Craftsman has come out with new compound-action diagonal cutters. The compound-action mechanism features increased cutting force compared to standard cutters and pliers. In other pliers, compound pivot mechanisms typically also increase the handle opening width, a trade-off for increased cutting power.
The new 8″ diagonal cutters, CMHT81718, also features a “multi-zone bi-material” grip. The pliers are made from drop forged steel, and the cutting edges are induction hardened for greater longevity.
Craftsman has also come out with 8″ Lineman’s pliers, featuring a similar compound-action pivot.
Advertisement
Price: $15 each
Buy Now(Diagonal Cutter via Lowes)
Buy Now(Lineman’s Pliers via Lowes)
See Also(via Amazon)
Amazon recently listed the diagonal cutter at $17, but has since changed it to a 3rd party-only listing.
Discussion
We’ve seen these tools before, or at least very similar designs, in the form of Stanley pliers that debuted in Europe a few years ago.
There are many other compound-action cutters and pliers on the market:
- Gearwrench’s PivotForce pliers
- Crescent’s Pivot Pro offerings
- NWS Fantastico cutters (a personal favorite)
- Knipex TwinForce
- Wiha BiCut cutters
Generally, the trade-off with these types of pliers and cutters is similar – you get greater cutting power, meaning you can cut harder materials with reduced effort, but the handles open wider to do so.
Advertisement
I wouldn’t trade in my USA-made Craftsman Professional pliers for these, or choose them over say Channellock, Knipex, or NWS, but they have their purpose. $15 for higher-leverage cutters and pliers doesn’t seem bad.
It’s been nearly a year since Craftsman’s big brand relaunch, and I hope to see some unique hand tools added to the product line soon.
If you want to save some money, Stanley Control Grip 8″ compound action diagonal cutters, STHT74915, are currently $10.44 via Amazon.
Buy Now(Stanley 8″ Compound Action Cutters via Amazon)
Amazon also has a 3pc set with the European-style handles, but for $68.10.
If you’re up for spending more, NWS Fantastic cutters, or Irwin’s 8″ diagonal cutters, provide an exceptionally good experience. The trade-off of wider-opening handles is still present, but the cutting action and overall comfort is very well executed.
Buy Now(Irwin 8″ Diagonal Cutters via Amazon)
See Also(NWS Fantastico 8″ via KC Tool)
The Craftsman compound action cutters and pliers – and the Stanley too – have similar pivot designs to NWS’s, and might be a good way for you to determine if compound action cutters are a good choice for the work you do. $15 is an easier investment than $35 or more.
Andrew
The Craftsman hand tools, as you seem to indicate, have been a bit disappointing. Not in quality as they are better than the sears junk of recent years, but that they are all copies of other SBD tools. Not that is always bad some of the tools are good and often the Craftsman is a couple of dollars cheaper. Just hoping they come out with some original stuff, and less bulky handles would be nice too.
Gary
“It’s been nearly a year since Craftsman’s big brand relaunch, and I hope to see some unique hand tools added to the product line soon.”
Stuart, you have spoken directly with SBD/Craftsman about the brand … is there any good reason to expect some kind of premium tool launch anytime soon?
Few were more excited than me about the relaunch, but with the possible exception of the gunmetal mechanics tools (despite skipped sizes), brushless drill and impact, and maybe the 3000-series tool storage, I have been severely underwhelmed so far (NOTHING to do with COO).
Stuart
To be frank, I have not heard much from Craftsman at all. Most if not all of my information has been coming from investor materials and other public sources.
I too hope for a more premium line of Craftsman Professional hand tools. I have not seen any indication that they’re interested in this, but it’s still very early. To be fair, I also haven’t heard much from Craftsman about anything.
Matt
I agree with you for the most part Gary. The USA brushless impact & drill are on par with what I expect from Craftsman. The rest of the V20 line is pretty second rate. I’d drop money on several V20 tools tomorrow if they existed. I need to get a new 1/2 inch impact but what they have now is a 10 year old tank. I wanted a new circular & jig saw too. SBD could have taken at least DeWalt’s mid torque and a couple of saws and made them red for the launch. Old Craftsman saws and mechanics stuff like an impact just seemed like a no brainer. But their 3000 series boxes are indeed fantastic! The hand tools like this, I’ll wait for the new USA stuff to come online. The current stuff just doesn’t do anything for me.
I have to add though, their V60 stuff is awesome. I have the weedwacker and am getting the mower too.
Thomas
The leverage may be good but is the steel good? Nws and knipex have such high quality steel they are awesome. I can’t imagine these would not notch the cutting edge on hard materials
aerodawg
yep. I’ve been cutting hardened M2 steel pins with my knipex and they’re still rocking. I ruined several sets of cheaper cutters before getting the knipex.
Noah
Exactly. I’ve been using a pair of Irwin branded Fantasticos to cut 3/32” aircraft cable, they do do cleanly with no edge damage. I’d be surprised if these can do the same.
Flotsam
I have both the Crescent & Gearwrench compound plier/ cutter sets. This Craftsman offering doesn’t seem to be any kind of improvement over those so I will pass.
Whiskey and Wood
You can also get the NWS rebranded as Felo from KC Tools, sometimes they are significantly less expensive depending on what sales are available!
Dan Rosenberg
The very first thing I want to know about is where a tool is made. If it’s not USA made, I’m probably never gonna buy it!
Diamond Dave
My hope for USA made Craftsman tools slips away for every new tool or relaunch they come up with and not made in the USA. Until they do I will not spend a dime on their tools and will go with the competition which at this time seems to be priced comparatively and better quality. They must be waiting for all of us in the “USA made generation” to just die off and then business as usual for SBD and Craftsman!
Gary
… completely consistent with their announcement of a new USA factory opening next year that will focus on mechanics tools for Craftsman (as well as Mac and Proto).
Mike (the other one)
Yeah, it takes a while to get that going. These are obviously the same as Stanley tools, but with a red and black handle, so it’s an easy product to put out.
I’m waiting for the new USA made tools. I’d rather they take their time and get it right instead of rushing poor quality tools.
Steve
They did just begin construction of a new Craftsman hand tools factory in Ft. Worth Texas to be on line by the end of next year. You might see some new stuff then and, of course, Made in USA.
Brian
SBD product line, they acquired Craftsman, where would anyone possibly be getting any optimism of higher end product? Not to directly knock SBD but it leaves to be desired when thinking of what quality of product to expect.
The What?
What’s the point of releasing the same pliers five years later under a different brand? That’s pretty lousy and it definitely cheapens the reputation of the brand name. They must have had some crates of the Stanley pliers left over & decided to throw it back out under craftsman. It does seem like the majority of craftsman hand tools are replicas of another brand’s past releases. This release sums up what sbd craftsman tools are all about. NFG.
Stuart
The Stanley wasn’t sold here before, or at least I never saw them (and I did check every now and then.
A few years ago, there were very many Craftsman and Craftsman Professional tools that were rebranded versions of existing tools. I have Craftsman hammers, wire strippers, pliers, a hacksaw, and some specialty tools that were the same as others on the market.
There are plenty of tools that I can buy today that I’d like to see rebranded under Craftsman. But these? I’m mostly over compound action pliers and cutters these days.
Frankebabe
The Irving set is factory seconds from NWS. They are junk! I got them from Amazon and they have tool marks all over them and the blades don’t line up on any of them. See my Amazon review for pics. It appears Craftsman bought the rights to make them from NWS and for $15 it might be worth it. Ill keep on keeping your factories power equipment running with my Knipex as an Industrial Electrician. You get what you pay for and my life depends on them. 480v ain’t no joke!
Corey Moore
Hey, small world! Lol and same, industrial electrician myself, 480-13.8kv and I’m overwhelmingly stocked on knipex and nws.
Jeremiah McKenna
Ever since Irving bought vice grip, their tools have been complete junk. You can tell that they are made in the worst parts of China. As you said, tool Mark’s and lousy workings/motions on them. I’d rather buy Husky junk and expect to tool to fail so I can watch for the upcoming injury and try to avoid it, rather than think I am still buying a quality tool and have it also fail and get injured.
At least the Craftsman Pro Series tool boxes are higher quality, have a great proce and are guaranteed for life.
kman
I recently bought a rolling craftsman toolbox from Lowes. It is a copy of the dewalt which I understood. The branding is craftsman all red and black. The handle is made of molded plastic and actually says dewalt. So they didn’t even bother to make a new mold for the handle. This is sloppy and screams of a quick cheap launch of an existing tool with a new name. Other than that I love the toolbox. I just think a company the size of SBD should not be so sloppy.
Bob
I agree with Kman, DeWalt handle on a Craftsman box is kinda crummy. But Ill give SBD a one time pass on that. There are all sorts of logistical issues to overcome when companies merge or are aquired. Management loves to see product synergies from legacy and new company. Everyone is trying to rush out new product with the craftsman logo so mistakes get made. They ran out of craftsman handles or the new engineer in design didnt catch the handle had the DeWalt logo or the handle supplier didnt have time to have a new injection mold made or insert reason here. In this case if that’s the worst thing that happens with this box your probably going to have a good experience with that box.
I wonder if you shoot an email to SBD and ask if they know of the mistake and if you can get a new handle?
Bob
Jeremiah McKenna you are 100% correct the new Irwin vice grips suck. They dont heat treat the jaws like the used too when they were made in DeWitt Nebraska by Peterson Manufacturing. They may also be using junk steel. I’ve resorted to ebay for new old stock and yard sales. I did hear there is a German brand of vise grip style pliers that are pretty good not sure which one? Knipex? Havent really looked into it as I have a pretty good supply of old ones.