Side Cutters Or Shears...???

[Dustydazzler]

So I have always been a side cutter guy for cutting & stripping cable

BUT I see a lot of folk using cable shears (Like The ck 3963) for cutting & stripping

what is your preferred weapon Of choice...???

 

[Pete999]

So I have always been a side cutter guy for cutting & stripping cable

BUT I see a lot of folk using cable shears (Like The ck 3963) for cutting & stripping

what is your preferred weapon Of choice...???

For stripping insulation? a knife.

 

[buzzlightyear]

what is your preferred weapon Of choice...???

Me I prefferre a butter knife or streak one and some times a fork. Lol.

 

[Dustydazzler]

For stripping insulation? a knife.

yes cutting , splitting , stripping ... whatever

 

[Pete999]

yes cutting , splitting , stripping ... whatever

A knife preferably a pen knife, not a Stanley jobbie
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Me I prefferre a butter knife or streak one and some times a fork. Lol.

Sorry BUZZ

 

[buzzlightyear]

knife preferably a pen knife, not a Stanley jobbie

Is it just in case you slice your fingers. Pete.

 

[Pete999]

Is it just in case you slice your fingers. Pete.

Safety first then Buzz

 

[buzzlightyear]

I use my nws cutters for stripping my clothes off and cable has well the odd Stanley has well.
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I have use the odd ck cable strippers the troubles is sharpeing them.

 

[davesparks]

what is your preferred weapon Of choice...???

That depends on the size and type of cable, and which tool comes to hand first.

But generally speaking for singles/cores of a cable:
For small cable (up to 4mm ish) I use side cutters to cut and wire strippers to strip.
For 6 to 25/35 I use shears for cutting, usually shears for stripping or a knife.
50mm upwards I use ratchet cutters or a hacksaw to cut and a knife to strip.

 

[Mike Johnson]

Anyone use one of these: View: https://www.amazon.co.uk/USAG-U02070006-207-Professional-Electricians/dp/B00F8ORBGE?th=1
look good in theory.

 

[R-fur]

I have a pair of CK electricians scissors which are very handy but I tend to use them for trimming labels more than stripping cables. The advantage of using scissors or ideal pliers that cut in shear rather than compression is that they give a very clean end which looks much neater when crimped in panels.

 

[ChipFanDave]

I'm with DaveSparks but on slightly lazier note I use battery grinder for large cables or SWAs.

 

[Dustydazzler]

I received a new pair of ck shears in the post today

I have always been a side cutter man , but am going to give em a bash see how I get on with em...

 

[123]

I received a new pair of ck shears in the post today

I have always been a side cutter man , but am going to give em a bash see how I get on with em...

You'll love em, far better than side cutters, I wouldn't be without mine.

 

[Pete999]

You'll love em, far better than side cutters, I wouldn't be without mine.

For what purpose?

 

[telectrix]

iuse whatever comes to hand first, and if the cable is suspect live, use somebody else's.

 

[ChrisElectrical88]

Use my snips to strip standard twin and earth up to 6mm.
Use a knife for all LSF and cables above 6mm twin and earth/singles.
Use a knife for SWA, FP200, Tails and Tri Rated

 

[Dustydazzler]

You'll love em, far better than side cutters, I wouldn't be without mine.

im quite enjoying my new ck shears , nice clean cutting action and the small notch on the end is good for stripping cores...
im not convinced they will stay sharp for very long but at just 16£ they are cheap enough to replace

 

[Mike Johnson]

Can't recommend the USAG scissors posted above, the stripping notches do not work on any cable, scissors are sharp enough, but you can get cheaper, gone back to my CK automatic stripper.

 

[123]

im quite enjoying my new ck shears , nice clean cutting action and the small notch on the end is good for stripping cores...
im not convinced they will stay sharp for very long but at just 16£ they are cheap enough to replace

Mine are about 6 years old now and still plenty sharp

 

[MJPD29]

Use snips up to 6mm and shears after that generally. Like to have both in the bag though

 

[DPG]

Hi all. This is a very interesting topic.

Bot alert.

 

[i=p/u]

Ck shears is.my choice. I know guys who have knipex pliers and they use them for everything. It's just getting use to them.

 

[Dustydazzler]

I like my CK shears I have the small and medium size, (i had the large aswell but were too big so flogged them on).
The only issue I find is they dull quite quickly the smaller ones I use most are pretty dull now after about a year use.
But at around 15 quid a pop they are really a throw away item once blunted...

 

[ipf]

I use my nws cutters for stripping my clothes off and cable has well the odd Stanley has well.

I'm wondering who Stanley is.............???

 

[telectrix]

I'm wondering who Stanley is.............???

the thin one:

 

[Mike Johnson]

Beat me to it, but I admit I did not know which was who.

 

[ipf]

the thin one:
View attachment 86241

Thanks tel...It had me scratching my head a bit.

 

[123]

I like my CK shears I have the small and medium size, (i had the large aswell but were too big so flogged them on).
The only issue I find is they dull quite quickly the smaller ones I use most are pretty dull now after about a year use.
But at around 15 quid a pop they are really a throw away item once blunted...

What are you cutting with them? Mine are several years old and totally fine, would cut 16mm tails without bother and 10mm T&E also with ease. Limp wrists?

 

[Dustydazzler]

What are you cutting with them? Mine are several years old and totally fine, would cut 16mm tails without bother and 10mm T&E also with ease. Limp wrists?

The small ones I use for cutting everything from twin n earth to coax to Fp cables. I probably have cut other stuff like galv capping with them and maybe the odd steel wire...

 

[123]

The small ones I use for cutting everything from twin n earth to coax to Fp cables. I probably have cut other stuff like galv capping with them and maybe the odd steel wire...

Not the fault of the tool then, it's been used incorrectly. It's like saying a battery drill is garbage cause it was used as a hammer?

 

[daviddarwin]

One of the first tiny diagonal cutters I ever purchased was IGAN when I first started working as a handyman for hire. I purchased this pair because of its cutting capacity; it can handle steel wires up to 1/16-inch thick and copper wires up to 9 gauge. I have the freedom to cut just about any wire I would often come across in everyday work thanks to that.