Author Topic: Good Side Cutters For Small Electronics Work  (Read 29264 times)

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Offline nanofrog

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Re: Good Side Cutters For Small Electronics Work
« Reply #25 on: May 19, 2012, 08:48:36 pm »
careful with the Lindstroms.
Any comments made are based on themodels that I persally own :

http://www.lindstromtools.com/tools_cutters_80_assort.htm

I have the following :

Model 80 ( obsolete )
Model 8141
Model 8211
Model 8160

i cannot comment on any other models. I stick to the yellow series as this is what started lindstrom. The others are most certainly NOT lindstrom designs but were 'absorbed' from other companies when they were under Sandvik control. Up till the acquisition there was only the yellow series ( 80 series  ).

i have one of the 'white series' normal pliers ( not cutters ) and they are 'flimsy'. i don't like those..
After watching a video on youtube, I got the impression the Yellow and RX series only differed by the handles that were attached.
 

Offline free_electron

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Re: Good Side Cutters For Small Electronics Work
« Reply #26 on: May 19, 2012, 09:18:24 pm »
i honestly don't know ... so i stick to the yellow series..
Professional Electron Wrangler.
Any comments, or points of view expressed, are my own and not endorsed , induced or compensated by my employer(s).
 

Offline robrenz

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Re: Good Side Cutters For Small Electronics Work
« Reply #27 on: May 19, 2012, 09:35:39 pm »
I have pair of the RX ergo blue handle style.  They are very high quality and very comfortable.

Offline Jason Long

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Re: Good Side Cutters For Small Electronics Work
« Reply #28 on: May 19, 2012, 09:43:53 pm »
This is copied from Lindstroms website in reference to the 80 series cutters (the yellow handled ones)
Quote

Lindstrom 80-Series cutters

Tried and true performance for the traditional user

Surpassed only by our own Lindstrom Rx range, the Lindstrom 80-Series remains the top choice for the traditional user. This range of cutters offers unsurpassed cutting capacity covering a wide range of wire dimensions and types.
The technology that truly "started it all".


http://www.lindstromtools.com/tools_cutters_80.htm

If Lindstrom makes both and plainly states that one is better than the other, I'm prepared to take their word for it.

That's not to say the older "Swiss made" versions aren't better than the current "Make in Spain" versions... I have no clue.
 

Offline NekoBrinch

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Re: Good Side Cutters For Small Electronics Work
« Reply #29 on: March 20, 2023, 09:58:45 am »
"Swiss made"???
 

Offline jonpaul

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Re: Good Side Cutters For Small Electronics Work
« Reply #30 on: March 20, 2023, 11:08:37 am »
You get what you pay for:  Since 1960s I have found:

Best: Swedish Lindstrom (calibrated to Cu wire dia in mm!)
Swiss  EREM
Old US Plato

OK: US
Xelite
Channelok

WORST: Anything from China

Jon

 

 
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Offline Psi

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Re: Good Side Cutters For Small Electronics Work
« Reply #31 on: March 20, 2023, 12:22:29 pm »
Lindstroms are amazingly good, but one word of warning.
I feel like there is either 2 factories making them and one is much better than the other,
 OR
There are fake Lindstroms being sold, sometimes at reputable places.

Because I have seen really awesome quality Lindstroms (I have 2 yellow cutters and 3 white pliers)
but I have also seen some "nothing special" quality Lindstroms, usually the blue ones, but yellow too.

So i dunno what to make of it.
Greek letter 'Psi' (not Pounds per Square Inch)
 

Offline jonpaul

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Re: Good Side Cutters For Small Electronics Work
« Reply #32 on: March 20, 2023, 01:24:57 pm »
My Lindstroms are the very old white, "Made in Sweden" and at least from 1971..1975 period.

No doubt other versions and colors exist and that the Chinese are illegally knocking them off.

The genuine ones are very distinctive, look at the handle plastic cover details, text and box joint for spotting knockoffs.

The originals cost $40...80 each!

Jon
Jean-Paul  the Internet Dinosaur
 
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Offline Karel

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Re: Good Side Cutters For Small Electronics Work
« Reply #33 on: March 20, 2023, 02:19:50 pm »
 

Offline unknownparticle

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Re: Good Side Cutters For Small Electronics Work
« Reply #34 on: March 20, 2023, 07:50:39 pm »
Lindstrom if you have the budget, Knipex if you need more affordable.
DC coupling is the devils work!!
 

Offline Gyro

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Re: Good Side Cutters For Small Electronics Work
« Reply #35 on: March 20, 2023, 08:13:45 pm »
More and more components seem to be coming with increasingly tough steel leads these days. It may be that the days if fully flush, as opposed to micro bevel, are over for anything other than very fine work.

It's worth keeping an economical pair of cutters with carbide inserts around to remove the temptation to use your fine cutters inappropriately.
Best Regards, Chris

"Victor Meldrew, the Crimson Avenger!"
 

Offline unknownparticle

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Re: Good Side Cutters For Small Electronics Work
« Reply #36 on: March 20, 2023, 08:48:42 pm »
Steel leads??!!  Really?  Have you tested with a magnet?
DC coupling is the devils work!!
 

Offline Gyro

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Re: Good Side Cutters For Small Electronics Work
« Reply #37 on: March 20, 2023, 09:15:46 pm »
Oh yes. Try a magnet on the average through hole resistor (or the lead offcuts on your bench).  ;)


P.S. Also try a selection of signal diodes, TO92 transistors etc. You don't notice the effort as much but the pressure is concentrated on a smaller area of cutting edge.
« Last Edit: March 20, 2023, 09:31:25 pm by Gyro »
Best Regards, Chris

"Victor Meldrew, the Crimson Avenger!"
 

Offline Infraviolet

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Re: Good Side Cutters For Small Electronics Work
« Reply #38 on: March 20, 2023, 09:58:01 pm »
Post #36, yes I've found steel leads on parts too. And I have seen them magnetically attracted. I've ound this with LEDs and header pins, including headers bought from official component suppliers, not just "off-brand" chinese ones.
 

Offline EPAIII

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Re: Good Side Cutters For Small Electronics Work
« Reply #39 on: March 21, 2023, 06:11:40 am »
I have a 50 year old pair of Xcelites that I have sharpened several times. Had to tighten the pivot too.

Then I tried some of the brand X, sheet metal style and they were OK, but didn't last.

So I bought three Klines of that style and they are going great. I like them. Probably not as good as the expensive ones with carbide inserts but I'm a hobbyist, not a production company. And they cut flush, not semi-flush. IIRC, they were around $8 USD each about five years ago.
Paul A.  -   SE Texas
And if you look REAL close at an analog signal,
You will find that it has discrete steps.
 

Offline jonpaul

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Re: Good Side Cutters For Small Electronics Work
« Reply #40 on: March 21, 2023, 04:24:17 pm »
I was very lucky to have accumulated a collection of small electronic tools, diagonal cutters, pliers, since 1970.

From work, Ham radio flea markets, street sales, silent key estates....

Some were 1950s, my Grandfather's!!!

Favorites....
Erem Switzerland
Lindstrom Sweden
Plato, USA

Your thoughts appreciated!

Jon
Jean-Paul  the Internet Dinosaur
 

Offline nvmR

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Re: Good Side Cutters For Small Electronics Work
« Reply #41 on: March 21, 2023, 06:04:21 pm »
I'm in the same boat as jonpaul, very happy to have been handed down a bunch of hand tools, including side cutters.
Could you guys recommend what to do when the original rubber sleeves fall apart? I tried scouring ali for rubber sleeves, but nothing appropriate.
They seem to prefer I buy new ones  >:D
 

Offline unknownparticle

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Re: Good Side Cutters For Small Electronics Work
« Reply #42 on: March 21, 2023, 06:42:47 pm »
Heat shrink, or silicone rubber tube?
DC coupling is the devils work!!
 

Offline nvmR

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Re: Good Side Cutters For Small Electronics Work
« Reply #43 on: March 21, 2023, 06:44:49 pm »
Thanks, I'm looking for that rubber tube that is closed on one side.
 

Offline unknownparticle

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Re: Good Side Cutters For Small Electronics Work
« Reply #44 on: March 21, 2023, 06:56:15 pm »
Oh yes. Try a magnet on the average through hole resistor (or the lead offcuts on your bench).  ;)


P.S. Also try a selection of signal diodes, TO92 transistors etc. You don't notice the effort as much but the pressure is concentrated on a smaller area of cutting edge.

Moses sandals, it's true!!! :wtf:  Just tested a load of random components, Vishay and Nichicon caps, diodes, chips, trannies, resistors, more are steel than copper!  I am astonished!  So it must be tinned or tin plated steel?  I'm guessing this must be due to the high price of copper?
This must have been going on for a long time because I also tested some NOS caps and resistors from around the 80's and some of those were steel too!!  Oooooh, I feel dirty!!  It's like my hobby has been corrupted by the cheap and nasty brigade!
DC coupling is the devils work!!
 

Offline unknownparticle

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Re: Good Side Cutters For Small Electronics Work
« Reply #45 on: March 21, 2023, 06:58:03 pm »
Thanks, I'm looking for that rubber tube that is closed on one side.

You mean like a D shape?  You might find a D shaped silicone rubber extrusion.
DC coupling is the devils work!!
 
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Offline tooki

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Re: Good Side Cutters For Small Electronics Work
« Reply #46 on: March 21, 2023, 07:28:36 pm »
"Swiss made"???
Back when I was living in USA, you can’t imagine how many times I heard “Oh, you used to live in Switzerland? How’s your Swedish?” (To which I often replied “very poor, since I’ve never been to Sweden and the only Swedish I know is from the IKEA catalog.” :P)

At least in Spanish I can understand mixing up the two: Switzerland is Suiza and Sweden is Suecia. But in English the only thing in common is starting with “Sw” and containing an E, N and D elsewhere in the name…

A related pet peeve that I see a lot over here from foreigners, especially in writing, is referring to the country  as “Swiss” (as a noun) instead of “Switzerland”, for example “I’ll text you when I get back to Swiss.”
 

Offline m k

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Re: Good Side Cutters For Small Electronics Work
« Reply #47 on: March 22, 2023, 10:50:41 am »
jonpaul's topmost white from lower picture.
Its buddy is missing, angled one of the same series.
And of course bigger ones for bigger things.
Not available any more I guess.

Maybe angled flat nose next.

Dentist's mirror can also be quite practical if you must peek.
Advance-Aneng-Appa-AVO-Data Tech-Fluke-General Radio-H. W. Sullivan-Heathkit-HP-Kaise-Kyoritsu-Leeds & Northrup-Mastech-REO-Simpson-Sinclair-Tektronix-Triplett-YFE
(plus lesser brands from the work shop of the world)
 

Offline tom66

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Re: Good Side Cutters For Small Electronics Work
« Reply #48 on: March 22, 2023, 10:58:26 am »
I use the dark blue sidecutters in Jonpaul's picture, or a good clone of them.  They work great, and still good after 3-4 years of moderate usage.  I don't think I paid more than about £5-10 for them either.
 

Offline jonpaul

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Re: Good Side Cutters For Small Electronics Work
« Reply #49 on: March 22, 2023, 11:55:29 am »
Rebonjour a tous....My pliers/cutters  photos are  e small tools for precision electronic work, I have no shown the  large sizes for electrical/power 

1. White LINDSTROM :

 diagonal cutters #3601   read " 0.2...1.2 mm copper wire"
1970s were  before the Chinese fake wire with steel core.

Small end cutter is 3507

pliers: 890/7890 long needle nose
870/7893 small  needle nose

2. Tool  Handles : Used to be a thick plastic dip for exactly insulation and repairing tool  handle grips. Large shrink tube or thin walled   clear tubing may work.

3. You get what you pay for. A high quality tool will cost 2..4x the Chinese knockoff.

4. EREM Swiss (from Switzerland!)  green handle, just a notch below the Lindstrom.

5. Plato 170 shears: : Dark blue side cutters a classic. Have several,
Plato specialized in production tooling, like solder pots, desolder, rework. 
Light blue Xcelite #170M is very similar but not a good.

___________
 A good tool lasts a lifetime....tips...
NEVER loan a tool
Never misuse a tool
Clean corrosion and lube joint as needed.
Keep valuable tools (like Lindstrom!) in a secure or locked toolbox.

Just the memoires of an old retire EE!

Jon
Jean-Paul  the Internet Dinosaur
 


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