Tronex Pliers & Cutters buying advice and recommendations.

Tronex Pliers and cutters

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Tips and Advice on choosing the right ones.

Tronex Pliers.

Whatever your style of jewelry making, every jeweler needs pliers. But with so many to choose from it can be quite bewildering.

Dave Wilson is a silversmith of over 20 years, and a well-know Youtube presenter. A self confessed plier addict, he has worked closely with Tronex to test many of their pliers and cutters. He was even made a Tronex Ambassador for the brand. Here, Dave will guide you through &#;some&#; of the Tronex range, explaining the popular models and offering some personal recommendations for the jeweler.
 
So, what makes a good set of pliers?
 
When I began in Jewelry making many years ago, every book and teacher said that I must avoid lap joints &#; This is where the two halves overlap (lap) and are attached with a hammered rivet, rather like a pair of basic scissors. The problem with these lap joints is that they can eventually wear loose, creating movement at the tips of the pliers. Lap joints where always considered inferior pliers. The advice was to buy &#;box joint&#; pliers. In box joints the joint is much more robust, with one handle threading through a &#;box&#; on the other. Because of this construction, a box joint is usually stronger and less inclined to work loose. Many of the better-quality pliers you will see have this box joint feature. However, if they do ever wear loose, there is no way to tighten or adjust them. You will always see different quality from different manufacturers. There are good and bad versions of both styles. But, for many years box joints were considered to be superior.

Above. Lap Joint (Left) and box joints (right)
 
However, in recent years this has all changed. Tronex has developed a new kind of joint. Whilst it may look like a lap joint, there the similarity ends. This is a whole new concept. The Tronex system uses multiple precision-engineered parts from specially chosen materials, to combine the mechanical properties of strength, smooth operation, and resilience. Instead of a central rivet, Tronex use a specially hardened steel sleeve. This greatly increases the size of the pivot and helps to spread the load placed upon it. Inside the sleeve, is a hardened steel bolt, which further increases strength and offers the ability to adjust the pliers should you need to (I have never had to do this).  Between the joint, is a Delrin washer. Delrin is a tough polymer, which has a very high resistance to compression but also has very low surface friction. It provides the smooth action of the pliers. The Delrin also eliminates metal on metal contact and therefore reduces wear. The Tronex joint really is the latest in design and engineering to create a smooth precise joint, which is tough and long lasting.

The Tronex joint  showing the different components.

 
Although Tronex were pioneers in developing this new system, it has been copied the world over, and variations of this new joint design can now be seen in most popular brands.
 
Handles.
The handles are probably the most important yet overlooked part of any tool. Pliers are an extension of your own hands; a positive and comfortable grip is essential. The handles need to provide secure grip, even with dirty hands. They must be comfortable to use all day long without causing fatigue or blisters. They should also offer a good level of feedback, especially when performing delicate tasks. Once again, Tronex has combined different materials, each with specific properties, to create the optimum grip.

The distinctive two part cushioned grip

Firstly, the handles themselves are steel and form an integral part of the pliers. Like a quality knife, they are full tang with the steel extending all the way to the ends of the handle. No weak spots or joins. The steel handles are coated in not one but two layers of handle material. The first is a tough red plastic-type material, which provides the resilience and grip to the steel. With many pliers, this is sufficient. But with Tronex, you also get a second layer of the Blue ESD foam rubber. This blue outer layer has a spongy, slightly porous texture. And this has several important properties. The texture provides incredible grip. Even with soiled hands, sweat and grease. The grip is always sure and solid. The slightly compressible nature of this layer also provides cushioning. This means the pliers can be used repeatedly, without fatigue or blisters.
 
What is ESD? This stands for electrostatic dissipation. They will help to dissipate static electricity. This is an essential factor when working with static sensitive equipment such as electronics and computers. Hence why Tronex pliers and cutters have become the choice for electronics engineers and tech manufacturers the world over.

ESD handles.
 

Note that Tronex make two lengths of handle the series 5 which are shorter curved handles, and the series 7 which are longer ergonomic handles. Note the 5 or 7 prefixes on the tool number. E.g. a 750 are long-handled pliers and 550 are the short handle, both have the same jaws and ESD grips... People with smaller hands may prefer the series 5 handles. People with large hands, or those working constantly may prefer the series 7 ergonomic versions. I have very large hands, but I prefer the smaller series 5 handles. I feel they give more precision and feedback. Largely this comes down to a matter of personal taste and most of the range is available in both options.
 

Springs

.
Most of the Tronex pliers and cutters have springs.  One big advantage is that having return springs (which open the jaws), is that you can hold the pliers properly, with all four fingers around the handle. This gives better grip, and increased comfort. It also allows you to give more pressure when needed. Pliers without springs are typically used by hooking one or more fingers under the handle to open it (like a hairdresser may hold scissors). Which is not the ideal way to hold pliers. The Tronex return springs offer just enough spring to open the jaws, without creating extra work. They are also designed such that the jaws can be fully opened, and the springs will disengage allowing maximum opening.

Integrated Springs

 

Recommendations.

With such a vast range, Tronex offer pliers for every situation. I have been fortunate to own and test most of them. Obviously, your own needs will vary depending on the style of Jewelry and the materials you work with. But let me share a few suggestions for the jeweler.
 

My Daily pliers.

For making chain mail designs, small chains, and general Jewelry work, I prefer to use a combination of straight chain nose 513 and a pair of bent chain nose 552 As mentioned, I prefer the shorter series 5 handles. But both are also available in the series 7 longer handles too. 713 and 752. I also have a second pair of bent nose but these are 551 almost identical just a little finer. Whilst I have many Tronex chain nose pliers in various lengths,, I prefer the short nose ones, as for me my fine chain mail is very tough on my pliers, but  the shorter jaws have taken the punishment for years, without any issues.

Above. Chain nose and bent nose used in combination for chain mail.

 

Round nose pliers.

Tapered round jaws. Essential for working with earrings, wire working, jump rings and basically anything small and circular. Tronex make several options with long, medium, and short jaws with series 7 or 5 handles. They also make extra-long nosed versions. These are great for fine intricate detail, but the extra length comes as the cost of strength. If you bend and twist tough wire, then this action can be very punishing to pliers. So, my personal preference is the shorter jaw round nose pliers, 532 or 732 The shorter stubby jaws are tougher.

Tronex 532 Round nose pliers, note the shorter jaws.
 

Flat jaw.

Wedge shaped with smooth flat contact surface. For many people, the workhorse of the bench are straight jaw pliers. Again, Tronex offer many versions some finer and more delicate, some tougher.  But once again I would suggest that for daily use, look towards the heavier and shorter jaws. Such as the 545 / 745. These offer good solid jaws for bending and gripping. Note that unless states otherwise, most of the Tronex pliers shave smooth jaws.

 

Tronex 745 Flat Jaw Pliers
 

Specialty pliers.

Tronex make a vast array or pliers for every possible task. But here are a few which may be worth considering adding to your bench&#;

For wire workers, Tronex recently made an option with stepped jaws allowing you to hold and bend wire 542 / 742. These where produced at the request of a customer who was a prolific wire worker, and suggested the design. The step also provided more power and grip right at the tips.

Tronex 542. Note step in the jaws, 

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Half Round / Half flat.
One of my personal favorites is the half round and flat pliers. 546 / 746 One jaw is half a circle, the other is a wide flat jaw. These are great for bending larger wire hoops, earrings, and for bending small to medium rings. The round jaw on the inside and the flat jaw outside allows you to exert pressure without indenting the outside of the ring. You may prefer the longer handles for a little more leverage.

Tronex Ring bending pliers, note the different shaped jaws.
 

Needle nose pliers.

There are several pliers available with very long needle noses. Such as 521 / 721 Some of these are rather delicate for bending and twisting metal. And the leverage is such that they do not produce as much force at the tips compared to the short nose pliers. However, they can be of great use as precision tweezers, in particular note the 522 / 722 which have serrated jaws. Perfect for holding small items, tying knots in cord and for working with micro chains. When working under my microscope welding small chains, these pliers become invaluable, finer than chain nose, but much stronger than tweezers.

Tronex 522 needle nose pliers. note the serrated tips for added grip.
 

Cutters

Cutters are where Tronex really made their global reputation. The range available is staggering. Not only do they vary in size, but the shape of the head, the profile, the shape of the tip and even the sharpness. Many have been created for very specific jobs, especially in the electronics industry. But for the jeweler they offer some of the most precise cutters you can get. For most jewelers&#;, a couple of pairs will cover most your daily cutting needs.
 
As with the pliers the preceding number refers to the handle length 5 for the shorter handlers and 7 for the longer handles. Additionally, with the cutters the last number refers to the flushness of the cut. You may ask, why doesn&#;t everyone just buy the cleanest cut possible? You can, but the sharpness of the cutting edge is a tradeoff between creating the perfect flush cut and having tough cutters that will last. So Tronex offer three levels depending on your requirements. Note that in all cases, flush cutters only cut flush on the outside.

Microscope image of two pieces of 1mm gold wire. The top is cut with a standard pair of DIY style wire cutters. note the pinching at the end. The lower one has been cut with a pair of Tronex Razor Flush cutters, note the almost perfect edge with no pinching or wastage.

 

1. Flush cut gives a superb cut, but the minute bevel on the edge of the cutting surfaces creates a tiny bevel on the end of the cut wire. They are still much finer than any standard DIY wire cutters you may have used. The Flush cut makes them much more robust and able to stay sharper for longer. So, for daily use these are great.
   
   
2. Semi -Flush. These cutters have finer edges and will give a much neater end to your wire, requiring little of no cleanup. Great for working with precious metals where you don&#;t want too much filing. However, these finer edges aren&#;t quite as tough as the regular flush cutters, hence they are recommended for finer wire and softer materials. But for silver and gold they are offer the best combination of cut and longevity
   
   
3. Razor cut When you want the best, then the Tronex Razor cut is the choice. These cutters will give an almost perfect straight end to your wire, requiring almost no cleanup. Perfect when you need ultimate accuracy. The neat cut is also important when working with valuable materials where you don&#;t want any wastage. The tradeoff here is that the very finely honed edges are only suitable for lighter gauge wire and softer materials. It&#;s great to have a pair when you need them. 

Suggestions...

Heavy duty.
this pair is quite large and are great for general wire cutting. Despite their larger size the oval tips curve to a fine point, so they can cut in surprisingly tight areas. I use these daily for almost everything. Note this pair only come in one size handle, which is slightly different to the series 7.

Tronex , larger sized cutters offer great versatility at the bench.
 

Daily use
Prior to owning the above, one of my first ever cutters where the Tronex These are small, rounded head cutters great for everyday Jewelry work. They have been sat on bench for years and are used daily, for the smaller jobs. Again, these are 2 flush cuts. A great clean cut, but also tough and have lasted for years.

Tronex medium size oval head cutters. great for everyday use.
note the image here is the razor flush version. 
 

 
Extra fine
The oval head profiles above offer great strength as there is a lot of metal right at the tip. So, for daily use the large and small oval head cutters above will be ideal. And there are many oval head cutter sin between in different cuts and handles. However, there may be times when you need something more, perhaps something extra fine or with a very precise cut. Tronex also make tapered heads, distinguished by their angular profile, tapering to a sharp point. Additionally, they also make relieved heads, which are even more tapered and pointed at the tip. These will allow you to get into tight areas. Great for small chains and beading work. Obviously, these finer cutters aren&#;t quite as robust as the oval heads, and only suitable for light use on softer materials. but for very fine work look at small tapered relieved heads with No 3 razor flush edges. The most popular is the and models.

Tronex , note the relieved head,
set back from the front and such narrower at the tip.
 

Obviously, you will have your own requirements, but below are the ones that have earnt a place on my bench for many years. Hopefully this list will help to narrow your selection. All these pliers and cutters are my own personal tools which I use daily and have done for many years.
 
My Daily use tools...

• 513 Chain nose pliers. Short stubby and tough. My left-hand pliers
• 552 & 551 Bent nose pliers. Two pairs of these, but usually use one pair along with the above for making chain mail. These are my right hand.
• heavy duty large oval head cutters. Daily workhorse for cutting wire, making jump rings etc. tough and robust, but a great accurate cut.
• small oval head flush cutters. Great medium sizes cutters, lasted years.

specialist use (but also kept on my bench)

• razor flush cutters, particularly when I&#;m working with gold wire. As mentioned, no cleanup and no wastage.
• 522 needle nose pliers. Use instead of tweezers for small accurate holding and placing.
• 746 round / flat pliers. Best suited to smaller tasks, and a great accompaniment to my Pepetools ring bender.

specialist use (but also kept on my bench)

Finally, the Tronex range offer great value,. But for even better value check out the sets available at Pepetols.com. These sets offer a simple one stop selection of pliers and cutters either in series 5 handles or the longer ergonomic series 7 handles. There are also sets especially selected by jewellers. So all the hard work is done for you. These sets also offer extra great value and make ideal gifts. click the image to check them out !

The Tronex Kits offer great value and make excellent gifts.
Click above to see more.

 

The Tronex range are designed and made right in the USA. They offer great quality (Guaranteed). At a fraction of the cost compared to some premium brands. The Tronex brand has become known the world over and theres a reason for that. Check out the handpicked selection at Pepetools.com If you&#;ve got more suggestions or requests? Simply get in touch.

 

Written and illustrated
by Dave Wilson
www.celticdreams.co.uk

 

 
Reference - Tronex Model Numbers

Cutters

: 

First Number = Handle Length
5 = standard handles
7 = long, ergonomic handles (1 &#;longer)

Second Number = Head Shape/Size
3=mini oval
1=medium oval
5=large oval
4=mini taper
2=medium taper
7=large taper
0=specialty cutters 
 
Third Number = The Profile of the Cutter
This applies for oval and taper head cutters. Relief cutters have a "lower profile" and can get into tight spots better than standard cutters. Standard cutters have more material in the head so are stronger and can cut heavier material.
1= standard profile
2= relief profile (thinner jaws front to back)
  
Fourth/Last number = Edge Finish
1= Semi-flush
2= Flush
3 = Razor Flush®
  
For Pliers:
First Number = Handle Length as above.
5 = standard handles
7 = long, ergonomic handles
 
Second and Third Numbers = Model Number
Each model has a unique two digit code.

The above reference kindly supplied by Tronex Tools.

 
 
 

 
 
 
 

After getting our hands on 13 pairs of wire cutters and spending three days relentlessly snipping wire ties, finish nails, hardware cloth, welded wire fencing, and thick electrical wire, the first tool we&#;d recommend is Channellock 337CB Diagonal Cutting Plier .

The Bahco pair had the best handles and most precise jaws. You can also spring-load the handles if needed, but they don&#;t have the cutting strength of the Channellock pair.

The Irwin pliers represent a great combination of cutting ability, comfort, and cost. While they&#;re not as powerful as our main pick, they do cut as well as others that cost twice as much.

Channellock&#;s 337CB cut far better than its competitors during our tests, managing tough jobs that the other wire cutters struggled with. The wide, padded handles&#;a surprisingly rare feature among wire cutters&#;eased hand strain during difficult repetitive cutting. The durability is outstanding as well. After making at least 200 cuts through a wide range of materials, the jaws showed no signs of wear and still had edges that were sharp enough to cut a piece of paper. This pair of Channellock pliers costs toward the higher end of the scale, but it&#;s worth the money if you want to be secure that your wire cutters have the strength to handle the toughest jobs.

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If the Channellock pliers aren&#;t available, or if you want to make a smaller investment into a quality tool, consider the Irwin Vise-Grip 7-Inch Diagonal Cutting Pliers. These were among the least expensive models we tested, but they still have padded handles and cut just as well as their peers&#;except for the superior Channellock pliers. Irwin's offering will be able to deal with common tasks like cutting electrical wire and hardware cloth, but because these pliers have less strength, they&#;ll struggle during hard jobs like cutting nails. For repetitive work, like snipping fencing, your hands will get tired faster than if you were using our top pick.

If you'll be using your wire cutters for a lot of repetitive cutting, like through hardware cloth, and if you're willing to sacrifice the overwhelming strength of the Channellock pair, we like the Bahco G-160 Ergo Cutting Pliers. They're a little smaller than our other recommendations, but offer the unique ability to toggle in and out of a spring-loaded handle setting, which opens the handles for you after each cut&#;ideal for continuous cutting and for cutting in tight spots. Of the cutters we tested, the Bahco pair also has the most comfortable padded handles and the smallest, most precise cutting nose with the most agile jaws, making it a nice choice for small jewelry or toy repairs. The downside is that it just doesn&#;t have the cutting strength of the Channellock pair, so it&#;ll struggle through thicker-gauge wire. So even though we like everything about this tool, we think most people would prefer the higher strength of the Channellock pair.

For the specific needs of the AV hobbyist&#;which include as much stripping as cutting, and the precision to snip, grip, and bend speaker wire&#;we recommend the Klein Wire Stripper-Cutter. We didn&#;t do comparative testing of this model, but it's comfortable grips, large cutting jaws, clearly marked stripping holes, spring-loaded handles, and the overall quality associated with the Klein name made it the one that numerous Wirecutter staffers have purchased on their own both for electrical and audio work.

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