RMweb Premium ELTEL Posted December 8, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 8, 2018 Looking to purchase a small pair of wire side cutters for small electrical jobs and perhaps a pair of long nose pliers. Really looking for reasonably quality tools not your cheap two for a five type. Any particular manufactures to look out for and suppliers . Many thanks Eltel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokebox Posted December 8, 2018 Share Posted December 8, 2018 (edited) Bahco and Lindstrom if you've got deep pockets https://www.heamar.co.uk/224-cutters-pliers#/manufacturer-lindstrom Edit for typo of Bahco Edited December 9, 2018 by smokebox Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Enterprisingwestern Posted December 8, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 8, 2018 Banco and Lindstrom if you've got deep pockets https://www.heamar.co.uk/224-cutters-pliers#/manufacturer-lindstrom But over a lifetime, a bargain. Being better quality enables a better job to be done too. Mike. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium ELTEL Posted December 8, 2018 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted December 8, 2018 Perhaps a bit more than I can afford, don’t doubt the quality. Perhaps something a little less expensive. But thanks for posts so far. Eltel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Right Away Posted December 8, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 8, 2018 At work we always used Lindstrøm or Knipex but as mentioned above - they're expensive. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharris Posted December 8, 2018 Share Posted December 8, 2018 Banco and Lindstrom if you've got deep pockets https://www.heamar.co.uk/224-cutters-pliers#/manufacturer-lindstrom When I started my electronic engineering degree in 1982 we were advised to buy Lindstrom pliers. My Lindstrom snipe nose pliers are going strong 36 years later and are still my best small pliers. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irish_R_M Posted December 9, 2018 Share Posted December 9, 2018 Oh my! Thank you folks for the recommendations, just what SWMBO was looking for under the tree! RM Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Enterprisingwestern Posted December 9, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 9, 2018 Applying Mikes first rule of poker playing with those Accurascale chaps, one of them appears on here talking about Lindstrom tools, so my guess is that there next locomotive release will be this; http://railwaywondersoftheworld.com/ljungstrom.html Mike. Apologies to Terry for thread drift of epic proportions. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy Rixon Posted December 9, 2018 Share Posted December 9, 2018 I've got a pair of "CK" end-cutters that I've used since the millennium and they are still fine. They were not particularly expensive. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnb Posted December 9, 2018 Share Posted December 9, 2018 Buy the best that you can afford and maybe even a bit over that. They will repay you over the years. I've a set of jewellers screwdrivers with brass handles that I bought forty years ago, I winced at the price but they are still very good. I only go cheap for rough work tools. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Torper Posted December 9, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 9, 2018 Xuron and other side cutters usually say that they can be used for cutting "soft wire" of certain thickneses. What is soft wire? I've been told that brass wire, the one I most commonly use, is in fact hard wire (as I suspect is nickle silver wire) and the rapidity with which I go through sidecutters, albeit cheap ones, tends to testify to that. I suppose I'd really like a set of sidecutters that will reliably and in the long term flush cut brass wire up to, say, 1mm. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, what with Christmas coming up! DT Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy Rixon Posted December 9, 2018 Share Posted December 9, 2018 I think the brass wire normally available to railway modellers is half-hard rather than hard. It doesn't seems to damage my end-cutters. Spring wire, like guitar strings, probably counts as hard, but my cutters manage that at 0.25mm without harm. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steamport Southport Posted December 9, 2018 Share Posted December 9, 2018 It all depends on your budget. To use an example there is no use recommending Bentleys if the OP just wants a reliable car to get to work that will last for a few years. As he say's it's just for small electrical jobs. Try Squires, Eileens Emporium, Gaugemaster, Expo, Hobbycraft, etc. Plenty of decent tools that don't cost a small fortune. Find what is suitable and shop around. Also some good deals on places like Amazon at the moment. Eileens is a good start. https://eileensemporium.com/ Jason Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steamport Southport Posted December 9, 2018 Share Posted December 9, 2018 Xuron and other side cutters usually say that they can be used for cutting "soft wire" of certain thickneses. What is soft wire? I've been told that brass wire, the one I most commonly use, is in fact hard wire (as I suspect is nickle silver wire) and the rapidity with which I go through sidecutters, albeit cheap ones, tends to testify to that. I suppose I'd really like a set of sidecutters that will reliably and in the long term flush cut brass wire up to, say, 1mm. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, what with Christmas coming up! DT When they mention soft wire they mean the stuff that amateur jewellers use. The stuff that is very bendy and can be cut with scissors. Jason Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium dhjgreen Posted December 9, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 9, 2018 (edited) Xuron and other side cutters usually say that they can be used for cutting "soft wire" of certain thickneses. What is soft wire? I've been told that brass wire, the one I most commonly use, is in fact hard wire (as I suspect is nickle silver wire) and the rapidity with which I go through sidecutters, albeit cheap ones, tends to testify to that. I suppose I'd really like a set of sidecutters that will reliably and in the long term flush cut brass wire up to, say, 1mm. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, what with Christmas coming up! DT These are used as piano wire cutters they last for ever in industrial applications. Well they did when I used them in industry many years ago. I don't think the quality has changed as I bought a pair a couple of years ago and they are going strong. https://www.maunindustries.com/diagonal-cutting-nipper-for-hard-wire-with-plated-handles/?gclid=CjwKCAiAl7PgBRBWEiwAzFhmmn15HP8luv7gw_JpKwbxfjhzyX8bLPoCl-itaIMR226jkkZMcrpBmhoC9UEQAvD_BwE Edit: Sorry, I did not see you wanting flush cutters, these are diagonal cutters; generally they need to be diagonal to be strong enough for hard wire. I have left the post rather than deleting it as it may be of interest to others. Edited December 9, 2018 by dhjgreen Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Torper Posted December 9, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 9, 2018 When they mention soft wire they mean the stuff that amateur jewellers use. The stuff that is very bendy and can be cut with scissors.Jason Thanks - you've confirmed what I thought. That being the case, it seems that the entire Xuron range is pretty useless for modellers who want something that will reliably flush cut brass wire. Best policy is perhaps just to buy cheap cutters and replace them from time to time as necessary. DT Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium polybear Posted December 9, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 9, 2018 Take a look at some of the jewellry tools suppliers too, such as: https://www.cousinsuk.com/department/tools-equipment Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium ELTEL Posted December 9, 2018 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted December 9, 2018 I’m now ever more confused so I’ll restate my original question. “Looking to purchase a small pair of wire side cutters for small electrical jobs and perhaps a pair of long nose pliers” I just don’t want to buy cheap junk and at 69 I’m not looking for something to last 50 years A reasonable make, a perhaps model number and possible price, something around £20 is what I’m looking for. Eltel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Michael Edge Posted December 9, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 9, 2018 Xuron side cutters are fine for the brass and n/s wire we use and they cut very close. Mine have been used for a few years now and are unmarked. For precise square cutting of this wire I use an old pair of Xuron shears. I don't use either of these on steel wire of any sort and always use hard wire cutters for piano wire. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steamport Southport Posted December 9, 2018 Share Posted December 9, 2018 I’m now ever more confused so I’ll restate my original question. “Looking to purchase a small pair of wire side cutters for small electrical jobs and perhaps a pair of long nose pliers” I just don’t want to buy cheap junk and at 69 I’m not looking for something to last 50 years A reasonable make, a perhaps model number and possible price, something around £20 is what I’m looking for. Eltel Anything here that takes your fancy? Worth a browse at least. https://www.amazon.co.uk/b/ref=dp_bc_4?ie=UTF8&node=1938981031 https://www.amazon.co.uk/b/ref=s9_acsd_hfnv_hd_bw_b27DiQ3_ct_x_ct00_w?_encoding=UTF8&node=1938975031&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-4&pf_rd_r=Q2C8QEZ7WT073KBGXVZD&pf_rd_r=Q2C8QEZ7WT073KBGXVZD&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=729df633-0430-5188-961d-b0dce93305a8&pf_rd_p=729df633-0430-5188-961d-b0dce93305a8&pf_rd_i=1938969031 Jason Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium polybear Posted December 10, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 10, 2018 “Looking to purchase a small pair of wire side cutters for small electrical jobs and perhaps a pair of long nose pliers” https://xuron.com/index.php/main/consumer_products/5/38 https://xuron.com/index.php/main/consumer/11 or maybe https://xuron.com/index.php/main/consumer/13 Xuron Tools have a lifetime warranty, so long as you don't abuse them. HTH Brian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Torper Posted December 10, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 10, 2018 Xuron Tools have a lifetime warranty, so long as you don't abuse them. Indeed. But as every Xuron sidecutter I've looked at specifically says that it is suitable for cutting "soft wire" up to a certain thickness, cutting hard wire such as brass would be considered abuse and would void the warranty. DT Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hayfield Posted December 10, 2018 Share Posted December 10, 2018 (edited) Mostly I have bought cheap tools over the years with the odd one thrown in. Some of the tools bought cheaply at railway shows were end of lines expensive ones but using tools appropriately seems the best choice, example I use the newest files for brass and nickel silver, oldest for copperclad sheet (especially the glass fibre ones) Wire cutters, I use bigger ones for rail and have just bought a pair of Hilka (Very reasonably priced under £5) from the hobby shop http://www.hilka.co.uk/product_detail.asp?s=26100500 Long nose pliers like tweezers, cheap ones can be good providing they close flush !! Its too easy to either say buy cheap or buy expensive, at shops & shows you can pick things up and see if they suite your purposes. I would say with somethings its best to buy top quality, other things its best to buy things and replace them once they have served their usefull working life Edited December 10, 2018 by hayfield Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
davefrk Posted December 10, 2018 Share Posted December 10, 2018 (edited) Indeed. But as every Xuron sidecutter I've looked at specifically says that it is suitable for cutting "soft wire" up to a certain thickness, cutting hard wire such as brass would be considered abuse and would void the warranty. DT The brass wire we commonly use in our modelling is easily cut with Xurons. I'm cutting small 'bundles' of handrail wire for inclusion in my kits, it is from Gibson and is referred to as 'half hard' and I'm still using the same cutter I've had for years so don't be so dismissive of Xurons. There is a specific Xuron cutter for hard wire which is what I use to cut spring steel wire for sprung suspensions this would be similar to piano wire which is really hard. For a whole collection of Xurons check out the 'EXPO Drills and Tools' online catalogue. https://www.expotools.com/cgi-bin/ss000001.pl?page=search&SS=xuron&PR=-1&TB=O&ACTION=Go%21 EXPO will honour the warranty on Xurons if you ever need it. Dave Franks. Edited December 10, 2018 by davefrk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium polybear Posted December 10, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 10, 2018 Indeed. But as every Xuron sidecutter I've looked at specifically says that it is suitable for cutting "soft wire" up to a certain thickness, cutting hard wire such as brass would be considered abuse and would void the warranty. DT The OP does state "... a small pair of wire side cutters for small electrical jobs" (i.e. predominantly copper) though. But I'd have no fears on half-hard brass wire though (as Dave has mentioned), unless of course it's silly thick stuff. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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