# How Can I Safely, Quickly And Cheaply Cut Wire Hangers? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 12, 2011, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-safely-quickly-and-cheaply-cut-wire-hangers/596109 "2011-09-12T23:27:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2011, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-safely-quickly-and-cheaply-cut-wire-hangers/596109/1 "2011-09-12T23:27:57Z")
This year’s Halloween costume is a suit of armor made by stretching silver mylar over a frame. I’ve determined that for strength, flexibility etc the wire of coat hangers is perfect. Unfortunately, I lack bolt cutters or a torch or similar tool. My options right now are to use an old hacksaw or to repeatedly bend the wire until it breaks. There must be a better way. I ask you to give it to me. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2011, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-safely-quickly-and-cheaply-cut-wire-hangers/596109/2 "2011-09-12T23:33:06Z")
The only ways are the bending method or using cutters or pliers with a cutting part. Cutting hanger wire isn’t hard. Even the very cheapest pliers would do it. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2011, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-safely-quickly-and-cheaply-cut-wire-hangers/596109/3 "2011-09-12T23:46:30Z")
Get a pair of Vice Grips. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2011, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-safely-quickly-and-cheaply-cut-wire-hangers/596109/4 "2011-09-12T23:52:37Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > The only ways are the bending method or using cutters or pliers with a cutting part. Cutting hanger wire isn’t hard. Even the very cheapest pliers would do it. Cheap pliers would easily do it. Beyond that, [compound cutters](http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=compound+wire+cutters&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=13005222501542629912&sa=X&ei=55puTrz7COSKsAKx9IHOBA&ved=0CEUQ8wIwAw) would be easiest/cheapest to use without scaling up to small bolt cutters. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2011, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-safely-quickly-and-cheaply-cut-wire-hangers/596109/5 "2011-09-13T00:00:27Z")
Wire Cutters, something that looks like a pair of pliers, but with an angled head on each side that terminates in blade-like edges, is easily your best bet. You can buy an inexpensive set at any craft store or hardware shop. You don’t need really big ones – even a hand-sized pair is more than sufficient for wire hangers. INFINITELY better than vice grips, a hacksaw, or bending back and forth until the metal work-hardens and snaps. If you’re planning on making a costume with these, beware that the ends will be sharp. You’ll want to protect the ends by wrapping in tape, sealing in epoxy, or something (it’d take forever to file all those ends smooth, even with a Dremel Tool). You’ll probably want a small set of pliers, possible needle-nose, if you’re going to do a lot of tight bending. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2011, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-safely-quickly-and-cheaply-cut-wire-hangers/596109/6 "2011-09-13T01:23:14Z")
I have cut dozens of wire hangers in my time and always use lineman’s pliers. Also good for shaping the wire. Depends on your definition of “cheap.” ---
**Author:** ![obbn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d6d6ee/32.png) [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2011, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-safely-quickly-and-cheaply-cut-wire-hangers/596109/7 "2011-09-13T01:44:33Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > Get a pair of Vice Grips. Vice Grips aren’t dedicated cutters. Some may have a cutting blade near the handle, but for the most part they are made to hold something, hence the locking vice part of the name. ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2011, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-safely-quickly-and-cheaply-cut-wire-hangers/596109/8 "2011-09-13T01:49:32Z")
Wire cutters or dikes work very well. The edges are indeed sharp, though. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2011, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-safely-quickly-and-cheaply-cut-wire-hangers/596109/9 "2011-09-13T01:58:15Z")
> [@obbn](#): > > Vice Grips aren’t dedicated cutters. Some may have a cutting blade near the handle, but for the most part they are made to hold something, hence the locking vice part of the name. All the bigger vice grips have hardened cutters that will cut hangers like butter. I own about 15 pairs of them… ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2011, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-safely-quickly-and-cheaply-cut-wire-hangers/596109/10 "2011-09-13T02:07:19Z")
Wirecutting pliers, lineman pliers, or needlenose will cut coat hanger wire. Look at the little beveled section where the jaws come together. Put the wire as close to the inside of the “V” of the mouth as possible for maximum leverage when cutting. See pic [![](http://www.diyblog.us.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/needle-nose-pliers.jpg) ](http://www.diyblog.us.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/needle-nose-pliers.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![anson2995](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@anson2995](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anson2995)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2011, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-safely-quickly-and-cheaply-cut-wire-hangers/596109/11 "2011-09-13T02:09:46Z")
Right tool for the job will [cost you $5 at WalMart](http://www.walmart.com/ip/Performance-6-inch-Diagonal-Cutter-Plier-W1122C/14668085) or any other box store. ---
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2011, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-safely-quickly-and-cheaply-cut-wire-hangers/596109/12 "2011-09-13T02:13:06Z")
Cheap? Diagonal cutters. A basic in any tool box. Probably available at the Wal-Mart for a couple of bucks. Made in China of course, but very good quality and very utilitarian for the rest of your life. Or, just knock on your neighbor’s door and ask to borrow his diagonal cutter for a couple of days. No sweat. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2011, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-safely-quickly-and-cheaply-cut-wire-hangers/596109/13 "2011-09-13T02:16:21Z")
some large slip joint pliers (ordinary kind) have near the pivot, two jaw parts that pass one another (think flat unsharp scissors) which is a wire cutter. lineman or electrician pliers are excellent, diagonal cutting pliers are better for softer wire but will work. 8" or larger tools have leverage and are not difficult. smaller you might want to wear gloves if you are doing lots. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2011, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-safely-quickly-and-cheaply-cut-wire-hangers/596109/14 "2011-09-13T02:31:24Z")
Upon further inspection of my toolbox, I found a corroded length of U bend pipe (the maintenance guys must have left it in there when they fixed the sink and used my hacksaw) and that my needle nose pliers (which I worried were too delicate for the job. I really only use them for fine manipulations, fer example solving my [Tri N Do It puzzle](http://home.comcast.net/~stegmann/images/trindoit.jpg)) have a cutter like lineman’s pliers. A quick test confirmed that they are tough enough and faster and more accurate than bending or the hacksaw. Thank you all for your help and advice. (hmm, looking at the preview there are a bunch of new posts I didn’t get e-mail about) ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2011, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-safely-quickly-and-cheaply-cut-wire-hangers/596109/15 "2011-09-13T03:11:48Z")
C’mon, guys, it’s viSe grips. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2011, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-safely-quickly-and-cheaply-cut-wire-hangers/596109/16 "2011-09-13T03:28:19Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > C’mon, guys, it’s viSe grips. Not when I use them… ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2011, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-safely-quickly-and-cheaply-cut-wire-hangers/596109/17 "2011-09-13T03:40:39Z")
If your purpose is disposal (i.e. you want no more), you want a pair of M.D. Crawfords. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2011, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-safely-quickly-and-cheaply-cut-wire-hangers/596109/18 "2011-09-13T03:43:27Z")
> [@obbn](#): > > …locking vice… That sounds naughty. I have found that your average steel coat hanger can ruin the cutting edge of a pair of dikes. Usually those are made for small gauge copper wire. I second the cutting “molar” of the vise grips. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2011, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-safely-quickly-and-cheaply-cut-wire-hangers/596109/19 "2011-09-14T03:11:37Z")
I’ve done it in the past with a cheap pair of scissors. I’m sure it dulls the blades, which is a good reason to use a _cheap_ pair for it. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2011, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-safely-quickly-and-cheaply-cut-wire-hangers/596109/20 "2011-09-14T05:37:10Z")
After beginning work on my Cyber Centurion, I had another thought. My Halloween costume will now be a Techno Faun. This means I won’t be cutting any more hangers. Sorry to bother you.