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Diagonal Cutting Pliers

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Maun diagonal cutting pliers are high-leverage wire cutters, made in England, used by DIYers and crafters as well as electricians, engineers, fencers and piano technicians.

They come in two sizes (140 mm and 160 mm lengths), and you can choose between zinc-plated handles or soft plastic comfort grips. We also have a 1000V insulated version in both lengths, and a 140 mm version for meter sealing wire. Every Maun diagonal cutting plier uses a compound-lever action that multiplies your hand force by 18 at 140 mm or 22 at 160 mm. Our cutting edges are induction-hardened to HRC 64, so they keep their edge on hard and piano wire, unlike lower quality or unhardened pliers.

What can you cut with Maun diagonal cutting pliers?

Maun diagonal cutting pliers cut hard, piano, spring and soft wire with far less effort than conventional pliers of the same size, from garden wire, chicken wire and cable ties to fencing wire, piano wire, guitar strings and stainless steel. The 140 mm pliers cut piano wire up to 1.6 mm, hard wire up to 2.0 mm and soft wire up to 3.0 mm, and the 160 mm pliers cut piano wire up to 2.0 mm, hard wire up to 2.5 mm and soft wire up to 4.0 mm.

JobWhat you cutBest Maun plierWhy it suits the job
Garden and DIY Garden wire, chicken wire, cable ties, staples and small nails Maun 140 mm Diagonal Cutting Plier (2990-140), or the Maun 160 mm Diagonal Cutting Plier (2990-160) for nails Garden wire is soft wire, well inside the 140 mm’s 3.0 mm capacity; the 160 mm’s 22x leverage cuts nails with less effort
Around the house Curtain wire and plastic-covered washing line Maun 140 mm Diagonal Cutting Plier (2990-140) Thin steel and stainless wire, well within its 2.0 mm hard wire capacity
Fencing Galvanised and hardened fencing wire up to 2.5 mm Maun 160 mm Diagonal Cutting Plier with Comfort Grips (2999-160) 22x leverage cuts hard wire up to 2.5 mm, and the comfort grips stay comfortable through a full day of fencing
Electrical work on isolated circuits Copper conductors, small cable, cable ties and steel tie wire on first fix Maun 140 mm Diagonal Cutting Plier (2990-140) or Maun 160 mm Diagonal Cutting Plier (2990-160) HRC 64 edges cut the steel tie wire that blunts a standard electrician’s cutter
Live electrical work Live or potentially live conductors, and SWA armour wire Maun 1000V Insulated Diagonal Cutting Plier 140 mm (7100-140) or 160 mm (7100-160) Certified to IEC 60900:2018 for use up to 1000V AC and 1500V DC
Electronics Component leads before soldering Maun 140 mm Diagonal Cutting Plier (2990-140) A compact 140 mm length and 16 mm blade for close work on circuit boards
Model making and model railways Piano wire for small mechanisms, point-motor pins and craft wire Maun 140 mm Diagonal Cutting Plier (2990-140) Cuts piano wire up to 1.6 mm in a compact 140 mm length
Jewellery and crafts Steel jewellery wire and craft wire Maun 140 mm Diagonal Cutting Plier (2990-140), or the Maun 140 mm Diagonal Cutting Plier with Comfort Grips (2999-140) for long sessions Cuts hard wire up to 2.0 mm in a compact 140 mm length; the comfort grips stay comfortable over long periods
Pianos and guitars Piano (music) wire and guitar strings Maun 140 mm Diagonal Cutting Plier (2990-140), or the Maun 160 mm Diagonal Cutting Plier (2990-160) for thicker piano wire Cuts piano wire up to 1.6 mm at 140 mm or 2.0 mm at 160 mm, with edges induction-hardened to HRC 64
Workshop, welding and fabrication Hard and spring wire, stainless wire, MIG welding wire, tie wire and mesh Maun 160 mm Diagonal Cutting Plier (2990-160), or the Maun 160 mm Diagonal Cutting Plier with Comfort Grips (2999-160) for long shifts 22x leverage cuts hard wire up to 2.5 mm
Spring and mattress making Spring steel wire Maun 160 mm Diagonal Cutting Plier with Comfort Grips (2999-160) 22x leverage for spring steel, with comfort grips for repetitive cutting
Dental laboratories Stainless dental and orthodontic wire Maun 140 mm Diagonal Cutting Plier (2990-140), or the Maun 140 mm Diagonal Cutting Plier with Comfort Grips (2999-140) for long sessions HRC 64 edges cut hardened stainless wire up to 2.0 mm without rolling
Utility meter sealing 7-strand and 12-strand meter sealing wire Maun Diagonal Cutting Plier for Sealing Wire 140 mm (2999-140-B) Cuts 7-strand sealing wire of 0.914 to 0.990 mm and 12-strand of 0.990 to 1.066 mm, the wire crimped by Maun’s meter sealing ferrules

Which Maun diagonal cutting plier do you need?

  • The Maun Diagonal Cutting Plier for Hard Wire 140 mm (2990-140) is ideal for jewellers, crafters, model makers and electronics work, where its compact head and slim zinc-plated handles fit tight spaces. It cuts piano wire up to 1.6 mm, hard wire up to 2.0 mm and soft wire up to 3.0 mm with 18x leverage.
  • The Maun Diagonal Cutting Plier for Hard Wire Comfort Grips 140 mm (2999-140) is made for long sessions at the bench, such as jewellery making, craft work or a dental laboratory, because its soft plastic grips stay comfortable over long periods. It cuts piano wire up to 1.6 mm, hard wire up to 2.0 mm and soft wire up to 3.0 mm with 18x leverage.
  • The Maun Diagonal Cutting Plier for Hard Wire 160 mm (2990-160) suits engineers, mechanics and DIYers who cut thicker and harder wire, such as spring steel, nails and fencing wire. It cuts piano wire up to 2.0 mm, hard wire up to 2.5 mm and soft wire up to 4.0 mm with 22x leverage, and has slim zinc-plated handles detailed for grip.
  • The Maun Diagonal Cutting Plier for Hard Wire Comfort Grips 160 mm (2999-160) is built for a full day of heavy cutting, such as fencing, spring and mattress making or workshop fabrication, with soft plastic grips that stay comfortable over long periods. It cuts piano wire up to 2.0 mm, hard wire up to 2.5 mm and soft wire up to 4.0 mm with 22x leverage.
  • The Maun 1000V Insulated Diagonal Cutting Plier for Hard Wire 140 mm (7100-140) is designed for electricians who work near live or potentially live conductors in tight consumer units and back boxes. It is certified to IEC 60900:2018 for use up to 1000V AC and 1500V DC, has polymer-encased handles with hand-stops, and cuts piano wire up to 1.6 mm, hard wire up to 2.0 mm and soft wire up to 3.0 mm with 18x leverage.
  • The Maun 1000V Insulated Diagonal Cutting Plier for Hard Wire 160 mm (7100-160) is for electricians, maintenance engineers and automotive technicians who need more leverage on thicker conductors and the steel armour wires of SWA cable. It is certified to IEC 60900:2018 for use up to 1000V AC and 1500V DC, has polymer-encased handles with hand-stops, and cuts piano wire up to 2.0 mm, hard wire up to 2.5 mm and soft wire up to 4.0 mm with 22x leverage.
  • The Maun Diagonal Cutting Plier for Sealing Wire 140 mm (2999-140-B) is purpose-built for utility meter installers, who cut the multi-strand wire crimped by Maun’s meter sealing ferrules on every meter round. It cuts 7-strand sealing wire of 0.914 to 0.990 mm and 12-strand sealing wire of 0.990 to 1.066 mm with 18x leverage, and has soft plastic grips that stay comfortable over long periods.

Maun diagonal cutting pliers compared

PlierLengthHandlesLeveragePiano wireHard wireSoft wireBest for
Maun Diagonal Cutting Plier for Hard Wire 140 mm (2990-140) 140 mm Zinc-plated 18x 1.6 mm 2.0 mm 3.0 mm Jewellery, crafts, model making and electronics in tight spaces
Maun Diagonal Cutting Plier for Hard Wire Comfort Grips 140 mm (2999-140) 140 mm Soft plastic comfort grips 18x 1.6 mm 2.0 mm 3.0 mm Hours of jewellery, craft or dental lab work at the bench
Maun Diagonal Cutting Plier for Hard Wire 160 mm (2990-160) 160 mm Zinc-plated 22x 2.0 mm 2.5 mm 4.0 mm Thicker and harder wire: spring steel, nails and fencing wire
Maun Diagonal Cutting Plier for Hard Wire Comfort Grips 160 mm (2999-160) 160 mm Soft plastic comfort grips 22x 2.0 mm 2.5 mm 4.0 mm A full day of fencing, spring making or workshop fabrication
Maun 1000V Insulated Diagonal Cutting Plier for Hard Wire 140 mm (7100-140) 140 mm Polymer with hand-stops, IEC 60900:2018 18x 1.6 mm 2.0 mm 3.0 mm Live work in tight consumer units and back boxes
Maun 1000V Insulated Diagonal Cutting Plier for Hard Wire 160 mm (7100-160) 160 mm Polymer with hand-stops, IEC 60900:2018 22x 2.0 mm 2.5 mm 4.0 mm Live work on thicker conductors and SWA armour wire
Maun Diagonal Cutting Plier for Sealing Wire 140 mm (2999-140-B) 140 mm Soft plastic comfort grips 18x 1.6 mm 2.0 mm 3.0 mm 7-strand and 12-strand meter sealing wire

Should you buy 140 mm or 160 mm diagonal cutting pliers?

Maun makes its diagonal cutting pliers in two lengths to suit different wire: 160 mm for thicker and harder wire, and 140 mm for lighter wire and close work in tight spaces. The 160 mm versions multiply your hand force by 22, enough for piano wire up to 2.0 mm and hard wire up to 2.5 mm, so they cover a wider range of wire if you cut a mix. The 140 mm versions are the more compact choice for jewellery, crafts, electronics and consumer units. Both sizes are easy to use whatever your hand size, because the compound lever supplies the force your grip would otherwise have to.

Comfort grips or zinc-plated handles?

Maun’s comfort-grip diagonal cutting pliers are the better choice if you cut for long periods, such as a day of fencing or hours at the workbench, because soft plastic grips over the zinc-plated handles keep them comfortable to use. The zinc-plated versions have slimmer handles, detailed for grip, which suit shorter jobs, tight spaces and a tool pouch.

Can you use diagonal cutters on live wires?

You can use diagonal cutters on live wires only if they are insulated and certified, like Maun’s 1000V Insulated Diagonal Cutting Pliers (7100-140 and 7100-160), which are certified to IEC 60900:2018 for use up to 1000V AC and 1500V DC. Maun’s standard and comfort-grip versions carry no insulation rating, whatever their handles look like, and must never be used on live wire. VDE is a testing institute rather than a standard, so an insulated cutter certified to IEC 60900:2018 is rated for live work whether or not VDE tested it. An insulated tool is a safeguard, not a substitute for safe isolation: isolate the circuit and prove it dead wherever you can.

Are high-leverage diagonal cutters worth it?

Yes high-leverage diagonal cutting pliers are worth it if you want clean cuts with little hand effort, whether you cut wire all day or only now and then. At Maun we design them with a compound-lever action that multiplies your grip 18 or 22 times, so wire that strains a conventional cutter of the same size cuts easily with an ordinary hand squeeze; tradespeople on Feefo notice the low effort, and so does a buyer with arthritis. The Maun HRC 64 cutting edges can cut nails, piano wire and hard steel that would usually notch a standard cutter’s blades, and the pliers last a long time: more than ten Feefo buyers were replacing Maun pairs they had used for 20 to 60 years because they had lost them, not worn them out.

Diagonal cutting pliers, flush cutters or side cutter parallel pliers?

Diagonal cutting pliers cut by wedging wire apart, which gives the most cutting force for hard wire. A flush cutter makes a flatter, closer cut on soft wire but with less force, which is why electronics technicians, model makers and jewellers working in precious metal often use one; Maun’s small side cutters include smooth-jaw flush-cut models for soft wire. A Maun Side Cutter Parallel Plier grips, bends and straightens wire as well as cutting it, because it pairs parallel gripping jaws with a side cutter.

When is a diagonal cutting plier the wrong tool?

A Maun diagonal cutting plier is the wrong tool in five cases:

  • Wire thicker or harder than the pliers are rated for: over 2.0 mm piano wire or 2.5 mm hard wire, use the Maun Side Cutter Parallel Plier for Hard Wire 200 mm, rated to 2.5 mm piano and 3.0 mm hard wire, because cutting oversized wire chips the edge.
  • Thick multi-strand cable: use a cable cutter, which shears the strands rather than wedging them apart, so they don’t splay.
  • Thin sheet, film or fabric: Maun’s cutting edges are shaped to wedge wire apart, not to slice wide, thin material.
  • Static-sensitive electronics: use an ESD-rated tool.
  • Instruments that go through an autoclave: the standard Maun finish isn’t rated for sterilisation, but the Maun Side Cutter Parallel Plier Autoclave Safe 140 mm is.

How do diagonal cutting pliers work?

Maun diagonal cutting pliers cut by indenting the wire and wedging it apart, with the two cutting edges meeting rather than passing each other like scissor blades. Inside each one, a two-lever compound action multiplies your hand force twice, first through the handles and then through the jaw pivot, which is how the 140 mm versions reach 18x and the 160 mm versions 22x. A return spring opens the jaws between cuts.

FAQs

What are diagonal cutters called?

Diagonal cutters are also called side cutters, diagonal pliers, diagonal cutting pliers, nippers and snips, and in the US electrical trade “dikes”. Maun sells them as diagonal cutting pliers.

What are diagonal pliers used for?

Diagonal pliers are used to cut wire: copper conductors, cable ties, garden and fencing wire, piano and spring wire, stainless wire and component leads. Maun’s are used by DIYers, crafters, electricians, engineers, fencers, piano technicians and dental laboratories.

What do you cut steel wire with?

You cut steel wire with hardened, high-leverage cutters such as Maun diagonal cutting pliers, which cut hard steel wire up to 2.0 mm at 140 mm and 2.5 mm at 160 mm. For heavier steel wire, use Maun’s 200 mm Side Cutter Parallel Plier, rated to 3.0 mm hard wire.

Can diagonal cutting pliers cut piano wire?

Diagonal cutting pliers can cut piano wire if they are built for hard wire: Maun’s cut piano wire up to 1.6 mm diameter at 140 mm and 2.0 mm at 160 mm.

What is the best tool for cutting fencing wire?

The best tool for fencing wire up to 2.5 mm is a high-leverage cutter such as the Maun Diagonal Cutting Plier for Hard Wire Comfort Grips 160 mm (2999-160), which cuts it with 22x leverage and stays comfortable through a full day of fencing, or the larger Maun Fencing Pliers.

What warranty do Maun diagonal cutting pliers have?

Maun diagonal cutting pliers come with a 12-month warranty, extended to 2 years when you register your tool.

Made in England by Maun

Maun has made pliers in Nottinghamshire, England, since 1944 and has been ISO 9001 certified for more than 30 years. Every Maun diagonal cutting plier is made in England and meets BS 3087-7:1996 and ISO 5747:1995.

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