What is a side cutter tool
William Taylor
Published Mar 17, 2026
Diagonal pliers (or wire cutters or diagonal cutting pliers or diagonal cutters or side cutters) are pliers intended for the cutting of wire (they are generally not used to grab or turn anything).
What is a side cutter tool used for?
Side cutters are used on wire and the leads of electronic components, as well as to strip insulation. Stripping refers to safely removing the outer layer without damaging the conductors underneath.
Which tool is also known as side cutters?
Diagonal pliers, also called side cutters, are a similarly-shaped tool for cutting rather than holding, using a pair of stout blades, similar to scissors except that the cutting surfaces meet parallel to each other rather than overlapping.
Are side cutters the same as wire cutters?
They are known by several different names, such as side-cutters, diagonal cutters, “dikes,” or even “diags.” … Side-cutters should never be used to cut steel wire, nails, screws, fencing wire, or anything harder than copper or aluminum wire.Can side cutters cut steel?
Uses. Diagonal pliers are useful for cutting copper, brass, iron, aluminium and steel wire. … However higher quality side cutters can cut hardened steel, such as 2 mm piano wire.
What is the purpose of a needle nose pliers?
Needle-nose pliers are used to manipulate wire using the textured teeth. When working with this tool, the handles should be gripped tightly yet apply gentle force. They are not sturdy enough to cut large, hardened wires, and they are not to be used on live electrical wires.
What is a flat side cutter?
Flat side cutters provide you with a flush cut every time, while the PVC rubberized handles ensure comfortable use.
What are the different types of cutting tools?
- Single Point Turning Tool. This cutting tool is for performing the turning operation in the lathe machine.
- Drill. …
- Mill (or Milling cutter). …
- Reamer. …
- Broach. …
- Fly cutter. …
- Shaper. …
- Planer.
How many types of cutters are there?
ADVERTISEMENTS: Generally there are six types of saw cutters: (a) Plain Metal-Slitting Cutters: These are used for fine slitting operation and have teeth of saw-tooth form with both sides slightly concave to provide clearance while cutting.
Is a diagonal cutter also known as a side cutter?Diagonal cutting pliers are used for cutting wire. They cut wire by indenting and wedging a cable apart (as opposed to shearing like scissors). … They are also known as side cutters, flush cut pliers, side cutting pliers, wire cutters, diagonal cutting nippers.
Article first time published onCan wire cutters cut through metal?
For the most basic application of cutting cables, you can use the wire cutters to cut copper, brass, aluminium, iron and steel wire. To protect you from being shocked by the electric cables you are working with; some wire cutters have insulated handles.
Which side cutter is best?
- Knipex Diagonal Cutters.
- Irwin Diagonal Cutters.
- Klein Tools Diagonal Cutters.
- Crescent Diagonal Cutters.
- Craftsman Diagonal Cutters.
- Wiha Insulated Diagonal Cutters.
Are pliers and wire cutters the same thing?
Remember that wire strippers are best for removing the insulation from wire, while cutters are best for (you guessed it) cutting wire. Pliers help you reach, bend, grab, cut, hold and loop wire, and crimpers are the best tool to join two pieces of ductile material together.
What can I use instead of a needle-nose plier?
If you think you can manage it with your hands but need a better grip, try using a silicone kitchen mitt or one of those jar-opening pads. But if you need to grip onto something smaller, a pair of metal tweezers is surprisingly effective! (After all, they’re basically tiny pliers.)
How do you maintain needle-nose pliers?
- Rinse with freshwater after each use, especially after use in saltwater.
- After rinsing your pliers, dry with a towel.
- Occasionally, treat your pliers with an anti-rust spray, such as WD40 or Boeshield T9.
What are 5 types of cutting tools?
- Cutting tools. A cutting tools is a type of cutting tool with a blade at the end of the shank. …
- Reamer. A reamer is a tool to finish the hole opened by a drill according to the required accuracy. …
- Drill. …
- Milling tools. …
- Endmill. …
- Broach. …
- Tap/thread cutting die.
What are the 5 cutting tools?
- Fabric Shears. These will be one of your most used and important cutting tools for sewing. …
- All-Purpose (Cheap) Scissors. …
- Thread Snippers. …
- Embroidery Scissors. …
- Rotary cutters. …
- Pinking Shears. …
- Left-Handed Scissors. …
- Seam Rippers.
What are the 4 types of cutting tools?
Cutting tools that are frequently used for metalworking include bandsaws, broaches, and drills. Other types of machining tools might include fly cutters and reamers. While some cutting tools require some type of human interaction to perform a function, others might be completely computer operated.
What is cable cutter?
The cable cutter is a tool used to cut copper or aluminum electric wire from #1 through 1000MCM. They come in four varieties: palm grip, manual two-handled units, ratchet cutters and electric cutters.
How thick can bolt cutters cut?
An 18-inch bolt cutter can cut metal up to 9/32 of an inch in diameter while a 24-inch bolt cutter can cut thicknesses up to 5/16 of an inch, depending on the material’s hardness.
What are rosary pliers?
Rosary Pliers. … Rosary pliers are so-named because they are ideal for making rosary-style necklaces where each bead is put on a piece of wire with a wrapped loop at each end. Wire can be shaped and cut with this one tool! Measurements: Pliers are 5.25 inches long, tips are 1.5mm at the narrowest point.
What is an end cutter?
End cutting pliers, sometimes referred to as end cutters or nippers, are useful for cutting through materials in order to remove excess material with ease. The shape of the blade allows them to cut close to a flush surface.
Can you cut silver with pliers?
What they can cut: plier-style cuts to size and shape materials (mostly metals) including hard wire; soft wire such as copper; soft metals; precious metals such as silver and gold; as well as brass, tin and others metals in the form of wire, sheet, beading wire and more.
What are the best electricians cutters?
- Our pick. Channellock E337CB Diagonal Cutting Plier. Strong cuts, comfy grips. …
- Budget pick. Irwin Vise-Grip 2078306 6-Inch Diagonal Cutting Pliers. Quality at a bargain. …
- Also great. Bahco 2101G-180 Ergo Cutting Pliers. Great features, not as strong. …
- Also great. Klein 11054 Wire Stripper-Cutter.
What are adjustable pliers called?
For example: The typical style of this tool (often called a Channellock after the iconic company in Meadville, PA that makes them) is a Type 1, Style A, adjustable joint, angle nose, multiple groove, tongue, straight serrated jaw plier. … You can also call it a tongue-and-groove plier.