While I agree with your 2nd and 3rd place choices, I do not agree on the top spot choice. Erem is a brand that I learned about in the late 70s. I’ve bought my share and have used them for 41 years. This is a tool that lasts for decades and precision work demands the highest standard of quality and if you ask any person who does high end precision work that the quality of their tooling demands that quality, Erem is the tool of choice for work that stands up to the highest scrutiny. I stand by this regardless of what others might say. I have worked in missile electronics, avionics and high end audio and Erem is the only cutters and pliers I use, period! This brand sells itself! True quality doesn’t require marketing prowess, it requires high quality, high reliability, consistent and repeatable results time after time over decades of demanding use. Erem is that company without question, any reservation or outside influence! Try Erem and know that you have the best in your hands! That’s a fact, not an opinion sir! Stay safe mates!😊👍🏻😷
Erem is by far and away the best tools you can use for electronics work period. Even the Tronex and Excelta tools look and feel much lower quality than Erem. Once you hold an Erem in the hand and use it, you’ll know.
Great look into your experience with tools. There's no substitute for high quality tools if you're a serious home-gamer or if you're a pro. Cheers! -Greg
Quality tools are quality tools. Cheep tools are a pain in the back side. There is a difference. As I am retired now, any tools I buy are hobby use only but I still would rather spend $60 for a quality tool and enjoy it vs $5 and curse it every time I pick it up. Nice video.
This is the nerdiest and coolest vid at the same time. I’ve got about 6 pairs of wire cutters, and my favorite pair are the ones that belonged to my grandfather, that he used in his shop since the 60’s. They’re still super sharp, and I’ve got a pair of matching needle nose I inherited too. Those Tronex look to be made extremely well, and I do need a new pair of flat pliers. Thanks, Mark. Can you do screwdrivers next? I like my Wiha made in Germany screwdrivers.
I didn't see any Hakko flush cutters in your survey. They are pretty much clones of the Xcelite 175's. I find them to be quite good. The Xcelites when I first found them were about $7, paired with their stamped needlenose pliers, I think #378. Today, the Xcelite flush cutters are more like $15 and the Hakkos (I think #170) are still $5. These stamped metal pliers are, let's face it, not 50 year tools. When I'm using them and they work fine, I do not worry about how well they will work 50 years from now when I'll be dead.The Hakkos are way better than 1/3rd as good as the Xcelites. I consider them identical. Are you cutting 20 ga wire or trying to cut thru the hull of the Queen Mary?
The best thing about the Greenlee is the curved cutting blades...if you have a cable with a pull string inside like fiberoptic cable, it helps to cut through that stubborn string.
Strange: I did a quick check of the Excelta's on ebay. Some made in USA, one made in Sweden, some made in Italy. Do not look like they were all created equal. This may be a catch-all "brand" that sources multiple manufacturers, as is convenient.
I just ordered an automatic cable stripper from Knipex, my big cable cutter is also from Knipex, they are used to cutting piano strings, even nails can be cut with one of these. I have a cable stripper, old school from Wiha, and that one is so fed up, that I needed another one, and got me landing on the automatic cable stripper, which is especially for stripping multicore cables, without destroying the shielding copper. Which my Wiha does at this time. Not very convenient. My small cable cutter is also a Knipex ESD fine cutter. This one is just for electronics. Also, I have a cable cutter for electrical use from Wiha. So in total I have 4, and that is more than enough for the job I do.
Cool video. I also have two wire strippers. One is an old Speedex and also a new Ideal Stripmaster. Like the wire snips with the real dirty handles! Automotive friendly for sure.
It's funny how you don't like most of them but they are still in you tool box. Human nature is strange and consistent. I have been buying the Harbor Freight flush cutters and have been satisfied with them You have to go through all that are on the hook to make sure the cutting edges mate perfectly. When you find one they last as long as you are religious with cutting COPPER only. But that never happens. Great for $3 and a half bucks.
