High Tensile Wire Cutting Test, Warning: Minor Tool Abuse

[zoidberg]

While helping clean up a classroom this morning I took some pics for the surge challenge.

[zoidberg]

HT wire is very hard to cut and is at what I consider to be the limit for my hand strength with the surge.

So I took some home to see if how my new blacktip would compare.

First I tried some budget compound pliers. Ten plus cuts, no cutter damage, no sore hand.

[zoidberg]

Now onto the new blacktip.

I cut it twice, in the hard wire notch and then in the middle of the wire cutters.

That didn't go too well. Cutters lock up and will need tidying. Slightly less effort required than the surge.

[zoidberg]

I tried the surge again in the middle of the wire cutters and they deformed just enough to lightly catch.

[zoidberg]

I recently sold my backup Gerber so I wasn't brave enough to try these. Yet. I might feel up to it later.

[powernoodle]

It is good to see where the limit is, and I think you found it.

[dks]

Real men cut rivets 

 

 

[dks]

...and it is good to remember how much better proper tools work, compared to multi tools.
I have some cheap wire cutters and several pliers that will outcut my multi tools costing 20 times more all day long

[dks]

....and why would a lobster need pliers 

[Kampfer]

Now onto the new blacktip.

I cut it twice, in the hard wire notch and then in the middle of the wire cutters.

That didn't go too well. Cutters lock up and will need tidying. Slightly less effort required than the surge.

smurfed up the blacktip already?
I did the same thing with my other black tip the same result.

[enki_ck]

That's why you can't have nice things.

[zoidberg]

It is good to see where the limit is, and I think you found it.

Yeah, I would rather have an idea of them before an emergency than to find out during one.

[zoidberg]

I tried to Real men cut rivets 

 

 

Fixed.   

[zoidberg]

smurfed up the blacktip already?
I did the same thing with my other black tip the same result.

I'll get it working again.   

[zoidberg]

That's why you can't have nice things.

Oh come on, I'm just the messenger.   

[BASguy]

That's the reason I carry a pair of Klein Iron Workers pliers in the truck and saddlebags.  Spring return and tough enough to eat barb wire and nails.  Multis of any flavor are a poor substitute....


Sent from 9 miles from the face of the sun

[spyghost]

try compressionless bike outer cables for a test... i doubt any multitool cutter will survive that...

[bdAmmo]

(Image removed from quote.)

try compressionless bike outer cables for a test... i doubt any multitool cutter will survive that...

That would be a good test for the new Surge, wish I had some lying around. 

[gregozedobe]

I recently sold my backup Gerber so I wasn't brave enough to try these. Yet. I might feel up to it later.

Be prepared that you may need to replace the replaceable Gerber cutters.  IIRC they are very hard and very brittle, so they do well on cutting large quantities of softer wire (which is what they were designed for), but tend to break on hard wire.

If I had to use an MT to cut large(ish) diameter hard wire I'd consider filing a notch first to reduce the chance of smurfing up the cutters.  Or even just file a couple of notches and then bend the wire back and forth until it breaks at the weak point you have created.  There is often "more than one way to skin a cat" if you use your imagination and think laterally.

[spyghost]

(Image removed from quote.)

try compressionless bike outer cables for a test... i doubt any multitool cutter will survive that...

That would be a good test for the new Surge, wish I had some lying around.

if you got a nearby local bike shop, ask for a few cut pieces or old ones to be binned.

[zoidberg]

I recently sold my backup Gerber so I wasn't brave enough to try these. Yet. I might feel up to it later.

Be prepared that you may need to replace the replaceable Gerber cutters.  IIRC they are very hard and very brittle, so they do well on cutting large quantities of softer wire (which is what they were designed for), but tend to break on hard wire.

If I had to use an MT to cut large(ish) diameter hard wire I'd consider filing a notch first to reduce the chance of smurfing up the cutters.  Or even just file a couple of notches and then bend the wire back and forth until it breaks at the weak point you have created.  There is often "more than one way to skin a cat" if you use your imagination and think laterally.

That is why I didn't want to try them.
However IMO they aren't any good at cutting soft wire either.
So I might as well kill them.

My original idea was to test multiple cutters going from easy to hard stuff and noting the outcome.
Once I sold the backup I thought I would flag the test.
Now it is just a time thing, if I can find some I'll probably do it.

I wonder how hard it is to file HT fencing wire?

[zoidberg]

(Image removed from quote.)

try compressionless bike outer cables for a test... i doubt any multitool cutter will survive that...

That would be a good test for the new Surge, wish I had some lying around.

if you got a nearby local bike shop, ask for a few cut pieces or old ones to be binned.

If I wanted to mash the cutters I would go cut fish hooks.   

[bdAmmo]

(Image removed from quote.)

try compressionless bike outer cables for a test... i doubt any multitool cutter will survive that...

That would be a good test for the new Surge, wish I had some lying around.

if you got a nearby local bike shop, ask for a few cut pieces or old ones to be binned.

If I wanted to mash the cutters I would go cut fish hooks.   

Learned that first hand.  My Wave now features replaceable cutters for that exact reason.

[zoidberg]

(Image removed from quote.)

try compressionless bike outer cables for a test... i doubt any multitool cutter will survive that...

That would be a good test for the new Surge, wish I had some lying around.

if you got a nearby local bike shop, ask for a few cut pieces or old ones to be binned.

If I wanted to mash the cutters I would go cut fish hooks.   

Learned that first hand.  My Wave now features replaceable cutters for that exact reason.

Still need to be careful, don't ask me how I know.   

[zoidberg]

Both the surge and blacktip have received some tlc, the gerber still has the cutters intact, for now anyway.

[parnass]

I wonder how well the edge of a multitool file would work at "cutting" a high tensile wire.   

[Marcellus]

Zoidberg
So, are you giving both the SOG and Leatherman, a FAIL here?
It sounds like the HT wire buggered up both tools?
If so, I would have put  my wager on the SOG to win by a nose
SOG MTs  seem to be the best performers in wire cutting tasks, IMO


My MP600 replaceable cutters failed ( shattered) on a wire coat hanger test cut a while back, so now are on relatively lighter duty
And my Rebar failed a stranded 12 gauge wire test recently, as well, just mashed it and had to be pried apart

So yeah, give me my Channel Lok diagonal cutters every time 
 
 
What does Marcellus Wallace look like?

[powernoodle]

...and it is good to remember how much better proper tools work, compared to multi tools.

True words, which demonstrate the underlying principal that everything entails a tradeoff.  The best tools for the job generally cannot be carried all day everyday in a belt sheath.  But the convenience of an MT brings with it inherent limitations in utility.  That's a sliding scale that we have to constantly navigate.  Is this job worth the cost of walking or driving back to the toolbox?

I characterize an MT primarily as a convenience item that saves me the time and effort of going to the toolbox - which may be miles away.  But we have to know its limitations, which Mr. Z's test amply demonstrated.  However, when we constrain ourselves to those limitations, an MT can save the day.

[zoidberg]

Zoidberg
So, are you giving both the SOG and Leatherman, a FAIL here?
It sounds like the HT wire buggered up both tools?
If so, I would have put  my wager on the SOG to win by a nose
SOG MTs  seem to be the best performers in wire cutting tasks, IMO


My MP600 replaceable cutters failed ( shattered) on a wire coat hanger test cut a while back, so now are on relatively lighter duty
And my Rebar failed a stranded 12 gauge wire test recently, as well, just mashed it and had to be pried apart

So yeah, give me my Channel Lok diagonal cutters every time 
 
 
What does Marcellus Wallace look like?

I purposefully left it open for everyone to draw their own conclusions.
However I will try and answer the questions.

Both tools get a thumbs up pass from me.
See the first post pics for how well they will work when used correctly.

Using them incorrectly required much more effort and only mildly damaged the cutters.
One minute with a file bit brought both tools back to normal working order.

I haven't had good experiences with the Gerber cutters.
Will test them some more before I go trying to break them with the HT wire.

The design of the geared SOGs* are a plus when it comes to removing cutter jams.
The handle side stranded wire cutter is a plus for the larger Leathermans.

Edit: *and flicky tools MP600, OHT etc.

[zoidberg]

I should probably dig out the SwissTool and give that a try too.