Which Diagonal Cutting Pliers (wire Cutters) Brand Wins?

drop forged heat treated steel; precision machine jaws

durable chrome nickel steel; hardened precision machine jaws claimed to last longer and grip better; high leverage design; induction hardened cutting edges claimed to stay sharper longer

compound action design claimed for increased cutting force; drop forged steel for strength and durability; induction hardened cutting edges claimed to stay sharper longer

cuts ACSR, screws, nails, and most hardened wire; rust protection claimed to reduce corrosion and increase tool life; riveted joint advertised for smooth action with no wobble

compound action diagonal pliers; claims 70% more cutting power; guaranteed tough

nickel chromium steel pliers construction; induction hardened cutting edges claimed to stay sharper longer

precision machine knife and anvil style cutting edges claimed to ensure perfect mating and superior cutting edge life; uses high carbon C1080 steel claimed for superior performance

drop forged nippers described as ideal for cutting hog rings or wire

claims up to two times more cuts; iron carbide edge; engineered by Milwaukee Tool, professionally made in China

induction hardened cutting knives claimed for long life; high leverage design claimed to have 36% more cutting power; hot riveted joint claimed for smooth action and no handle wobble

claims 15% easier cuts; fire rivet technology claimed for smooth opening; fire edge induction hardened blades claimed to cut nails, screws, and ACSR wire

dynamic joint claimed to require 40% less effort; low wear lap joint riveted, claimed to withstand high levels of load; 64 HRC induction hardened; manufactured with global components in Vietnam

claims high cutting performance with minimum effort due to optimum coordination of cutting edge angle and transmission ratio; high leverage diagonal cutters claimed for very tough continuous use; induction hardened cutting edges

heat treated claimed to provide consistent performance; forged alloy steel claimed for durability

small joint in combination with longer handles claimed to increase leverage by 19%; parallel cutting edges engineered, claimed to provide repeated cuts for hard wire and even spring steel

the lightest tested

the heaviest yet at that point in the lineup

pretty light

lighter than Doyle

second heaviest yet at that point

nearly the same as Kobalt

by far the heaviest yet at that point

nearly the same as Channellock

second heaviest yet at that point

narrator says you need a very strong hand to use these on a nail

performed a lot better than Illinois Industrial Tool despite the shorter handles offering less leverage

the best yet at that point due to a leverage advantage from its unique design

better than Craftsman, moved into the lead at that point

nearly the same as Craftsman and Doyle

by far the best yet at that point, taking the lead from Doyle

took the lead from Irwin, the best of all brands tested on this test

required a lot of force

performed much better than average

slightly better than Klein Tools

performed better than average

nearly the same as Knipex

did not cut through the deck screw even at 344 lb of pressure and was left badly bent, no longer serviceable

a very clean cut; a little more handle wobble afterward but no damage to the cutters

cutters still in great shape but quite a bit of handle wobble

the best yet at that point; loosened up some with quite a bit of handle wobble and a small amount of wear to the cutters

barely finished ahead of Doyle to move into the lead at that point; still in good shape with no visible damage to the cutters

by far the best yet at that point, 19 lb less than DeWalt

second place just behind Irwin

took a lot of effort; small amount of damage to one of the cutters, handle wobble about the same

no damage to the cutters and they're still properly aligned

pliers seem as good as new, no damage to the cutters

won this test outright, two pounds less than Irwin; seems as good as new, no damage to the cutters

some damage to the cutters, small amount of handle wobble

cutters in great shape, but a gap appeared between the cutters when the jaws are fully closed, indicating the rivet or pliers had bent

not tested, did not survive the screw test

no damage to the cutters

broke at 268 lb, the drill bit was too much for it

made very easy work of it, cutters still properly aligned and in great shape

reached failure load at 327 lb and did not cut through the drill bit; one handle bent and the pliers no longer close properly, with some damage to the cutters

took the lead from Doyle

narrator predicted it should cut through around 200 lb given its high leverage design, but the rivet, described as a lot smaller than some other brands, let go at 256 lb; some damage to the cutters, which don't appear as hard as Kobalt, Doyle, and Irwin

cutters aren't as hard as some other brands, small amount of damage to both cutters

survived the pressure and cut through the drill bit with no damage to the cutters, despite a more compact design than some other brands

won this test outright, by far the best yet; small amount of damage to the cutters

made easy work of it, cutters still look as good as new

moved into second place behind Klein Tools; cutters still look as good as new

just wouldn't give up and finally made the cut at 328 lb; small amount of damage to the cutters

wouldn't give up and cut through the drill bit at 358 lb; cutters experienced quite a bit of damage

the drill bit was a little too much for it and the rivet let go at 345 lb; small amount of damage to the cutters

not tested

peaked at 462 lb before finally breaking; cutters left a good size dent in the socket adapter; one jaw broke off but the cutters held up well

not tested, already broken

began to fail at 550 lb, the rivet broke and there was quite a bit of damage to the cutters; narrator calls it a great job by the brand

not tested, already failed

one jaw broke at 320 lb; cutters still in great shape afterward, described as very impressive

not tested, already broken

handle finally snapped at 469 lb; small amount of damage to the cutters; narrator calls it a very respectable job

one jaw broke off at 379 lb; small amount of damage to both cutters; narrator calls it a very good job considering the compact size of the jaws

spit out the rivet at 485 lb; handles and jaws did not bend or break; some minor damage to the cutters; narrator calls it a very impressive job

put up a good effort but the jaws finally broke at 412 lb; cutters still look nearly as good as new despite contact with the hardened socket adapter; narrator calls it very impressive

proved very tough and finally broke at 449 lb, breaking at the pivot point/axle; cutters did experience some damage

refused to spit out parts or even break; at 579 lb the handle finally began to bend but never broke; cutters still in really good shape considering the weight applied; narrator calls it very impressive

jaws began to hyperextend at 550 lb; at a very impressive 985 lb, after a large popping sound, the jaws were finally badly hyperextended; the hydraulic press had nearly bottomed out so the narrator ended the test there; quite a bit of damage to the cutters and jaws badly bent, but the pliers stayed in one piece

not tested, already broken

quite a bit of wobble moving the handles back and forth

unlike the advertised no-wobble claim, transcript notes quite a bit of wobble in the joint, just like the Craftsman

definitely better than the Doyle, but there is quite a bit of wobble

very good craftsmanship, absolutely no wobble

not quite as tight as some of the other brands

nice tight fit

not quite as tight as some of the other brands

not quite as tight as some of the other brands

no wobble

nice and tight fit

does not provide a very tight fit

nice and tight fit

from axle center to cutter opening, though handles are an inch shorter than the other brands

shortest distance from axle/rivet center to cutter opening of any brand tested, at 6.28 mm

nearly the shortest distance from axle center to cutter opening of any brand at 6.48 mm, close behind Irwin