Wire cutter with replaceable blades

[honcho]

Can one of the all-knowing experts point me toward wire cutters with replaceable cutting edges? I'm looking for something along the lines of what Gerber offers on some of their multitools--a multi-sided cutting edge that can be replaced or, on the Gerber tools, rotated to a new edge. The Gerber cutters don't have very big edges and perhaps there is a tool with larger cutting edges that can be replaced by the user out there. Attached is a picture of the replacement cutters offered by Gerber for their tools.

 

[KnurledNut]

I cant answer your question, but I have a kick *** pair of wire cutters with replaceable blades. I have no clue who made them, nor where to source blades. Ive used them to cut small wire rope. They’re about 8” long so quite a bit of leverage.

 

[dnschmidt]

Channellock use to make one that was primarily geared toward cutting piano wire and wire rope. I've just looked on their site and I don't see it listed anymore.

 

[LopezBart]

Wire Rope Cutter | Gedore | Wire Cutter Store

www.wirecutterstore.com

 

[neophyte]

Channellock use to make one that was primarily geared toward cutting piano wire and wire rope. I've just looked on their site and I don't see it listed anymore.

The Channellock cutters were likely the ones made by Midwest and rebranded.
As far as I’m aware though, you cannot purchase replacement blades for the cutters.
I’m not sure whether many companies still manufacture wire cutters with replaceable blades.
Starrett makes nippers were the blades can be replaced, or removed and sharpened, but new, the cutters are very very expensive.
Most of the other manufacturers who used to make cutters with replaceable blades were doing so 100+ years ago, when hand work was way more common in manufacturing.
Krenn replaceable blade bolt cutters are one of the only other tool manufacturers that comes to mind, and the replacement blades are only for larger cutters.

 

[neophyte]

Wire Rope Cutter | Gedore | Wire Cutter Store

www.wirecutterstore.com

Weirdly, you have to go to different websites to find the replacement cutters, because most websites don’t bother carrying the replacement parts, which seems to be somewhat typical with this sort of item.
Also, the replacement blade cost is pretty close to the cost of a completely new pair of cable cutters from another manufacturer, which are likely the two main reasons replaceable cutter wire and cable cutters aren’t really common.

 

[Zewnten]

What are you cutting?

 

[honcho]

What are you cutting?

my thought was for just general purpose cutting, anywhere you might use diagonal cutters or linesman pliers. i was curious if anything with replaceablw cutters existed, largely because it seems wasteful to toss 6-8 oz of machined steel when the hardened cutting edge is dull. By the lack of options from the knowledgeable GJ crowd, i'm guessing there's not much out there. As one respondent posted, even finding replacement cutters for what does exist seems to be problematic. Not very good to have something that can be repaired but unable to repair because repait parts aren't available.

 

[neophyte]

my thought was for just general purpose cutting, anywhere you might use diagonal cutters or linesman pliers. i was curious if anything with replaceablw cutters existed, largely because it seems wasteful to toss 6-8 oz of machined steel when the hardened cutting edge is dull. By the lack of options from the knowledgeable GJ crowd, i'm guessing there's not much out there. As one respondent posted, even finding replacement cutters for what does exist seems to be problematic. Not very good to have something that can be repaired but unable to repair because repait parts aren't available.

The reason you find them with multitools, is because multitools have a bunch of different parts and functions, and the tool manufacturers likely got tired of having to repair or replace the plier jaw cutters when damaged, since the plier jaws are likely one of the more expensive components that ho into making a multitool.
Fishing pliers routinely have replacement cutting jaws as well, and I suspect both the multitools and fishing plier cutters tended to get worn out from cutting high tensile stainless fishing line and hooks.

 

[Zewnten]

my thought was for just general purpose cutting, anywhere you might use diagonal cutters or linesman pliers. i was curious if anything with replaceablw cutters existed, largely because it seems wasteful to toss 6-8 oz of machined steel when the hardened cutting edge is dull. By the lack of options from the knowledgeable GJ crowd, i'm guessing there's not much out there. As one respondent posted, even finding replacement cutters for what does exist seems to be problematic. Not very good to have something that can be repaired but unable to repair because repait parts aren't available.

Why not sharpen them? I regularly sharpen my Klein side cutters that have a rather rough life. The side cutters I’m nicer to have not needed sharpening.

 

[honcho]

Why not sharpen them? I regularly sharpen my Klein side cutters that have a rather rough life. The side cutters I’m nicer to have not needed sharpening.

cutting harder wire, usually with the wrong tool for the job because it's what's readily available, puts a big divot int the cutting edge and by the time you sharpen that out the hardened surface is kaput.

 

[neophyte]

cutting harder wire, usually with the wrong tool for the job because it's what's readily available, puts a big divot int the cutting edge and by the time you sharpen that out the hardened surface is kaput.

What brand and model of cutters are you using?

Generally, if you need to cut really hard eire, you need to find cutters specified for cutting “Piano Wire”.
Piano wire is generally one of the toughest, highest tensile strength wires that can be cut using regular cutters.
Most major pliers manufacturers make cutters for cutting piano wire.
There may be tougher wires used fir medical or surgical use, since some surgical wire cutters have carbide jaws.
These may be necessary do to smaller diameter high tensile stainless steel wire.

 

[honcho]

What brand and model of cutters are you using?

Generally, if you need to cut really hard eire, you need to find cutters specified for cutting “Piano Wire”.
Piano wire is generally one of the toughest, highest tensile strength wires that can be cut using regular cutters.
Most major pliers manufacturers make cutters for cutting piano wire.
There may be tougher wires used fir medical or surgical use, since some surgical wire cutters have carbide jaws.
These may be necessary do to smaller diameter high tensile stainless steel wire.

Point taken and addressed in my original reply with "usually with the wrong tool for the job" Which I sum up as when the right tool isn't available, the "best" tool is the one you have.

 

[PackagingSea]

It’s kind of wild that replaceable blade cutters aren’t more common, especially when it seems like such a simple fix for a tool that gets trashed just from doing its job too well. I’ve had to ditch a few decent pairs after cutting something harder than I should have.

If anyone’s curious, this guide on safely using wire cutters does a solid job laying out the basics, stuff that might help stretch the life of your cutters or at least avoid turning them into scrap before their time.

 

[Leon bee]

Mine last a lot longer since I quit renovating old houses. Biting into hot romex with your nice Kleins really *****.