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> A wirecutter

Yes, but buy several. Maybe it's only because I buy cheap crap ones in the first place, but I treat them as consumables.



What are you using them for that consumes them?


If the sharp end chips, you can't get close enough to the things you want to clip.


Cutting wires, mostly.


Interesting, I want to hear the full story.


I use the cheap cutters such as Hakko 170's. They're sharp and convenient but essentially consumable. They're made from a relatively soft steel, and wear out, usually because you cut things that aren't copper. Some components have tinned steel leads.

If you dig through someone's old tool box, you'll find a pair of wire cutters with a half-moon nick in each blade from trying to cut something hard.

Naturally my use of wire cutters is declining, due to surface mount, but some of my boards still have larger through-hole parts, and I make custom cables for this and that during prototyping.


Get two: typical electronics flush cutters, and mini side cutters from hardware store. Use the latter in most cases, the former only where precision is really needed.




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