Milwaukee Tool added 2 new angled head diagonal cutters to their line of USA-made pliers.
The new pliers share features with the rest of the line, such as an optimized pivot point and laser-hardened cutting edges
Milwaukee says that these pliers are engineered to provide the smoothest open and close experience from the start, with no break-in period required.
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The tools both feature an angled diagonal cutting head for better access, hand clearance, and prying applications.
“Prying applications?” Yes, they know how some of you use these pliers.
You can buy these pliers with a dipped-style handle grip, or with comfort grips.
The pliers are made in the USA from USA-sourced materials, and are backed by a lifetime guarantee.
Pliers handle options:
- 8″ with dipped handle grip: MT508A
- 8″ with comfort grip: MT558A
Both are said to be “tether-ready.” The dipped grip pliers have a small hole for a split ring, and the comfort grip handles have larger lanyard holes at the ends of both handles.
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Price: $37 (dipped grip), $42 (comfort grip)
ETA: August 2025
Robert
The Milwaukee marketing statement says:
“ engineered to provide the smoothest open and close experience from the start, with no break-in period required.”
Wait, what tools have a “break-in period required?”
This is news to me. What have I’ve been doing wrong?
Jared
You haven’t experienced a new pair of pliers with a stiff joint?
Robert
Nope. I don’t use them repeatedly in one session. A few applications of one, then the tools sit for weeks, maybe months. So I don’t really get a baseline of what they should feel like.
ToolFollower
You would know if you had a stiff plier even with one or two uses. They range from terrible to unusable.
There are several way to loosen the joint at a factory. Cheapo tools achieve it by cycling the pliers up to 1k times or just make the rivet extra wobbly. Both situations worsen the plier.
A great plier has little to no play in the joint while still opening and closing with minimal effort. Both without compromising on strength or life.
Robert
Toolfollower, thanks for clarifying. I guess I lucked out and/or bought good quality (Knipex, glory days Craftsman, Klein, Milwaukee)
Stuart
Buy other diagonal cutters or linemans pliers off the shelf at the hardware store and you’ll see the difference.
With a lot of pliers, the pivot is tight and requires use to break in, which some users accelerate with valve grinding compound or similar.
Milwaukee added steps to their production process so that their pliers open and close smoothly on Day 1.
Mateo
Kleins tend to take some breaking in to get them opening and closing smoothly. Some people like that about them and for others it’s a reason to look elsewhere
IronWood
Kleins are like Carhartts, they’re at their very best right before they finally wear out. The Milwaukees are definitely smooth from day 1.
CMF
Years ago I had bought a pair of Klein Journeyman 9″ lineman pliers. They are excellent pliers. I never really noticed the stiffness in them, I took it for granted as being normal.
After buying NWS (Lee Valley had a contractor pack deal), and then may Knipex, including a pair of 9″ lineman pliers, I noticed none of these had the stiffness the Klein’s did.
Like I said, the Klein’s are still excellent pliers, but for the price & being made in the USA, they should not have this stiffness.
CMF
What kind of worries me is the simple fact that they have to tell you that no break in is required. I can’t see any of the German or Japanese top tier tools advertising this.
I forgot to mention that I also have some Japanese pliers and other hand tools like Lobster, Top Tool, Engineer and a couple of others. All of these generally have no stiffness and all the finishing touches are well done.
I have not tried any of the Milwaukee MITUSA tools yet. Stiffness and other small finishing touches are not everything but if Milwaukee wants to make it with these tools, the main construction, the ergonomics, and finishing touches all need to be properly done and well thought out.
They will sell because they are Milwaukee and because they are MITUSA. But at some point, users get tired when they pay top dollar but a product leaves something to be desired.
I have a pair of Diamalloy 8″ lineman pliers I bought mid 70’s; still work great and did so when I bought them.
Stuart
Milwaukee advertises this because it has been a common complaint about other brands’ pliers, and something they paid attention to when developing the production processes for their USA-made pliers and cutters.
mark w
Google some videos of people using rubbing compound to loosen up pliers. It’s a thing with some brands imo. Others are better I feel. For example Kleins for me have tended to be right while brands like kinpex tend to be much smoother from the beginning.
I think Japan is underrated as a tool mfr. As good as the Germans and way cheaper. They just don’t have the brand presence in us IMO. Harry Epstein (tool site) has quite a few Japanese adjustable wrenches and pliers available right now highly recommend.
fred
Thin jaw adjustable wrenches from folks like Engineer – come in various sizes. They can be useful on electronics and jam nuts. Here is one:
https://www.amazon.com/Engineer-TWM-08-Pocket-Adjustable-Wrench/dp/B002MJHGN6/ref=sr_1_1
MM
I concur about Japanese tools.
I’ve ordered a number of inexpensive Japanese garden tools, at first because I needed something to bump up the cost of a Sneeboer tool order in order to get free shipping, and then later because they’re great value for money. I’ve never been disappointed with any of them. I’ve given several as gifts and they’ve always been well received.
Japanese saws are an epiphany tool. The basic factory-produced brands like Z-Saw or Bakuma are amazing and are very affordable. The mid-tier ones are even better and still affordable. The handmade ones are in a whole other world.
Oarman
When I think of tools associated with a “break-in period” it’s more bolt cutters and perhaps a ski mask
fred
This style of pliers is my favorite tool for nipping and pulling brads.
I use a Channellock variant – but these might be better if the bent shape provides better clearance. They are essentially the same price as my Channellock ones
https://www.amazon.com/Channellock-447-Curved-Diagonal-Cutting/dp/B00004SBDF
IronWood
My absolute favorite nail and staple pullers are my Channellock 35-220 9” end nippers, but they discontinued them for a longer model. They’re just perfect for pulling brads, finish nails, romex staples, all kinds of tasks. I don’t think I’ve used anything better for romex staples, the shape snuggles right in by the cable and just grabs the staple leg. Knipex still makes a 9” version 9901220, which is the best length.
fred
Longer might be better for larger nails where more leverage is needed. There are several tools that seem to standardize on 11 inch – but I’ve never tried these:
https://www.amazon.com/Crescent-NP11-11-Inch-Pulling-Pliers/dp/B008NM6VAA
https://www.amazon.com/Estwing-8-5-Inch-Hunter-Staple-Remover/dp/B0BRBVPWNR
fred
At the small end – you can see many end nippers sized for use in electronics fabrication and for jewelers.
Stepping up in size: In the age when we had most of our leather shoes soles and heels regularly replaced – you would see end nippers on the cobbler’s bench.
https://www.amazon.com/C-S-Osborne-Shoemakers-Pincer-Carpenters/dp/B07CWDDZX8?gQT=1
Larger yet are 2ft-long ones used to cut wire in masonry and concrete work:
https://www.toolfetch.com/Hit-Tools-22-EC24-24-End-Cut-Nipper-MOST-POPULAR
Matt_T
For pulling nails carpenters pincers work better than end nippers. Don’t cut small nails as easily and they have a larger head so less likely to dent the wood. Knipex make several sizes.
https://www.knipex-tools.com/products/carpenters%27-pincers
fred
The shape of the head is an indicator of functionality. Large-surface rounded head nippers give better leverage and less marring – as in the Knipex ones in your link. Flatter end s suggest that cutting is the primary function as in this Knipex design:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/KNIPEX-10-in-Concreters-Nippers-with-Plastic-Dipped-Handles-99-11-250/309107555
If the price didn’t convince you about function – the short body, compound action and flat head design of a Starrett end nipper should tell you that nail pulling is not its purpose in life:
https://www.zoro.com/starrett-cutnipper-1x-7/i/G0956238/?q=G0956238
IronWood
I really like my Knipex angled cutters, I think it’s worth having both straight and angled ones. I had a pair of the small Milwaukee USA cutters, but gave them away because I don’t really care for them. There’s just something wrong with the shape of the jaws for my taste; I wouldn’t get another set. I also have the Milwaukee USA needle nose pliers and like them a lot, very well made and smooth. The cutters are also very smooth and solid, I just don’t like the shape.
Blocky
The jaw shape reminds me of the icon diags. I have those, no special love for them, but they cut just fine.
mark w
HJE has a couple adjustable wrenches with a very similar head style. I picked up the adjustable wrench version of this tool from them recently. It’s pretty awesome with a 2 piece work gear to better hold your adjustment, nice fit + finish/tolerancing.
JML
I use a special lube, Gun Butter, on plier joints and folding knives (as well as on some places on bicycle parts). The stuff is great. First step is to remove the oil that the mfr applies, and then use this lube. Comes in needle applicator bottles.