On Wed, 13 Apr 2016 18:00:47 +0100, Andy Burns wrote:

David wrote:

I used to have a really useful set of very small wire snips - a Swedish
make (Lindtrom).

Anyone I knew who had Lindstrom cutters always considered them to be
"DON'T ASK TO BORROW THEM" tools, presumably from people using them to
cut nails with. I can't justify the price, but have some of these,
can't remember which model, but nicely made.

http://www.piergiacomi.com/piergiacomi/en/products/hand-tools/285-taglio-raso-dettaglio.html

They are lovely - I've a pair v. similarly coloured to those but,
unfortunately, not the same make.
I've used flush side-cutters for over 40 years now. Plessey used them on
military contracts, so the slightest damage meant scrapping off, so we
didn't want to waste them ;-)
I've one 'big' pair - can cut 2.5 cable - and the rest are small. I always
remove the spring and the cut-off retaining clip to get better 'feel'. This
means that I have to be wary of the 'ping****it' potential of the offcut.
They're good for cable ties, avoiding the sharp, sloping end that is
commonly left. A contractor at work had a scar on the inside of his forearm
from wrist to elbow from a badly cut tie.

I've had/known of several incidents of a blade snapping, sometimes when not
overloaded for the size of cutter - that can be nasty. I always put a finger
over the side near me now. Also go through cable one conductor at a time. I
looked at bigger ones but the cost...!
--
Peter.
The gods will stay away
whilst religions hold sway