Wiss Flip Joint Cable Cutters

Wiss has come out with new multi-functional Flip Joint cable cutters (0890CSFW) that looks like it could do the job of several tools. It’s designed to cut common electrical wire – up to 10/3 vinyl-coated cable – and when flipped it can be used as a sheath knife. Notches towards the front of the jaws can be used for wire stripping and can also cut smaller wires.

It took me a little bit to understand how the Flip Joint cutter is intended to be used to cut cable sheathing, but a quick play-through of Wiss’s promo video helped clear things up. The handles can rotate all the way around, exposing the tips of the cutter so that they could be used as you would a small knife.

Price: $20

Buy Now(via Home Depot)

First Thoughts

I occasionally work with small project wiring, but not larger gauge cables or 10/3 wire bundles on a regular basis. So for my usage, I’ll take the separate wire cutters and strippers. Still, I can see how these might be appealing for electricians and anyone else who works with a lot of Romex and other types of wiring on a regular basis, such as for new residential installations.

While I am tempted to consider these as cable cutters with a bonus outer sheath cutting feature, I wonder whether there’s a downside to the shape of the cutters, as the small wire cutter and stripping notch reduces the useful size of the main cutting blades. Other cable cutters have curved and continuous jaw blades that are not interrupted as the Flip Joint’s are.