jimbo4591

Just like pretty much everyone on this topic have said.. Im also new to this website and generally the electrical trade as well. (Only registered to this site yestersay) I live in Trowbridge n work for an electrician based in Winsley/Bradford-on-Avon. I only started Sept 07.
Ive actually gt 2 jobs, one with the electrcian 40 hours a week and I also work 14 hours in tesco which is a bit random.. but hey it gets me money.
Im slowly but surely getting to understand the basics but its hard rememberin it all lol.

Already a 'tool tart' lol im obsessed. 1st question which im sure u lot have already discussed hundreds of times: Whats the best make of side cutters? / What size do u lot use? 200mm?
Is it absolutely necessary to get a pair of cutters that are 1000v tested? I suppose the answer is a bit obvious .

One guy in my company uses knipex sidecutters EAN: 74 01 200

pliers-online.com :: Online-Catalogue


they're plastic coated but not 1000v tested.. he's had them for the last years apparently and im sure hes cut through a live before!
the reason y I say it is cos I want a pair like those

yeh anyway ive rambled on, just interested in what side cutters u lot use personally

thanks james.

danzor

I've found Stanley are the best for me. I had a small pair which were handy for small cables. But now use alarger pair of stanley cutters.

Small cutters

STANLEY TOOLS MAX STEEL DIA CUT PLIERS 160mm 0-89-858 on eBay, also Wire Strippers Cutters, Knives Cutters, Hand Tools, Business, Office Industrial (end time 16-Mar-08 00:24:06 GMT)

Large cutters (i think) Stanley Diagonal Cut Pliers 200mm 0 84 622 :: 0-84-622 :: STA084622 :: Stanley Pliers

But go with what you find best. Im already on my 3rd set of cutters in 3/4 years.

most cutters are 1000v rated. Just make sure you don't go cutting through more than the live cable at once

LukeScotty

welcome to the forum matey, find all your answers here

If You Build It, They Will Come n If it aint broken don't fix it!

jimbo4591

ah right, cheers, yeah stanley does seem to be a good reliable make. I might consider getting some stanley cutters. though they do seem expensive compared with other brands. 'Get what u pay for'.

LukeScotty

i'd just get a pair of knipex, got a pair of these
KNIPEX 95 11 165 SB Cable Shears on eBay, also, Pliers, Hand Tools, Business, Office Industrial (end time 05-May-08 22:27:08 BST)

I think their ace

If You Build It, They Will Come n If it aint broken don't fix it!

Cirrus

I only use Knipex snips. Stanley gear is all a bit too DIY style for me and I don't rate the quality.

jimbo4591

Quote:

Originally Posted by LScotty i'd just get a pair of knipex, got a pair of these KNIPEX 95 11 165 SB Cable Shears on eBay, also, Pliers, Hand Tools, Business, Office Industrial (end time 05-May-08 22:27:08 BST) I think their ace

ah right cool, those have practically the same handle as the ones im looking at, r urs 1000V tested? if they are then the ones im looking at should be.

I actually went a step further and emailed knipex askin if the cutters I was looking at are safe enough to use by electricians, quote from the reply:

There are two finishes in our range that may be used when live electrical circuits are around.
Only the finishes 6 and 7 are offering a larger amount of protection for an electrician.
The procedure of the safety test method to IEC 60900 carried out with a tool from one of the other finishes (0; 1; 2; 3; 4; 5) shows, that they do NOT offer enough protection!


so I guess they arent safe enough but the guy who I sed I work with who owns these cutters said it came with 1000v tested thing printed on it

oh i dont know, I do 'alf make a big deal out of things dont I!

haha

james

Cirrus

Well fella, you shouldn't be working on live circuits anyway! I have blown a pair of snips before after being assured the circuit had been made safe by another sparks. They are safe enough believe me when they go. When do you intend working on 1000v anyway? Just get them and stop reading too much into it.

jimbo4591

yeah good point, I think i worry to much, i might get some knipex cutters tht arent 1000v tested and be done with it, i can always check cables with volt stick if im tht paranoid

cheers

james

Cirrus

Good man