These Klein Tools mini flush cutting pliers are excellent for the price, and should be a part of every home or DIY tool kit.
It’s a pro grade tool used for all kinds of everyday tasks, such as trimming cable ties, removing cable ties, cutting smaller wires, and things like that.
But for home or DIY use, it’s a problem-solver for all kinds of miscellaneous tasks.
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When my son started building plastic model kits, this is what I bought for him – and the same for my oldest nephew.
I believe this is the one that I used to cut the tip off of a cotton swab, so that I could use the stick part to get something out of my kid’s toy. It comes in handy for unexpected fine snipping tasks.
There are others, but this one is a known quantity. It’s not perfect, but very good for basic needs, plus it’s made in the USA.
I like a couple of other brands’ mini flush cutters, but can’t think of any that beat the Klein D275-5 on price or value. This isn’t the best recommendation I can make, but it’s a good tool I can easily recommend to most people.
Price: $13
P.S. They’re also great for clothing tags – the kind you’ll see holding multi-packs of socks and baby clothes together – and also for removing kids toys from packaging, whether clear rubber bands, twine, or plastic hold-down straps are involved.
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Scott F
I bought the 4 PC Milwaukee electrician pliers set on last Wednesdays SBOTD specifically to get a pair of these! It was $25 for the 4 pieces – mini cutters, 11-1 screwdriver, fastback knife, and wire strippers.
JoelLikestools
I have three pairs. Can’t beat made in USA and known quality. Unexpected use case: I have used them to clip a broken fingernail at work in a pinch.
Kevin W.
Yes, I find flush cutters are definitely a must have. Although I have not used this Klein model. I like to have 2 sets, one is a nice Knipex and the other is a cheaper one. I have used Milwaukee before or right now I have house brand from a local tool store. I have found that there are some things that side cutters are not precise enough for but flush cutters aren’t really meant for. Hence the 2 pairs, one set I keep in good condition and the other I don’t mind abusing a bit.
MM
If you need a flush cut on stouter materials than these are capable of, there are high-grade ones made for the electronics industry by companies like Lindstrom and Erem. These are forged rather than being stamped from sheet metal like these Kliens, Xuron, etc. Some even have tungsten carbide jaws.
ToolGuyDan
Lindstrom and Erem are fine and all, but they can pry my Tronex flush-cutters from my cold, dead hands.
Favorite unexpected use-case: trimming 23-gauge nails flush with the stock they’re embedded into.
Kevin W
Thanks, I’ll have a look at those.
Wayne R.
A long time ago I needed to separate a lot of maybe 1mm thick sheet steel parts attached sorta like postage stamps to each other. I bought two pairs of cheap pliers-weight flush cutters thinking one would get messed up and I’d have a back up.
The second pair remains unused to this day. Unbelieveable.
Here I have a few of these type cutters for 1) electronics and 2) Tywraps. I see them as a consumable/disposable tool, but they’re good, Hakko & Xuron.
And not that Klein’s are expensive at $12 each, but even the 5-for-$12 Harfingtons on Amazon are likely more than adequate for what they are made to do. The $30 Knipex version I can’t justify.
MM
These kinds of cutters are great if you build plastic model kits and don’t want to spring for a “godhand”. And of course they’re useful for doing electronics work, jewelry, etc. I’ve owned a multiple pairs made by Xuron (also USA made) over the years.
That said, I hesitate at making these a generic recommendation for most people, and I would suggest throwing a pair of ordinary diagonal cutters in the kitchen junk drawer instead. This type of cutter is fairly delicate, and there’s not much need for a precise flush cut for generic around-the-house tasks. Things like clothing tags, zip ties, packaging, and Q-tips can be easily cut with scissors or ordinary diagonal cutters, both of which are much more robust and more useful for random chores than these. You can cut things like steel wire, staples, paper clips, etc, with ordinary diagonal cutters but not with these. Cutters like this are much more likely to be accidentally damaged by casual or careless use compared to the alternatives. When I was a child my father was constantly having to deal with me damaging his pairs cutting various things they weren’t meant for. Many years later, when people borrowed tools off my workbench to do various odd jobs, it was always these that would end up damaged–probably Karma. A basic pair of forged diagonal cutters, or a pair of stout scissors, will do around-the-house jobs just as well and will last longer. I think it only makes sense to buy these if you know you will need the flush cut, and if you are relatively sure that nobody is going to try and cut stouter materials with them. These are best kept to delicate, precise, tasks.
Tim D.
My wife would be cutting twist ties with these within an hour of arrival. They’d be mangled. Had to do exactly what you said and put a pair of diagonal cutters in the kitchen so I could quit sharpening scissors.
TonyT
True, I’ve seen ruined CHP170s and Xurons – they’re designed for cutting soft wire.
I’ve also seen broken Knipex mini cutters.
That’s why I like my carbide insert mini cutters – precise, small, and tough.
Todd
The Godhand ones are amazing though.
I also have the DSPIAE and those are also very nice.
Wouldn’t use either of them for cutting pins off through hole components, but for model kits they are great.
MKY
Stuart –
“ I believe this is the one that I ***used cut*** the tip off of a q-tip…”
Stuart
Thank you! *fixed*
928'er
I got a pair of these about 5 years ago that were absolute crap. The blades were so poorly ground that they weren’t even the same length. With the blades closed you could see daylight through about ½ of the cutting edge.
So, I’ll have to disagree with Stuart on this one. Theses are a must avoid rather than a must have…
Stuart
Maybe yours was defective? It does happen. I grabbed this one from my son’s room just now, it’s much newer than yours:
I’m up for your alternative recommendations. I love my Xurons. The Milwaukee flush cutter at Home Depot is the same price. Maybe that one is a better recommendation – I’ll see if I can dig one up for comparison.
928'er
The pair of Kleins I got were so obviously poorly ground that I can’t see how they passed QC. Really soured me on Klein tools for a while. Just tried to find them – I must have thrown them away. – they were that bad!
I guess the ones closest in size and function that I have would be the Italian made CHP-170’s, and the Milwaukee in the 4 tool special at HD that the first poster mentioned. Also have a pair of Japanese made King MNK-125’s, and a couple pairs of little Swanstrom’s (a 420 & a M403C) that I picked up on Ebay, but they’re in a whole ‘nother league quality wise
ElectroAtletico
I own both the Klein and the Milwaukee. Both are of similar performance, but I prefer the Milwaukee because it is easier to find due to its vivid red color. To me that’s a winning formula.
Albert
I find mini flush cutters to be extremely good at separating support material from 3D prints. I usually use cheap imports, but I’m sure Klein will work too.
Michael
https://toolguyd.com/offshored-klein-tools-found-at-lowes-stores/
A while back Stuart, you posted that this is one of those Klein tools that has been partially offshored. At Lowes over the summer, I was able to find both USA made(regular not special edition) and imported ones.
Don’t know if that’s still the case.
Stuart
Amazon still says it’s made in USA. If that changed, it’s basis for return.
I think that the imported sourcing could be for Lowe’s, given the volume of tools they needed to place at how many store locations.
Matt Perry
The Harbor Freight version is $5 and works great. I have lots of sets laying around at work, the garage, and the craft room.
I know the Kleins may be made in the USA but to me that’s not worth paying a 160% markup compared to the Chinese version that works just the same.
Doresoom
I use my Hakko CHP-170 micro cutters for cutting 3D printer filament and small electronics projects. Made in Italy, usually around ~$9 on Amazon. They’ve held up great for several years.
NoahG
My go-to for this type of cutter is the Xuron Maxi-Shear. I have several, even the wife insisted a pair live in the kitchen junk drawer.
Mitherial
I have (or at least used to have) a few of this style of flush cutter, and they are fine for some things, but I far and away use flush cutters the most for trimming zip-ties and have come to strongly prefer Harbor Freight’s “ICON” flush-cutters as they are the only ones that reliably and repeatedly (so long as you are lined up correctly) keep zip ties from having razor sharp edges, and have much better handles — all admittedly at a much higher price-point.
https://www.harborfreight.com/6-in-flush-cut-pliers-57683.html