Diagonal Cutting Pliers Collection: Durable, Sharp & Reliable

Diagonal cutting pliers, also known as diagonal pliers or dikes, are an essential tool for making precise, angled cuts in various materials. As their name suggests, these diagonal cutting pliers have blades that meet at an angle, allowing the user to make cuts in tight spaces that normal scissors or snips cannot reach. Read on to learn more about why every toolkit needs a pair of these versatile pliers.

What Are Diagonal Cutting Pliers?

Diagonal cutting pliers feature short blades that intersect at a diagonal angle rather than a straight angle. This angled blade design enables the jaws of the pliers to get into confined areas that straight cutting tools cannot access.

The slanted jaws give diagonal cutting pliers the ability to cleanly trim wires, nails, rivets, and other metal items at precise points. These specialty pliers utilize leverage from the handles and cutting action from the blades to slice through their target material when the handles are squeezed.

Key Features of Diagonal Cutting Pliers

• Angled cutting blades for flush cuts in tight spaces
• Sharp cutting edges to slice through wires, nails, etc.
• Insulated grips for comfort and safety
• Hardened steel construction for durability
• Spring-loaded action for self-opening
• Different sizes available from 5 to 8 inches

Brands like Tonix Tools offer ergonomic diagonal cutting pliers suitable for professional and DIY use.

Diagonal vs. Straight Cutting Pliers

While regular straight cutting pliers also have short blades for cutting in restricted areas, the edge that does the shearing is straight rather than angled diagonally. The key distinction is that diagonal cutting pliers can clip material at any point along their sharpened edge.

In contrast, straight pliers can only make a clean perpendicular cut at one specific spot where the two blades meet. For applications requiring precise trimming flexibility, diagonal cutting pliers excel due to their angled cutting potential.

Common Uses of Diagonal Cutting Pliers

The handiness and cutting accuracy of diagonal cutting pliers make them applicable to a wide variety of jobs:

Cutting Electrical Wires

Electricians rely heavily on diagonal pliers for slicing cables and wires during installations and repairs. The blades cleanly shear through the outer plastic coating and inner conductive metal core in a single motion.

Trimming Nails and Tacks

The sharp, slanted jaws effortlessly nip off nails, brads, staples, and tacks after they are driven into wood or other material. A quick squeeze leaves a trimmed fastener flush without damaging the surface underneath.

Processing Scrap Metal

Workers in metal fabrication use diagonal cutting pliers to size and shape pieces to precise dimensions by nibbling off excess material. The tool also cuts bands and ties.

Removing Packaging Elements

Hobbyists employ these pliers for slicing open clamshell plastic cases as well as clipping tags off items. Crafters utilize them for excising parts from cardboard and artwork.

Types of Diagonal Cutting Pliers

There are a couple key varieties tailored to common needs:

Standard Diagonal Cutting Pliers

With general purpose jaws, standard diagonal pliers handle run-of-the-mill cutting tasks. They work for most household jobs plus basic crafting and tinkering activities. Many professional electricians pack a pair of standard diagonals in their tool belt for electrical work.

Hardened Diagonal Cutting Pliers

If dealing with tough materials day after day, get diagonals with hardened steel jaws that resist wear and chipping. Most lines aimed at industrial users have jaws that undergo special treatment to boost durability. They stand up well when used to repeatedly cut hardy items like thick-gauge wire.

Insulated Diagonal Cutting Pliers

For working on live power sources, opt for diagonals with thick molded grips that prevent electrical shocks and shorts. Models certified to 1,000V are specially insulated for protection so the user avoids nasty jolts. Only insulated diagonal pliers should be used for clipping wires with live current flowing through them.

Key Specifications

When selecting your diagonals, keep in mind:

• Blade angle – Typically 20 to 30 degrees
• Blade length – Ranges from 1 to 2.5 inches
• Overall length – Options span 5 to 8 inches
• Cutting capacity – Max thickness they can shear
• Coating (if any) protects the head from corrosion
• Grips and handles affect comfort and control

Higher precision models allow for flush cutting without damage by aligning the beveled cutting edges perfectly. Budget basic models still cut reasonably well but may mash soft wires.

How to Use Diagonal Cutting Pliers

Follow these tips for best results when using your diagonal cutting pliers:

• Wear safety glasses to protect eyes from debris
• Ensure the material you want to cut will fit within the jaw opening
• Grip the plastic coated handles firmly for control
• Position the pliers so the flush cutting edges shear cleanly
• Align the angled inner blade along the desired cut line
• Slowly squeeze the handles together in a smooth motion to make the cut
• Allow the spring mechanism to open the jaws automatically
• Avoid using excessive force or twisting that can damage the cutting edges

Take care not to cut hardened materials beyond the stated capacity as that can chip the cutting blades. Maintain your diagonals by keeping the blades lightly oiled and wiping to remove grime after each use. Replace them once their cutting accuracy begins to suffer from wear.

FAQ about Diagonal Cutting Pliers

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about these handy wire and material cutting pliers:

What makes diagonal pliers better than regular pliers for cutting?

The angled cutting blades allow diagonal cutting pliers to nip wires and other items flush with surfaces in tight areas that typical pliers cannot reach. Diagonals also give you more precision over exactly where to cut.

Can you cut small screws with diagonal pliers?

Yes, the shearing action of quality diagonal cutting pliers easily slices through small machine screw diameters up to about 3 mm. Ensure the screw head and shank slide completely into the jaw opening for flush cutting.

What gauge wire can 8-inch diagonals cut?

Standard 8-inch diagonal pliers can generally cut wire up to 16 gauge steel thanks to the added leverage from the long handles. Smaller sizes may only handle wire up to 20 gauge based on reduced mechanical advantage.

Why do my new diagonal pliers mash wires instead of cutting them?

If fresh diagonal cutting pliers are crushing wires rather than making a clean cut, the cutting edges likely need adjustment. Use a sharpening stone to finely hone the blades until the beveled sides align precisely so they shear instead of smash as you snip wires.

Can I cut small nails with diagonal pliers?

You can cutfinish nails, brads, carpet tacks, and other miniature fasteners using diagonal pliers designed for that purpose. Ensure the nail size does not exceed the stated cutting capacity to avoid damaging the jaws. Standard models for household use can generally cut small nails up to about 1-inch long.