Wire Cutter Woes

[A Random User]

Anyone else find that pretty much any and all of the wire cutters
out there are just plain crap ???

I mean... I'm averaging about a month, month and a half worth
of use before they pretty much lose their cutting ability. Which
is really sad, cause they aren't cheap...

Oh well... guess it's back to my trusty $10, Home Depot one's
that I have had since before I got into Bonsai...

 

[63pmp]

No, I've had my Kaneshin cutters for 20+ years now and still cutting fine. Their only cutting copper and aluminium so wire cutters should last forever.

Paul

 

[A Random User]

No, I've had my Kaneshin cutters for 20+ years now and still cutting fine. Their only cutting copper and aluminium so wire cutters should last forever.

Paul

I agree with you... they should last forever.
but...

 

[elliott]

I had a pair of joshua roth wire cutters that lasted over 10 yrs of heavy use including cutting wire that was to big for it.
I currently use a small Masakuni stainless scissor style wire cutter (I cut wire way bigger than I'm supposed to with that lil bastard and it's like a pitbull on a chuck roast, it eats it right up)! a medium proffesional stainless joshua roth wire cutter and I just bought a large, angled Masakuni wire cutter for the#6 wire from Travis at California bonsai studio.
I have only had problems with cheap wire cutters. They tend to crimp the last bit of wire instead of cutting it clean and pushing the wire into the branch in the process.
Make sure you have Quality cutters. Spend a little extra $, because you realy do get what you pay for in tools. Get 2 sizes if you are only doing bonsai as a hobby (med for small and large wire, and xtra large for big wire) and 3 sizes if you are doing it daily (small, medium and large). Avoid cutting wire that is too big for the particular cutter in your hand (like I do, LOL)!
Sometimes you can get a nice used wire cutter at a bonsai auction or from sombody leaving the hobby. Cut some different size pieces of wire with it first and make sure it cuts cleanly.
If you have to cut a piece of wire that is bigger than what the cutter you have is rated for, cut 1/3 to 1/2 the way thru, then finish it with a second or 3rd cut, especialy if you are cutting copper.
Contact Travis at californiabonsaistudio.com for a pair of Masakuni's. it will cost you a bit, but he will replace them if they don't work. ( I have noticed that used Masakuni's sell for almost or as much as new ones do ).
If you need to watch your wallet, go for the joshua roth or yoshiaki (stonelantern.com) brands, but not the "beginner" tools they sell.
Don't give up, good cutters are out there!

 

[Poink88]

Seems like you are ready for a pair of Masakuni cutters.

I would love to get your "done" cutters to study and try to resurrect them. Would you sell them to me?

FYI, I only have a cheap wire cutter ($17 from eBay I think) but after working on it, it cuts like a champ. I do not wire much though so not sure how long it will last. I even use it cutting my steel wire for heavy guy wiring w/o any problems.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

I'm still using the only pair I ever bought, 20 years ago. Black steel Kiku.

I love Masakuni tools, and own a few, but I wouldn't buy Masakuni wire cutters. Their tools are known to shatter easily, so I stay with their pliers and bypass-type tools, avoiding tools with any potentially high-impact stress.

 

[JudyB]

Being a production electrician, I use my regular electrical cutters. I don't seem to have any problems with them...

 

[Beng]

Seems like you are ready for a pair of Masakuni cutters.

I would love to get your "done" cutters to study and try to resurrect them. Would you sell them to me?

FYI, I only have a cheap wire cutter ($17 from eBay I think) but after working on it, it cuts like a champ. I do not wire much though so not sure how long it will last. I even use it cutting my steel wire for heavy guy wiring w/o any problems.

Cause you don't have enough tools!

I have a pair of the pro grade Joshua Roth and they're built like a tank. Can't imagine they'll ever wear out....

 

[Poink88]

Cause you don't have enough tools!

I am a hoarder and really love tools. It started with making knives when I was 8 or so.

I must have close to 100 collectible knives right now. I hope my kids won't sell them as a bulk or worse sell on a garage/estate sale for a dollar each when I am gone.

 

[Poink88]

I love Masakuni tools, and own a few, but I wouldn't buy Masakuni wire cutters. Their tools are known to shatter easily, so I stay with their pliers and bypass-type tools, avoiding tools with any potentially high-impact stress.

I am thinking this shattering tool is just rumors/myth. Chipping I can understand but shattering? Have you actually seen one do this?

Don't know about high impact stress either...we are cutting copper or aluminum wires here on a highly leveraged plier...there is no impact unless you drop the tool. JMHO

I can understand impact if the tool is super dull and you are cutting a super hard material that it suddenly snaps rather than cut smoothly.

 

[reddog]

Tools

I have a combination of joshua roth and masakuni tools that I have used for a number of years. I keep them sharp and put away so they don't bang against each. Never had any problems with my roth and masakuni wire cutters so I'm not sure why you are having problems with your cutters. Just make sure you are using the right tool for the job. Don't use too small of a cutter to cut a heavy gauge wire.

 

[jk_lewis]

I use my $5 Craftsman wire cutters -- price as of 30 years ago -- and see no need to change.

 

[Mike Westervelt]

What the heck are you cutting?
I had a pair of Joshua Roth beginners that worked well for 10 years until I tried to cut some very hard #2 or#3 copper. Wire too big, hands too strong, one jaw popped off.
Took back to place I bought it and they gave me credit, upgraded to JR professional ones with the orange handles and went back to same wire, no problem, cuts like butter.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

I am thinking this shattering tool is just rumors/myth. Chipping I can understand but shattering? Have you actually seen one do this?

Yes, first hand, as well as stories from other practitioners.

Are you advocating for confining posts to actual experience...?

 

[Poink88]

Yes, first hand, as well as stories from other practitioners.

Well, I trust you enough to take your word for it. Can you define how "shattered" is in this case? I may have a different picture in my mind and is the reason I find it hard to believe. Thanks.

Are you advocating for confining posts to actual experience...?

Confining? No but actual experience helps clarify validity of the claim. Most posts are also by large opinions and conversational, that is totally different. That would make a totally boring and sterile forum wouldn't it?

 

[TheSteve]

Confining? No but actual experience helps clarify validity of the claim.

Why do I get the impression you got beat up a lot in high school????

this was meant as humor but probably won't be taken that way by most...

 

[Dirty Nails]

New wire cutters

A decent pair of wire cutters is essential I have discovered and if I am going to drop $100+ on bonsai I'd rather it be a pot so I found these...

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Klein-To...al-Cutting-Pliers-D228-8/100020319?N=12kzZ3xg

They work great! As good or better than the Japanese wire cutters I have used. Easy and smooth cutting right on the tip of even heavy copper wire.

 

[fh05]

http://www.amazon.com/Millers-Forge-Stainless-Steel-Clipper/dp/B0002ARUKQ

Would these work???

 

[Nybonsai12]

http://www.amazon.com/Millers-Forge-Stainless-Steel-Clipper/dp/B0002ARUKQ

Would these work???

No. wire cutters need to be able not just to cut wire when getting ready to wire, but also to remove the wire carefully from the tree when appropriate.

 

[Bill S]

I am thinking this shattering tool is just rumors/myth. Chipping I can understand but shattering? Have you actually seen one do this?

Don't know about high impact stress either...we are cutting copper or aluminum wires here on a highly leveraged plier...there is no impact unless you drop the tool. JMHO

I can understand impact if the tool is super dull and you are cutting a super hard material that it suddenly snaps rather than cut smoothly.

Take any engineering courses lately? I am thinking no, your logic on this is off.
Impact doesn't involve the material being cut in this case, it's the blade to blade impact, bad stuff. Yes it happens.