Many DIY fans find themselves cutting wires during varioustasks.
Although cutting wire might not seem difficult, you need totake steps to choose the right tool for the job and take the necessary safety precautions.
Read on for our full guide.
First choose the right cutters for your wire
The cuttingpliers you want to choose will depend on the type and thickness of wireyou’re looking to cut.
You also need to consider any space restrictions around yourcutting target and whether you need multiple functions in one tool (e.g.cutting and bending).
It’s also important that the cutting jaws are hardened toensure they don’t go blunt after minimal use.
Best cutters for heavy duty solid wire
When cutting heavy duty wire, you want pliers with a larger“land” width (the actual width of the cutting edge), which are not as sharp, butprovide much more leverage against a single piece of metal wire.
If you’re working in a smaller space, then the SideCutter Parallel Plier For Hard Wire Comfort Grips 140 mm is a good option,whereas if you need maximum leverage for cutting hard wire up to 3 mm indiameter, then the SideCutter Parallel Plier For Hard Wire Comfort Grips 200 mm is a good option.
Best cutters for multi-strand electrical wire
Cutting through multi-strand electrical wire requires diagonalcutting pliers with a small “land” width and very sharp jaws, which allows themto cut through multi-strand electrical wire in one cutting motion.
If you need a smaller pair of cutters for small spaces, thenthe DiagonalCutting Plier For Hard Wire Comfort Grips 140 mm is a great option. Whereasif you need maximum leverage for thick soft wire up to 4 mm diameter, then gofor the DiagonalCutting Plier For Hard Wire 160 mm.
*Note: these pliers are not insulated, and so cannot beused on live electrical wire.
How to cut wire with pliers
Once you’ve chosen the right cutter, here is the best methodto use when cutting wire:
1. Ensure your workspace is clear.
2. Put on safety goggles and gloves.
3. Hold the pliers in your dominant hand.
4. Position the wire at 90 degrees to cutting jawsof your pliers.
5. Apply pressure until the wire is cut, this mayrequire two hands.
6. Release the pliers once the wire has been cut.
Types of Pliers
Diagonal cutting pliers
Diagonal cutting pliers are also referred to as side cutters.
These versatile cutters can be used to cut various wiretypes and gauges, and they come with a sharp, angled cutting edge thatsimplifies the process of cutting wire both cleanly and effectively (cleanercuts than scissor-type cutters).
They tend to be great for cutting soft wire, includingcopper wire.
Needle-nose pliers
Needle-nose pliers have long and narrow jaws which taper toa point. They can be highly efficient when working in tight spaces and when youneed to cut or manipulate small wires. If they have a cutter, they can be effectivewhen you need to cut soft, thin wires, including jewellery wire.
Combination pliers
Combination pliers (also known as Lineman’s pliers) are robustpliers designed to help you cut and grip/twist wire. They come complete with asturdy cutting function and can cut through thick materials, such as aluminiumand steel wire. They are often used to cut and twist wire in electrical work.
Shop allMaun pliers here
Safety precautions
Here are the most important safety precautions to take whencutting wire with pliers:
- Eye and hand protection – wire can be sharp,particularly when cut, so ensure you wear gloves and googles when cutting metalwire. Make sure your gloves and googles fit properly, as exposed skin will beat risk of an accident.
- Insulated pliers for live electrical work – ifyou’re working with live electrical wire, you must use insulated pliers thatare at the right voltage and current ratings for what you’re working on.
- Securing the wire – if the wire is moving whileyou’re cutting it, this can increase the chances of an accident, so using a clampcan help with this.
- Check pliers before cutting – it’s important tocheck the condition of your cutting pliers before using them, in case they aredamaged or have gone blunt over time. This will prevent accidents from needingexcessive force or the tool breaking.
Did you know that you can save money with Maun Pliers sets?
How to cut wire cleanly and effectively
- Ensure the wire is positioned securely in thejaws of the pliers before you start cutting.
- Choose the right kind of pliers for the wire youare cutting. Using pliers that are too small for the wire can damage thecutting face.
- Use two hands to apply extra force when you arecutting thicker or harder wire.
- Cutting wire in a well-lit area can help you preventinjuries and errors.
- You can use wire strippers to clean up multi-strandwire that is frayed or uneven after you have cut it.
How to cut curtain wire
Curtain wire is the same strength as piano wire, and so the best way to cut it is to use cutters designed for hard wire, such as the Maun Diagonal Cutting Pliers.
Caring for and maintaining your pliers
Here are our main tips for ensuring your pliers last thelongest time possible:
1. Cleaning – clean your pliers after each use, bywiping them with a clean cloth or rag. This will help to remove dust, debrisand other residue from the tool.
2. Oil – apply a light coat of oil to the cuttingjaws, to help maintain the cutters and prevent rust.
3. Sharpening – if your tool is blunt, you cansharpen the blades with a file or sharpening stone to get rid of any nicks orburrs.
4. Storage – store your pliers in a cool dry place.This can be in a toolbox or on a shelf.
Following these steps should ensure your pliers serve youwell for many years to come.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed our post on how to cut wire with pliers.
Browse our related posts below, or contact us with anyquestions:
- Wire cutters
- Best plier sets
- Bestcombination pliers
- Typesof pliers
- How to usepliers
- Parallel pliers
