CK T3678 Heavy Duty Ratchet Cable Cutters - how good?

[pc1966]

As the title say, is the CK T3678 worth getting for a modest amount of work cutting stuff like 50mm hard-drawn copper, and maybe up to 120mm soft drawn copper cables?

 

[nicebutdim]

Not used this particular tool from CK, but I have a no brand set of ratchet cutters which will cut 120mm SWA cores all day long. The spec from CK states up to 52mm dia Cu or Al and 36mm SWA, so I can't imagine you'll have any issues. The only thing I find my cheap set struggling with is fine stranded and I need to be careful with the last part of the cut through tri-rated cable.

 

[pc1966]

I ended up ordering one to try it out so can tell folks later.

A few cutters say no hard-drawn copper, most say no steel. I don't plan on using it for cutting SWA but it could be handy, but I don't work with ACSR wire:

Aluminium-conductor steel-reinforced cable - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

This one had some good reviews on-line but I really can't justify the price tag:

https://www.cef.co.uk/catalogue/products/4306078-ratcheting-swa-cable-cutter

 

[nicebutdim]

The knipex ratchet cutter is supposed to be good, but I've not tried one. Despite its high price, it's an absolute bargain in comparison to that Klein cutter!

 

[pc1966]

We have one of these Klein cutters which is good enough but still hard work when you get to 25mm+ cable sizes:

https://www.cef.co.uk/catalogue/products/4226166-high-leverage-cable-cutter

 

[SparkySy]

I have a pair of the CK ones, they seem good, plenty of leverage!
I use them on 25mm - 35mm 4-5core swa quite a lot even though it says copper alu only and they are still sharp!
probably had them about 9 months now and still going strong.
I would have thought 120mm conductor they would breeze through!