Joe's Hobby Electronics
  • Joe's Hobby Electronics
    • Electronics Blog

Are good quality tools worth the money...

8/11/2011

2 Comments

 
Simple answer... Yes... Less simple answer... usually...

Now it’s true that you get what you pay for when it comes to tools, but some tools don’t seem to last irrespective of how much you pay for them.

The humble wire-cutters, a basic item that should be in every hobbyists tool box, and an item you can spend a lot of money on, however, often cheaper is better value.

Wire-cutters come in all shapes and sizes and a pair with an overall length of around 125mm are idea for hobby electronics work, and a pair of these will cost you anywhere from £2.50 to over £100. I seem to go through around two to three pairs of wire-cutters a year and it doesn’t seem to matter how much I pay for them.

So, how do you know if you need a new pair of cutters?
Well that’s simple, hold them up to a light and look how the jaw blades meet.
Picture
The above image shows a new pair of cutters on the left, and a used pair on the right.
You can see little dinks in the blades that let though light. These will make bad cuts and you notice this when clipping off component leads for example. When the cutters are new, the component lead will usually shoot off as you clip it. However, when the blades are worn or damaged they start to crimp the component lead as opposed to cutting it meaning you have to work harder and your cuts aren’t as clean.

The simple way to damage a pair of wire cutters is to cut either wire that is too thick; don’t use them to cut heavy gauge mains type cable, or cut things other than wire, and this applies no matter how much you pay for your cutters.
If you find you need to cut heavy gauge wire, invest in an electricians pair of wire cutters or even a pair of cable shears for the really heavy gauge stuff.

Another great way to destroy a pair of cutters, is to try and use them (an old pair thank heavens) to cut into a plastic box.
Picture
2 Comments

    Author

    A software and hardware engineer who loves retro computers.

    Archives

    March 2022
    September 2021
    April 2021
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    September 2019
    January 2019
    April 2018
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    January 2013
    September 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011

    Categories

    All
    18f25k20
    18F25K22
    1-wire
    2114
    2764
    3D Printer
    3D Printing
    74hc595
    74ls595
    86-0325
    8MHz
    Access Speed
    Acorn
    Acorn System 1
    Alarm
    Aluminium Panel
    Amicus
    Amicus18
    Amicus Basic
    Amplifier
    Antex 1107
    Anti-static Mat
    Arduino
    Assembler
    Backlight
    Bargains
    Basic
    Bat
    Batdetector
    Bat Detector
    Bats
    Bench Audio Amplifier
    Bench Light
    Breadboard
    Bubbler
    Buck
    Bug
    "C"
    Cable
    Cable Gauge
    Cable Wire Size
    Capacitors
    Catalogue
    Clive Maxfield
    Clock
    Clocks
    CMOS
    Common Emitter
    Compiled
    Compiler
    Connector
    CPU
    CPU Simulator
    Crownhill
    Custom Computer
    Custom CPU
    Damage
    Develop
    Diode
    Diptrace
    Double-sided
    Double-Sided PCB
    Dry-joint
    Ds1302
    DS1820
    Ds18b20
    Ebay
    EEPROM
    Electronics And Circuits
    Eprom
    Erase
    Etch
    Evaporator
    Failed Capacitor
    Fake
    Fax Paper
    Ferric Chloride
    Fire Hazzard
    Firmware
    Florescent Tube
    Health And Safety
    Hidden Part Numbers
    High-Voltage
    Hv
    IC Test Clip
    IC Testing
    In Circuit IC Testing
    Incubator
    INS8154
    Instruction Set
    Inverter
    Kickstarter
    Laser Cutter
    Lcd
    LM2596
    LM386
    Logic Analyser
    M7MOJ
    Maxim
    Maximum Current Rating
    Mega
    Mit
    MITx 6.002
    MK4
    Molex
    Mosfet
    NE555
    Nixie
    Nixie Clock
    Npn
    OXO
    Oxo Machine
    Pcb
    Pic
    Pic Basic
    Pickit2
    Pickit3
    Pic Programmer
    Pixy
    Poster
    Pre-amp
    Prices
    Programming
    Project Box
    Project Case
    Project Enclosure
    Propagation Delay
    Psu
    Psu Failure
    Qfn
    RAM
    Rapid Electronics
    Raspberry Pi
    Regulated 5v Psu
    Regulator
    Repair
    Review
    SAD (Segment Address Decoder)
    SCC
    SCC MK4
    Seven Segment Display
    Shift Register
    Silient 700
    Slow Progress
    Smoke
    Smps
    Soldering
    Speed
    Speed Test
    Stepper Motor
    Supression
    Swg
    Switch Box
    Tank
    Tantalum Capacitor
    Temperature
    Temperature Sensor
    Texas Instruments
    Thermometer
    Tic Tac Toe
    Tic-tac-toe
    Timer
    Tools
    Traffic Lights
    Transistor
    TTL
    Usb
    Uv
    Vbe
    Vcb
    Vce
    W65C02
    Wash
    Weller
    Wirecutters
    Wire Cutters
    Wire Strippers
    Wiring
    Wp3eu
    X2 Capacitor
    X Capacitor
    Y Capacitor

    RSS Feed

© Joe Farr, 2011 - 2022 - Email: HobbyElectronics@kcsl.uk.com