There is a magnificent tool called "magnet" for that. Check if they are ferro. If so, throw them in the bin and don't look back. Even quality side cutters don't like 0.8 mm steel. The famous Chinese "any metal" mix of stuff that does not mix is like cookies for quality cutters.
Damaging a 40 Euro side cutter with a 1 cent resistor that has steel lead wires ... not in my book.
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Ha, Erem is very good too but they are really expensive. Still I wouldn't buy them used as why do people sell perfectly good used pliers?
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You could choose to test all leads and you can do much to protect your tools. But on the other hand, I would feel stupid if I had to invest in expensive tools that break as lightly as the 5$ pliers and I do not want to have to do all sort of strange jumps. If I have a lead and I want to cut, then do I cut it and expect the tool to be able to do that, again and again for several thousands of cuts in many years. Else could I just go to the local best buy and buy 20 of each tool and trow them out every week.
WOW!! What an art!!I use Xuron Track Cutters. Mostly because I also do railroad modelling, but they're great for electronics as well.
EExatly, why I dropped it, I have bought some Hakko side cutters but still nead the small pliers, like the Knipex, that looks great. But do they break down if used to bend, cut, manhandle harder leads / hard work?
Your reasoning is off. A tool is designed for a purpose. If you misuse it it will fail. I once broke an Erem side cutter as I tried to loosen an tightened screen with it.
ANY tool will possibly fail if you misuse it, regardless of price. In your reasoning you should be able to cut any given wire with a quality tool. It does not work like that. There will be a suitable side cutter for that material but it will not be a 125 mm sized electronics side cutter. Knipex even writes the max. wire size on many cutters. You can expect what you want but don't be surprised if reality begs to differ.
Cheap stuff often is not hardened as much and they survive mistreatment (they don't break) but they will be blunt or they will have an uneven cutting surface which makes them unusable too. However the tool-misusing persons always keep the defective tool and complain that tools are not what they used to be every time they use it 🙂
Yes, they will. They are not designed to take forces the wrong way. They are hardened to cut as they are cutters. Hardened material is made to stay sharp and to cut. It will be brittle when bending it. For bending other pliers (different steel) exist but I guess you mostly use a hammer to fix stuff?
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Dual use, cosmetics supply has excellent cutters u can use in a pinch.
Also I have come across nice pro automotive pcb tools.
Snap-on and others.
Even cosmetics dept in big box store too.
Also I have come across nice pro automotive pcb tools.
Snap-on and others.
Even cosmetics dept in big box store too.
Check out the extensive Lindstrom range. I have small pliers and small cutters and both are great. They date from the 1990's and were made in Sweden. I'm not sure if all the range is still made there.
Well that is a good hidden advice. Cherish older but good tools as the newer versions come from the far east. Nothing is Made in Europe anymore it seems.
My tools are Wiha ESD made in Germany https://www.wiha.com/media/pdf/8b/9e/6b/EN_Schneidleistungen.pdf
Wiha pliers – A cut above the rest for your health | Wiha Werkzeuge GmbH
🙂
I bought my first Knipex pliers 40 years ago. They have been used in professional work since then an are still the best I have in hundreds of tools in my collection.
They have not even once been used to cut hardened metal, which is the reason they are still that good.
Be careful not to buy the chromed, polished Knipex stuff, but the pictured version with partly blacked metal, as they are much tougher.
I once ruined a set of Knipex pliers on the day I bought them, when i cut a 5-wire 3-phase 220/380 volt cable. My helper had switched off the wrong fuses. What a "Bang" and impressive fireworks!
If you have expensive tools, take care who uses them. I had people in the shop that ruined more tools on a single day than they earned in a week. If craftsmen do not have decent tools of their own, you know why you should not let them use yours...
They have not even once been used to cut hardened metal, which is the reason they are still that good.
Be careful not to buy the chromed, polished Knipex stuff, but the pictured version with partly blacked metal, as they are much tougher.
I once ruined a set of Knipex pliers on the day I bought them, when i cut a 5-wire 3-phase 220/380 volt cable. My helper had switched off the wrong fuses. What a "Bang" and impressive fireworks!
If you have expensive tools, take care who uses them. I had people in the shop that ruined more tools on a single day than they earned in a week. If craftsmen do not have decent tools of their own, you know why you should not let them use yours...
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Yes specially if was a gift from Santa Claus
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Sorry I think I explained my intention in the wrong way (English is fare from my first language!)
What I mean is, if I have a side cutter for electronic, I want to be able to cut electronic components, not thinking if a lead is made of led or steel. If I are using a round nose pliers, I will be able to bend the lead. In other word, I buy a tool to be used not for my display cabinet.
I have pliers that are for harder work and they just work, but often do they get to big inside small spaces in an electronic board.
As you write, German tools are often the best, Wiha, Knipes, NWS, Klein and many more.
Lindsöm and Ehem are also something special but I am starting to doubth the Snap-On as fare I know, do many say that it's only name, no game anymore.
I find it funny "if you have great tools" take care of them, be gentle, be selectiv in what you do. I think you can get a set of 5$ pliers to last at least as long, if you take the same care.
My idea is, you give extra money for great quality, because they is meant to last, work hard and keep working. I am not talking about using a needle nose as a breaker bar or that kind, I just expect not to have to lay my pliers in bed with classical music. 🙂
Lindsöm and Ehem are also something special but I am starting to doubth the Snap-On as fare I know, do many say that it's only name, no game anymore.
I find it funny "if you have great tools" take care of them, be gentle, be selectiv in what you do. I think you can get a set of 5$ pliers to last at least as long, if you take the same care.
My idea is, you give extra money for great quality, because they is meant to last, work hard and keep working. I am not talking about using a needle nose as a breaker bar or that kind, I just expect not to have to lay my pliers in bed with classical music. 🙂
I got a Old-USA-Brand wrench, expecting better Chinese subcontract product, but it turns out it was made in Spain, in Zaldibar, by Irega Manufacturing, who make a LOT of adjustable wrenches under their own name and for others.
Industrial quality adjustable wrenches for professional use | IREGA
YouTube
Klein Tools 2-1/2 in. Adjustable Wrench Model # 500-24 is an Irega 77 612mm with Klein's name.
Adjustable wrenches seems to be their only product.
Some Lindström Diagonal Cutters are made in Spain.
Music-wire cutters will cut steel well (if not flush). IDEAL-TEK seem to be made in Switzerland.
Jensen is still around. 600+ cutters to choose..
Hand & Power Tools > Hand Tools > Cutters | JENSEN Tools + Supply
Hand & Power Tools > Hand Tools > Cutters | JENSEN Tools + Supply
