New dykes

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dotneck335

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Joined 2012
#1
I am beginning a new project that involves soldering many small components in quite tight spaces. My current dykes (wire cutters) seem rather dull and don't make particularly clean cuts.
  • Is there any practical way to sharpen my existing ones?
  • What is the best tool for making as-flush-as-possible cuts to the excess component leads?
 
#2
I always sharpen mine.
First to approximate size/angle with a low RPM fine grain wheel so as not to burn them (lose temper) and finish with a knife sharpening oil stone, by hand.
Cutting copper only keeps them sharp, steel nicks them.

For clearly semi hard steel (pot legs, terminals, etc.) I have a second dedicated set, made out of regular "piano wire" rated Bahco or similar high quality nippers, which originally have "pyramidal" conical edges , ground downn to an "electronics" edge: almost flat on the outer side.

Not as flat as the "copper only" ones but survive better.

Life is always a compromise, applies to tools also.
 
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#3
I've been drooling over the Lindstrom pliers and end cutters for years, if not decades. Their line of ESD-save, ergonomic pliers and cutters is excellent. But at $100ish/each they're definitely in the "careful use" category. I'll keep my Bacho cutters and Knipex linesman pliers for building electrical type work.

Tom
 
#5
I know that this sounds bad, but for years, I have used large nail clippers to flush cut wire sticking out of the backside of circuit boards. You can get as close as you want every time. They last for years, until you accidently cut something other than copper.
Really good flush cut cutters are hard to find anyway.
 
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#7
You can sharpen them with a honing stick / needle file / diamond coated needle file.

But like JMF says, buy good quality pliers, keep two sets, the rugged ones for steel / general work, and a smaller, more precise one for soft wire.

Metal quality is all over the place, and on line sales make it hard to judge the quality until you get it delivered.
You get good ones, and you get too hard ones which break if you use too much force (plastic runner broke it when we tried to cut a thicker section).

Ask a local electrician, he will guide you as to what is locally available, you can maybe buy it at the auto tools part of a large store.
 
#8
The side cutters I use look a lot like those Hakko ones linked to in Post #6. I bought them used (and re-sharpened) from Boeing Surplus (back when that was a thing). I paid a few bucks each. They may not be good enough to build airplanes with but they're fine for my needs.

I'd go with the Hakko over nail clippers any day. Nail clippers are not exactly the most ergonomic.

BTW: Those Hakko cutters cost even less at Mouser than at Bezos' Bookstore. Quite a bit less for those of us in Canada. Mouser P/N: 485-152.

Tom
 
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#11
Yes, from the Hakko Amazon store, they are only $6 each when you buy three at a time.
And from ValueTronics, one piece is only $5.47 with free shipping!!!!
https://www.valuetronics.com/product/chp-170-hakko-cutter-new

I don't do flush cutting, or steel component leads, so they last me a very long time.
If you have any arthritis in your hands, they will be very acceptable and ergonomic.
And they really do work great. Even better than nail clippers, and cheaper too.
Really, I promise.Take a chance, please. Skip that next hamburger at McD.
 
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#19
To the OP:
The term 'dyke' is an American term, the term 'bull dyke' refers to aggressive lesbian females in slang language.

Can you change the thread title to something like 'flush wire cutters'. so it is easier to understand for those outside your area?
 
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