Best cutters or snips for copper wire?

I use my long toothed bolt cutters, They get most of the way through but some times you have to give them a twist to brake through all the wire. http://ace.imageg.net/graphics/produ...3049enh-z8.jpg

I was thinking I need to pick up a pair of bolt cutters. I guess that would work. I didn't think about that.

Right now, I'm using these (and they were a heck of a lot more expensive when i bought them)

Shop Kobalt 2-Piece Multicutter at Lowes.com

They work okay for some stuff, but it's essentially a razor blade on a pair of scissors. It works, but once the blade is shot, it's shot, and mine's already got knicks in it. Not to mention it's thick.

I've been meaning to pick up some bolt cutters. That's the one thing I actually don't have in my arsenal yet, but I've only been scrapping for about 2 months.

I also need to pick up a paper shear to cut off gold fingers from higher quality e-waste. I have about 30lbs of it or so, and I guess that's one of the easier ways to do it.

I use my angle grinder a lot too. Great for cutting large spools of copper. I had a large VHS tape eraser with a 30lb spool of copper on it and it was a bugger to get off cause it was all varnished on. Even with the angle grinder and sawzall, it still took lots of heat, prying, crowbars, etc.

That's obviously much larger of a tool than needed for the smaller stuff. It seems I'm having a hard time finding quality handheld cutters I guess. lol

Maybe what you guys are telling me is that there's no such thing as overkill when it comes to power tools?

I didn't even think of that. Good idea. Not quite bolt cutters, but has that thinner 'hook' to get below the copper and have the blade come down on. If that's the kind you're referring to.

I was browsing Lowes today looking for bolt cutters, and came across these. I used them quite a bit tonight. Highly recommend them.


Shop Clauss 3-in Titanium Bonded Steel Snips at Lowe's

Originally Posted by JnJunk

I use my long toothed bolt cutters, They get most of the way through but some times you have to give them a twist to brake through all the wire. http://ace.imageg.net/graphics/produ...3049enh-z8.jpg

I was at the yard last week with my some time partner in crime, who had it seems dragged a box of power supplies with us to the yard. So we get there I find the box, an I'm like.."Dude your an idiot, we gotta break these down, an max profits!"(I was joking about him being an idiot, we're good friends an as friends are wont to do will tease each other) so we're looking all around his truck for some snips, wire cutters, anything so we can at lest cut the wire while we're there. Can't find nothing. So he's all like.."I"ll go ask the guy over there, maybe he'll have something".

Sure enough dude did. Some big ass Bolt cutters. My buddy comes walking back over like he's king of the yard with a big grin on his face. They cut through the bundle of power supply wire like butter. We both looked at each other an said "We need some of these!" lol.

So yea..bolt cutters will work real nice for cutting. Heh.

Sirscrapalot - fun fact - Bibliophobia- Fear of books.

I use these:

KNIPEX - The Pliers Company. - Products

and these:

https://www.channellock.com/911-Cutting-Plier.aspx

Love them both.

Milwaukee Straight Cutting Aviation Snips-48-22-4030 at The Home Depot


best snips yet.

Originally Posted by pjost

If you wanna cut the sh!t out of stuff I suggest this:

Utility Cable Cutter - 63035 | Klein Tools - For Professionals since 1857

Not exactly useful for getting into tight spaces, but yeah...they do some serious damage.

I have a pair of (specificly made for the job) Copper wire cutters very similar to these.
Mine are 2 feet long with blue painted cast Ali handles. Made in japan and, weirdly very good quality...
I never let them leave the house so I will never loose them. Best 'tool find' ever, just needed 1 bolt to work.
Fantastic for cutting Copper pipe too.

Next best option would be a pair of garden loppers with similar blades.

Originally Posted by MattInTheHat

Shop Southwire Cable Cutters at Lowes.com

this is what I have

I got the same thing. They cut through a whole bundle of power supply wire.