Who makes the best Lineman pliers and Diagonal cutters?

[Bill G]

I am wondering who folks think makes the best large lineman and diagonal cutters. I have had a lot of brands over the years and never found one I truly liked.

 

[belgian]

Wiha, Bahco, Knipex .... plenty of good brands . Bahco is perhaps my favorite, but it's pure subjective

 

[Pjohnson]

I like knipix cutters and channel locks

 

[Bill G]

I am thinking Knipex but I love to hear other opinions. The cost is not the issue, quality is

 

[lone wolf]

I am wondering who folks think makes the best large lineman and diagonal cutters. I have had a lot of brands over the years and never found one I truly liked.

 

[lone wolf]

 

[AnthemBassMan]

I definitely haven’t used every brand, but I have the Channellock 369 9.5” linemen pliers and 8” 338 diagonal cutters. They’ve worked well enough and feel comfortable enough to me that I’ve never really given a thought to replacing them with another brand.

L8R,
Matt

 

[Bill G]

Well I was surprised by the poorer performance of the Knipex in the first test. I need them for cutting heavy wire and need to last.

 

[Okie]

I noticed that someone who does not know the limitations of their pliers or wire cutters can easily ruin most any GOOD NAME brand easy and fast.

I've got linesman pliers and wire cutters that I have had for years.
I know my electrical tools l limitations and select proper tools for cutting wires and cables..
I do not loan or let anyone else use my tools.
I'm a old electrician and electronics tech.

 

[Breckinridge Elkins]

I have had this set of pliers: Klein D213-9ST for about 28 years now. I use them for tying rebar and wiring homes. I just looked on the website and they sell these as "Iron Worker's Pliers" and not Lineman's. Well, I have been using them for both. Cutters are still perfect, spring return still works, no wobble in the rivet, etc. I have used them very hard but I don't abuse them. Made in the USA. Not sure if the new ones are.
If you are cutting a lot of heavy wire you might want something more like these Cable Cutters

 

[bigbadbob]

I have had this set of pliers: Klein D213-9ST for about 28 years now. I use them for tying rebar and wiring homes. I just looked on the website and they sell these as "Iron Worker's Pliers" and not Lineman's. Well, I have been using them for both. Cutters are still perfect, spring return still works, no wobble in the rivet, etc. I have used them very hard but I don't abuse them. Made in the USA. Not sure if the new ones are.
If you are cutting a lot of heavy wire you might want something more like these Cable Cutters

Had the same at work,,, really liked them,, seemed to hold up well,, telephone lineman,,

 

[Bill G]

I have had this set of pliers: Klein D213-9ST for about 28 years now. I use them for tying rebar and wiring homes. I just looked on the website and they sell these as "Iron Worker's Pliers" and not Lineman's. Well, I have been using them for both. Cutters are still perfect, spring return still works, no wobble in the rivet, etc. I have used them very hard but I don't abuse them. Made in the USA. Not sure if the new ones are.
If you are cutting a lot of heavy wire you might want something more like these Cable Cutters

I not sure how well cable cutters would cut steel wire. They are designed like a bypass lopper I believe.

 

[lump]

When I started my inside wireman apprenticeship i 1971 I bought Sears Craftsman linemans pliers and diagonal cutters. I was having a hard time cutting larger wire and my journeyman let me use his Klein tools. The next payday I bought 9 inch D213-9NE linemans pliers and D2000-48 diagonal pliers. I retired in 2016 and I still use those tools. Klein is the industry standard for a reason.

 

[gggGary]

My pair of Kleins is over 40 years old and only has one small "live wire" notch, um wire stripper modification ;^) in them.
I don't "cut" steel wire, I nick and bend/break it. A cheap pair of pliers with a side notch handles this easily. If I have lot of steel wire to cut I get out the bolt cutters.
This Ideal crimper is my goto for adding terminations to wires.

 

[belgian]

Well I was surprised by the poorer performance of the Knipex in the first test. I need them for cutting heavy wire and need to last.

if you need to cut tough wire, I can recommend the Felco (Swiss brand) . Top notch, but wire only

https://felco.com/en_us/products/cable-cutters

 

[Bill G]

if you need to cut tough wire, I can recommend the Felco (Swiss brand) . Top notch, but wire only

https://felco.com/en_us/products/cable-cutters

I am looking at the C7 right now.

 

[Gibby II]

9"Klien Lineman pliers and their 9"obleak diagonal pliers... When new the lineman pliers one can cut 1/4 x 20 threaded rod (all thread) with no problem to the cutter. Electrician for 38 years in the trade and retired for 23 years and I still use these almost every day for. One cannot go wrong with these..just my 2 cents.

 

[Bill G]

I need to consistently cut 9 gauge steel wire 0.148" I am not sure if I want dykes or lineman pliers

 

[AnthemBassMan]

I need to consistently cut 9 gauge steel wire 0.148" I am not sure if I want dykes or lineman pliers

If you’re going to be cutting a lot of 9g wire, what about a pair of mini bolt cutters or cable cutters? Knipex makes an 8” mini bolt cutter, and ChannelLock has aviation cutters that cut cable, spring hardened wire and mild steel rod. Just a couple examples.
https://shop.channellock.com/produc...N4AYxZXBofmAoOnwoX_8VFeYWCQbveERoC50oQAvD_BwE
https://www.knipex.com/products/cut...rs/knipex-cobolt-compact-bolt-cutters/7101200

L8R,
Matt

 

[Breckinridge Elkins]

Let me guess you are tying up chain link fencing? The tie wire is thick but isn't it fairly soft?