Fairly well known as the 'Rolls Royce' of cutters etc. But debatable if they are worth the cost. If you're only doing the things those cutters were designed for, like snipping copper leads, cheaper ones treated as disposable can be fine. And use a 'disposed' of pair for the things that could damage the good ones.
But I do have some Lindstrom tools.
Not quite neighbors, Germany's in the way, not to mention some water.
Ball bearing still is totally unsuitable, too hard and brittle. Just good quality tool steel.
They used to have white plastic sleeves that held the leaf springs. Now they have aged to yellow, and in a couple of cases have lost the plastic dip and now have heatshrink sleeving instead. Unlike the modern ones, the handles are steel all the way to the ends, not plastic clip-on handles.
My favorite pair (made for piano wire) is plain steel all over.
I'd love to know how they made the box joints.
They get fired!
-- "Electricity is of two kinds, positive and negative. The difference is, I presume, that one comes a little more expensive, but is more durable; the other is a cheaper thing, but the moths get into it." (Stephen Leacock)
See previous post.
-- "Electricity is of two kinds, positive and negative. The difference is, I presume, that one comes a little more expensive, but is more durable; the other is a cheaper thing, but the moths get into it." (Stephen Leacock)
Actually, one pair of Lindstrom diagonal cutters I have, sadly no longer made, were guaranteed for cutting piano wire.
Will still cut one thickness of copier paper, despite 30 years daily use.
That only works if:
Maybe a small company with a few employees of no particular skills, but in the real world?
Geoff.
Yes, I am.
When it comes to finding you haven't got the tools to do the job and get it out on deadline because of some idiot, that idiot's no investment.
Not *that* small. Many longtime employees with irreplaceable skills who know better than to borrow tools without asking. They have their own tools. If they want more, we buy them. They wouldn't lend me theirs, not that I'd ask.
It's called discipline and commitment.
I don't doubt they are the cat's meow. I use a pair of side cuts for anything less larger than 20. My nippers were always for nipping leads from caps, diodes, etc.... The shearing edges are just too soft.
How retarded of you. Most of the industry does NOT use oblique cutters. Pretty simple s*it. Run your plow over it and see what springs up.
How uninformed of you.
Not on Lindstrom steel, it isn't. They use ball bearing steel. The "shearing edges" are flawless.
BTW, side cutters perform NO shearing action whatsoever. They are not shears. They are snips. Blades and seats strike into each other. On a shear, the blades cross each other.
It's also a cultural thing. Here there is a much more socialist attitude where the company owns the tools, and not the employees. Everything is shared among the workers.
Pisses (angers for you UK types) the hell out of me, but it's the way everyone thinks. People would even unlock my desk to get to my tools.
Note that until the mid 1990's no one was paid enough money to own their own tools, and to this day very few are.
I recently resarched this because someone asked me about starting business here that they had in the US. They have a tool franchise and drive around in a van selling tools to craftsmen, mechanincs, etc.
It does not translate well, the workers can't afford the tools, and the employers would rather buy a high end chinese tool than a high end US/EU made tool because it is likely to get broken, lost or stolen.
Geoff.
We don't have "workers", we have engineers and technicians.
I'm American.
Anybody unlocking anybody else's desk without authorization here, would be in *serious* s*it.
In "my" world, the company buys the tools, the individual "owns" them.
Sounds like Snap-On
Our people are free to choose which maker's tools they want us to buy. They tend to develop a consensus.
Lindstrom Precision seems to have some choices:
perhaps model 7280 or model 7285 Expensive: I found US$73 for 7280, US$110 for 7285,
All cost estimates from
One big difference in these types of tools, is whether they are made from sheet steel stampings, or forged steel. The forged steel versions typically last for decades, but cost more.
I have some miniature forged steel flush cutting pliers sold by Snap-On which have handles that are nearly 90 degrees to the cutting edges. The cutting jaws are fairly small, and project outward to one side. The reach of the cutting edges allows them to reach under obstructions by about 1/4". Some other forged steel flush cutting models I have were made by Hunter. Several are the typical cutters which have the cutting edges in a straight line to the handles, but a couple pair have the cutting edges at nearly 45 degrees, which make it possible to reach slightly under certain obstructions.
I think that flush cutting is always better than the common beveled cutting edges. Cutting requires less effort, and there's less distortion of the material that's just "pinched off" by common beveled jaws.
-- Cheers, WB .............
:On Wed, 10 Feb 2010 16:54:40 -0800, life imitates life wrote: : :> The Lindstroms are worth the extra outlay if a long term, personal tool :> is desired. For a production level, multi-user tool, the lower quality :> steel, shorter life span brands are cheaper and are the better value for :> such a setting. It just depends on who the tool is for, how well they :> take care of their tools, and the term you wish the tool to last for. : :I've got Lindstroms that I've had 30 years. Look their age, but still work :as good as ever. The newer ones aren't as good, IMHO. : :Golden rule: Never, under any circumstances, lend cutters to *anyone*. :Never let them out of your sight / control.
I also have Lindstroms from the 70's - 80's era and they are excellent. I did manage to find USA made side cutters back in the 70's which were as good as the Lindstroms. They were made by the Diamond Calk Horseshoe company (Diamond Tools) which ceased in 1981 when acquired by Triangle Corp, which was subsequently acquired by Cooper Tools. Diamond info here
They made the Diamalloy brand S54 side cutter and the ones I have are still in excellent condition. They are available on Ebay.
The lindstroms are not forged. They are fully machined from ball bearing steel.
Just like the steel plate in your head?
Yeah, it is so steely that it stole away any hope you ever had of being considered an intelligent individual in this group.
AwlSome Auger wrote: AA > The lindstroms are not forged. They are AA > fully machined from ball bearing steel.
That's a strange way to pretend you have balls.
Did anybody else get the feeling that "life imitates life" is somehow getting a kickback from lindstrom?
LOL
Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.
Ask the community — no account required