Southwire has recently come out with new 8″ high leverage cutting pliers, model DCP8D.
They feature induction-hardened cutting blades that are designed for cutting most hardened wire, ACSR, bolts, screws, and nails.
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The pivot is hot-riveted for smooth action is no wobble.
Price: $20-22
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First Impressions
I received a test sample from Southwire, and while I haven’t tested it enough for a formal review, here are some first thoughts.
First, the pivot on my sample is a little stiff, but that isn’t unusual for many of the new pliers and cutters I’ve bought or received over the years. It might loosen up in time, it might not.
The handles are thick. Southwire says they’re dipped handles, and while that might be true, you get a lot more thickness than the simple thin grips other pliers with dipped handles might have. I consider this a good thing.
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The pivot is shifted as far forward as it could be, and they do provide a very nice amount of leverage for cutting hardened wires.
I would say that the cutter head is a little bulkier than on my other diagonal cutters, but that really doesn’t seem to be a major concern.
They’re made in China. From what I can tell, these seem to be well-manufactured pliers. The cutter blades are sharp and seem durable.
Comparison?
I should point out that Southwire is a current advertiser, and this month’s banners feature this diagonal cutter.
Once the banner images switch over next month, I’m going to buy a new off-the-shelf pair of Channellock 8″ diagonal cutters for comparison. Southwire’s new DCP8D pliers are $20-22 (most retailers have them for $22), and Channellock’s 338 8″ diagonal cutters are currently $16 via Amazon.
What I think to expect is that the Southwire cutters will perform comparable on copper wire, but excel when it comes to cutting harder materials. The pivot is measurably forward, meaning you get more leverage from the same or less effort, and the cutter blades specifically designed for tougher cutting tasks.
The alloys are different – 6150 drop forged steel for Southwire, and 1080 carbon steel for Channellock.
What I can tell from a quick web search is that 6150 steel has less carbon than 1080, and comparable levels of manganese and phosphorous. 6150 also has silicon, vanadium, and chromium in more than residual amounts.
Thus, the Channellock cutters are made with a carbon steel, and the Southwire cutters with an alloy steel.
I’m going to need to dig into my metallurgy references to be sure, but I would predict better hard-cutting performance from the Southwire cutters, especially if heat treated properly.
I tend to really like Channellock tools, as they represent a good balance between cost and quality, and they’re made in the USA.
Southwire has gobs of experience in wiring and wiring products, and have been coming out with new tools at a steady pace. I have no idea who is designing these tools, whether in-house, or if they’re slapping their branding on tools designed and manufactured by OEM partners. Actually, I still know almost nothing about Southwire tools.
3-1/2 years ago, I asked: Is Anyone Using Southwire’s new Tools? I wonder what the answer would be now. I’ve handled a few of their tools, and will be testing these new cutters more thoroughly, but there’s still a lot of mystery and unknowns behind their products.
With these cutters, I like what I’m seeing so far, and am eager to see how they perform compared to tried-and-true Channellock cutters.
I suppose I should compare them to Klein’s, but between Klein and Channellock I often prefer Channellock.
Hmm, maybe a Channellock vs. Klein vs. Southwire vs. Milwaukee comparison? What other brands would you want to see in such a diagonal cutter comparison?
Thank you to Southwire for providing the test sample unconditonally.
Noah
I would think they should be directly compared to Klein, as the design is a neat exact copy.
Noah
*near
fred
For $2 more, I’d be inclined to stick with the made in USA Klein.
https://www.amazon.com/Klein-Tools-High-Leverage-Diagonal-Cutters-8-Inch/dp/B0000302VW
I do get a chuckle out of Amazon’s pricing. If you select ” 2″ they raise the price by $0.12 each
fred
BTW – if you plan a side-by-side comparison (Southwire, Klein, Channellock) why not throw in some of the German brands like Knipex and NWS to see if you get more for what you pay.
Stuart
I can tell you the results =). NWS are vastly superior to any other diagonal cutters I have ever used. But they cost appreciably more.
Whiskeynwood
Isn’t there a NWS manufactured Irwin diagonal plier set? If I recall correctly it’s about $22 as well
Stuart
Yes; the compound action ones that I like are ~$33.
Jkr
The 7″ compound action Irwin is currently $25 on amazon. The Knipex 8″ is $28. Bahco 2101g 7″ is also around $29, and it adds a spring with on/ off switch.
I believe a 20% difference is not that much, and definetly reasonable if you compare a $16 cutters to $22 ones.
ktash
Right now the german-made Irwin 8″ compound action cutters/clone of the NWS cutters are on sale at Lowe’s for $18, I just checked. Due to some hand problems the NWS/Irwins are the only cutters I can use successfully for many jobs. Irwin has a line of German-made tools and they are great. I’ll be getting another pair and getting rid of the other type cutters.
dingus
i mentioned it in another comment, but it would be interesting to see a big diagonal cutting pliers shootout featuring the klein J2000-28 which is also not a cheap.. hovers ~36usd — basically same price as NWS fantastico cutters.
http://www.kleintools.com/catalog/high-leverage-diagonal-cutting-pliers/diagonal-cutting-pliers-heavy-duty
i’ve had the klein J248-8 for years, and i’m a fan of them. the klein rivets, as with a lot of pliers, are typically stiff at first. when i first got mine, i just quickly opened and closed it ~100x which takes less than a minute, and it loosened up considerably.
http://www.kleintools.com/catalog/high-leverage-diagonal-cutting-pliers-angled-head/journeyman-diagonal-cutting-pliers-angled
i just treated myself to a 9-piece set of NWS pliers which included the 138-69-200 fantastico side cutters. they’re beautiful, but i have to say that some of the joints were a bit stiff, so i gave them all the open/close cycling treatment as well, and now they’re like butter. i haven’t had a chance to put the NWS cutter through its paces yet, but that lever joint sure looks cool. also just FYI that “titan” finish (finish #69) or whatever seems to be surprisingly heat sensitive despite being supposedly PTFE-based? i was experimenting with a gas burner and trying to grab a brass orifice with NWS needle nose pliers while the burner was still hot, and it really left marks on the #69 finish.
Dax
They have to pay for the free shipping somewhere. 🙂
Joe Hanson
I don’t see many reviewers talking about Ideal pliers even though on forums a lot of people like them. Throw a pair of Ideals in the mix if you could then maybe branch off to their other tools. Channellock is kind of confusing with their packaging because I bought a pair of Channellock diagonal cutters a little while back which said high leverage which home depot still carried the last time I was there. But I bought another pair of Diagonal cutters which the rivet is smaller and the pivot is moved further up so I guess that is the higher leverage pliers.
Matt
I’ve the Ideal 30-3430 linesman pliers for about 6 months- Best I’ve ever used. Made in the USA as well.
Hang Fire
I would like to see a simple test, like cut some piano wire and some small #8 screws in half, compare to a known brand, see if there is any edge damage.
Bruce
I managed to break 2 pairs of Klien high leverage side cutters. One was a Journeyman, the other a glow in the dark handle. I took them to my distributor and three weeks later I had two new pliers. There are many advantages to buying local, no I don’t consider the big box stores local. 🙂
garrett
Is Southwire a Lowe’s brand? If so, I reckon I’ll pass. Most of my Kobalt tools aren’t worth the time it took to melt the spam cans.
I see very little at the local blue big-box that even gets my attention anymore – the last few years have been dismal.
However, every rule has an exception, and those Quincy air compressors look pretty spiffy…
fred
While Southwire has only 1/10 of the revenues of Lowes – with over $5 billion per year in revenues – I would not call them a Lowes Brand. They are an 80 year old privately held wire and cable company – that seems to have branched out into tools and electrical meters/instruments.
ktash
I’ve gotten a lot of my tools at Lowe’s. They often have better prices than home depot/better clearance deals. They aren’t as impressive as Home Depot, but somehow, I’ve gotten some solid tools/deals there. Like the Irwin NWS clone German-made cutters I mentioned above. Also a couple of great deals on Jawhorse, Hitachi, etc. I’m still happy with the Kobalt 20v cordless brushless saw. About to use it today.
Nathan
I do find it interesting that southwire is putting their name on tools. but I digress.
for the quality and the like I don’t think those channel locks you mention are actually a direct comparison. But the Klein would be. Anyone else that makes a premium high leverage model. I don’t own any so I don’t know – knipex was thrown out as was Irwin. But I think that might be a better comparison – other pliers made of a tool steel.
Jim Felt
Hmmm. The yellow dip handle will stand out if you lay it down better then darker colors but it will also show dirt a heck of a lot faster.
I’ll pass.
Though I do frequent buy their U. S. made 12-2, 12-3 and 10-2 wire rolls. ;-)~
Raoul
These have allthe right features, except, they’re Chinese. I’d rather spend a few bucks more for US, German, or Japanese steel. The handles look like thick vinyl dip which would be nice as long as they don’t slip. The soft squishy handles on so many newer tools break down too easy from grease or other chemicals. Klein and Knipex are my favorites.
Satch
And gents, if you want to try the NWS/Irwin compound leverage models at Lowes, I heartily suggest you ask if you can open a package up at the store and try first.
I saw these on sale at Lowe’s two weeks ago for 24 dollars and change. I immediately grabbed them and whilst I was on the way home I was trying them out at stoplighfs. I turned around during and took them back. Fit, finish, and action were perfect. They simply did not fit my hand.
I have pretty large hands and the handles are too close together for me. Much like the Knipex installation pliers.. I am also one who hooks his pinky finger inside the grip when opening get the handles. The lanyard tabs drove me crazy from the abrasion. My issue with the pinky thing but the handles genuine issue. Again not defect but design. Too bad as price was great.
I try for off topic. Re; Southwire. No way I buy Chinese when a few bucks gets me Klein or Knipex .
Satch
OK Autocorrect. I was saying sorry for the off topic.
Tom
Maybe this is one for the toolkit project you have going – but any good recommendations on a pliers kit? I’ve got a bunch of really crappy no-name pliers floating around that I should upgrade. I’ve gotten one off upgrades to Klein, Channellock, etc. for the couple kinds I use regularly, but for others (end cutters, needlenose, etc.) I was thinking of maybe buying a mid-range set to fill in the gaps. Irwin, Stanley, etc. seem to have some options. Channellock has a lot of differnt sets, but they’re more than I’d like to spend.
Satch
Hey Tom. It is sometimes tough to buy a set of one brand that is really versatile. I like Knipex for electrical pliers(Klein a very close second with a noted preference for their diagonal cutters), Knipex for adjustable pump pliers, and Ideal for wire strippers.
Look at Chadstoolbox for Knipex, NWS, and other German brands. KCTool is great too. Both sometimes have outstanding sale prices on sets but none would be dirt cheap.
Klein at Home Depot or local distributor. Even Amazon for all these brands but models and availability is spotty.
As to house type brands the Milwaukee stuff at Home Depot seems to get good reviews but I have no experience with them.
Nathan L
Chemistry nitpick: silicone is not = silicon, although it’s a common error.
I agree with your assessment on the relative strengths of the steels.
Stuart
Ha – you didn’t catch my “vandium” typo. 1 for 2.
(Doh! Thanks, fixed them both!)
dingus
as far as klein cutters go, imo the one to get and review is this:
Klein Tools J2000-28 8″ Journeyman High-Leverage Diagonal-Cutting Pliers
http://www.kleintools.com/catalog/high-leverage-diagonal-cutting-pliers/diagonal-cutting-pliers-heavy-duty
seems to be their top-of-the-line model
Rick C
“Hmm, maybe a Channellock vs. Klein vs. Southwire vs. Milwaukee comparison? What other brands would you want to see in such a diagonal cutter comparison?”
How about adding Knipex to the mix?
Gabriel DeLapp
I like mine. They are much better than the Channel Locks, I had those and ended up giving them away. I have cut various thicknesses of nails and screws, which I have never been able to cut before. I had to use to hands but saves getting out the sawzall for a nail or two. I always keep diagonals in my tool belt. I may try some mini bolt cutters though, they might be better as long as they arent too heavy!