Need to know when it’s time to sharpen your wire cutters? If you’re asking yourself this, there’s a good chance that yours are already becoming less and less effective. While there’s no specific way to know if your wire cutters need sharpening, here are some reasons why your wire cutters are just not cutting it and tips on what you can do to fix the problem.
Your Problem is Pivotal
The sharpness of the blades on your cutter might not be the problem. Instead, the way the pivot is adjusted might be preventing the blades from closing completely or staying aligned. This matters if you’re working with smaller objects or soft wire. In this case, a sharper tool won’t help. Instead, you’ll have to pivot to a new solution. Consider a smaller-sized shear cut plier.
They’re Just Not Making the Cut
If it seems like your wire cutters aren’t sharp enough to cut through the wire you’re working with, you may have the wrong style of pliers. If you’re working with some hefty wire, you might need pliers designed for thick cables. If the material you’re working with isn’t thick, but is literally hard as nails, you might want to consider some heavy duty pliers.
Not the Sharpest Tool in the Shed
Maybe it’s time to learn how to sharpen your wire cutters. Of course, buying a new pair might be a simpler solution. But if you happened to be attached to the pair you have, it’s possible to sharpen your wire cutters. The easiest way is to take a nail file and file along the blade edge of your cutters. If there’s a particular ding that’s getting in your way, applying some heat, or welding on more material and resanding, might help remove it. However, at that point it’s probably best just to get a new pair.
A second option is to use a drill with a sanding strip and try to smooth over the flat sides of the cutters. A similar technique can be applied to flathead screwdrivers, to keep them lasting longer.
It’s important to remember that wire cutters are a type of pliers, but they’re a bit different than wire strippers or wire crimping tools. You probably want to avoid sharpening those types of tools since they rely a lot more on precision.
You Need Your Pliers to Be a Bit More Pliable
If you’re still uncertain about how to sharpen your wire cutters, but want to avoid dulling new ones in the future, you might want to consider multi-purpose pliers that are more adaptable when it comes to your needs. Trying to cut hard wires with pliers that were designed for soft wire, for example, is a sure way to ruin the blades on your wire cutters long before their time should be up.
Sharpening wire cutters can turn into a difficult or time-consuming task, but it’s possible if you’re invested in saving the pair you have. That said, if you haven’t learned enough about how to sharpen wire cutters at this point, hopefully you’ve at least sharpened your knowledge on the type of pliers you might need to get the job done. That type of knowledge should help your future pair of wire cutters last even longer.
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The product statements contained in this guide are intended for general informational purposes only. Such product statements do not constitute a product recommendation or representation as to the appropriateness, accuracy, completeness, correctness or currentness of the information provided. Information provided in this guide does not replace the use by you of any manufacturer instructions, technical product manual, or other professional resource or adviser available to you. Always read, understand and follow all manufacturer instructions.