Small Sidecutter Recommendation - Page 2 - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

turretslug · 22nd Jul 2017, 5:32 pm

A vote for Lindstrom here, too- if you're keen and your wallet will stretch to it! I have often heard CK praised and I do use them day-to-day but in the past I have had the jaws on CK side-cutters fracture and break off just trimming standard copper tails on PCBs- poor treatment process. I suspect that they may be a victim of "Germanism"- the acqusition of a renowned brand by a multi-national corporation whose bean-counters out-source and steadily erode production costs but continue to ask a premium price solely on the basis of the brand.

af024 · 22nd Jul 2017, 5:47 pm

Lindstrom gets my thumbs up - had a pair (green arms) for well over 30 years and still as good as ever - fantastic!

BulgingCap · 25th Jul 2017, 3:46 pm

I seem to recall that my Lindstrom full flush oblique cutters, which are still going strong after 40 years, are rated at 1mm un-tinned copper wire. This sprang to mind today whilst repairing a Chinese made SMPS that had corroded (rusty) resistor leads and board interconnects. Many components from The Middle Kingdom have plated steel leads.
Just a thought.
One of my Lindstroms has a notch in the cutter blades from when it was borrowed without permission and someone (incidentally, in China...) cut a locking wire on a screw with them.
BC

PsychMan · 26th Jul 2017, 8:50 am

Thanks for all the posts, its a big help. I may opt for CK, purely on price, though when Im more flush I will probably get some Lindstroms.

I instantly recognised the pictures of Erem cutters that were posted, as my other half has some for modelling work and I occasionally pinch them!

They are great and very small for fitting into hard to reach areas

bobskie · 26th Jul 2017, 9:30 am

I have a CK wire stripper which seems very well made and does the job perfectly. I haven't had it for long but it seems like a good quality bit of kit. I need to look at getting myself some new sidecutters my cheap pair got ruined just cutting a few capacitors.

Mike Phelan · 26th Jul 2017, 10:02 am

Though these are really cheap, I've used them for a few years now for snipping component wires:
http://cpc.farnell.com/duratool/d030...s-5/dp/TL08617
No good for hard steel, of course, but for anything like that I use my Leatherman - though seeming expensive they have never failed me.
http://www.leatherman.co.uk/wave/10....lor=41#start=1

Damo666 · 1st Aug 2017, 1:34 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by G8UWM-MildMartin

The cheap Chinese blue-handled copies of Plato ones are much better than I expected for the price, and worth having half a dozen of in addition to a "best" pair.

I have a few pairs of these that have served me well for a couple of years, but 1 pair isn't quite as sharp as the others.

They cost be 99p per piece from China via eBay.

22nd Jul 2017, 5:32 pm	#21
turretslug Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Surrey, UK. Posts: 4,395	Re: Small Sidecutter Recommendation A vote for Lindstrom here, too- if you're keen and your wallet will stretch to it! I have often heard CK praised and I do use them day-to-day but in the past I have had the jaws on CK side-cutters fracture and break off just trimming standard copper tails on PCBs- poor treatment process. I suspect that they may be a victim of "Germanism"- the acqusition of a renowned brand by a multi-national corporation whose bean-counters out-source and steadily erode production costs but continue to ask a premium price solely on the basis of the brand.

22nd Jul 2017, 5:47 pm	#22
af024 Octode Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ashby-de-la-Zouch (it's not by the sea) Posts: 1,255	Re: Small Sidecutter Recommendation Lindstrom gets my thumbs up - had a pair (green arms) for well over 30 years and still as good as ever - fantastic! __________________ Now where on earth did I remove that from? Last edited by af024; 22nd Jul 2017 at 5:48 pm. Reason: sp

25th Jul 2017, 3:46 pm	#23
BulgingCap Pentode Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: South Coast, Western Australia. Posts: 129	Re: Small Sidecutter Recommendation I seem to recall that my Lindstrom full flush oblique cutters, which are still going strong after 40 years, are rated at 1mm un-tinned copper wire. This sprang to mind today whilst repairing a Chinese made SMPS that had corroded (rusty) resistor leads and board interconnects. Many components from The Middle Kingdom have plated steel leads. Just a thought. One of my Lindstroms has a notch in the cutter blades from when it was borrowed without permission and someone (incidentally, in China...) cut a locking wire on a screw with them. BC

26th Jul 2017, 8:50 am	#24
PsychMan Octode Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Fleet, Hampshire, UK Posts: 1,764	Re: Small Sidecutter Recommendation Thanks for all the posts, its a big help. I may opt for CK, purely on price, though when Im more flush I will probably get some Lindstroms. I instantly recognised the pictures of Erem cutters that were posted, as my other half has some for modelling work and I occasionally pinch them! They are great and very small for fitting into hard to reach areas

26th Jul 2017, 9:30 am	#25
bobskie Hexode Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Falkirk, Stirling, UK. Posts: 336	Re: Small Sidecutter Recommendation I have a CK wire stripper which seems very well made and does the job perfectly. I haven't had it for long but it seems like a good quality bit of kit. I need to look at getting myself some new sidecutters my cheap pair got ruined just cutting a few capacitors.

26th Jul 2017, 10:02 am	#26
Mike Phelan Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Near Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK Posts: 4,609	Re: Small Sidecutter Recommendation Though these are really cheap, I've used them for a few years now for snipping component wires: http://cpc.farnell.com/duratool/d030...s-5/dp/TL08617 No good for hard steel, of course, but for anything like that I use my Leatherman - though seeming expensive they have never failed me. http://www.leatherman.co.uk/wave/10....lor=41#start=1 __________________ Mike.