these work great for zip ties, part of the jaws can also be used for pulling them tight too. I've got/prefer the 5", they come in 6" too. I've got 3 pairs now to keep at various places.

To actually be serious, I have regular side cutters for the removal of zip ties and a $6 set of flush cuts that are good enough for the install of zip ties. It's really not that critical to me.

I pull rail containers and we zip tie the locking pins. We don't have to cut the tails off when we put them on to leave the rail yard, but we do have to remove the entire zip tie when we drop the trailer at the rail yard.

When I'm zip tying hoses or electrical or whatever, that's when I get out the flush cuts. Maybe. Sometimes I forget I even own them and end up using the side cutters anyway.

 

[GTO]

For zip ties

JDTCo. Green Handled Flush Cuts | The JDTCo. App

www.jerseydiscounttoolco.com

 

[jpaw]

I just picked up some Icons $25 otd after 20% off. Haven't used them yet.

 

[Davefr]

Thank you for the suggestion. Do you think they would work well on brass photo-etch? Photo etch is thin pieces of brass used in scale model construction (I.e. the engine compartment grills on a tank, antenna on an airplane, etc).

I think most modelers use an Xacto knife for brass photo etch. A #10 blade (rounded) works well.

 

[Skyman]

I can't comment about using Lindstroms on jewelry, as I use mine only on electronics tasks. But, Lindstrom offers a variety of sizes, suitable for different applications. For their quality, they are reasonably priced. Obviously, those who only want or need the Saturday night special of cutters should look elsewhere, but that doesn't sound like what you're after.

 

[Subutai]

I think most modelers use an Xacto knife for brass photo etch. A #10 blade (rounded) works well.

That’s what I’ve always used, I get a little nervous filing the cut pieces though, one extra swipe and it can cut in too much. Besides that it seems to work well, except for when a piece goes flying and I end up having to use the plastic equivalent.

I never though about using a rounded #10, thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Citation]

You might look at the Hakko flush cutters. I don't think they cut better than my Xcelites but they do have better handles.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0765NMV68/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[M635_Guy]

I just picked up some Icons $25 otd after 20% off. Haven't used them yet.

I have them - they're very nice.

 

[CGarage]

I have tons of high dollar “fancy” cutters.

The $5 Hakko cutters I use most frequently and they never have let me down.

The precision cutters have different jaw materials and you can use one kind for x material but not y material, etc

Rather than damage $60-$85 cutters, I reach for the Hakko cutters first and have never had a problem. And they are only $5 as discussed previously.

 

[428PI]

I have a flush cut diagonal pliers and it's much bigger. Bought it for taking out the small roll pins holding inner tie roe ends in (sometimes they used rivets too). Cutting edge got knicked pretty quick. That's why they don't make very many of those. Don't use them unless you absolutely need a flush cut.