25 Jan
2007
25 Jan
'07
3:47 a.m.
On Tue, 23 Jan 2007, dwight elvey wrote:
Flush cutters are also very handy for trimming or removing wires on
crowded or high density connection blocks (66, 110, BIX, Krone, System D,
Cosmic, etc). That's why I carry at least one pair in each of my telecom
bags and cases these days.
For very large wire or multi-pair cable, I tend to use a pair of Klein or
Greenlee cable cutters. They have a bypass shearing type blades and leave
a nice clean edge. Ideal, Greenlee, and Paladin also make smaller versions
that they market for data cabling, though They can be very useful for
regular wire up to about 10-8 AWG too.
For the *really* big jobs, I have a pair of GMP 66250 "Texas Cutters"
http://www.gmptools.com/nf/66250.htm The handles are about 3ft long, and
will easily cut up to a 3" data cable. I'd like to buy a pair of
ratcheting cutters for large cables, but I don't really want to spend
$300-400 on them right now.
-Toth
From:
"Jay West" <jwest at classiccmp.org>
Ok, I'll reveal my ignorance... what's this talk of a flush cutter for
trimming leads? I have a pair of electricians scissors that work
wonderfully. Can someone educate me on what I'd need something like the
flush cutter's mentioned previously for?
Hi Jay
Most cutters tend to pinch the wire, leaving a sharp edge that can
easily slice fingers. Also, at times when making piggy back boards it is
desired to keep things close trimmed. I have both flush and regular
cutters but find most times, I like the flush ones.
Cutting larger size solid wire, the flush cut can leave an almost flat
end ( sometimes needed for special cases ).
Of course, I wish to get a new carbide flush cutters. If you've ever
used the carbide ones, you'll understand. Especially if you have
hundreds of cuts to do. The cutting effort is easily reduced to less
then 30% than regular steel cutters. They are much more expensive as
well and one should never loan them out as I had done :(
Dwight