Lindstrom is definitely top shelf quality (and price), but they can be
resharpened about a half-dozen times before they're shot. There is a
small outfit in Colorado (that I need to dig out the name of) that does
resharpening at a very reasonable rate. Lindstrom also has a new
ergonomic line that we are testing that the operators love once they try
them. Another Swiss manufacturer is Sipel, still excellent quality but
slightly lower pricing. They also make a full line of interchangeable
tip tweezers that are real nice.

The best way to prolong cutter life is to buy the best you can afford
(the cheapies made from stampings shouldn't even be in your home
toolbox), and train your operators not to abuse them. Someone who is
working on mixed technology boards should probably have a minimum of 3
different sized cutters to assure the right cutter for the task. This
keeps them from using small cutters for large wires/pins and them
complaining about the fact that their cutters have mutated into
strippers....

Mike McMonagle
PCA Process Engineering Supervisor
K*Tec Electronics
1111 Gillingham Lane
Sugar Land, TX  77478
(281) 243-5639 Phone
(281) 243-5539 Fax
[log in to unmask]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ryan Jennens [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Monday, October 12, 1998 11:32 AM
> To:   [log in to unmask]
> Subject:      [TN] Cutters
>
> Mornin' all!
>
> We have a problem with our through-hole lead cutters dulling.  They
> are
> the hand-operated type as we are hand-stuffing through hole parts for
> now.  They are just your run-of-the-mill clippers, and I cannot find
> any
> specially hardened versions to last longer.  Our leads are not made of
> any particularly hard material.  Is there a different solution than
> buying new clippers as they wear out? Thanks again.
>
> Ryan
> Phoenix Engineering Design
>
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