The Top Features to Look for in a Quality Wire Cutter
Wire cutters are an essential tool for the at-home kits as you may require them at some point with electrical wiring or cables. Whether you are a professional or a DIY enthusiast, having quality cable cutters makes all the difference in the efficiency and precision of your work. The versatility allows the users to perform various tasks such as cutting steel wires, cable railing installations, crimping wires, and removing screws.
However, with so many options available on the market, it can be challenging to determine which wire cutter is right for you. In this blog, we will highlight the different types of cutter wire, their specific use, and the top features to look for when choosing a quality wire cutter.
Different Types of Cable Cutters
Cable cutters are tools designed to cut through cables or wired cleanly and efficiently. They come in various types, each suited to different applications. Here are some of the most common types of cable cutters available on the market:
- The initial category of wire cutters is flush cutters, which share many design features with regular pliers. Although the blades of flush cutters are designed to make clean cuts, while also eliminating sharp points that could harm your hands. However, they may require more force to cut stainless steel wires as compared to other types of cutters. For bending wired and small cables and some models that come with bolt cutters for cutting screws and flushing nails, flush cutters can also be used.
- Unlike the previously discussed flush cutters, the hydraulic hand crimper tool works by using hydraulic pressure to apply force to the connector, which then compresses onto the wire or cable. Providing 60KN of crimping force, it creates a tight, secure connection that can withstand the rigors of daily use. One of the advantages of using a hydraulic crimper tool is its efficiency and consistency, making it perfect for crimping stainless steel cable railing kits that require more strength and power. This makes it an ideal tool for professionals who need to make multiple connections quickly and accurately.
- Heavy-duty cable cutters are designed for cutting through cables and wires. These features rounded tapered thicker jaws made of high-frequency quenching that provides a clean cut without fraying the cable. These with tiny tips enables easy manipulation of delicate wires and navigation in cramped locations where standard flush-cut pliers may not be able to function. Some designs come with safety locks that prevent accidental opens and cuts that might hurt your as well as help to grip material in tight spots. The ergonomic one-hand operation and lightweight make it easy to use and carry.
How to Choose the Right Cable Cutters
As a buyer, it is crucial to understand the importance of this section as this tool is often used to refer to a range of tools that may appear similar but serve different purposes.
What's more, it can be disappointing to purchase a wire cutter only to realize later that it cannot perform the task you intended it for, that is cutting your stainless steel cables for railing installation. Therefore, when choosing a stainless cable cutter, it is essential to understand several important features to ensure you are getting a quality tool that can handle your needs.
- Made to fit your application: The first thing you need to identify is the purpose of using the wire cutter. Certain cutter wires are designed to remove insulation from wires, while others can be used to twist wires. All you need to have is a clear understanding of your requirements, this way you can determine whether the wire cutters you are considering purchasing are pliers, hydraulic crimpers, heavy-duty cutters, or any other specific types that suit your needs.
- Design of cable cutters: When choosing a set of wire cutters, it is recommended to look for ones with a pivot point situated close to the jaws as it provides increased cutting power and leverage, making it more stable and better to secure stainless steel cable railing kits. Whereas a low-quality pivot can loosen over time, resulting in blades that are challenging to give you a clean cut. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure that the pivot point is well-built with hardened steel to prevent such issues.
- Ergonomic Handle: Comfort is important, especially if you will be using the wire cutter for extended periods of time. To ensure optimal performance, the handle length and material are crucial factors to consider. For instance, longer handles provide greater leverage for smoother cuts, but they may be difficult to use in confined spaces. In contrast, smaller handles fit into tight areas but require more manual force to cut. So the size of the handle also affects the ease of operation. It is important to look for a tool with a comfortable grip that is ergonomically designed to reduce hand fatigue, making it easy to grip and control.
- Wide applications: You want to ensure that it can cut through different types of wires you will be using it on, and that it can handle the size of the wire you will be working with. The hydraulic hand crimper tool is a versatile and multi-purpose tool that can handle a wide range of applications. One of the main advantages of this tool is its ability to work with different sizes of dies, making it a versatile choice for a variety of jobs. Whether you need to crimp ferrules or Cooper products, this tool has you covered.
- Cutting or crimping ability: Precise crimping ability is what you need to easily crimp the cables to the proper tension. The wire rope cutters are equipped with a sharp and robust blade, manufactured from Chrome Vanadium steel, and treated with high-frequency quenching to ensure durability. This makes it a great tool for professional contractors or DIY enthusiasts who want to ensure the safety and longevity of their cable railing installations.
- Durable blades: The cutting blades are also an important part of the wire cutter. You need to look for a tool with sharp, precision ground-cutting blades with exceptional strength which enables it to make precise and clean cuts without leaving burrs, fraying the cable ends, or damaging the wire.
- Safety features: Finally, before you shop for any one of the cable cutters you need to look for safety features such as locking mechanisms or sheaths to protect the blades when not in use and to prevent accidental cuts or injuries.