Xuron Cutter QC

[ridinshotgun]

So I am curious if anyone else has seen any QC issues with recent purchases of xuron cutters?

I just received a new set of flush cutters for track and the blades were offset about a 1/16th of an inch and there is no way they would be making any kind of flush cut.

I packed it right back up and sent it back for a refund but none of my other cutters had any kind of gap or offset.

[up1950s]

So I am curious if anyone else has seen any QC issues with recent purchases of xuron cutters?

I just received a new set of flush cutters for track and the blades were offset about a 1/16th of an inch and there is no way they would be making any kind of flush cut.

I packed it right back up and sent it back for a refund but none of my other cutters had any kind of gap or offset.

1/16 " is way huge . Is that overlap or horizontal plane ?

[ridinshotgun]

1/16 " is way huge . Is that overlap or horizontal plane ?

Both actually, the blades were not level horizontally (that was the 1/16 of an inch difference when closed) and they also had an overlap.  Not as much though.  They were almost more of an offset pair of cutters.   

Most of my other cutters are two or three years old and like I said none were like these.

[Sokramiketes]

While 1/16" sounds excessive, the Xuron "rail nipper" cutters were never flush and were always bypass.

[Missaberoad]

While 1/16" sounds excessive, the Xuron "rail nipper" cutters were never flush and were always bypass.

...and made of cheese grade steel... Every time I looked at mine the wrong way the cutting face got nicked...

[peteski]

While quite pricey, Lindstrom Tools Makes superb quality cutters. They have adjustable joint and can be sent in to be resharpened (if that need ever arises). I own few pairs of their cutters and now all my other cutters are just sitting and rusting away.

If you do some onlinie shopping the prices vary quite a bit.  Higly recommended. One tool will last you a life time and will be a pleasure to use.

[ridinshotgun]

While 1/16" sounds excessive, the Xuron "rail nipper" cutters were never flush and were always bypass.

Well that is quite strange because xuron calls the 2175, which is what I ordered, a maxi shear flush cutter and my old ones were most certainly flush..

Peteski that is good to know because they were another brand I was looking at. If the replacement pair I ordered isn't up to par I might go with them.

[Sokramiketes]

Well that is quite strange because xuron calls the 2175, which is what I ordered, a maxi shear flush cutter and my old ones were most certainly flush..

Peteski that is good to know because they were another brand I was looking at. If the replacement pair I ordered isn't up to par I might go with them.

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The by-pass of the cutting edges has always been a feature of these cutters, as a way of keeping the cutting edge sharp. At least that was the original advertisement when they came out. They list by-pass on the 2175 you purchased as well.

[garethashenden]

While quite pricey, Lindstrom Tools Makes superb quality cutters. They have adjustable joint and can be sent in to be resharpened (if that need ever arises). I own few pairs of their cutters and now all my other cutters are just sitting and rusting away.

If you do some onlinie shopping the prices vary quite a bit.  Higly recommended. One tool will last you a life time and will be a pleasure to use.

I've got a pair of those that I was given when they were deemed no longer sharp enough for industrial use. I use them constantly for everything and they're fantastic. I've seriously abused them and they'll still cut through whatever I put in them, up to 2mm steel rod. That needs a couple of bites, but they'll cut it. I should get a second pair so that I can have a "good" pair and a "rough" pair. I've been using them for 6 or 7 years and they've never let me down. 

Edit: The ones I have are actually the 8150 Bevel Cutters, but I image the flush cutters to be similar.

[peteski]

I've got a pair of those that I was given when they were deemed no longer sharp enough for industrial use. I use them constantly for everything and they're fantastic. I've seriously abused them and they'll still cut through whatever I put in them, up to 2mm steel rod. That needs a couple of bites, but they'll cut it. I should get a second pair so that I can have a "good" pair and a "rough" pair. I've been using them for 6 or 7 years and they've never let me down. 

Edit: The ones I have are actually the 8150 Bevel Cutters, but I image the flush cutters to be similar.

You can get them reconditioned and it doesn't cost that much (competed to the price of a new tool). They will clean/sharpen them and install new grips.  I once sent them a pair where the tip of one jaw was chipped to the point that it couldn't be resharpened. They actually ground both jaws down so they became slightly smaller cutters, then sharpened them.
http://www.lindstromtools.us/content/warranty-services

Looks like SnapOn bought Lindstrom since the last time I dealt with them.  But SnapOn is also a quality tool manufacturer.

[ridinshotgun]

You can get them reconditioned and it doesn't cost that much (competed to the price of a new tool). They will clean/sharpen them and install new grips.  I once sent them a pair where the tip of one jaw was chipped to the point that it couldn't be resharpened. They actually ground both jaws down so they became slightly smaller cutters, then sharpened them.
http://www.lindstromtools.us/content/warranty-services

Looks like SnapOn bought Lindstrom since the last time I dealt with them.  But SnapOn is also a quality tool manufacturer.

What model number are you using @peteski ?  I was looking at their model 8161. Is that one you use by any chance?

[peteski]

What model number are you using @peteski ?  I was looking at their model 8161. Is that one you use by any chance?

I mostly use 8140, and also 8150 (larger - good for rail nipping). I also own few other specialized ones.

The 8161 is a flush-cut cutter while the ones I use are Micro-bevel cutters.  Flush-cut cutters produce a flatter cut but the cutting edge is a bit more fragile.  I use the Mico-bevel cutters because  that is what we used at work (for electronic circuit assembly/rework) and I thought they worked well for my hobbies.

If you download their catalog ( http://www.lindstromtools.com/pdf.php ) it explains the difference between the various cutter edges.

I just googled for few of the model numbers and it looks like the prices for these tools have actually come down from when I bought them.