A Guide to Cutting Tools - Fire Mountain Gems and Beads

Which hand tools cut what? This chart tells you which pliers, cutters, nippers and other tools will cut which gauges of wire, beading cable and metal sheet.

Use These to Cut Cable-Style Beading Wire (Example: Accu-Flex®, Acculon™ and Tigertail™)
Tool	Wire Size	Tool Size and Cutting Area	Did you know?
Lindstrom® 80 Series Tapered and Relieved Flush-Cutter	0.019 inches and smaller	4 1/4 inches overall, 10mm cutting area	Lindstrom tools are world renowned for quality and a long life of use.
Lindstrom EX Series Flush-Cutter	0.024 inches and smaller	5 inches overall, 9.25mm cutting area	The double-leaf springs on these cutters help to assure maximum comfort and minimum fatigue during use.
Lindstrom RX Series Tapered and Relieved Flush-Cutter	0.019 inches and smaller	5 1/4 inches, 10.5mm cutting area	These cutters have Micro-Touch handles which increase your grip and reduce slipping.
OHM Nipper	0.024 inches and smaller	4 1/2 inches overall, 10mm cutting area	The two-compartment handles on these nippers reduce the amount of effort needed to cut.
Tronex Small 50 degree Angulated Cutter	0.024 inches and smaller	6 inches overall, 5.6mm cutting area	Every Tronex cutter is individually inspected and checked for proper performance.
Tronex Razor Flush® Taper Relief Cutter	0.024 inches and smaller	5 1/2 inches overall	The relief feature of the cutter head is only 3.4mm at the thickest point--making it easier to squeeze into small spaces.
Tronex Flush Taper Relief Cutter	0.024 inches and smaller	5 1/2 inches overall, 8.4mm cutting area	The 16 degree angle on these cutters makes it easy to get into tight spots, without losing cutting strength.
Xuron® Flush-Cutters	0.031 inches and smaller	5 inches overall, 9.75mm cutting area	All Xuron tools are made in Saco, Maine.
Xuron Maxi-Shear™ Flush-Cutter	0.031 inches and smaller	6 inches overall, 13mm cutting area	Micro Shear blade technology (such as on these cutters) is specially designed so the jaws barely pass each other--keeping your cutters sharper longer.

Use These to Cut Soft Wire-Wrapping Wire (Example: copper, dead-soft and half-hard precious metal wires)
Tool	Wire Size	Tool Size and Cutting Area	Did you know?
Economy End-Cutter	15 gauge and smaller	4 1/2 inches overall, 16mm cutting area	End cutters are helpful when you need to shorten an earring post.
Economy Side-Cutter	13 gauge and smaller	4 1/2 inches overall, 15mm cutting area	The polished heads help to prevent marks on the end of your wire cuts.
Lindstrom 80 Series Tapered and Relieved Flush-Cutter	18 gauge and smaller	4 1/4 inches overall, 10mm cutting area	The slightly rounded handles on these flush-cutters reduce fatigue during repetitive use.
Lindstrom EX Series Flush-Cutter	16 gauge and smaller	5 inches overall, 9.25mm cutting area	For over 150 years Lindstrom tools have been a top choice of professional jewelry-makers.
Lindstrom RX Series Flush-Cutter	16 gauge and smaller	5 1/4 inches, 10.5mm cutting area	The BioSpring® on these cutters can be easily replaced when it gets worn out--just click here.
Lindstrom Shears	16 gauge and smaller	5 3/4 inches overall, 21mm cutting area	The handles of these shears are cushioned for comfort.
Lindstrom RX Series Tapered and Relieved Flush-Cutter	18 gauge and smaller	5 1/4 inches overall, 10.5mm cutting area	The angled and tapered head means you don’t sacrifice cutting power when squeezing into small spaces.
Nippers	22 gauge and smaller	5 1/8 inches overall, 12.5mm cutting area	Holding the wire you plan to keep on the flush side of the jaws ensures that you have a nice smooth end.
OHM Nipper	16 gauge and smaller	4 1/2 inches overall, 10mm cutting area	Every tool manufactured by OHM is inspected and tested before shipping to ensure that standards are upheld.
Shear	18 gauge and smaller	6 inches overall, 1 13/16 inch cutting area	These shears can be used to cut both soft wires and sheet metal.
Side-Cutter	30 to 24 gauge	4 1/2 inches overall, 12.5mm cutting area	The rounded handles are designed to fit nicely in the curve of your hand.
Tronex Small 50 degree Angulated Cutter	38 to 20 gauge	6 inches overall, 5.6mm cutting area	The 50 degree angle on the jaw allows for greater visibility in crowded spots.
Tronex Razor Flush® Taper Relief Cutter	38 to 19 gauge	5 1/2 inches overall, 8.4mm cutting area	The Razor Flush gives the smoothest cut surface of all Tronex cutters--virtually impossible to notice where the edges came together.
Tronex Flush Taper Relief Cutter	38 to 18 gauge	5 1/2 inches overall, 8.4mm cutting area	Tronex has a warranty against any defects for the life of the tool.
Wire Cutters	8 gauge and smaller	8 1/2 inches overall, 52mm cutting area	These heavy duty cutters have a safety lock to prevent movement when not in use.
Xuron Flush-Cutters	14 gauge and smaller	5 inches overall, 9.75mm cutting area	The tapered head of these flush-cutters gives you easier access to tight spaces.
Xuron Maxi-Shear Flush-Cutter	14 gauge and smaller	6 inches overall, 13mm cutting area	Xuron is the inventor and patent holder of the Micro-Shear technology--the feature that keeps these blades from becoming dull.
Xuron Non-Serrated Flush-Cutter	12 gauge and smaller	5 3/4 inches overall, 19mm cutting area	The return spring brings the tool back open after each use, letting your hand do less work.
Xuron Serrated Flush-Cutter	12 gauge and smaller	5 3/4 inches overall, 19mm cutting area	The serrated jaw helps keep your material from slipping during cutting.

Use These to Cut Hard Wire-Wrapping Wire (Example: stainless steel or half-hard to full-hard precious metal)
Tool	Wire Size	Tool Size and Cutting Area	Did you know?
Lindstrom 80 Series Tapered and Relieved Flush-Cutter	24 gauge and smaller	4 1/4 inches overall, 10mm cutting area	The precision screw joint minimizes friction, maximizes alignment and is adjustable.
Lindstrom EX Series Flush-Cutter	21 gauge and smaller	5 inches overall, 9.25mm cutting area	The ergonomic grips on these cutters are designed to evenly distribute pressure to the hand.
Lindstrom RX Series Tapered and Relieved Flush-Cutter	24 gauge and smaller	5 1/4 inches, 10.5mm cutting area	Manufacturing cutters and pliers since 1856 makes Lindstrom the oldest continuous producer of hand tools currently in existence.
OHM Nipper	21 gauge and smaller	4 1/2 inches overall, 10mm cutting area	All OHM tools are processed on special high-speed machines and then hand-finished by skilled craftsmen.
Tronex Razor Flush® Taper Relief Cutter	25 gauge and smaller	5 1/2 inches overall, 8.4mm cutting area	All Tronex cutting tools and pliers are manufactured in the USA.
Tronex Flush Taper Relief Cutter	24 gauge and smaller	5 1/2 inches overall, 8.4mm cutting area	The long handles of these cutters spreads the force needed throughout the entire hand--preventing fatigue and cramping.
Wire Cutters	8 gauge and smaller	8 1/2 inches overall, 52mm cutting area	Using a heavy-duty cutter, such as these, on thicker and harder metals will save the edges of your other wire cutters.
Xuron Flush-Cutters	20 gauge and smaller	5 inches overall, 9.75mm cutting area	The black finish of these cutters is intentional, so eye-tiring glare is eliminated.
Xuron Maxi-Shear Flush-Cutter	20 gauge and smaller	6 inches overall, 13mm cutting area	Xuron Corp. is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of hand tools in a variety of industries; jewelry-making, aerospace, electronics and more.

Use These to Cut Sheet Metal
Tool	Metal Size	Tool Size and Cutting Area	Did you know?
Lindstrom Shears	Soft metal, 20 gauge and thinner	5 3/4 inches overall, 21mm cutting area	Lightweight and strong, like these Lindstrom shears, is a great combination for cutting sheet metal.
Metal Sheet Cutter Shear	Soft metals 18 gauge and thinner	7 inches overall	Long handles provide more leverage while cutting, which translates to less fatigue for you.
Metal Sheet Cutter Shear	Smaller than 18 gauge, dead-soft and half-hard	6 inches overall	These, and the larger version above, can be used on brass, tin, copper, silver and gold.

Use These to Cut Memory Wire
Tool	Wire Size	Tool Size and Cutting Area	Did you know?
Xuron Memory Wire Cutter	18 gauge and smaller	5 1/2 inches overall, 5mm cutting area	Xuron’s full bypass searing action means minimal effort is needed to cut your memory wire.
Memory Wire Cutter	18 gauge and smaller	5 1/2 inches overall	Memory wire cutters can also be used on hard-wire findings, like head pins.

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