Strippers, flush cutters, pliers, tweezer recommendations? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: AnyNameWillDo
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2018, 02:57:26 pm
content: I'm a buy-for-lifer so I'd prefer to buy nicer tools that I only have to buy once.Can anyone speak to models like these? Would I be missing out on anything if I got these tools? Or any compelling reasons to go with other recommendations?Strippers:IRWIN VISE-GRIP Wire Stripper/Cutter/Crimper, 7", 2078317:https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000JNLUN4/(Or would it be better to get something like)Hakko CHP CSP-30-1 Wire Stripper, 30-20 Gauge Maximum Cutting Capacity:https://www.amazon.com/Hakko-CSP-30-1-Stripper-Maximum-Capacity/dp/B00FZPHMUG/Flush Cutters:CHP-170 Micro Cutter:https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FZPDG1K/(Would I need any other kind of wire cutters other than flush cutters? Stronger flush cutters?)Pliers:Stanley 84-114 3 Piece Basic 6-Inch Slip Joint, 6-Inch Long Nose, and 6-Inch Diagonal Plier Set:https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006HVU4W/Or, maybe these two (round-nose and flat-jaw)?KNIPEX 34 32 130 ESD Precision Electronics Pliers:https://www.amazon.com/KNIPEX-34-130-ESD-Electronics/dp/B005EXO072/KNIPEX 35 12 115 ESD Electronics Pliers:https://www.amazon.com/KNIPEX-35-115-ESD-Electronics/dp/B005EXO068/Tweezers:Wiha 44501 Stainless Steel Fine Point Professional ESD Precision Tech Tweezer with Static Dissipative Grip and Hypo Allergenic, 130mm Overall Length:https://www.amazon.com/Wiha-44501-Professional-Dissipative-Allergenic/dp/B0009K3IAK/Or is it better to get a kit like:Precision Tweezers Set, ElleSye 10 PCS ESD Tweezer Set, Anti-Static Stainless Steel Tweezers Kit Curved Tweezers for Craft, Jewelry, Electronics, Laboratory Work:https://www.amazon.com/Precision-Anti-Static-Stainless-Electronics-Laboratory/dp/B071KCBXPR/

author: ocset
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2018, 09:42:03 pm
content: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Maplin-Miniature-Cutters-Electronic-Assembly/dp/B00T659VDW..these were the best side cutters (flush cutters) i ever had......from maplin in uk, but now its gone bust....dont you still have an electronics hardware store in USA?....i am sure its called something like Tandy?...go in and see it before you buy it is best

author: TomS_
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2018, 09:59:49 pm
content: Those tweezers look similar to a set I have, which are branded Pixnor (although the branding has mostly worn off on the ones I use most frequently). Mine were individually packaged, and lets just say I shouldnt be short of them for a while...They are incredibly pointy too, one day a pair of them fell off my table and, well, the picture speaks for itself.Ive lost count of the number of times Ive drawn blood through some accidental encounters with the ends of them.More:Im also trying to get my collection of "tools to take to the grave" together, so here is some of the stuff I am using which has been working well so far...Personally, I have two pairs of Knipex 78 13 125 ESD side cutters. They come with a "lead catcher", and I have one set with them attached and the other without. Its really handy being able to switch between them quickly without having to muck around attaching and removing the lead catcher. Can highly recommend.For wire strippers, I have a pair of these which I could honestly say work well for me:https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B074SDPK4FI find them great for stripping little bits off for crimping terminals, ala JST headers etc. For the crimping itself I use:https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B076792R2CI also have a pair of these for stripping Kynar insulated wires (once you get it dialled in it works absolute wonders):https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/cable-strippers/8640776/The above could also do some slightly bigger gauges, but Ive left mine set for 30AWG Kynar.Screwdriver set .. it might be a little pricey, but the iFixit screwdriver set is reeeeallly nice. And comes with more tweezers, which also look like my Pixnor tweezers.I havent yet bought any pliers, so cant comment on that.

author: Richard Crowley
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2018, 10:17:13 pm
content: @treez, over here in the Colonies, RadioShack (Tandy) essentially went bankrupt about a year ago, and only a modest online shop remains. None of their tools were particularly notable, IIRC.IME, cutters (or at least flush-cutters) and strippers are "consumables" unless you go to the expense of tooling (and expenditure of learning time) to sharpen them. And most of the really good flush-cutters aren't really very sharpenable in the long-term. I have no expectation that I can "buy quality once", so I am resigned to finding reaasonably good, "disposable" flush-cutters. My current favorite (which is currently available) are these..Hakko CHP Micro Cutter, Clean Cut, 16 AWG around US$5 each...https://www.amazon.com/Hakko-CHP-Micro-Cutter-Clean/dp/B0063GL7UM/

author: AnyNameWillDo
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2018, 10:21:55 pm
content: Hard for me to tell but is that the same flush cutter I linked above?

author: Richard Crowley
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2018, 10:24:16 pm
content: Quote from: AnyNameWillDo on July 21, 2018, 10:21:55 pmYes, Hakko CHP-170

author: Richard Crowley
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2018, 10:35:47 pm
content: Back when I was a young, impressionable teen, my technical education was "perverted" by an itinerant telephone installer. He showed me how he strips wire with ordinary cutters (dikes), eschewing the traditional "wire stripper" tools. I have used that technique ever since for >95% of all wire stripping jobs. There are only a very few that (IME) require "real" wire-stripper" tools.Certainly not "NASA-quality" "zero-nicks". But good enough that I have XLR microphone cables approaching 50 years old that have never failed.But I am fascinated by that wire stripper tool that BigClive uses. It looks like a hideous, overgrown viper and he says he has had it for a long time. I can't easily find any reference he made to it, and it could be that is no longer available?

author: Richard Crowley
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2018, 10:54:15 pm
content: Quote from: tsman on July 21, 2018, 10:50:00 pmThat looks like 3-4 generations newer, plastic version of than the one I see in the YT videos.

author: Relayer
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2018, 12:58:56 am
content: Hello AnyNameWillDo,Strippers:Any of the two you linked.Flush Cutters:Micro-nippers (Made in Japan) 115mm (NS04) or the 125mm (NS05) (length), to which I've used sincestarting my hobby in 1983, then to my apprenticeship in 1991. I've never had to replace either one.Micro NippersWhat ever type you decide on, make sure they are made from S58C steel and NOT stainless steel.Pliers:A set of long-nose and bull-nose pliers would do well, though they are notoverly critical, as long as they won't rust and have a comfortable feel.Tweezers:Definitely made of stainless steel, but also being non-static and if youcan get them with a coating, that would be ideal. The coating helps with the grip as well as ESD.Get a pair with a very fine straight tip, and a pair with a bull tip, especially if you use SMD components.This set would be great:Tweezer SetRegards,Relayer