Which EDC Tools for Cutting Through Chain Link Fence?

W

Wolfeye

Joined
Apr 26, 2015
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Hello, everyone. I was wondering about tools that can be used to cut through chain link fence, if need be. I heard the Wave, Juice, and Freestyle CX are the Leathermans that would work, but I presume there are more.

A few people were saying Swisstools are in a league of their own with that sort of thing. If that's true, which ones are good?

I also heard some things about medical shears being good for that sort of thing. Some seem like they can cut through pennies, so I would THINK that that would work for chain link fences. If I remember correctly, they're used for cutting through the military/police cable ties with the metal in them.
 
If I had to cut through chain link fence often and knew it, I'd carry a pair of decent wire cutters in my back pocket. Doing so with multi tool with any regularity would be hard on hands and tool.
 
SVTFreak said:
If I had to cut through chain link fence often and knew it, I'd carry a pair of decent wire cutters in my back pocket. Doing so with multi tool with any regularity would be hard on hands and tool.
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Hit the nail on the head and a pair I would recommend is Klein Linesman pliers.
I have a few pair I use at work and they are fantastic! I've had one paid for ~ 15 years. Have used it as a hammer tons of times! Excellent tool that will cut through chain link no problem at all.
I really doubt there is a multi tool that can do it. I've seen the ones that can cut a penny, but it takes 2 hands and is still a bitch. With the Klein's you will be able to do it one handed and it won't be hard at all.
These are the bad boys!
Joe
0da45183c466db391608a99d570bfa94.jpg
 
palonej said:
Hit the nail on the head and a pair I would recommend is Klein Linesman pliers.
I have a few pair I use at work and they are fantastic! I've had one paid for ~ 15 years. Have used it as a hammer tons of times! Excellent tool that will cut through chain link no problem at all.
I really doubt there is a multi tool that can do it. I've seen the ones that can cut a penny, but it takes 2 hands and is still a bitch. With the Klein's you will be able to do it one handed and it won't be hard at all.
These are the bad boys!
Joe
0da45183c466db391608a99d570bfa94.jpg
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They even make a leather holster for linemans pliers.
If his local hardware doesn't carry Klein ( don't think mine does ) then channellock makes a great tool,and I've heard nothing but good things about knipex.
 
ChannelLock 349 WireMaster 9.5 inch High Leverage linemen's pliers.

Made in USA, available all over the place.

Chain link won't stand a chance.
 
Oh yes. Klein linesmans pliers would be the ticket. But I would get tired of carrying them in my pocket all day. A pair of larger Klein nippers would be lighter and still do the job
 
I use this but that's just me. No not the woman . . .
half way through if you are in a rush.

[video=youtube;rF1vfMM3W08]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rF1vfMM3W08[/video]
 
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palonej said:
Hit the nail on the head and a pair I would recommend is Klein Linesman pliers.
I have a few pair I use at work and they are fantastic! I've had one paid for ~ 15 years. Have used it as a hammer tons of times! Excellent tool that will cut through chain link no problem at all.
I really doubt there is a multi tool that can do it. I've seen the ones that can cut a penny, but it takes 2 hands and is still a bitch. With the Klein's you will be able to do it one handed and it won't be hard at all.
These are the bad boys!
Joe
0da45183c466db391608a99d570bfa94.jpg
Click to expand...

Best pair of pliers there is. Well worth the money.
 
^^^ Absolutely!! Think they're about $50 now......and worth every penny! The pair in the pic is at least 15 years old and they still function perfectly!!
Joe
 
OK you want something a little more main stream :

These are almost effortless to use and top quality.

They are pretty proud of them though. WORTH IT !

I have the 71 12 200 but I see they have a "fencing" version on another page.
 
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Good suggestions, guys- keep 'em coming! I wonder if blade made from something other than steel would make things easier? Like tungsten carbide, perhaps. I'd think something with a harder edge that wasn't too thin would make an easier cut, but it might break easy if it wasn't metal- especially in the cold or if you drop it.

Wowbagger: Ha ha! Good one with the movie clip. Yeah, I gets a ripsaw (or whatever it was from Exit Wounds) would work if you couldn't get your hands on that.
 
You could do it with a Leatherman Surge or Supertool 300, anything with the replaceable cutting blades but a pair of lineman's pliers would be better. Klein no doubt, but I'd use a heavy duty model like the hd2000-9ne.
 
Another idea is to maybe have Knipex cutters with some extra tools in the handle(s) like a multitool. Couple of screwdrivers (one short & one long), a plain-edge knife that you can get to like a regular pocketknife, and maybe a removable metal file to sharpen or get nicks out of the knife & cutters- that's an idea.

I still like mine about the multi-tool with the crowbar in it. Maybe it's possible to use the knife to cut it? Like closing the blade on the wire like scissors?
 
Chain link is usually pretty hard stuff as wire goes. I'm certain my Swisstool (I carry the CS model while working) could do it if absolutely necessary, but it wouldn't be fun. Longer handles giving more leverage on a specialized tool would make things far easier. The wire cutting blades are non-replaceable, so if they were to get damaged cutting lots of hard wire like that, you'd need to warranty the whole tool instead of just buying inserts. Mine have held up great, but I'm mostly cutting barbed wire which would be considerably softer. On the other hand, I do cut high tensile electric fence wire with it fairly frequently that would probably be similar in hardness and size to most chain link and it certainly does that well enough.
 
From my experments, reading and learning:

Knipex nippers/pliers or other quality brands will get it done easy, quick and the first time
Multitools which offer special characteristics for Chain Link Fence cutting:

SOG - Compound leverage, doubles the force you apply on the handles at the jaws (PowerPlier, PPP, Powerlock...) but steel is relatively soft and might very well dent or bend.
Leatherman - Replaceable wire cutters made of 154CM will bite through most things, but require applying big pressure on occasion and might fail at the pivot (Surge, ST300, Rebar...).
Victorinox - Most wires and cables can be cut with the standard cutters on both models, but some might require applying a lot of force. More easily deformed too, steel is no 154CM.
Gerber - Their carbide cutters models (MP600, MP800...) are not up to hard stuff, and are easily cracked or completely chipped (confirmed through the years many times by many sources). Their only real tough cutter is the Gerber Cable Dawg and the MP1

My poick would be ST300/Surge for medium or small size, but frequent cutting, or the MP1 for thicker cables and wires. For normal stuff and occasional cutting, the SOG offerings are the best (less effort and tired hands) but any models (Spirit, Wave, Strata, Diesel, Swisstool, etc.) from reputable brands should and will work fine
 
I don't know the name but the Klein 9" with hardened cutting edges works well for things like Copperweld wire !
The helicopter saw I found was the real thing , designed to trim trees along a high power line in remote areas !
 
Wolfeye said:
I also heard some things about medical shears being good for that sort of thing. Some seem like they can cut through pennies, so I would THINK that that would work for chain link fences. If I remember correctly, they're used for cutting through the military/police cable ties with the metal in them.
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I'm not sure if it would be the tool for the job, but the Leatherman Raptor Shears are foldable for EDC and I have cut a penny in half with them.


Edited for photo evidence: I just tried again and they actually cut through it fairly easily



 
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mete said:
The helicopter saw I found was the real thing , designed to trim trees along a high power line in remote areas !
Click to expand...

Yep, the power company sent one up the hill next to my house one summer. The trees didn't stand a chance.

Should've seen the perma-grins on my two boys as they watched from our deck.
 
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