For physical reasons, hard material cannot be cut flush using pliers. Pliers used for flush cutting should not have any external bevel.


As a result of the one-sided cutting element, very large compressive forces are created on the side of the cutter edge when cutting with the tip. These forces bend the cutting edge or lead to nicks. Flush cutting that is free from burrs and does not damage the pliers cutters is only possible when cutting soft materials such as lead, copper, soft brass or plastic.

Cable ties are usually made from quality plastics with high tensile forces. When they are cut using pliers, high frictional forces are therefore created between the plastic of the cable tie and the steel of the cutter.
The wider and thicker the cable tie, the greater these forces will be.
The surface of the cutters and their lip angle also have a great influence on the cutting forces created.
We recommend precision electronics diagonal cutters from the 79 range, e.g. 79 22 125 or diagonal cutters for plastic in the 72 range, e.g. 72 01 160.

The frequently used 78 models (Electronic Super Knips®) are almost at the limit of their load-bearing capacity when cutting cable ties, especially in the case of wide cable ties or when they are cut using a fast cutting movement: the speed increases the friction.

Theoretically it is possible with a great deal of skill and using suitable tools such as fine whetstones or fine diamond files.
Under some circumstances this changes the geometry of the cutter, which generally worsens the cutting behaviour. In addition the handle width of the pliers is always narrowed when the cutters are sharpened.
The hardened cutter area is stripped and becomes ever thinner. If the cutters are sharpened using mechanical grinding, the introduction of heat during grinding may reduce the hardness. Considerable time and risks are involved, so that sharpening is usually not worthwhile.

At KNIPEX we have spare parts for almost all tools with replaceable parts.
However spare parts are often not listed in the sales documents because they are very rarely needed. Please contact your specialist dealer.

Steel starts to rust as soon as it comes into contact with water and oxygen.
If a water-resistant coating is applied, it will not rust.
Such layers may be an oil film, varnish or electroplated layer of non-rusting material such as nickel or chrome, for example.
An oil film is the simplest method of obtaining rust protection. It is particularly effective on a very smooth surface. For this reason the surfaces of pliers are sanded to finely polish them, and are sometimes even mirror polished.
Oil films wear off over time and must be reapplied regularly. Layers of varnish also wear off when the pliers are used intensively. However such intensive use generally prevents rust forming on the areas where the coat of varnish has worn away.
As a rule, care should be taken to store the pliers in as dry a place as possible.
A chrome plated option is worthwhile if condensation (e.g. in a service vehicle) is unavoidable.
Almost all KNIPEX pliers are available with chrome plating.

Usually the cutting of shrouds in sailing only becomes challenging in an emergency situation.
The sea is then generally rough and conditions are difficult – there is a risk of losing the boat.
Whether KNIPEX wire rope cutters 95 81 600 are suitable for this purpose should definitely be checked on a case by case basis. In principle the tool is suitable, but under the conditions specified we advise using a shroud blaster in emergency situations.

As long as this does not involve fibrous Kevlar rope, ropes right through to thick mooring rope can be cut using cable shears (e.g. 95 12 200). For ropes up to a diameter of 25 mm, the handy hose and conduit pipe shears 90 20 185 also work very well.
Our tip: wind adhesive tape around the cut area to stop the rope fraying / untwisting.

Generally copper pipes can also be cut using cable shears up to the maximum diameter of the respective tool during dismantling (demolition) work.
However it is not possible to prevent a pipe being squashed flat when cut by pliers.

Atramentising is another term for phospating and is part of the rust protection concept.

Atramentising alone generally does not offer sufficient corrosion protection. The phosphate layer is however an excellent primer for a covering layer of varnish. It is completely normal for this layer to become worn down in the area of the cutters.

Left-handed tools are necessary when it is not possible for left-handers to use a “normal” tool, for example in the case of a breadknife, household scissors or a carpenter’s axe.
But pliers usually have a symmetrical design which means they can be operated without a problem in either your right or left hand.
In a few types of pliers there is a “preferred hand”, e.g. when adjusting the Cobra® water pump pliers or the pliers wrench.

They can also be adjusted easily by left-handers, however; different fingers are used here: whereas right-handers use the thumb on their right hand, left-handers use their index finger on their left hand to release the hinge bolt during adjustment.
While this may look a little different compared to the way a right-hander demonstrates or uses the pliers, left-handers get the hang of it very quickly. :-)