Side cutter vs cable cutters?

[patMustard]

I'm just wondering what the difference is between these two tools below.

The cable cutters seem so much easier to strip cable with and to take off the pvc to expose the copper but they use the side cutters in college.

Might be a stupid question

 

[buzzlightyear]

those are for cutting giants toe nails and the others for cutting chickens feet lol.
the side cutters are for cutting cable down one end and cutting small cable e.g. 1.0 mm to 2.5 other are for tails and cables above 2.5.

 

[Zerax]

Very different tools to me... although I have seen some sparks use the cable croppers (shear type ones) for everything, doing away with side cutters.

As Buzz said... I only use my croppers for big cables, side cutters are always on me though.

 

[Dustydazzler]

side cutters have a flat angled edge , croppers (cutters) have a much sharper finer edge.
croppers are good for flex , round cables and have the little notch in the end for stripping.
side cutters can be used for pulling nails , cutting down screws and will stand up to more abuse.
if you cut a m4 screw with croppers you have pretty much knackered them...

 

[Pete999]

I'm just wondering what the difference is between these two tools below.

View attachment 61162
View attachment 61163

The cable cutters seem so much easier to strip cable with and to take off the pvc to expose the copper but they use the side cutters in college.

Might be a stupid question

One is for large cables One isn't, the smaller pais sometimes have wire strippers incorporated

 

[DefyG]

Two different types of tools but seen them used for the same thing!
Ive seen cable croppers smaller than side cutters so don't necessarily go along with the thought that croppers are for bigger cables but admittedly are easier for cropping meter tails and compressed/compacted conductors such as in some armoured cables.

 

[GBDamo]

Seen too many broken solid conductors from over zealous use of side cutters and shears for stripping cables.

Use CK auto strippers and remove the risk.

 

[Dustydazzler]

Seen too many broken solid conductors from over zealous use of side cutters and shears for stripping cables.

Use CK auto strippers and remove the risk.

You can now by side cutters with a 1.5 & 2.5 notch in them to aid with stripping...

but I to like auto strippers as well , they remove the risk of nicking the copper cores

 

[Marvo]

Those cable croppers you've shown a picture of look like some weird hybrid cutter/cropper things. Maybe they're designed to be used as cutters and croppers. The traditional cable croppers have a single curved cutting edge on both sides and blunt ends so they're not much good as a side cutter replacement more like these;

Edit Certainly not a 'stupid question' as you suggest it might be.
[automerge]1601676150[/automerge]
The line for what tools are has become more and more blurred in recent years. In the old days tools were generally designed and fully optimised to do one job. Nowadays it's common for them to to try make tools a jack of all trades.

I remember when i blew a hole in my side cutters by accidentally cutting a live cable I used to burst into tears, throw them away and go buy a new pair. Nowadays they sell side cutters with even bigger chunks missing from the cutting edges and charge you extra for them because it's now a wire stripper as well. Go figure....

 

[ipf]

side cutters have a flat angled edge , croppers (cutters) have a much sharper finer edge.
croppers are good for flex , round cables and have the little notch in the end for stripping.
side cutters can be used for pulling nails , cutting down screws and will stand up to more abuse.
if you cut a m4 screw with croppers you have pretty much knackered them...

I never cut screws with cutters or pliers. Have you not tried a non ratchet crimping tool (used just as a screw cutter) with threaded holes...3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 5.0mm....just screw in to desired length and chop...lovely clean cut with no thread damage with a starting point for screwing. I hate coming across badly cut screws, forced, which knacker the box lug with loads of spoiled screw thread.

 

[Dustydazzler]

These...

Klein Tools Wire Strippers 10" (263mm) - Screwfix

Order online at Screwfix.com. Cuts, strips and loops 10-18 AWG solid and 12-20 AWG stranded wire. Precision-ground stripping holes and strong gripping serrated nose for easy bending, shaping and pulling of wire. Cleanly shears 6-32 and 8-32 screws. Double-dipped comfort-grips with curved...

www.screwfix.com

really popular in America & Canada but not So common here
[automerge]1601707795[/automerge]

Those cable croppers you've shown a picture of look like some weird hybrid cutter/cropper things. Maybe they're designed to be used as cutters and croppers. The traditional cable croppers have a single curved cutting edge on both sides and blunt ends so they're not much good as a side cutter replacement more like these;

View attachment 61170
Edit Certainly not a 'stupid question' as you suggest it might be.
[automerge]1601676150[/automerge]
The line for what tools are has become more and more blurred in recent years. In the old days tools were generally designed and fully optimised to do one job. Nowadays it's common for them to to try make tools a jack of all trades.

I remember when i blew a hole in my side cutters by accidentally cutting a live cable I used to burst into tears, throw them away and go buy a new pair. Nowadays they sell side cutters with even bigger chunks missing from the cutting edges and charge you extra for them because it's now a wire stripper as well. Go figure....

i blew a hole in my everyday carry side cutters and it was by luck the perfect size for stripping 1.5mm cable , this was long before the days of cutters with manufactured holes in them for stripping...
I spent months trying to blow a Second hole bIs enough for 2.5mm cable to be like the, fancy cutters...

 

[telectrix]

I never cut screws with cutters or pliers. Have you not tried a non ratchet crimping tool (used just as a screw cutter) with threaded holes...3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 5.0mm....just screw in to desired length and chop...lovely clean cut with no thread damage with a starting point for screwing. I hate coming across badly cut screws, forced, which knacker the box lug with loads of spoiled screw thread.

my sidecutters have holes for cutting 3.5mm screws. never had any problems with damaged threads.
[automerge]1601715736[/automerge]
also use these for stripping.

[automerge]1601715763[/automerge]
Klein,by the way.