Hakko CHP-170 - Micro Soft Wire Cutter

Let me start by saying I have become very skeptical of reviews. Sometimes people put a rating as soon as they get something ... sometimes they don't know how to use it ... sometimes .... I very seldom put up a review, but after a couple weeks of using these cutters, I had to say something. I bought three sets of cutters ranging from $6 to $24. These were the cheapest and so far the best! I am a machinist by trade but build control panels for a living. I bought these to replace some cheap older ones. When I first got them, I had my doubts ... but I was wrong! They are light but that makes them easy to handle. They are relatively small but they fit my hand well. I have only used them to trim electrical parts (resistors, capacitors, ..) and to cut stranded wire ... so far they work great. The cutters are sharp and the jaws align well. The slightly blunt tip allowed me to push into the sheath of a three conductor cord and cut the outer insulation without cutting the inner conductors (the cord cost $250 and I needed to be very very careful). The cutters are slightly angled and cut flush ... they work great! I think they will also work great for hobby work like building plastic models. I have a Hakko soldering iron that is now about 25 years old ... still going strong. If these Hakko cutters last half as long, I will be super happy! I now have four in my tool collection. Sometimes cheaper is better!

I've been in electronics for years, and a good pair of flush cutters is an absolute must-have. After using the Hakko CHP-170 for a few weeks, I can confidently say it's the best pair I've ever owned, and it’s an incredible value for the money. The precision is what truly stands out. The jaws come together perfectly, allowing for an incredibly clean, flush cut on even the smallest wires and zip ties. There’s no crushing or fraying—just a perfectly smooth snip every single time. It feels like a high-end tool, but without the high-end price tag. The handle is comfortable and the spring-loaded action is smooth, so it never feels like a chore to use, even during repetitive tasks. I’ve used it on everything from 24 AWG wire to snipping the leads on small components, and it has performed flawlessly. For anyone who does any kind of electrical work, soldering, or hobby projects, this is a game-changer. It's a small tool that makes a huge difference in the quality of your work.

Needed a pair of cutters for my latest obsession in 3d printing. These are sharp, light, yet have a quality feel to them. Been using them constantly over the last few months and they still keep cutting cleanly.

Really great for safely cutting zip ties to re-install equipment. This is much safer than trying to use a knife. They fit well in your hand and have a good texture to maintain grip.

For $5, I wasn't really expecting much, but I was pleasantly surprised at how nicely these flush cutters work. They're sharp, and they cut quickly, barely needing any pressure, unless you're working with a harder material such as stainless steel or memory wire. Normally what happens when you try to cut those kinds of wire is that the blades kind of "slide", or it just dents the wire a little bit. With a little elbow grease it may work, but the cut won't be as flush. I've already gotten tons of use out of them and I've noticed no issues, so I highly recommend it, especially for the price.

Great quality wire cutters! Be careful where you keep them, though. They were sharp enough that they accidentally cut through my tool bag, lol. Perfect for a soldering tool kit.

I was once a "brand snob" and would have had no problem spending 2-3x as much for the same product just for the "peace of mind" of knowing that I had bought something from a company that I trust, and there are still things today where I do care about that. But for an almost-commodity product like this you just can't beat this. For what I paid ten years ago for a single brand-name pair of edge cutters, you get three pair here, each packaged in storefront packaging, and they each do their job very well. The handles are spring loaded and there is no mechanism to lock them closed/compressed which I would have liked, but these are small tools and even when open they don't take up a lot of space in your toolbox. The rubber handles have good grip, and are comfortable to use. The cutting end is angled, and the flush end has the cutting edge while the back part of the metal edge does not, so if you push a wire all the way back into the opening these pliers won't cut it. That's not a problem, because these are flush-cut pliers, so you want the flush part to be doing the cutting anyway. My dad had only wire cutters and we used them for everything, but these are much, much better for tasks where ordinary wire cutters just don't work, specifically, flush cuts and cutting in tight spaces. If you assemble any kind of kit with plastic parts (toy models, toy robots, etc.) these are worth every penny to cut away the parts from the plastic "sheets" that they come attached to. Once you have these in your toolbox you'll be quite amazed at how many uses they have around your household, and getting three pair for the price of one brand name pair just means you can have a pair upstairs, downstairs, and in your garage, or maybe a spare in your car.

A handy pair of sharp little wire cutters. Great for finer gauge applications. Feel very nice in my hand.

Came as described. Although is bigger, is as heavy as my other tools, comfortable to use. Cuts flush and can get to difficult knots in the wire. Been using it for a couple months and I love it.

Ottima per tagliare fili per lavori di elettronica.

Used this cutter for a few years and has never failed me. I am ordering again.

Use it only for cutting soft wires. The metal blades are soft and I damaged mine trying to cut a steel wire. Now I see that cheaper, good quality cutters have become available.

Does the job