discussion New nippers

[Miko]

I'm in the market for a new pair of nippers for removing parts from sprues, my old ones I've had for years and their performance isn't what it used to be

So, being a Tamiya enthusiast so to speak I checked Amazon for a pair of Tamiya nippers, currently £26, that's with 7%off, is it me or is that rather a lot?

Not that they are the most expensive I've seen, I previously considered buying 'Kotobukiya' branded nippers made by 'God Hand' and these were over twice the price of the Tamiya pair!

Although they do claim to be the 'ultimate' nipper!

What do you guys use?

Miko (regularly fall for clever marketing strategies)

 

[Airborne01]

I use these, and the same pair has lasted for at least ten years - they are brilliant (and I have a spare set in its original packaging)! Highly recommended!
Steve

 

[Jim R]

Tamiya for sure. I have two, one with slightly more delicate, fine jaws. They work perfectly.
I do have a couple of cheap nippers for rough work and for wire.

 

[Tim Marlow]

I have several sets, including Lindstrom, Xuron, and Games workshop. DSPAEI are by far the best, simply superb. I think I save at least an hour a kit on clean up alone when using them. They do not cut like wire cutters as most nippers do, they have a sharp blade and a stop edge so the shave the part off leaving almost no sprue nib and no distortion or tearing at all. They really are worth the money, and are certainly not overhyped. Not sure how much better Godhand cutters could be, because I see very little room for improvement. I do save them for final trimming though because the blades are fine and hardened so are probably somewhat brittle. Sprue crunching is done by my Xuron track cutters.

 

[LeytonO]

For the past nine months I have been using some nippers called Stedi MS-109 like these
https://www.amazon.co.uk/stedi-Ultra-Thin-Single-Edge-Plastic-Repairing/dp/B0C7K13FPK?th=1
I paid about 25 quid and in my opinion they are well worth the money.
The cutting width can be adjusted with the supplied Allen key, you also get a spare spring and leather pouch.

 

[flyjoe180]

I originally wanted Tamiya's 74123 nippers, but they weren't available when I needed them. I got Tamiya's 74035 nippers instead. Never had a problem with getting in close and the cuts are clean. No complaints, I would buy them again.

https://www.tamiya.com/english/products/74035/index.html
​

 

[Miko]

Thanks for the advice guys, I can now make a more informed choice

Miko (. . . about to go nippers shopping)

 

[Airborne01]

Just had a thought - 'New Nippers' ? - I paid a small fortune for these over the years!
Steve

 

[Miko]

Just had a thought - 'New Nippers' ? - I paid a small fortune for these over the years!
Steve

When it comes to that type of nipper mine are in their thirties!

 

[pjgtech]

I bought this set about 18 months ago when I was just getting back into modelling, the nippers really good, small but sharp, and after 18 months are still as good as new.... Yes its only a "basic" set, but TBH I'm still using most of the things in it, eg: the tweezers, the little sanding sticks, the mini files, and the hand drill and bits, etc, etc.

 

[Miko]

I bought this set about 18 months ago when I was just getting back into modelling, the nippers really good, small but sharp, and after 18 months are still as good as new.... Yes its only a "basic" set, but TBH I'm still using most of the things in it, eg: the tweezers, the little sanding sticks, the mini files, and the hand drill and bits, etc, etc.

That is quite the comprehensive set! and three quarters the price of Tamiya nippers!

Miko (our hobby need not be an expensive one)

 

[Tim Marlow]

Interesting……the nippers in that set are obvious Xuron knock offs, and the knife is an Xacto copy. Not saying it’s a bad set. In fact, for that price it’s a bit of a steal. However, if this was knock off figures or copied kits, would we be as forgiving? Just musing aloud here, not criticising anyone.

 

[pjgtech]

TBH when I was getting back into the hobby, I had no idea who the main, (eg: good and well regarded) players were regarding tools, etc, I just wanted something cheap to get me going. Actually the scalpel knife is the one thing that does not feel good quality in that set, so I've never used it.

 

[LeytonO]

It comes down to which design of nipper you want.
The two blades coming together so effectively squashing the plastic together and then cutting
or
One fixed edge and the cutting blade coming against it to sever the plastic.

It appears the second type give a cleaner more precise cut albeit using the more fragile and expensive tool

 

[stillp]

That seems inconsistent with gardeners' secateurs, where the bypass type gives a cleaner cut than the anvil type, where the sharp blade meets a fixed edge.
Pete

 

[stillp]

I'm going to need new nippers sometime. The ones I've been using are a pair of electronic technician's cutters that I bought in Cardiff in the late 1960s. They're Swiss made by Saint Bride, who don't seem to be trading any more, and are the type where the two blades come together. They are oblique flush-cutting end cutters, but when I was a working electronic engineer I couldn't find any similar cutters that were as good although a Lindstrom pair came pretty close but cost around £40. They are getting a bit worn though - I must see if I can sharpen them.
Pete

 

[Tim Marlow]

That seems inconsistent with gardeners' secateurs, where the bypass type gives a cleaner cut than the anvil type, where the sharp blade meets a fixed edge.
Pete

The anvil type of sprue cutters have a far finer blade edge than those on a pair of anvil secateurs. Anvil secateurs are designed for heavy duty cutting, so have a relatively wide cutting angle to the blade to prevent damage during use. It’s like comparing a good wood chisel, which shaves off material, with a lump hammer driven cold chisel, which smashes its way through. Think scalpel and that’s the sort of sharpness the sprue cutters have. In addition, the material you are cutting is also different. Plastic will distort away from the blades, being squeezed off by bypass cutters, whereas plant material is more rigid so gets cut through. Ive used both, and I can assure you that the wire cutter type nippers (even my Lindstroms) are not in the same league. Lindstrom box jointed smooth jawed pliers are the bees knees though…..mine are over thirty years old and are still as good as the day I bought them.

 

[LeytonO]

The anvil type of sprue cutters have a far finer blade edge than those on a pair of anvil secateurs. Anvil secateurs are designed for heavy duty cutting, so have a relatively wide cutting angle to the blade to prevent damage during use. It’s like comparing a good wood chisel, which shaves off material, with a lump hammer driven cold chisel, which smashes its way through. Think scalpel and that’s the sort of sharpness the sprue cutters have. In addition, the material you are cutting is also different. Plastic will distort away from the blades, being squeezed off by bypass cutters, whereas plant material is more rigid so gets cut through. Ive used both, and I can assure you that the wire cutter type nippers (even my Lindstroms) are not in the same league. Lindstrom box jointed smooth jawed pliers are the bees knees though…..mine are over thirty years old and are still as good as the day I bought them.

These are my Lindstrom cutters I got on starting in 1975 as an apprentice with the then Post Office Telecommunications.
Still using them although not for sprue cutting or telephone cable, retired after nearly 40 years from doing the latter.
I still have a pair of their flat end long nose pliers somewhere, many years since I tweaked a relay.