There are quite a few different styles of higher leverage diagonal cutters on the market, with the main goal being lower effort wire cutting. While looking into some other Knipex pliers, I came across their X-Cut cutters, which have an unusual design.
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Most cutters and pliers have a pivot that is perfectly centered in relation to the line of symmetry, from jaws to handle. Knipex X-Cut cutters are different in how they have an off-center pivot. According to Knipex, this means 20% less cutting effort compared to high-leverage diagonal cutters of the same size. They also say that X-Cut pliers require 40% less force required compared to standard diagonal cutters of the same size.
Here are the high-leverage cutters we previously posted about, at least those that are on the top of my head:
- Irwin/NWS Max Leverage/Fantastico (a personal favorite)
- Wiha BiCut cutters (button-activated high leverage mode)
- Knipex TwinForce
- Stanley compound action (not available in USA, yet?)
- Gearwrench PivotForce and Crescent Pivot Pro
What’s also interesting is that some of the product photos show the pliers with jaw serrations that presumably help them to grip finer stranded wire materials. I haven’t had issues with stranded wire slipping from cutters’ jaws, but then again I don’t often trim wires after stripping the insulation off. I could see how the serrations would help with this, and for better gripping smooth-surfaced hard wire.
Not all of the product photos show the cutter jaw serrations, but there’s no mention of different blade profiles or designs in the product descriptions or technical specifications.
Knipex shows these as being used on hard wire (such as spring material) and soft wire alike, even showing them being used to cut nails. Max cutting capacity is 12 mm for stranded copper wire, and 2.2 mm for a single pass through harder material. Or at least this is how I interpreted their technical specs – double check if you want to be sure.
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Another thing I find interesting is how Knipex describes these as heavy duty everyday cutters. The words they use are that these diagonal cutters are universally usable in the assembly, maintenance, and production industries. The same cannot be said for some other high leverage cutters, such as compound action pliers that open too wide for use on larger copper wires that regular diagonal cutters can handle with ease.
The pliers feature heavy duty construction, with a doubly-supported box joint design. They’re forged from chrome vanadium steel and are oil-hardened for strength and durability. Knipex emphasizes that they’re compact and low-weight, which shouldn’t be a surprise given their length.
There are 3 styles, all 160 mm (6.3 inches) long. There’s a “black atramentized” one (73 02 160), which appears to have Knipex’s standard industrial finish, a chrome-plated one (73 05 160), and one with insulated handles and 1000V protection rating (73 06 160).
Price: $54+
Buy Now(Industrial finish X-Cut via Amazon)
Buy Now(Insulated X-Cut via Amazon)
More Info(via Knipex)
Here’s a promo video showing them off:
First Thoughts
While interested in the design of the Knipex X-Cut diagonal cutters, I think they’re quite pricey. For a little less money, I’d be more inclined to try Irwin’s 7-inch size of Max-Leverage NWS-made cutter ($39 via Amazon). I own a pair of NWS-branded 8″ Fantastico cutters, and although they require extra handle spread to accommodate larger wires, they’ve performed marvelously.
If you’ve tried these X-Cuts, what do you think?
JML
That box-joint pivot has to be far more expensive to make. The Wiha cutter seem to be the only one made that way.
voodooaw
Something like Channellock 349 Wiremaster linesman.
JML
Oops. I meant Knipex, not Wiha!
Benjamen
Wow, a pair of diagonal cutters that can (Knipex claims) cut both soft copper and springs, is something . They seem a little big for fine work though.
I also like the serrations if they would help keep the wire in place. Sometimes when I’m cutting something one handed, it’ll slip further out in the jaws and make it harder to cut.
fred
Are the 73-05-160 the only ones with jaw serrations? They also seem to be ones that are not available at usual Knipex sources like KC Tool, Chads and Crawford Tool. Toolbarn sells the 73-02-160 for just under $40 – plus $8.99 flat rate shipping.
Stuart
I couldn’t find this info anywhere (I spent way too much time looking), and don’t know anyone at Knipex to ask. Some of the online images of the insulated model also show serrations.
fred
Thanks
Just curious.
Yadda
The old Kant Slip pliers have a similar box joint type design, but it is implemented differently. The Proto Model 234 pliers also have a compound leverage design that reminds me of this box joint, but it is also implemented differently. I like the innovation being shown including the serrations. Knipex has something interesting to view in many of their designs.
jkrl
The Knipex Cobra has a box joint. A box joint is also common in electronics pliers, for keeping the accuracy of jaws for prolonged time – and according to the Knipex video, this seems to be the reason for it here
Noah
I really really need to give these and the Fantasticos a try.
Wayne R.
Okay, the off-center pivot makes them more efficient. How?
Stuart
Getting the pivot as close as possible to the jaws? That’s the only way I could see. There’s no force multiplier or compound leverage mechanism, and so effort can only be reduced if you increase the size of the handle moment arm and decrease that of the jaws.
Wayne R.
Moving the pivot close is pretty plain, of course, and maybe it’s closer by having a smaller diameter than usual but kept strong by the box joint.
Can’t see how the offset alignment has any value; it doesn’t seem significant.
Making a box joint like that must be difficult; it’s forged? (I don’t know the techniques involved at all.) I know I’d sure like to understand how such a joint could be made in a production line… Come to think of it, all these non-adjustable joints in pliers impress me – not too tight, not too loose, can’t ever be changed. How do they accomplish that?
jkrl
The downside of putting the pivot closer is smaller jaw opening. The extreme can be seen in the TwinForce, where the (virtual) pivot is at the jaw begining, giving it extereme leverager, but only on a small jaw opening, hence the need to cut twice. In a way, force multipliers like the Fantastico also suffer from it – causing the need for extra handle spread, to open the jaws more.
My guess is that moving the pivot to the side increases the effective jaw opening – at least according to my rough experiments to see how it effects.
Nej A.
They sell them on amazon.de http://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B007AKFNMS
Hilton
I bought these and they’ve just arrived from Germany. Cost me the equivalent of $42.85 delivered to my door in South Africa, duties, taxes and courier costs included. They were part of a larger order though which included a couple of Knipex pliers and CAT5 kit.
Probably could do with a spring to keep them open.