New NWS Cutters Range – It's All in the Handles!
A quick tour around the specialist tool review sites on the web will convince anyone who is looking for new electrical cutters that the NWS range is very widely respected. The general view seems to be that the hardened jaws and "groovy" cutter design have a long working life and cut crisply. So, it seems that
NWS has decided to focus R and D on the handles of its cutter range to make improvements there. As is obvious, the handles of a range
of electrical cutters are absolutely key to the product. Not only do they have to protect the user from accidental electrical contact of up to 1000v, but they have to be comfortable to use and have a long service life. For complete safety, electrical cutters should be replaced periodically, but you really don't want to find out accidentally via worn handles, that they need replacing. Also, for non-electrical work,
where it is not so much insulation, but comfort that is required, good, comfortable handles help the user grip and squeeze, making using the cutters much easier to use. I was sent a couple of pairs of cable
cutters from the new NWS range to try out. They are part of a wide range of both VDE and non-VDE pliers and cutters from NWS that incorporate a new handle design. Compared with the "old" range
users will notice that the "new" range have a three component handle compared to a two component handle. The third component seems to be
mostly silver-coloured and is quite soft so it provides extra grip and comfort. The silver coloured
component is sparingly used, so you will notice the difference in look
too. By comparing the old
with the new you will
notice that the new design handles are slimmer and less
bulky than the old design. Particularly
in the VDE range, where the insulation thickness on the handles can be a problem for some small-handed users like myself, the slimmer design allows me to have a more rounded grip. What you still have however, is the
soft yellow rubberized grip along the top of the handles and a substantial barrier at the fulcrum that prevents hands from sliding onto dangerous metal bits.
On the non-
VDE cable cutters the handle design is subtly different where you will tend to notice more than on the VDE version, that the handles are not symmetrical, they have a "top" and a "bottom" handle. They are clearly shaped to maximize grip and applied pressure. The top handle is curved to fit into the meat of the hand under your thumb, while the bottom handle is subtly curved to accommodate your four fingers proving the cutting squeeze. Since these cable cutters are designed to cut quite thick electrical and industrial cables, you really do need the extra pressure for cutting. The non VDE cutters are finished in
a dull grey, but still have the induction hardened jaws and grooved jaw design that are the signature of NWS pliers and cutters. The VDE cutters have a Chrome
Vanadium, slightly silvery finish, that looks very professional and neat. They too have induction-hardened jaws tempered in oil and they too will have a long service life. As any electrician will tell you, the neatness of the cut on all kinds of cables is important. The more accurate the cut, the less work needs to be done when making connections with other electrical components. With both pairs of cutters, the
legendary NWS sharpness of cut was evident. I tried them on copper wire, thick and thin, insulated and uninsulated. In each case the cut was crisp and accurate, and for my sometimes painful hands, very easy to achieve. This is not only due to the hardened edges of the cutters, but also to the accurate and very easy fulcrum joint on the cutters. Even on baling wire, old wire coat
hangers and thin steel woven cables I was able to get a crisp and accurate cut.
Whenever I show NWS cutters,
especially to professionals, they always comment on how easily the pliers open and close, even when new. Unfortunately, there are still inferior
Independent Review by Peter Brett
Reply No. 229
pliers of all types around that need some "breaking in" before the handles will work properly, and inevitably as the fulcrum joint gets looser, so the jaws will become more inaccurate and harder to use. The new handles have provided
NWS with another good opportunity to add value to their pliers and cutters. On the ends of both handles are a pair of small moulded lugs. You don't really notice them in ordinary use, so they don't intrude, but should you want to attach a safety lanyard to you cutters because you are working at height, NWS can supply a red nylon lanyard that simply clips over the lugs and makes a secure joint. The user can then work safely without fear of dropping the cutters, but the lanyard can also be very quickly removed once normal use is resumed. Using the same lugs, NWS has also
designed a curved spring that can be clipped into place on them. The spring keeps the cutter jaws open for those jobs where one hand may only be available and opening the jaws might be an issue. I like NWS cutters. I know that
other trades like them too because they are the ones that people borrow from me most often. They do tend to be more expensive than other makes of cutters and pliers, but I haven't managed to wear out or blunt a pair yet, even ones I have had for five years. As for the new cutter range, well in
my opinion they are another example of how good manufacturers constantly review their product ranges and develop them according to the demands of the market and the discovery of new materials. These cutters are going straight into my toolbox - they are good!
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