Daily Wire Tip March 11: What are Horse Cutters?

Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip
March 11, 2010

Question:

In some instructions they recommend horse cutters for 14ga and larger wire. What exactly are they and where would you buy them?

Answer:

The only answer I can give you for this one is that very heavy wire cutters are used to cut barbed and fence wire, which may be what the author means when they refer to the wire cutters as ‘horse’ cutters.

Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong

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6 Comments

1. 

   Mary Phillips

   March 11, 2010 at 8:17 am

   You should be able to find them at a lumber yard or Home Depot / Lowes. Also Craftsman (Sear’s tool line) may carry them. It’s good to use these for heavier wire and memory wire as these wires will damage your more delicate jewelry wire cutters.
2. 

   bozo25

   March 11, 2010 at 8:18 am

   blacksmiths use large knippers to trim horses hooves, i think that might be what they are referring to. they look like giant end knippers that some jewelers use.
3. 

   Bill

   March 11, 2010 at 8:58 am

   The cutters are actually an Electricians tool called WIRE PLYERS. Available at Home Depot, Lowes, ect

   Price 20.00 plus.
   You can find cheap knock offs for less money.

   Home depot also has a 2 to 1 cutter for $15.00, in the tool section that works very well.
4. 

   Anne0135

   March 11, 2010 at 9:34 am

   They also could mean the cutters that farriers use to trim hooves. We usually cut fences with your typical wire or metal cutters. But farriers tools are a whole different story. They would do any job. Just google “farriers tools” or supplies and go to a farrier supply website. You might find something that really helps.
   Good luck!
   Anne
5. 

   Buddy Rice

   March 11, 2010 at 10:26 am

   I highly recommend “Channel Lock” brand diagonal cutters. These come in many different sizes and can be bought at Sears or even on line. They are electricians cutters and will do a good job. Don’t buy cheap cutters! They haggle the wire.
6. 

   Elaine Reed

   March 15, 2010 at 1:10 pm

   It is not the nippers for horses’ feet. Just get a pair of wire cutters. Nippers are too large for this job and are designed to cut hooves, not wire. I have horses, nippers, and wire cutters. The nippers are a two hand operation.