Flush cutters for pcb work
 

Found the rip off tool thread but couldn't see any recommendations. I'm after a pair of flush cutters for pcb work with leaded components. Last set were from RS but they snapped and the ones on there look expensive for what they are. There are some Italian ones online for about a fiver that “look” OK but any tried and tested recommends appreciated.

Re: Flush cutters for pcb work
 

I always buy these. They last a good year a pair https://www.amazon.co.uk/Piergiacomi...dp/B003UQWJAA/

Re: Flush cutters for pcb work
 

I used to have some Lindstrom ones but they 'went walkabout' [I know who took them: your day-of-judgement will come...]

Last ones I bought were from Maplin about a month before they closed-for-good. So far they seem to have been a good buy (which isn't really that much help to you, I know).

Knipex is another brand to look for: pricey, but sometimes available on special offer.

Re: Flush cutters for pcb work
 

I think of Xcelite 170M as the go-to mid-price flush-cutters- as often with US-origin stuff, they look basic but are actually pretty good. They are made in China now though (isn't everything....), hopefully Xcelite are watchful on quality control as components increasingly have steel leads.

Re: Flush cutters for pcb work
 

Thanks, I had been looking at those italian ones, will try a pair

Re: Flush cutters for pcb work
 

I have used the Duratech 115mm Stainless Steel Side Cutters for near on 15 years and only broken one pair (trying to cut something I shouldn't have).

Because they have a truly flat back, they can be resharpened easily with a bench grinder.

Re: Flush cutters for pcb work
 

I now use these and they're great value.

Re: Flush cutters for pcb work
 

Bought a pair of these from a member here, they're excellent quality and precision.
Tsunoda PM-120 TTC
Greg.
Did use lidstrom cutters until an ex colleague did a gorilla job on them and broke the jaws, we parted friends though i did splutter at the time!.

Re: Flush cutters for pcb work
 

I did post this some time ago. Pack price is £7 but for that you get side cutters + long nosed ( with a cutting blade) + a pair of wire forming pliers. All circa 10.5- 12 cm long.
https://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/advance...ery=plier+sets.
They've also got two side cutters ,one @£10 but in stainless and another pair @£4.5.
https://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/advance...y=side+cutters

Re: Flush cutters for pcb work
 

Thanks for the heads-up on the Piergiacomi cutters- I bought a couple of them from an eBay source and they're rather good for about half the price of the Xcelites- maybe not quite the same viciously crisp edges but a pleasing action and without the gumminess of the Xcelite grips, which can be irritating with concentrated use. (I'm not a fan of Nextel-type coatings or gummy headphone leads etc.- I'm sure the marketing folk maintain that it endows quality or something but to me it seems as if an ingredient was left out of the plastic formulation).

Re: Flush cutters for pcb work
 

I bought a pair of Harbor Freight Chinese knockoffs of the Xcelite cutters and they cut like a dream! I decided I wanted another pair and they were sold out, with a delivery date, later in the month. When they restocked, I got three more pair and they all cut equally well.
It seems that they're going to discontinue them. :shrug:
Dave, a bit of OCD. :beer:

Re: Flush cutters for pcb work
 

Thanks for the tip mr Bungle....Timely as I need a new pair....just ordered a set to try!
Mike

Re: Flush cutters for pcb work
 

In days-gone-by I had some PCB lead-cutters that as well as cutting the lead nice and close to the PCB they flattened the component-end of the lead out into a neat fan-shape - so as to stop the component-with-its-cropped-leads falling out of the board.before you soldered it.

These were brilliant because you could 'populate' the board with a dozen resistors, capacitors etc at a time, then solder the leads. Really sped-up the process!

They also had a little foam-lined tube between the cutting jaws, into which the component-tail was pushed before you cropped it, brilliant to stop cut-off 'tails' going everywhere.

Alas I lost these cutter-flatteners in a lab-move and can't remember the make!

Does anyone remember these too? and if so, who made them?

Re: Flush cutters for pcb work
 

The cutters recommended by mr Bungle turned up today. The soft touch grips are very comfortable ...seem like a nice bit of kit for £6 incl the postage.