Side cutters

[clive]

Got hold of this stuff, looks like cotton.

[Matt Shade]

This is a totally different ball park...but I got tired of people stealing my wire cutters out of the feed stall at horse shows, and tired of being asked to open bales of hay (wire tie), so I bought a $4 pair of wire cutters at harbor freight and mig welded 10 inch long rebar handles onto them. I used .035 wire and dunked the head in water immediately, but waited til the handles had cooled a little to quench them. Basically I did everything you shouldn't do.

They are going on 2 years old now. Haven't been stolen and haven't broken, and they cut just as well as you'd expect $4 harbor freight wire cutters to cut.

[clive]

I welded them up, the weld looked good until I gave them a squeeze and it failed. I chucked them in the bin.

[milomilo]

Originally Posted by clive

I welded them up, the weld looked good until I gave them a squeeze and it failed. I chucked them in the bin.

Crap. Have that happen to me more than I can count. Never try, never succeed!!!!

[clive]

I dug them out of the bin, some time over the next week I might try with a 309 stainless rod.

[milomilo]

Worth a try.

[gimpyrobb]

Any luck?

I find threads like this very informative! I love experimenting.

[clive]

Originally Posted by gimpyrobb

Any luck?

I find threads like this very informative! I love experimenting.

No, I had a total break since Xmas, just got back in the shop last week for a couple of hours, might have a crack at it next week using 309.